1. Blade II (2002)
When it comes to sequels that are better than the original, Blade II is always part of the conversation. Directed by Guillermo Del Toro, the second film follows Blade as he is forced to team up with an elite squad of highly-trained vampires in order to hunt a new species of bloodsucker known as reapers. Expanding the franchise’s cast and mythos considerably, Blade II is an excellent follow-up.
Between Del Toro’s characteristic flair for brilliant visual effects and a staggering supporting cast including Kris Kristofferson, Norman Reedus, Ron Perlman, and Donnie Yen, Blade II really is a world apart. It improves in almost every way upon the original’s strengths, and elaborates upon the world of vampires and Blade’s role within it. Its action sequences are more impressive, and the film on the whole is incredibly atmospheric action-horror.
It’s these reasons that make Blade II the best of the Snipes trilogy. As three connected but largely standalone films, each can be judged purely on its own merits, and the second film comes out convincingly on top. When looking at every Blade movie, Blade II is head and shoulders above the others in the trilogy.
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