Though a select few action sequences are all but ruined by entirely too obvious and woefully uncanny CGI body doubles, the majority of this piece is palpably gooey and stylishly slick both in its overall presentation, this time steeped in the slightly Gothic horror of Guillermo del Toro, and its set-pieces, which mostly infuse fantastic choreography with tangibly painful practical effects to coolly cringe-inducing effect. It maintains its confidently laid-back spirit and calmly assured bad-ass protagonist, this time expanding the luscious lore that surrounds both and only making a couple of missteps with the narrative. Its pace and tone are consistent right until its much improved finale, and even the few plot issues don't ruin the effect of a piece with just as much bark as bite. 7/10
Review of Blade II
