I was in the mood to plan a Vampire Hunter D marathon with a friend so we could decide if this film or the newer film (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) was the better watch than the older one, and I had a hunch my nostalgia would pull through. As one of the first ventures into Anime in general, it was held pretty high on my shelf. The very first thing which comes to mind while watching this is how very dark everything can get. Over half of the time you couldn't even see what was going on in a scene, and we are talking about simple things like being able to distinguish clothing on the body of a person, actually seeing someone's fist being crushed, along with other issues of contrast. What's sad is I clearly remember seeing all these necessary details in other versions I saw years ago (VHS, TV Recordings). This was a Special Edition Remastered what have you, and it ended up so sloppy. I have half a mind to think the creators didn't care what the product looked like on the screen, because fans were going to buy all the same. It was still the same old Vampire Hunter D, however, and it's as good as I remember it. The visuals were extrodinary for the time, and the music complimented well. The story is predictable but was enjoyable, spiced just right with the horror of a future alien world (and violence, which this film is famous for). A lot of that can be seen as sloppy too, but it was more a product of the time it was created than of those who published the DVD. For its time it was a star many films sought to emulate. All the same, the sloppily published DVD made for a bad experience, really making me wish I had kept it inside my memory. It's still a good watch if you're able to discredit the issues of contrast, and refreshing to see what my mind saw in the past and what it actually was. In regards to Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Bloodlust is the more superior film in terms of animation, storytelling, and especially DVD presentation. However, don't let this destroy the thought of seeing a film which ignited the drive for more Anime in the USA. Just be aware of the contrast quality in what you should get.Read full review
The animation is old school and amazing to watch. The cast did a wonderful job with their roles. I have seen the updated version with a new voice cast and did not like that one at all. The updated version even has different dialog and it changed the movie for me and was horrible. This version was the version I really liked and enjoyed. I have searched for this movie and version for a long time and watched it the moment it arrived. I felt amazed like the first time I saw it many years ago. I have nothing negative to say about my favorite Japanese animation.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Story is set in the distant future where vampires rule the night and everything else requires crosses(that dont seem to work) on every building and post. For a technological type movie, they have very limited technology. They dont say what happened, maybe its just the technology is left over and only a few people know how to use/work it. Sorta like War of the worlds 2, the stand. Very gothic style, well written and well played. Definitely a more serious anime type of movie and the voice acting is phenomenal! For its time, the animation is spectacular and cutting edge. Dont expect to watch this in hi-def, but do expect an 90's cartoon feel.
While the restored animation on this particular version of the dvd is too dark to see very much, it is still a very interesting and romantic action/adventure with horror and suspense all rolled into one exciting story.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a very entertaining and captivating film with a wonderfully different take on the vampire genre.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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