DVD FIEND: BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE

As with the Anime version of this movie, the opening scene is completely fantastic, but afterwards steadily falls apart. The biggest problem facing this film version is that it expands the story held within the less than an hour Anime to about an hour and a half of added convoluted script. Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad, and what comes from the Anime is still pretty good, and the action is well done and stylish, but overall it left me feel flat.

The story is set in 1970 Japan where Vampires are preparing to strike amidst the Vietnam War. A lot of the action takes place in and around a US Airforce where the vamps have infiltrated and probably plan to use that to their advantage, although that's a tad unclear. Enter our heroine, Saya, a half-vampire by birth who is out to kill the rest of her breed and their mother-leader, Onigen. The story keeps flashing back to Saya's training a good 400 years or so prior which are pretty well-produced pieces, especially the battle to end the flashbacks that reveals the reasons for Saya's hatred. Saya also works for a secret agency called the Council who are out to destroy Onigen, but as in any shady organization, treachery may abound. What, I didn't give anything away!

It all sounds fine for a popcorn flick, but so much of it just doesn't come together. The acting is pretty terrible, with most of the actors sounding like they stepped out of the Anime sound-booth to get in front of the camera. The CGI work is even worse with some of the completely transformed bloodsuckers looking like they need some severe full-body plastic surgery. The editing makes things worse, as some scene transitions leave you scratching your head, but a lot of that blame can be put on the inconsistency of the story.

I do, however, come back to a positive, because when the action starts the movie does sing, and the one of the major battles in the middle of Tokyo is pretty darn awesome with hundreds of vamps vs. Saya, and our heroine kicking ass. The final battle is pretty interesting as well with the style of it being the major draw there. So there are pluses, and uncharacteristically I am being kinda harsh to the type of flicks I'm usually attracted to, but what can you do. Can't win 'em all.

For fans action and Anime, it's worth a check.