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The film 
contains so much depth that even the bad guy does not seem to be much of a bad guy at all. Link is in love with Charlotte and like D, must fight his urges in order to make his love true. Link is the perfect antagonist for D, because they are cut from the same cloth, yet have enough differences to make their battle that much more exciting. Link has been a killer for years and now must fight this desire for blood or risk losing the first person he has truly loved. At the same time, he knows that he will outlive her. D must also fight his bloodlust and feels he can never get close to another, knowing he will outlive them and be alone again. As Link's relationship with Charlotte is further expanded, so is that of D's and Leila's, only in a slightly different way. While Link seems to wear his heart on his sleeve and easily pronounces his love for Charlotte, D hides his emotions, only to let the true feelings show at the end of the film. Though D and Link are the major characters driving the film, Charlotte and Leila support this drive and bring out the true emotion of the movie. D's interaction with Leila makes for compelling drama and an excellent story, while Link's sensitive side adds so many layers to the film, that it is worth watching over and over again, just to truly get the full feel of it all.
This is the best anime I have ever seen. The animation is superb with the right amount of goth, perfectly contrasted with equal amounts of beauty and serenity. The dialogue contains a perfect blend of tough guy heroics, romance and light humor. The characters are all very likeable and the story never gets old, gripping the viewer at every turn, leading the watcher to want more.
After the very successful Fall 2001 showing of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust in U.S. Theatres (when I went to an advance screening, more people were on line for Bloodlust than they were for Mariah Carey's Glitter), it was inevitable that the movie gem would find its way to DVD and video. Now, those that missed the movie can see what everyone was talking about, and those that saw the movie two times and missed scenes because people were clapping so much and cheering (that would be me), can see the film again and again in the privacy of their own homes.
The DVD contains the complete 105-minute masterpiece re-mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 for home theater, along with some very cool extras. The DVD is packed with special features - a behind the scenes featurette, storyboard-to-film comparison, US and international theatrical trailers and TV spots, merchandise, motion menus, weblinks, Urban Vision trailers, and closed captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing. This is a must own movie. Bloodlust made me go out and buy the original movie on DVD, even though I owned it on video, and watch that film again and again. I urge people to do the same. Both film are excellent examples of how anime titles deserve far more recognition in the United States.
With the success of this film, I just hope it doesn't take that long to get another action-packed Vampire Hunter D film to American shores. What have we got; about 20 more novels to adapt. Let's get chopping. Once you get into this world, you will keep wanting more and your appetite will never be fully quenched. Don't fight it. Succumb to your Bloodlust.
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