 "Decidedly Average" | 2009-09-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: AK0CENM3LUM28 |
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust / 638652109309
I'm very surprised to see that this film is rated so highly and by so many users - I must be in the minority, so take this review for whatever you think it's worth. That said, I felt that this anime was extremely average - not really bad, but definitely nothing good or worth seeing a second time.
First of all, the plot of the movie is exceedingly cliched - or rather, it feels like a bunch of cliches thrown together into a huge, lumpy mess. The "futuristic western" setting (where everything is complete spaghetti western except the better guns and shiny spaceships) works well in, say, Firefly, but just comes off as tired and unnecessary here, except as a deus ex for the climactic ending. Then there's the "kidnapped girl who really isn't" that we've seen so many times before, as well as the enemy that the hero comes to respect in the end. And as for the main characters, there's the standard anime stereotype pick-and-mix - the angry woman who lacks basic reasoning skills but comes around to the pretty-faced hero in the end, and the pretty-faced hero himself who lacks any flaws, personality, or interesting characteristics.
Maybe it's because I'm a woman, or maybe it's because I've seen anime females handled so much *better* (Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa), but the woman hunter in this movie is just completely unlikable and unrealistic. After having sustained an upper chest wound and awakened to find that her half-vampire rival has bandaged her wound, she isn't guardedly polite with a cold 'thank you' or realistically worried with a 'what did you do to me' query (the stoic 'I dressed your wound - that is all' response, called from over the shoulder as he rides away, practically writes itself) or cautiously suspicious with a simple 'what do you want from me', oh no. Somehow the writers thought it was realistic for her to start screaming irately "Oh, I guess you think you can take people's tops off whenever you please!!!" which just isn't realistic for the situation - if *nothing* else, it's a basic human survival mechanism to be at least minimally polite to a powerful adversary in hopes of escaping a situation where you are at a disadvantage.
But, then again, *none* of the hunters seem to have much in the way of a survival mechanism - they're more than willing to suicidally fling their lives away because "no one will ever fear us again if we give up now"......an odd statement, considering that no one has feared them YET in the entire movie, largely due to their massive incompetence.
As for "D" himself, he's lacking in anything interesting. He's half human, but has no humanity - he rarely speaks, he never makes a single mistake in the *entire* movie, he has no personality or flaws, and therefore he is uninteresting. I would bet any money that the actual backstory this movie evolved out of probably featured a D who was conflicted by his past, tormented by his hunger, and mourning his loneliness, but none of that comes over into the movie and all we have is a bland, androgynous hero who is so perfect that the fight scenes lack any tension because D not only never loses - he never even gets scratched.
Speaking of the fight scenes, the fights in "Bloodlust" are so brief and perfunctory they might as well not even be there at all. Ninja Scroll featured some nicely animated, reasonable length fights - often with interesting or clever dialogue, but the fights in "Bloodlust" feel rushed. One interesting villain - a woman who can change the elemental makeup of her body - is so overpowered (mere decapitation doesn't faze her) that the only way they could think to kill her was to have her struck down by lightning in the middle of a rainstorm, which is a bit disappointing - villains should die because of fatal mistakes or clever strategy on the part of the heroes and not because Thor was feeling helpful that day.
In the end, much of the movie felt like a slow grind to the finish. Main characters die off in predictable intervals, far too many coincidences occur to aid the heroes out of tight spaces, the doomed couple make enough stupid mistakes to choke a donkey, and the angry immature woman finally comes around because she's charmed by D's propensity to sound like a fortune cookie dispenser (when he talks at all) and because the movie needs her to in order to wrap things up. It's all pretty bland and standard affair, although I was amused that everyone was able to get past the fact that the poor, maligned boyfriend vampire had killed an entire town in an attempt to slow the heroes down. Those wacky love-struck vampires!
It's worth noting that the production quality of this movie seems extremely poor. The graphics seem washed out and bland, and not in a savvy gloomy deliberate way. The sound mix is terrible - characters practically whisper their lines but the sound effects shriek so loudly the windows shake. We were constantly having to adjust the volume up to hear the dialogue, while then scrambling to turn it back down when the sound effects kicked in. To make matters *worse*, there are no English subtitles included, and I can't remember the last time I saw a movie (anime or otherwise) that didn't offer subs for the hearing impaired. Coupled with the propensity of the characters to whisper and mutter most of their lines, it almost seemed that the movie didn't *want* to be heard, which might have been a prudent decision, all told.
As I say, I did not enjoy this movie - a rarity when I like most anime and nearly every vampire and half-vampire movie I've seen. But you might still want to give it a try (or a rental), since so many people do seem to like it - tastes vary, after all. |
| |
 "BloodLust" | 2009-09-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A9IDH7GY5QBQ0 |
| Vampire Hunter D: BloodLust is one of the best anime movies that I have ever seen. It has a great story, lots of action, and beautiful animation. If you loved the first Vampire Hunter D, then BloodLust is the anime for you. |
| |
 "Cool Movie" | 2009-06-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: A345SWHJGFWWJV |
| This movie was pretty good, but it only had a portion of the essence that makes a lot of Anime instant classics and that make you want to watch them over and over. The art-work was fantastic and the scenes were pretty cool as far as action goes. But it is on no level like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, or even the Dragon Ball Z movies. I guess it was story line. It was a good movie, but unless your a Vampire Hunter D fan, this is just a one-watch and done. |
| |
| "LOVE IT AS MUCH AS THE FIRST" | 2009-05-14 |
| - Reviewed By fmwaalex |
VAMPIRE HUNTER D
BLOODLUST
The Vampire Hunter D films have always been some of my favorite animes ever; there is no doubt about it I am a huge fan of these stories. I have bought all of the books and such and while I have not read them yet rest assured I will and will most likely review those as well. But that aside I have loved this series since well before it was a series [the films I mean, I know the books are a series]. The first one just blew me away the first time I had the pleasure of viewing it so you know the second this was released I went straight out and bought it. Like I thought I enjoyed this one just as much as the first film, I don't know what it is but I just love this series.
D is back and this time he is hired to go after a vampire by the name of Meier Link, who has kidnapped the daughter of a wealthy man who has hired all the help he can get to get her back. So D id off and running [or riding, what ever] to catch up with them and get her back to her family. Little does he know that another group of hunters are already on Link's trail and do not appreciate D, it makes sense since he is the competition. This group is a bunch of guys and one girl called the Marcus brothers, a interesting bunch but none have any thing on D. even if that wasn't bad enough Link has a group of nasties of his own like Benge who can travel threw shadows, Caroline who is just as evil, and Machira the werewolf [real interesting guy here]. And if that wasn't enough there is also a place were Link will be protected by the world's rejects the Barbarois. Add the bloody Countess Carmila and you have a big test for D.
This is fun follow up to the classic first film and in my eyes is just as good, I love both no matter what any one else thinks. Like I said about the first animation has played a big factor for a lot of people but to me the better production values fit the romance story of this one, because that is really what this film is. The first film was about the evil of this world while this one is about the beauty that could be, a vampire and human in love. I like that the first film is mainly about D were as this one seems more like an ensemble piece. I mean sure it can get a little over done but hey I look at it like the more characters there are the bigger the body count, that just may be me though.
I also like that while brief there is a little e history to D in this one, when the old man remembers being rescued by D as a child. Perhaps that will be in a later film And if so that sounds like it could be a good tale, it might be one of the books that I have, I really need to read them. As for D you all know that he is insanely cool and mysterious and not one for talking that much. Meier Link is a cool enough looking vampire but he is one of those old school looking vampires, he can get vicious over his girl though. His girl Charlotte Elbourne is totally in love with his vampiric self and even wants him to bite her, crazy. They plan to fly away to the stars to a place were their love won't be forbidden.
The brothers Marcus are an intriguing bunch with one being the tough guy leader, one the hot shot, another wielding a huge weapon and one that while deathly ill can take an interesting course of action [check it out]. Then of course there is the female Leila who kinda plays [but not really, does that make sense] as the love interest to D even after various run ins with him, love the ending. Then we have the villains of the film like the Barbarois who are a bunch of crazy looking fellows who have vowed to help Link. And then of course there is Link's personal guard like Benge, Caroline, and of course our werewolf friend Machira. Still when it all comes down to it none of these characters are the bad guys, at least in a way because each is doing what they are doing for a noble cause [at least in their eyes]. It is the Bloody Countess Carmila who is the real evil of this film, see for yourself.
I recommend this film to any and all in fact you don't even have to watch the first one [even though you should] to enjoy this one. They both make for good stand alones but I recommend you buy both. This is an excellent anime and worth every penny.
|
| |
| "A Fresh Execution of Visual Poetry and Gritty, Cool Action Sequences!" | 2009-03-14 |
| - Reviewed By wtsgreatone |
The isolation and loneliness of being the result of a union between a vampire king and a human woman--a being called a Dunpeal, someone who can never belong to either side. Strong, powerful and able to resist sunlight for a period of time. The sequel to the 1985 anime hit, "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" once again takes us to the adventures of a lone hunter named D. Once again, this lone warrior rides for the cause of the righteous, wielding his sword along with his parasitic hand to hunt and destroy those who prey on the weak. Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, this sequel showcases better graphics, more fluid animation and occurs in a more advanced timeline. This sequel may not have a more intricate storyline than the original, but no one can deny that "Vampire Hunter D" is insanely cool and entertaining. (the only complaint I have about this dvd by Urban vision is the lack of the original Japanese language track)
In a post apocalyptic future, vampires rule the night but their number is slowly dwindling. D (voiced by Andrew Philpot) is a Dunpeal, a half human-half vampire who hunts vampires and protects the weak. When D is hired to rescue a young woman, Charlotte (Wendee Lee) from the clutches of a vampire named Meier Link (voiced by John Rafter Lee)--his instructions are very straight-forward, find her at any cost. However, D is faced with some competition with the Markus brothers, a family of vampire hunters who has been hired for the same purpose. D must intercept Meier before he can reach the castle of Carmila (Julia Fletcher). He must go through the forces of the Barbaroy in a race against time. D is alone and has not allegiance, save for the parasite who lives in his hand (voiced by Mike McShane); for he is despised by the very vampires he has sworn to hunt and hated by humans for his bloodline.
"Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust`s" main strength will have to be its gorgeous graphics and the enthralling world director Kawajiri had created. This post apocalyptic world is very enchanting in a very ominous and creepy manner. The architecture is an odd blend of creepy gothic style and almost high-tech designs. The costumes are given the same treatment, the band of hunters led by Borgoff (Matt Mckenzie) uses almost advanced weaponry with their tanks, knives and crossbows; but also has an ancient touch with a VERY big hammer that doubles as a wooden stake. The characters and villains are also very intriguing. Grove (Jack Fletcher) is one hunter who looks very sickly but can utilize his life-force to kill his opponents. Meier's band is also as intriguing as the rest, there's a lycan who has two faces, a woman who can change and control her limbs and one who can move around the shadows. Meier looks like a reject from one of those European vampire flicks--handsome, seductive and scary. Charlotte gives his character some balance, looking the way she does.
Certain elements also give us a hint of this world's way of life. The "Barbaroy" is a band of misfits and ghouls who also have their way of living--acting as a sort of mercenaries. There's a cemetery with vampire undead who look more like zombies than seductive blood suckers. The small town with a small human population has the rules of an olden western town, a sheriff is the main enforcer and there's a blacksmith who can still do this trade for a living. The set designs and characters all have that very ancient gothic feel that blends mysticism and technology.
The animation is quite impressive although I did notice a very minimal use of CGI, much of it are traditional cell animation. The action sequences are full of cool posturing, gore and a lot of blood--limbs are hacked off, heads are sliced in half and there is even a touch of magic in the fights as D confronted Carmila. The music and sound effects are also superb that gives the film a lot of atmosphere and style. The action is reminiscent of the original, and gives us a sense of nostalgia.
The film's story is rather simple and quite frankly, offers very little in the way of twists and turns. The romance between Meier and Charlotte may offer some surprises midway in the film, but this was somewhat overshadowed with the presence of the Markus band. Aside from Leila, (voiced by Pamela Segall) none of them proved essential elements to its story and felt more like minor plot devices to make the movie longer by inducing more action and thrills. It does succeed, but I rather hoped for a more fleshed out D, and his alienation and isolation more delved into. The fact that he is an individual rejected by both sides, but he chooses to protect humans needed to be further developed. His interactions with his parasite (funny that this parasite is abundant with knowledge and only helps him because if D dies, he dies too), allowed for some minor emotion and subtle humor. The film's final scene may be a little too short, and should have shown more emotion than the fact that D is immortal.
Despite some faults, "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" is a significant addition in the long list of anime legends. The film is a great movie with all the action with graphics such a leap forward from its predecessor, the problem is that the film has many perfunctory elements in the slow moments. The original film is superior is many ways but at least this sequel proved a great addition to the franchise. I wish there were more character development with D's left hand and its powers. Still, this anime film is highly recommended--it is solid and entertaining enough to ignore its faults. For a half-human, half-vampire Dunpeal, this film isn't bad at all.
Highly Recommended! [4 Stars]
|
| |
| "Move Over, D, Meier is Here!" | 2009-02-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: AKLNFR177GP7Y |
With some fantastically elegant animation and great adaptation of the original Novel, Vampire Hunter D: Demon Deathchase (which is a must-read for those who love the movie), this tells the tale of a Noble and the young girl who loves him and their attempt to flee the world they're living in, and the great dhampir hunter D, who is hired to follow. Meier Link is the name of the elegant Noble to takes the beautiful Charlotte to flee in this almost Romeo and Juliet style film.
However! For those who get drawn into movies really well, this one is a tearjerker, and I highly reccomend a box of tissues! For die-hard Vampire Hunter D fans and for newcomers alike, this movie is sure to please one and all! |
| |
Expedited Available
