The fights are better than the first, thanks in no small way to Donnie Yen's excellent choreography, with the exception of the rather laughable CG fight early in the movie where it makes the original "Street Fighter 2" look cutting edge. I liked the story more. While it was predictable, it worked better than the completely predictable original. But probably what makes the movie better is the lack of the long unbearable sections in the original where Blade heaps exposition on the audience with a dump truck that drags the movie to the ground. Here the exposition is peppered thorough the big action sequences and you aren't stuck in these long draggy parts as much.

Director Guillermo Del Toro really brought the entire package deal here, and his success with this translated into making "Hellboy" even more popcorn fun. Extra points go to "Blade 2" for having Ron Perlman, who is always a going to give a good performance.

This film is better than the first "Blade" on some levels. The action has improved immensely thanks to some of Donnie Yen's brilliant fight chorography, although wirework was not necessary. There are a couple of moments where the fights can be ridiculous, like Blade fighting Nessa, where it looked like a 2D fighting video game and the characters fighting were obviously fake, and the final fight which looked more like pro wrestling. Other than that, better than the original "Blade".

Other things to consider are that the effects have improved and the attire and cinematography are more stylish, gothic, and alluring.

However, why "Blade 2" is not as good as the first is simple: the film is way too predictable. What made the first "Blade" great was its absurdity, and absurdity = unpredictability. It's what I like in films, and the story and the pacing for "Blade 2", though consistent, was pre-meditated. It was just too lame. You'd probably know the direction the film is taking way before it happens.

In conclusion, it still remains a decent action film despite its completely retarded and predictable story. Recommended to vampie action film lovers.

The film takes its journey one gradual step further in telling the story of the half-human vampire hunter, with a new breed of bloodsucking beasts who attack both humans and vampires, called "Reapers". With the only option to call a truce with the vampire nation and team up with a small tactical unit called "The Bloodpact" to hunt down the new threat, Blade and Whistler must utilize their instincts to infiltrate the reapers, and ultimately separate fact from fiction when their instincts lead them to a traitor working on both sides!

As the film moves forward, the story illustrate Blade's ever-evolving character, further revealing more dimensions to Blade's personality when he finds himself inadvertently falling in love with Varela's character, Nyssa, a vampire underworld princess. This allows viewers to see a deeper side of the unrequited love that Blade carries within, despite the never ending war he faces with the vampires, along with the internal war he must fight, with only a custom made serum as his only way to retain his indigenous thirst for blood.

David S. Goyer, who wrote the screenplay for the first film, does a wonderful job in giving each and every character an important element that helps the film's story play out as it must. Del Toro also did an amazing job with the action sequences, which like the first film, remained true to every aspect of Hong Kong-stylized action filmmaking, combined with whimsical fantasy and science fiction elements. The martial arts fight and stunt sequences emulate everything that was needed after the first film, in order for the sequel to work; Amazing fight coordiation by Snipes, Jeff Ward, and Blade-double Clay Fontenot, with supercool martial arts choreography and execution by the film's co-star and principle action director, Hong Kong legend, Donnie Yen.

There is really not enough that can be said about how great a job Del Toro did with this movie, moreover, with the film's ardently brilliant orchestral score written and arranged by Marco Beltrami and Danny Saber. Del Toro had one hell of a vision when it came to this film, and he truly brought it to life in more ways than one;...Hell, maybe even two or three!!! ;-)

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: "Passenger 57", "Versus", "Aragami", "Black Mask", 'Brotherhood Of The Wolf", "Resident Evil: Apocalypse", "The Mummy Returns", "Highlander: Endgame", "The League Of Extraordinary Gentleman", "Rising Sun", "The Duel", "Romeo Must Die", "Kill Bill", "Spawn", "Xavier Gens 'Hitman'", "Once Upon A Time In China 2", "Legend Of The Wolf", "The Twins' Effect", S.P.L., Dragon Tiger Gate, Flashpoint and the upcoming sci-fi action film starring Bai Ling, "The Gene Generation".