Aptly described by critic Roger Ebert as "a vomitorium of viscera,"
i Blade II
i0 takes the express route to sequel success. So if you enjoyed
i Blade
i0 , you'll probably drool over this monster mash, which is anything but boring. Set (and filmed) in Prague, the plot finds a new crop of "Reaper" vampires threatening to implement a viral breeding program, and they're nearly impervious to attacks by Blade (Wesley Snipes), his now-revived mentor Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), and a small army of "normal" vampires who routinely combust in a constant conflagration of spectacular special effects. It's up to Blade to conquer the
i 'fcber
i0 -vamps, and both Snipes and director Guillermo del Toro (
i Mimic
i0 ) serve up a nonstop smorgasbord of intensely choreographed action, creepy makeup, and graphic ultraviolence. It's sadistic, juvenile, numbing, and--for those who dig this kind of thing--undeniably impressive. With the ever-imposing Ron Perlman as a vampire villain.
i --Jeff Shannon