madhater_da_killa

Waking Life is a stirring film, made in an attempt to better allow fellow humans to understand their reality and what they perceive by being exposed to as many varying degrees of philosophy as possible. Though centered around a young man who is unable to wake from what he perceives to be his dream state, the real meaning and true essence of the film is exhibited by the distinctly, and at times opposing, varying philosophies attempting to explain why we perceive things the way that we do. Sometimes they use science, while others use religion; as the young man continues his journey through his own mind. Leaning a great deal towards the stranger side of philosophy, this film isn't for everyone, I highly enjoyed the animation that appeared in the film because I felt like it added a great deal to the ambience and helped better explain the feel of the young man's endless waking; however some people found it to be a big distraction. If you are some how put off at all by the idea that they filmed this movie and then had people animate it, then I would recommend that you don't even try to sit through this because the camera work and constantly shifting art styles will not amuse you. Anyone into experimental art should really enjoy his film, the art work is at times exquisite and at others' poignantly shaky and sloppy. The artwork is perfectly suited for the film and I think that they did a really excellent job casting the roles for this movie, because you can make out a couple of people but they don't really look like themselves so you never get that feeling of watching a movie with actors in it, making the message that much more guided and inevitable.

I find in very few cases that I liked the sequel more than the original and this is another one of those cases where I think the second piece is a more finished polished product, better story, better character and voice direction - and I still like the original more. Vampire Hunter D began his life as an early 80's sketch by Yoshito something or other (Sandman Endless Nights and Final Fantasy IIX & IX), and then became a film of the same title. Then in the early nineties when Anime began to flourish as it had in the eighties talk began of resurrecting the sleeping immortal and the flame was passed to a quite capable team. "Bloodlust" is D's quest to return a seemingly abducted woman to her rich family. Complications begin to arise when the family also hire the Borghoff and his crew, a collection of vampire hunters with different and amazing abilities quite reminiscent of the mutants in the original. As D quests to find the woman he begins to uncover a trail that may lead him directly into not only Barboroi, but even to the castle of Carmila - wife of Dracula himself. His path wrought with danger and demons of all sorts D must battle his way to saving the young woman, and he never fails at his job.... he can not fail or rest until he dies. Drawn beautiful and well dubbed I see very little to complain about here. There is a little bit of mystery left to D's character, but not nearly as much as with the original title. You learn a great deal more about D's life and his parents, not too mention he shows emotion once or twice in this one which is nice too see, no one's perfect except in paintings. A little to computer assisted for my taste at some points, I love the art style that is used. It remains very true to the original feel. Likewise they DON'T trample on the character that was originally set up rather they work with and expand it. 9 out of 10. I like it more than the original, no wait no I don't- yes I don't(insert head explody noise along with brain shrapnel here)*