Saturday, March 23, 2002

Blade II (2002)

If America insists on making empty, dumb, plotless action movies, then let them all be like this: stylish to a fault, inventively violent, exciting and faster than a motherfucker. I wasn't much of a fan of the first film (I think it's an hour and a half of shit bookended by a great beginning and a great ending), but I was looking forward to this sequel anyway. Why? Three words: Guillermo del Toro. And I'll be damned if he doesn't disappoint. He avoids the mistake of the first film by saying to hell with characters and plot -- let's bring the fuckin' action! His enthusiasm appears to have been infectious, too -- Wesley Snipes loosens up considerably here and even appears to be having fun at a few points. Still, the film is undeniably covered with del Toro's stamp -- he's pulled an Aliens by taking a routine sequel and infusing it with his own distinctive sensibilities. Only one major disappointment, really: I was looking forward to how del Toro was gonna work his usual Christian symbolism into another Hollywood product (Mimic was absolutely awash in it). But he subdues those impulses, save for one glaring instance at the film's end. It leaves the film rather barren of subtext... but then, do we really need to be looking for subtext in Blade II? It's good gory fun (and surprisingly funny to boot); just check your brain at the door.

Grade: B+