Reevothemusefan
Vampire Ninja
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/2012-10-2534495.jpg">
<b>Review of Blood-C: The Last Dark - SLA Screening Review by Reevothemusefan</b>
Although I never watched it last year, I heard overwhelmingly bad things about the TV series of Blood-C which left me with some concerns when a film sequel was announced. However, Blood-C: The Last Dark was recently screened at Scotland Loves Anime, with the judges' award nomination. Even with my concerns, I was very intrigued to see this movie, plus this was my first time watching something from the Blood franchise (Blood +, Blood: The Last Vampire). So here are my thoughts.<br>
The movie begins on a train, where a desperate vampire ultimately succumbs to attacking random people. Our main protagonist, Saya Kisaragi, is on the same train and attempts to stop the vampire - however the vampire escapes with a young female hostage.<br>
After a brief chase outside, Saya is successful in killing the vampire and saving the hostage, who is later identified as Mana Hiiragi. After rescuing Mana, Saya learns about SIRRUT, a group of young people fighting against the Youth Ordinance Bill which blocks young people from using the internet and sets a curfew after 9pm as well. Saya finds out that Mana also works for SIRRUT. SIRRUT’s leader, Mogari Kuroto, makes Saya an offer she can’t refuse: a chance to meet and kill his cousin Fumito Nanahara who is also behind the Youth Ordinance Bill.<br>
The plot is basically a tale about revenge but the movie does a decent job in providing an entertaining watch, even if you haven’t seen the TV series. The characters in the SIRRUT group are not all developed but their mutual bond makes most of them likeable. Mana gets the most development throughout the film and thankfully she is interesting enough. Saya is very cold and quiet but I can kind of see why, given the traumatic events of her past. While I don’t know much about the antagonist Fumito, in the movie he does enough to make him feel threatening.<br>
The production is mostly solid. I can easily see the Production I.G traits throughout the film: great action scenes, good voice acting, and decent character designs by manga artists CLAMP are where the movie's advantages lie. However, I felt a bit let down by the CGI at the end of the film (one of the final fights involves a huge CGI enemy that looks very fake.)<br>
Which brings me to the negatives: the basic revenge plot has been done to death and Blood-C: The Last Dark doesn’t bring anything new to the table. The plot twists aren’t that shocking and the antagonists' motivations are as generic as you can get and this shows by the end of the film.<br>
Thankfully, though, I did enjoy the movie enough to deem it worth watching, even if you're not familiar with the original TV series.<br>
<b>Final score: 6 out of 10</b>
<b>Additional screencaps</b>
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2012-10-25original.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2012-10-25BLOOD-THE-LAST-DARK-02.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2012-10-25Blood-C_The Last Dark.jpg">
<b>Review of Blood-C: The Last Dark - SLA Screening Review by Reevothemusefan</b>
Although I never watched it last year, I heard overwhelmingly bad things about the TV series of Blood-C which left me with some concerns when a film sequel was announced. However, Blood-C: The Last Dark was recently screened at Scotland Loves Anime, with the judges' award nomination. Even with my concerns, I was very intrigued to see this movie, plus this was my first time watching something from the Blood franchise (Blood +, Blood: The Last Vampire). So here are my thoughts.<br>
The movie begins on a train, where a desperate vampire ultimately succumbs to attacking random people. Our main protagonist, Saya Kisaragi, is on the same train and attempts to stop the vampire - however the vampire escapes with a young female hostage.<br>
After a brief chase outside, Saya is successful in killing the vampire and saving the hostage, who is later identified as Mana Hiiragi. After rescuing Mana, Saya learns about SIRRUT, a group of young people fighting against the Youth Ordinance Bill which blocks young people from using the internet and sets a curfew after 9pm as well. Saya finds out that Mana also works for SIRRUT. SIRRUT’s leader, Mogari Kuroto, makes Saya an offer she can’t refuse: a chance to meet and kill his cousin Fumito Nanahara who is also behind the Youth Ordinance Bill.<br>
The plot is basically a tale about revenge but the movie does a decent job in providing an entertaining watch, even if you haven’t seen the TV series. The characters in the SIRRUT group are not all developed but their mutual bond makes most of them likeable. Mana gets the most development throughout the film and thankfully she is interesting enough. Saya is very cold and quiet but I can kind of see why, given the traumatic events of her past. While I don’t know much about the antagonist Fumito, in the movie he does enough to make him feel threatening.<br>
The production is mostly solid. I can easily see the Production I.G traits throughout the film: great action scenes, good voice acting, and decent character designs by manga artists CLAMP are where the movie's advantages lie. However, I felt a bit let down by the CGI at the end of the film (one of the final fights involves a huge CGI enemy that looks very fake.)<br>
Which brings me to the negatives: the basic revenge plot has been done to death and Blood-C: The Last Dark doesn’t bring anything new to the table. The plot twists aren’t that shocking and the antagonists' motivations are as generic as you can get and this shows by the end of the film.<br>
Thankfully, though, I did enjoy the movie enough to deem it worth watching, even if you're not familiar with the original TV series.<br>
<b>Final score: 6 out of 10</b>
<b>Additional screencaps</b>
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2012-10-25original.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2012-10-25BLOOD-THE-LAST-DARK-02.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2012-10-25Blood-C_The Last Dark.jpg">