VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST
Reviewed by Cynthia Wu |
| Synopsis |
| In the distant future, vampires are feared and hunted by men. When the beautiful daughter of a rich and powerful man is kidnapped by the vampire Meier Link, two competing groups of hunters are hired to bring her back. One of them is the (in)famous D, a half-vampire, half-human Dunpeal hunter. Kick-ass action ensues with gorgeous animation. The angst-filled story is cliché, and the dialogue can be dreadfully painful at times. Still, the film manages to be moving and memorable, even for an anti-action, plot driven reviewer like yours truly. |
| PLOT: 60% |
| On the most obvious level, the plot is one big, simple chase. As the hunt evolves, more is revealed about the memories that haunt and motivate the two protagonists, D and Leila (a hunter from the competing group). The reason why Meier Link kidnaps Charlotte also drives the plot. The story is beautifully angsty, although not necessarily more so (or more creatively so) than any other vampire movie. While the plot is tolerable, what really irks me about the movie is the (occasionally) cheesy and pretentious dialogue. Proclaiming one’s love repeatedly is generally NOT the most effective way to convince the audience that you love someone. Although, one should not be surprised considering that the movie introduces its main character with the following lines: “At war with himself, feared by all, tortured and alone, he is… Vampire Hunter D.” (Disclaimer: I watched the movie with English dubbing—so I’m rendered especially sensitive to badly-enacted dialogue. I might have been a lot less critical had I seen the movie with subtitles, as I could attribute the cheesiness to bad subbing.) |
| CHARACTERS: 80% |
| The character design is something that won the movie over for me. Absolute poise seems to radiate off of D and Meier (so yeah, I admit, I have a thing for capes). Charlotte’s character as the typically vulnerable female is annoying but beautifully designed with flowing red curls and a white dress, while Leila’s wide green eyes and closely cropped hair suggest hope veiled in skepticism. The rest of Leila’s hunting troupe as well as their adversaries all have unique and wonderful character designs. One thing though—I can’t fight the nagging suspicion that someone stole the character design for Dios (from Revolutionary Girl Utena) for Meier. The scene where he is carrying Charlotte up the castle’s elevator strongly reminded me of a scene from the series—an awkward realization that made me laugh at the most inappropriate time. The protagonists’ back stories, while somewhat overused, are still moving given a certain suspension of disbelief. As long as they kept their mouths shut, the characters were wonderful. It’s a good thing that almost all of the protagonists are the silent type. |
| ART: 95% |
| One word: awesome. The backgrounds are meticulously rendered, and the characters are intricatedly drawn. For me, the faces of the characters took a while getting used to, but the strong line work is truly well done. From ivy-covered Greek ruins in a forest to a crevasse-spanning bridge bathed in the blood-red hues of the setting sun, the breathtaking backgrounds is simply unparalleled. You will not be disappointed by the artwork in this movie. |
| SOUNDTRACK: 80% |
| The soundtrack complements the movie well, and the sound effects are especially effective. Everything from the swooshing of a cape to the clang of a sword is meticulously placed. The ominously choral music that accompanies the introduction of Carmella’s majestic castle makes for an especially imposing sequence. |
| CONCLUSION: 80% Overall |
| There is no doubt that this movie was intended to be great in every aspect—and it nearly gets there as a whole. If only the script writers were a little less conscious of their intended greatness and a little more skilled. |
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