View Larger Image |
Vampire Hunter D Directors: Carl Macek, Toyoo Ashida Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Academy Ratio Format: Color, Animated, Dolby Audience Rating: Unrated Running Time: 80 minutes Studio: Urban Vision Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2000-10-17 Buy from Amazon |
 "Vampires of the Future"This is a really fun movie. Fans of horror from the old days will adore this film. However, seasonned anime fans may find it a bit dry as it doesn't have the deapth of so many films in it's genre. See it if you're the kind who goes to midnight movies.  "Great movie, bad DVD."This is a truly classic Japanese anime film, deserving of the royal DVD treatment. Unfortunately this DVD is NOT it. The movie's plot is well documented here so I will not re-hash it. And I agree with what is said in the reviews here. The film is dark and moody, and filled with fantastic animation. While it might be "crude" by the standards of today, one must remember that it is an old film and created on a limited budget. The fight scenes are amazing, with the action being drawn out to create that illusion of slowing down time. The movie is provocative, ominous and is just a lot of fun to watch. This DVD however is not a lot fun to watch. The transfer was lifted straight from the VHS. It is neither wide-screen nor is it even a clear picture. Blurry and dark, many scenes look like a black screen leaving you guessing as to what's happening. You might think that finally getting to see the movie in its original Japanese language with English subtitles would be cool. Until you find out the subtitles are written in blurry little white letters that give you a headache trying to read. (Actually, it is cool seeing it in Japanese and it is pretty interesting the differences in the subtitles and the English Dialog, but the subtitles are VERY annoying.) The extras are a cheap, short documentary about the "making of" Vampire Hunter D, some promotional materials and some stills. If you MUST have this movie in your collection like I did then buy it. Had it been re-mastered in wide-screen format it would have been a real treasure but the over-all bad quality of the DVD makes me wish I waited for a better edition, which I'm sure will be released shortly. "Definately a classic, but not much of a keeper."When I first saw "Vampire Hunter D", I thought it was a pretty good movie. But afterwards, I reflected upon it and realized that although it's definately a classic, it isn't much of a keeper. To judge the quality of the animation of "Vampire Hunter D" to the newer movie, "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust", would be unfair. It's like comparing "Macross Plus" to "Robotech". "Vampire Hunter D" accomplishes what it needs to despite it rough textures and sometimes choppy animation. Some of the scenes were a little odd in how they were executed, and sometimes movements felt static and stiff. Still, the film's blandness seems to add to the gothic feel of the movie, and it's difficult to imagine D looking any other way (until you've seen "Bloodlust", that is). There is some nudity in the film, and although it does feel a little out of place and gratuitous, it doesn't take attention away from the actual story. The violence found in the film does feel a little stiff because of the colors and textures, but it's still gut-wrenching enough to label "Vampire Hunter D" as a mature film. There are a few things that hinder this film from being an absolute must-have. The plot, while inventive, falls in several areas thanks to a few minute plot holes. Characterization is good, but hindered from some average English voice acting. And the supposed love story between D and the girl he's trying to save is...unbelievable, at best. Despite this, however, any anime fan has to see "Vampire Hunter D" at least once. Most likely, only die-hard fans would want to keep this movie close to their hearts while casual anime fans will only marvel at it once before looking for something else.  "Vampire Hunter D"I saw this movie awhile ago, and I must say even though I was sitting with a bunch of guys, because it?s rated as a boy-anime here, I really liked it.And if I remember right I cried some.I thought it was kinda sad, but it was a really good anim?. I thought it ended to early, wish it could have been a lil longer because it was so good. I don?t think it was very violently, nor a movie for older people either, well 10+ I would say. I myself is 16 saw it with 13/14. Ohh and the music is very nice, melancolic and sad though.  "Vey bad in many complex ways"Horrible, terrible and extrodinary crude and bad animation. It's also death boring and stupid plot, very stupid. TOO BAD |
