With a Matrix inspired score, excellent fight sequences, explosions and a slew of new characters, the third installment in the Blade franchise suffers from one fatal defect: a story we haven’t seen twice before and better.

Look at any plot writeup for Blade I/II and you’ll have more than you need to know about the Blade III. The vampires of the world are mad about Blade hunting them and they conspire to resurrect/build/assemble the “ultimateâ€? Blade killer. Whatever.

Sure, there are great moments in this film, Blade fighting the original vampire ( don’t call him Dracula ), Parker Posey as a vampire, Ryan Reynolds as a recovering vampire, Jessica Biel naked in the shower, vampire blood dripping off her supple, naked body. Mmm…Jessica Biel. But there aren’t enough great moments or Jessica Biel nude to counteract that not so fresh feeling.

Three things that work about this movie:

1) Fight scenes are better than Blade I or II. Good.

2) Ode de Matrix score really did help. Very good.

3) Jessica Biel in the shower. Very, very good.

Three things that need improvement:

1) The script.

2) The director. MTV inspired spastic-cam cuts do not a action/drama make.

3) See 1 and 2.

Verdict: DVD/video rental. DVD purchase ill advised unless freeze frame viewing Jessica Biel for eternity is paramount.

Steve Zissou Life Aquatic breaks all the rules of formula. Assemble a lesser known cast, construct a bizarre story that pays homage to a man most people can’t recall ( Jacques Costeau or somebody like that ), add a generous heaping of dry humor and death at the box office is a virtual lock.

For every bucket of popcorn hurled at the screen, there were belly laughs. It’s a dramedy and a smart one at that, the poignant and bitter story of a man at the end of a career that’s been over for years as he forges a relationship with a long forsaken son.

I liked this movie a lot but can’t recommend it, unless one finds the director’s earlier films Royal Tannebaums or Rushmore amusing. Wes Anderson takes a highly non conventional approach to story telling, one that delivers rich rewards, although the journey is not for everyone.

What works about this movie:

1)Bill Murray is THE MAN!

2)The offbeat humor.

3)The dude singing David Bowie songs in Portuguese. That guy is going places.

Verdict: Like the Royal Tannebaums? Check out Steve Zissou Life Aquatic, full price and buy the DVD. There really is nothing like a Wes Anderson spectacle.