Nonureva
Really Surprised!
Glucedee
It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.
ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
dee.reid
I first got into Japanese animation (Anime') when I was a freshman in high school 16 years ago. During the summer of 2001, I got swept up in an Anime' binge. "Vampire Hunter D" (1985) and its sequel "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" (2000) were amongst some of the earliest Anime' features I ever watched."Vampire Hunter D" is a staple of my movie collection, but I haven't seen "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" in quite some time. I just got done watching it today. This film is routinely regarded as a superior sequel to the 1985 original, which was an Anime' adaptation of the Japanese sci-fi/horror novel series created by Hideyuki Kikuchi.One of the reasons for the success - even if the film is uneven in some spots - of "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" is due to its director, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who also directed the classic Anime' films "Ninja Scroll" (1993) (my favorite film from the man) and "Wicked City" (1987), the latter of which was also an adaptation of a work by Hideyuki Kikuchi (which I've also read). Kawajiri is a master Japanese animation craftsman, as well as being notorious in the Anime' industry for making films that were explicit both in terms of extreme violence and sexuality/nudity."Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" has a lot of gory violence in it, but there's no sex in it whatsoever - showing that Kawajiri is exercising some restraint here. This film looks gorgeous, and has a sci-fi, neo-Gothic look and tone to it. Like the first film, the sequel "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" combines horror and science fiction with some elements of westerns and supernatural fantasy - though this actually becomes more apparent in this film than its 1985 predecessor.The film series, like those of the books, is set in the not-too-distant future where supernatural beasts like werewolves, goblins, demons and of course, vampires, rule the land. Humans live in fear of what lurks outside their doors at night, but there's one who fears none of them: D, a half-man, half-vampire hunter known as a "dunpeal" ("dhampir" to the rest of us).In this film, a beautiful young woman named Charlotte Elbourne is kidnapped from her bedroom one night by the extremely powerful nobleman bloodsucker Meier Link. Charlotte's family offers a massive bounty to bring her back at all costs - alive or dead. So D takes up the offer, but he's not working alone. The notorious Marcus Brothers - Borgoff, Kyle, Nolt, and two hangers-on including the psychic Groove and the orphaned Leila - are also out to collect the bounty, though circumstances force D and at the very least Leila to form an uneasy alliance to stop Link and rescue Charlotte.This is a sumptuous, gorgeous-looking Gothic Anime' feature. I'm glad that the strong visuals - which remained etched in my mind since I first saw the movie back in high school - still hold up after all these years. In fact, I remember the visuals and some of the set designs as being the strongest visual element from this picture, and the one thing that I remembered most about it. (And upon my viewing today, I thought I realized a visual reference toward the end of the film to Elizabeth Bathory, the so-called "Blood Queen of Hungary.")Though the film falters in some spots with regard to the action scenes and some of the characters, I still thoroughly enjoyed "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust."8/10
heath-jeffrey
The original, Vampire Hunter D (1985), was a decent action anime movie. D is a mysterious but ultimately flat character, and there was a tiny twist at the end (explaining why D was chosen as his name), but ultimately it was a pure action movie. Simple plot and simple characters to show off a series of amazing anime battles and to show off D as a Gothic superhero.But the sequel, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000), was thoroughly amazing.It kept the amazing anime battles, going even further with unique abilities and effects that only anime could easily show. It kept D as a Gothic superhero. But it added a unique plot, perhaps riffing off Romeo & Juliet, but with a lot more to it than that. Around that plot it built a human story, about love and racism and the difference between loneliness and solitude, about friendship and real loss. And it introduced and developed a wide range of interesting characters. It did all that without detracting from the action and while maintaining a great pace.And right where you'd think such an ambitious movie would falter - tying it all up appropriately at the end - it really hit the mark. A truly satisfying ending - not too happy, not too sad; not easy to anticipate in full, but not unbelievable in the context nor a 'wake up from a dream' twist that's actually just a write-off; and ties up a number of strings related to plot or character development.And one thing that's easy to escape notice: despite D still being the same, flat, 'does nothing but fight' character, that character feels well developed in this movie. How? Cleverly managed through the way the other characters and the similarities and differences in the various relationships kind of tell his story for him.An exceptional movie.
Donald F
Vampire Hunter D is a wild time, that still keeps a good story. A mixture of sci-fi, Gothic, and fantasy, the setting is beautiful and unique. Both our heroes and our villains display fascinating powers, so their combat is exhilarating, a breath of fresh air that doesn't run dry.Character isn't ignored, either. Most characters are likable and dodge clichés. The plot starts simply enough, but gradually unravels to go against expectations. And of course, the silent, elegant D is pretty cool.The animation is top notch, especially considering all that goes on. Everything is dark, colorful, and detailed. The character designs are a bit odd, but its doesn't dent the rating.There's not much else to say about Bloodlust. Its what action anime should aim to be. I personally find it hilarious that its directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. After making the most prototypical bad anime in the 80s and 90s, he is the one to bring maturity to the Vampire Hunter D name. Unless you really have a beef against animation or action flicks, I'd highly recommend it to anybody.
WakenPayne
This is as far as I have gone into animes that are not based on things that I like, I was recommended to this because I liked the movie 9. 9 is much better than this I am sorry to say.Enter D - The half human/vampire reference to Yojimbo. He is asked to retreive a girl that is kidnapped by the vampire Meier Link. He accepts before hearing that a group of bounty hunters are also after the girl. When he reaches the girl and Meier, Meier states that they are very much in love. D decides to take the girl because of her safety from Meier because of his bloodlust.The one MAJOR complaint I have is that there are scenes that have Meier and Charlotte talking about their love. It might sound like "what's wrong with that" here it is one of the most forced things I have ever sat through. It feels numb.As far as the English voices go - this one has very good voice actors and voice parts. Andrew Philpot has done it right by making this nameless half vampire so Yojimbo-like but also, in a weird way you sympathise with D because of some of the acting.I will go out and look for more Kawajiri stuff - I will start with the Highlander movie he did.
