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Blade II was at more of a disadvantage than the first film. It had established a character, garnered a following and now there was expectation. How do you follow a film like Blade? Well the answer was pump it up. Make it louder, bigger, stronger. Del Toro is a different director to Norrington, he wanted to differentiate the film from the first, despite them both being written by David Goyer. He has done this by making the whole affair more Gothic, helped by a European setting. Again there is nothing rushed visually, however there are some annoyingly glitchy CGI moments but perhaps that is forgivable due to overall quality. The script carries the same genre acceptance as the previous outing, and character wise Blade hasn't grown or moved on. He is still droll, he is still grumpy. The idea of the Reapers is an interesting one, and they are allowed enough of a presence to truly believe they are the rat's of the Vampire race.

Snipes hasn't changed from the first film, he looks comfortable as Blade but never shows any ambition to take his career beyond the Blade high. The two standouts are Ron Perlman, who has since moved onto Hellboy, and Luke Goss. Goss is so incredible, in fact, that it took a mere five minutes of the movie for me to stop singing "When will I, will I be famous" over and over in my head. He is truly creepy and you really see a vermin streak in him. His character is more of a genetic mistake than a horrible beast, but his lust for revenge and destruction is enough for me to boo him. Bad Bros boy, bad. Perlman shows his nonchalant laid back attitude that bagged Hellboy for him, this a mere precursor to his expanded career and red fist.

The film once again never slows down to a sprint, however it is hampered by the re-appearance of Whistler. After his apparent suicide in the first film, I couldn't understand his head coming above water again, it seemed insane. The only reason could be for a major plot twist. I waited, an I waited, an I waited. Boy was I disappointed. Mind you, if that's the worst I could find in the film that's not a bad thing. Good watching boys, good watching.