It’s just a couple more weeks until the theatrical release of the live-action update of “Blood: The Last Vampire.” The advance word I’ve been hearing has the film pegged as a lean flick (it only runs 89 minutes) that doesn’t skimp on the action or monster gore. Judging from the trailer, (check it out on the film’s Web site) that certainly seems to be the case here. Director Chris Nahon did a respectable job with Jet Li in “Kiss of the Dragon” and fight choreographer Corey Yuen can definitely bring the goods, so this ought to be a pretty fun time. Hit the jump for a look at the film’s official one-sheet, as well as some additional info if you’re not too familiar with the film’s story.

From the official press release:

“On the surface, Saya is a stunning 16-year old girl, but that youthful exterior hides the
tormented soul of a 400 year-old “halfling”.

Born to a human father and a vampire mother, she has for centuries been a loner, obsessed with using her samurai skills to rid the world of vampires, all the while knowing that she herself can survive only on blood like those she hunts. When she is sent to an American military base in Tokyo by the clandestine organization for whom she works, Saya immediately senses that this may be her opportunity to finally destroy Onigen, the evil patriarch of all vampires. Using her superhuman strength and her sword, she begins to rid the base of its evil infestation in a series of spectacular and elaborate showdowns. However, it is not until she forms her first human friendship in centuries with the young daughter of the base’s general that Saya learns her greatest power over Onigen may well be her ability to make a human connection…”

Other than moving the time of events from World War II to the Vietnam War, this looks to be a pretty straight adaptation of the original award-winning anime film. Mamoru Oshii was the visual concept director of the 2000 original and it looks like this remake has captured his visual stylings pretty faithfully. The film also stars up-and-comers Gianna (known to her fans in Asia as Jeon Ji-hyun, and who also performed most of her own stunts and fight choreography in the film) as Saya and Allison Miller, who I have developed a serious TV crush on from her role in NBC’s “Kings.”

The film opens in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on July 10. Also, be sure to check out the special giveaway we’re featuring that could net you a “Blood” manga, novels and the official one-sheet poster.