![]() It is the second part of the first version of Vampire Hunter D in which aired in the US in the 1980s. This is a badass anime that once you watch, you'll get hooked. It's worth buying and watching several times over. ![]() The combat scenes were fantastic, the violence was proportional to the story, and the film was well paced, unlike it's crude 1980's predecessor. The movie's conclusion pushed the anime limits of cheese (I think they tried to make this film a bit too Americanized, hence the English-speaking characters). The visuals and animation are breathtaking, and the subtle yet intense music compliments the different moods. However, the rest was stunning, and the Marcus Gang and Barberoi were each clever and creative. It also slowed the movie down in tense moments. We can understand the passion and angst of their forbidden love by the situations the characters don't have to say what's on their mind all the time. The only gripe I have is I think the Meyer-Charlotte romance was a bit too overplayed and over-verbalized, like Disney or something. Each facet of the film is done with obvious detail and quality. This is a thoroughly excellent movie, and rivals Macross and Ghost in the Shell as my favorite anime feature films. Not much to say after that since Bloodlust speaks for itself. This would be on my top 10 list of all-time favorites. Enough story and action to keep you interested. That paved the way (along with other Streamline Pictures' movies) for many of the new anime we have seen and have yet to be seen. I certainly won't knock on the animation of the original. Between the original and Bloodlust's animation, of course Bloodlust wins that contest. ![]() Bloodlust focuses on two points, 1) A "forbidden love" with a vampire and human, and 2) D chase to retrieve the human at any cost. To do a quick compare and contrast with the original VHD movie, the original is very dark and focused on the hero, D. The animation is stunning along with the characters. This is what Vampire Hunter D is all about. I should have done a review of this a long time ago. If you want a great vampire hunting movie, Bloodlust should do the job very well for you. Action scenes were very fluid and quite the sight to behold as not a single bit of detail was lost during any fights in this movie. D's design made him look much more like a vampire this time around in the movie. Character designs did well to relect the dark mood of this series with a great amount od detail. Artwork for this movie was very slick featuring dark colors and dreary, gothic environments that fit with the mood of this movie. With all this going on, characters are more fleshed out in personality and are just as interesting to check out as D. (And whether that was done in part to placate US censors or audiences, I obviously can’t say, but it was a nice change from Kawajiri).While there is still barely any depth given to D's character, this movie is an improvement over the original Vampire Hunter D by featuring a storyline with plot twists and revelations concerning the characters that will keep you watching the movie. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is also something of a tragic love story and so if you’re looking for the kinda crass sexual content sometimes found in his other films, you won’t get it here. I think Bloodlust is not as much a gore-fest either, and perhaps it’s even somewhat toned down for Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who was behind Ninja Scroll, Wicked City etc. On almost every level this adaptation is superior to the 1985 one, though in a way it’s not as bold, nor do we get the same feel for D as a character this time around. (It’s not until later that we meet the real Vampires once again the arrogant noble-types). The opening alone feels like a lesson in establishing both setting and mood – but it soon leads to the main plot – the rescue mission of a maiden ensnared by a vampire, and then it’s straight to the first impressive fight sequence as D and competing bounty hunters rip through some of the shambling zombie-type vampires. There’s not a lot of time for character development either, but the scene-setting and atmosphere-building (via the creepy OST and the beautifully gothic visuals) aren’t ignored by any stretch. There’s still room to breathe and reflect here and there, and plenty of fighting and gore, but the pacing is brisk as D seeks his bounty through increasingly grim scenes. I like it because it’s more functional in terms of a descriptor – since the film is kinda one long chase sequence. Instead, the source material probably has a more accurate title perhaps – the third novel in Hideyuki Kikuchi’s series that makes up the key aspects of the movie was called Demon Deathchase.
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