The Blade series has its own rules you should expect when you see it. They are intended as fun, action packed horror flicks. This formula has worked twice to keep Blade a success story. With that said, Blade: Trinity acts as a peculiar hybrid combination of the first two films. Visually, there are times the movie looks cinematically like the first film, and others times when it gets just as colorful as Blade II. Unfortunately, Blade: Trinity is the lesser installment on the trilogy totem pole.

The movie however is moderately entertaining, and holds enough highlights to consider its result slightly more positive than negative. From a story standpoint, things are interesting by actually bringing the Nightstalkers, and Dracula into the fold of a modern day vampire world, but beyond them a lot of the supporting actors are lacking in talent and good screen presence. Parker Posey is a bigger over-actor than William Shatner, and she tries to make too much emphasis on her character by forcefully trying to control the scene (as she did even back in Scream 3). She is annoying to the eye and the ear. Natasha Lyonne, a reject from American Pie, definitely doesn’t work as a blind heroic scientist. Even Triple H outshines these guys, and he’s a pro wrestler! Even though Wesley Snipes can play Blade in his sleep, he pretty much takes a back seat to the new additions of the Nightstalkers. On the most positive note, the MVP effort of the film, beyond a shadow of a doubt belongs to Ryan Reynolds. Imagine Van Wilder as a hard-ass and you have his interpretation of Hannibal King. Every comedic line of dialogue Reynolds delivers not only works, but it is hilarious. His memorable lines will live on for years to come.

The DVD package is considerably impressive. This is the "Extreme Version" that not only has the original theatrical cut, but also an extended un-rated edition with an extra 10 minutes and an alternate ending. Having seen both, my official recommendation is the theatrical cut. By the end, it makes more sense, and has a stronger narrative. There is nothing worthwhile in the additional 10 minutes on the un-rated version. Both presentations have strong picture, with powerful sound (sometimes far too overpowering in the 6.1 DTS mode in terms of sound vs. dialogue, but the 5.1 EX mode is stellar). The extensive multi-part Behind the Scenes/Documentary on Blade: Trinity’s filmmaking is the best of the extras (one in particular details how a cinematographer can digitally change colors in a shot, and brighten the image, which is something I have never seen before as a DVD extra). The blooper real is only funny once Ryan Reynolds gets on an improvisational roll (his Celine Dion line is the topper).

The commentaries are also better when Reynolds offers his audio (Snipes is not surprisingly absent from any commentary, considering he’s currently suing New Line Cinema). The Goyer on Goyer bit (where he interviews himself from director to scriptwriter) is a little self-absorbed, and high on the nerd meter, avoid this one. In the trailer section, there are more than just the ones for Blade: Trinity; you can also find one for Wedding Crashers, and a serious selling plug for The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King: Extended Edition. Then for you comic lovers (like myself), there is a fun Blade mini-comic on the inside of the case that highlights Abigail Whistler’s relationship with her father, how she first met Hannibal King when he was a vampire, and what led up to them rescuing Blade after his arrest.