Saya, the last true vampire, battles the bloodthirsty demons attacking an American base in Japan during the Vietnam War. Much of the story takes place during the late afternoon and evening, and the artists use shadows, reflections, and light with exceptional skill: the look of the film is more interesting than the underdeveloped story. Saya wields a deadly sword and pursues her foes with chilling ferocity, but she's silent and sullen and fails to develop as a character: the viewer has no idea how she views her deadly occupation. Albeit a visually striking film, this dark, violent work fails to live up to its billing as "Japan's first fully digital animated feature film": the three-dimensional objects and effects are digital, but the two-dimensional characters are hand-drawn. Nor is the film really "from the creators of Ghost in the Shell." Blood came out of a group that Ghost director Mamoru Oshii organized to encourage young talent, but he didn't direct it. And at 48 minutes, it's very short for a feature, although this edition includes a rambling 21-minute making-of film and a 3-minute trailer. It seems unlikely that Blood "will transform Japanese animation," but other artists may use its visual style to tell more compelling stories with better-developed characters. Unrated; suitable for ages 17 and up for profanity, brief nudity, and considerable violence. --Charles Solomon

asin: B00005NG6U binding: DVD list price: $19.97 USD amazon price: $14.99 USD other availability:

Posted by Vladimir Thu, 03/22/2007 - 16:48

 

Buonsegna

Oftentimes there is nothing

like now

Over seascapes and skies grey

Crumpled and breathing in

heather, lavender and orange peel.

Ariadne

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Bored with Leather

Lust is the absence of love

A causual f**k, somewhere, outside the mind

Beauty ties me in bonds of steel-studded leather

I crave the nights forged in blood

The highest pleasures to achive

Tears fall

Cascading over dried streaks of pain

..then,

Numbness falls

...with the crack of a biting whip.

I cry out

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Chapter 31

With the first flush of the morning Ethel appeared at the door of the house on Riverside Drive. She had not heard from Ernest, and had been unable to obtain connection with him at the telephone. Anxiety had hastened her steps. She brushed against Jack, who was also directing his steps to the abode of Reginald Clarke.

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The Russian Vampire

July 20, 1995 (Newsday) -  Army service develops many character traits, but vampirism seems to be another new one. A 20 year old former Russian army man was arrested in Tula outside Moscow after dragging a local drunk into the bushes, biting through his carotid artery and drinking his blood, Itar-Tass news agency reported yesterday.

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Damage Control

Red lights flashing in my mind's eye
I can't see
Whispers in the dark
Creatures trying to claw at me
Here in the night
Fighting the pain
Feeling the strain
Fractured thoughts form
Splintering into glistening pieces
I'm awake
Sleep is for the weak
The nightmares fade
as my eyes adjust
Just one night...
One peaceful night...
I pray to Demeter
Christ
Dionysus
A deity who'll listen to my plight
Maybe it's not only my mind
Maybe it's the world
the Universe

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