Despite its inventive and visceral visual style, "Blade II" is still a B-movie — with the "B" part likely standing for blood, and plenty of it.

In fact, this horror/action-thriller — a sequel to the surprise 1998 hit — is so extremely graphic and gory in its depiction of vampire violence that it's a wonder the film didn't receive an NC-17 rating.

That said, those who can stomach the grotesque, sometimes-cartoonish gore may get a kick out of the film. For one thing, it's definitely an improvement on the first "Blade," since it doesn't take itself so deadly seriously.

And though the film's maker, Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro, is known more for cerebral and creepy horror films (1993's "Cronos," last year's "The Devil's Backbone"), his latest is filled with wall-to-wall action that may leave you breathless, if a bit queasy.

This all-too-inevitable sequel takes place two years after the events of the first movie and immediately jumps into the action as its half-human, half-vampire title character (Wesley Snipes) attempts to rescue his mentor Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) — who, it turns out, isn't dead but instead has been "vamped" by Blade's enemies.

Needless to say, Blade's not happy about that and is looking for vengeance. But to his surprise, he discovers that the Vampire Nation is offering a truce, because they're running scared from something bigger and scarier than themselves.

These creatures, called Reapers, are hunting vampires for food and are multiplying at an alarming rate. So Blade finds himself teamed up with a pack of vampires, all of whom were originally trained to take him down. So even if he can find a way to stop the Reapers, he may have to face his new allies later.

It could be argued that Del Toro has swiped the film's fast-paced, brutal action style from "The Matrix," though, if anything, this is even more adrenaline-charged and less comic-bookish. And he has a hero in Snipes who actually looks convincing in the fight scenes. (Snipes also seems to have found the right take on the character, who is a funnier and more imposing figure this time out.)

The supporting cast is also solid, with Kristofferson adding needed levity and Ron Perlman, Luke Goss and Thomas Kretschmann making threatening villains.

"Blade II" is rated R for intense, graphic violence (gunfire, stabbings, impalings and vampiric attacks), considerable gore, frequent use of strong, sexually related profanity, simulated drug use (marijuana, cocaine and scenes of hypodermic usage), use of crude sexual slang terms, a brief scene of torture and glimpses of nude photos. Running time: 110 minutes.

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