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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
Blade II
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  out of 4
Review by Steve Rhodes
1½ stars out of 4
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After the commercial success of the original BLADE, about a creature half
human and half vampire, what do they do for the sequel? They crank up the
grossness factor dramatically to be as repulsive as possible, assuming,
correctly, that gore is just what the predominately male teenage audience
for BLADE II will want. To ensure maximum fright, the studio hired
Guillermo del Toro (THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE) to direct the sequel. As an
exercise in style, it is an unquestionable success, but, as a coherent and
compelling movie, it is no better than your typical schlocky slasher flick.
Again starring Wesley Snipes as the eponymous lead, the story has him
slaughter a dozen vampires before you've had your first few bites of
popcorn.
The special effects are expensive and elaborate, but you've seen them all
before from THE MATRIX-style slow-motion bullet to the ALIEN-style hideous
creature hidden within the body. The plot has the "Vampire Nation" -- I
wonder if they have a flag and a national anthem? -- enlisting Blade's help
to stop the Reaper (Rey-Phillip Santos) and his growing army since they are
a threat to both vampires and humans.
Twenty -- ten? -- minutes into the picture, I was ready to cry uncle.
Enough already, I get it. Maybe they could make a music video version of
it. Three minutes would be just about right, and you expect a music video
to be all style and no substance. Watching this film, which was proceeded
by no less than eight trailers, I kept wishing that I was at any of those
movies rather than BLADE II, which is about as much fun as taking castor
oil.
Blade II runs a long 1:48. It is rated R for "strong pervasive violence,
language, some drug use and sexual content" and would be acceptable for
older teenagers.
My son Jeffrey, almost 13, gave it ****. He loved the action, the special
effects and the music.
Copyright © 2002 Steve Rhodes
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