March Marvel Madness: BLADE II

Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to March Marvel Madness! Every day this month, I'll be looking back on a theatrically-released movie based on the characters of Marvel Comics. It's all to commemorate the April 4th release of the next Marvel cinematic adventure, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Today, the daywalker returns in Marvel's first sequel...

Wesley Snipes reprises his role as Blade, the half human/half-vampire hero who is now in Prague tracking down his old pal, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson). After resucing his old buddy and introducing him to his new helper, Scud (played by the only reason people put up with The Walking Dead nowadays, Norman Reedus), Blade is offered a truce by a wealthy vamp, Damaskinos (Thomas Kretschmann), and his daughter, Nyssa (Leonor Varela). Apparently, there is a creature far worse than vampires, and Blade is asked to join a team of badass bloodsuckers put together by Damaskinos- the great Ron Pearlman plays their leader- in exterminating this common enemy.

Honestly, folks, there's really not much to say about Blade II. It's a minor step-up from the first film, I know that. Like its predecessor, though, Blade II is a simple (minded?) action/horror thrill ride. The thing that gives this movie that slight edge over the original is a new director. And who is that, you ask? None other than Mexico's greatest export (sorry, Alberto Del Rio!), Guillermo del Toro. What?! Well, with a legendary visionary like del Toro at the helm, Blade II is every bit as imaginary as Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth, right?. Sorry, kids, but Blade II is as much del Toro's movie as Mimic was. There are only touches of trademark del Toro in Blade II; the old world location, the dark, dank design, the practical monster effects. del Toro feels more like a hired gun on this movie. David Goyer's script is too focused on extended fight scenes for del Toro to spread his (fairy or demon?) wings.

It's a shame my memory of Blade II is more vivid than the movie itself. I was hoping for a Guillermo del Toro take on a Marvel hero, but I simply got an action film you catch late at night on FX. It only happens to be directed by him.

Blade II
3 out of 5 Cap shields