Sunday, June 28, 2009
Blood: The Last Vampire
Blood is Chris Nahon's remake of the classic 48 minute 2000 anime film. Gianna Jun plays Saya, a half-demon whose mission is to kill 'bloodsuckers', but in particular she wants Onigen, the demon who killed her father. Blessed (or cursed) with the gift of immortality, she is sent by the Council to infiltrate a high school on an American army base in post WWII Japan. Our first hint of the action to come is when she kills two high school vampires who are tying to kill Alice, the base commander's daughter.
An unlikely coalition is formed between Saya and Alice. When Saya reveals that she suffers from an identity crisis (demon or human??) it is Alice who assures her of her humanity. When the final showdown rolls around, this is what Saya needs to remember.
Given that we've had a lot of good vampire films lately, it's disappointing to see the tired special effects in this one. Even though we've had our fill of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tiger' fight scenes, the martial arts sequences in this film are pretty decent and Gianna turns in a quietly sexual performance (wearing a school girl's uniform throughout).
There are a lot of gaps in the story, and there is a decided un-ending to the film. I presume that this will make sense to followers of the original anime, but it's definitely unsatisying in a film. I'd hazard to guess that this is a film for those who are already fans.
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