 "Not sweetened with time..." | 2009-09-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: AK0CENM3LUM28 |
Vampire Hunter D / B00004Y7JH
*Spoilers*
When I reviewed Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust, I noted my frustrating with the character of "D" who is, in "Bloodlust" so perfect as to be an uninteresting cipher. Here, on the other hand, "D" is a much more interesting character - although still immensely powerful, he makes the occasional mistake, and he is capable of becoming emotional when dealing with a vulnerable woman and her frightened young brother, even going so far as to reach out and befriend them. For that character development alone, I'll give "Vampire Hunter D" a better rating than "Bloodlust".
Having said that, I should take this opportunity to note that if you're not already a fan of this particular anime, this movie probably won't convert you. The animation is very dated, and while I don't demand classic anime to look or feel 'modern', it is still crucial to be able to tell what's going on. The "ubiquitous monochromatic colored background" effect is used liberally, especially in fights and fleeing scenes, and I'm afraid watching a woman run jerkily in place while a blue "background" streaks behind her just doesn't get my pulse pounding. D himself flings himself over cliffs and through haunted castles, but often in such a manner that the viewer is faintly confused - how did he know where the castle was located?
Then again, it may be possible that the castle's location was posted as the nearest cross-roads - the movie can't quite decide how it wants to treat vampires. The setting here is "Futuristic Western", but the only 'futuristic' aspects are the electric fences around the ranches. Vampires seem to be less of a breed and more of a nobility in this world, and the movie seems uncertain whether or not humans can be turned. Does Doris face vampirism in her future, or is she just to be used up as a human play-thing? ("Bloodlust" takes the more common route in this regard and is very plain and upfront that the ingénue *can* be turned and that this is a fate to be avoided.) On the other hand, again like "Bloodlust", minor characters can be turned into vampire slaves at the convenience of the baddies. It's not even clear what constitutes being a half-vampire like D - the local Count boasts a daughter who is revealed, to her surprise and disgust, to be half-human, but you'd think she would have NOTICED that fact about herself if it meant she had different abilities and/or limitations. You could say that she's only "half-human" in the sense of origin - i.e., that her mother was a human-turned-vampire and not a born-vampire, but then it seems odd that the same Dhampir label would be applied to her.
Finally, I really don't think it's too much to ask that at least one of these "Vampire Hunter D" movies explain D's talking, magical hand. It's not exactly a standard item, and I don't think I'm being unreasonable to expect a bit of backstory on that.
If you're a fan of the Vampire Hunter D series, I think it's safe to say you'll like this movie, but if you're just looking for a new, fresh anime movie to get into, I'd pass on D, unless you can find it at budget price. |
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 ""Old school" anime never fails." | 2009-08-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3N9KOH1QJMV3R |
| I first started developing a serious interest in anime in 1999. I was in a record store called Plan 9 and came across this title while looking for another anime called Vampire Princess Miyu. I was skeptical at first, but then thought, "What the heck?" I'm glad I made that purchase, because this anime is dark, bloody, risque and a landmark achievement. The introduction itself gives me chills just THINKING about it! Considering that this anime was made in 1985, WAY before I even knew what anime was, or what it stood for, I think everyone who was apart of the Urban Vision team were YEARS ahead of their time. And interestingly enough, Vampire Hunter D takes place years ahead in the future. But not quite the future one would come to expect as far as technological advances are concerned. The firearms that some of the villagers posses are quite futuristic I guess, but don't expect to see an atmosphere that's comparable to let's say, The Jetson's. Overall it's an epic anime, and it's now 24 years old. So do yourself or another anime fan a favor and buy it. I swear you won't regret it. |
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| "Great Anime!!!!" | 2009-07-28 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1RQJXJVL29QYZ |
| This has to by one of if not my favourite animes off all time. The first time I saw this movie was back in the early nineties, (my sister and brother-in-law rented it) and I again saw it on the Sci-Fi Channel in 1993. Great story and great character design. I enjoyde "BloodLust" too. It would be cool if they made a live action movie of this. |
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| "Oldschool..." | 2009-07-19 |
| - Reviewed By bigfootsalienbaby |
| VAMPIRE HUNTER D was made in 1985. So, if you cannot handle animation that looks "dated", beware! As for me, I love this movie w/ its dark, caustic atmosphere, vampires, werewolves, mutants, and monsters! I like Doris, her brother Dan, and the Doctor. Of course, the title character is the best thing about VHD. He's sort of a Clint Eastwood / Van Helsing hybrid w/ a dark secret of his own. The first time he took off his left glove, my jaw hit my knee! Fabulous stuff for all true ani-monsters... |
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| "Excellent Product, Excellent Service" | 2009-06-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2HWR0KPMSAJS1 |
| DVDs were what I expected but cases got beat up beyond use by the mail service. When I informed the seller of this, they immediately sent two replacement cases even though the original cracked cases weren't their fault. I couldn't be happier with the DVDs or the prompt e-mail response I received and the replacement cases that were sent. Truly top-notch service |
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| "ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATS - "DATED" ANIMATION OR NOT" | 2009-05-11 |
| - Reviewed By fmwaalex |
VAMPIRE HUNTER D
I have been watching anime since I can remember or at least since I was able to get my hands on it many moons ago. This one in particular is one of my favorites of all time and regardless of what any one tells me this will forever be in my one of the best ever. I know that some will say that I like this film just because it is older and is widely considered a classic while others will say that I should not rate it so high because of dated animation or what have you. All I can say to that is both of your points are true, this is the older film and is considered a classic by most and by today's standards it is dated. But that is were you are at fault for being overly judgmental and not understanding certain things.
Let's say that the dated argument is a legitimate flaw to the film but by that logic all those who say that about this film and praise "Bloodlust" so much for its looks will have to go back on that at some point. For those who love the second so much because of the animation just think of what the next film will look like especially if there is as much a time delay as there was between these first two. By the logic of the first is not so much a classic because of dated animation then that would mean eventually one would have to take back all the positives of the second in favor of the new and highly polished third film if there is to be one.
Don't get me wrong I love both films and enjoy both equally because I don't judge one against the other as far as animation. Story telling, voice acting, and even direction will always be up for debate because those are really constant from different time periods, there are those who do those well in every generation. The thing that is truly unfair is judging something based on things it can't help, animation gets better over the years because of the progression of technology and budgets. Therefore judging for the time period and such I would say this is excellent.
I love the animation in this first one mainly because it gives an other worldly and dark feel to the film, to be honest with out this animation the film may not have been the same. Be honest and really think about this, do you really think this would be better with the production value of the second film. The second film is a romance tell when it really comes down to it, therefore I think that the polished look and feel to the animation adds onto the over all storyline. Were as the fist film is about a girl taken against her will by creatures of the night that have a bloodlust as deep as their master, this film is more about the evil in that world not the beauty that could be. That means the grainy [dated] and dark feel of the animation is a perfect fit.
Now finally on to the actual film, "Vampire Hunter D". This first film is said to be based on the first in the series of books I believe, I have bought all of them so far but I have yet to find to time to read them. So to say this is the case would not be true n my part. What is true is it is based on the series and it's characters but I will have to read the first book to find the actual stories source material. As far as I know this is loosely based on the first book and did make some changes in the film version, but all is forgiven because I love this anime. "Vampire Hunter D" was brought to life on the screen by director Toyoo Ashida based on the works of D creator Hideuki Kikuchi, to me these two are legends because they helped create one of my favorite characters/stories/films of all time.
Our story is about a dhampir or dunpeal [which do you prefer] named D which means his of both vampire and human decent as his mother was human and you guessed it his father was a vampire. When we first happen upon D it is after a night spent with a girl named Doris [werewolf hunter like her father] who after hunting down some unfriendly creatures is bitten by a rather large fellow named Count Magnus Lee. Turns out that in the year 2,090 A.D. vampires and things like them are coming to an end even after many many years of ruling the lands. Well this Count is still holding on to all those old memories of ruling because he rules the land and all those in it just by taking what he wants, and what he wants is Doris.
Well this would not be what it is with out a skilled vampire hunter and he arrives in the form of D, who after easily dealing with Doris's attack on him agrees to help her in her fight with the Count. Of course Magnus is not a fan of this and sends his goons out to get her and each time D is there to either stop them or rescue the girl. The story really is that simple but the characters in this film are very interesting and the straightforward story telling of the first is excellent. The dark tone and feel of the movie is great and the fights, gore, and action are excellent. It doesn't hurt that the count has a pretty and interesting daughter who is opposed to his wanted arrangement with Doris. Add in some crazy looking creatures and vampires along with some more interesting characters like the majors cocky son and you have one great anime.
The acting is good especially for D { Michael McConnohie in the English version and Kaneto Shiozawa in the original} and Count Lee { Seiz Kat in the original and Jeff Winkless in the English}. Also it should be noted that Carl Macek is the man who produced and directed the English version of this film. Any way all involved on both sides should be commended.
As far as I can tell most people either love it or like it because I never have really meet any one who hated this film. And those who only like it seem to be the ones who judge it based on the animation thing, there are those who only like it but prefer the second film based on story, structure, acting or what ever. Those seem like more legitimate reasons to prefer the second film over this one not just disliking it more because of "dated" animation. Any way different people have different taste and for me this is a classic by far as is the second one in my opinion, I don't know maybe I am just a sucker for vampires. Also there is a huge thing about what his real name is like D could not be his real name at all, what if it is? Also he could just ride under the title Vampire Hunter D as in Vampire Hunter dhampir or dunpeal. But you could also say that D is the initial of his very famous vampiric fathers name, now who do you think that could be?
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