Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Overall: 2-d characters, bad acting, nothing new, intelligent, or interesting. Here are some reasons why you should not see this one. There's weak woman character (,a nurse in a corset, of all things) who keeps asking 'what happened??' when an injured person is brought into her hospital. There's also a 'strong' woman character who just bosses men with guns around even though she looks even wimpier and is just as slow as the nurse. The actress who plays her just to make her voice sound deeper like an anime voice-over. Then in comes a guy dressing like a Japanese shock rocker who speaks in a more monotone voice then the rest of the characters. None of them act in a way that is rational. The characters stand around in circles with their guns and start telling each other about vampires and the spear of longinus. There is little character development, so that the viewer does not even care to find out what happens next. This movie is not worth your time.

I mainly saw this movie because i found out it had the vocalist of the Japanese Rock band Buck-Tick (Atsushi Sakurai- who plays the mysterious man in the nasty coat who comes in). I'm very sad that he's not even listed in the actors! Supposedly for being a first time actor i thought he did very well! However, i was surprised i actually enjoyed it.Although it's short,i thought it gave the right amount of closure, and was entertaining. Plus Atsushi Sakurai is pretty darned good looking for being a super old Jrocker. The Director seems to know what he is doing when he's making such a short movie. The camera angles are creative and good, and the actions sequences (thuogh not the best) still keep you entertained. Not to mention the incredibly fun ending song "Sacrifice" sung by non other than Atsushi Sakurai himself.

This short story takes place during a war going on for a reason most people have forgotten. The film kicks off with a dying doctor in a hospital that is to be shut down soon. Before he dies the doc shares his views on the power-game that goes on in the world. As usual in Kitamura films there are a myriad of interesting thoughts behind his words. By now, you still don't know what the movie is gonna be about... (that is if the title didn't give it away for you)The actors and actresses Kitamura uses will be familiar if you have seen "versus" or any other Kitamura movie. It might even make you cheer to see them mixed up in this one. (I actually like that he uses the same people for his movies... why replace them when they're doing well?) The characters look convincing and the scenery is good. Nice camera-work too. And I believe there were only 7 or 8 sets used... maybe more though. I reminded me of Aragami because of this.WARNING: SPOILER!After the doc gets cremated and the main characters are ready to leave, a squad with a secret mission comes knocking on the door. One of their members has been wounded by 'something'. Next a mysterious guy walks through the door, who claims the wounded member of their group has been bitten by a vampire.The movie seems to take a turn here from being about the cruelty of mankind, to what seems to be a vampire-plot. But I think the only thing that really happens is that we are shown a comparison between the evil we call 'monstrous' and the evil we call 'human'.The guy that walks in almost literally tells them when he says: "In the ashes of war, death and violence are everywhere. They have no reason to hide themselves anymore."Anyway, the group is carrying the "spear of longinus", which can basically harm or heal. I think in the end the choice is up to the one wielding it... just like the doctor said in his opening speech.The end I'm not gonna spoil for you. Just watch this one, it's short but good.---As for a rating it deserves an 8 on a scale of 1 to 11... :-) Why? because it should have been longer :-D ...and that's a compliment!