Blade: Trinity (2004)

Even the most relentless hunter eventually needs allies, especially when the enemy is the very first of its kind. David S. Goyer's "Blade: Trinity," written and directed by the franchise's longtime screenwriter, will please even skeptical fans who come ready to sink their teeth into it. The law of diminishing returns is clearly at work, and the series is starting to wear out its welcome, but let's face it: any movie featuring Jessica Biel as a tough, ass-kicking, bow-wielding vampire hunter and Parker Posey - yes, Parker Posey! - as a scenery-chewing vampire villainess can't be all bad. Wesley Snipes returns as Blade, the half-human, half-vampire warrior, now playing it with an even more deadpan edge. After he's framed for murder by the vampires, Blade teams up with the Nightstalkers, a band of young hunters led by Abigail Whistler (Biel), daughter of his late mentor (Kris Kristofferson), and her wisecracking partner, Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds), who provides much of the comic relief. Aiming for mainstream appeal, Goyer trades suspense for campy humor and choppy, confusing action. Still, the franchise offers some intriguing ideas, including Drake (Dominic Purcell), the original vampire, better known as Dracula, whose blood holds a secret that could wipe out vampires forever, and a chilling "blood farm" where captive humans are kept in suspended animation and drained.