This is my first time to see Hyde and Gackt Camui in a motion picture. I’ve been a constant viewer of their concerts and music videos on Youtube™. A perfect duo for an interesting story such as Moon Child which has a movie runtime of 120 minutes. Seeing Hyde appeared on the earliest part of the film makes me sit properly and locked up on my chair. The fact that the movie tells something of a vampire tale is intriguing enough for a person who values this kind of imaginary monster. Truly seeing another captivating man in a vampiric form makes my heart twitch and flutter as it appears right before my very eyes.

Hyde or Hideto Takarai is one of Japan’s infamous lead vocalist of L’Arc~en~Ciel, the band behind the eminent OST of Samurai X. Hyde as a performer on stage and on their music videos is beyond eccentric and mind-blowing. Him playing the role of Kei in Moon Child is another thing; reserve, mysterious yet impious. He could almost be perfect to play as the vampire lead of the story but I think he’s way too short for a vampire. This is probably because I’m so full of Anne Rice’s vampire leads. Nevertheless, Hyde here is too dazzling and stunning like any other vampire heroes out there. Well, vampires are supposed to stand out, like how Stephanie Meyer describes the Cullens. Hyde is a wonderful choice and I couldn’t imagine any other Japanese actors who could play the part of Kei and shine like most vampire heroes I so adore.

Gack Camui on the other hand is playing the role of Sho. I am not much aware of Gackt’s popularity in Japan since I don’t follow his career as much as I do with Hyde. I’ve seen some of his concerts and MV but that interview he had with Yusuke and Hisato Izaki (members of FLAME and the lead actors of Devilman: the live action adaptation) leaves me a fascinating impression about Gackt. Talented, witty, charming, mischievous, smart and refined, that’s how I see Gackt Camui as a person. He, for some reasons wasn’t able to make a great impact on me like Hyde did in Moon Child. Somehow he lacks emotions on heavy scenes; well most of them do as well as Hyde however he’s ideal for his role as Sho, the impish brat under Kei’s refuge.

Moving on to the detail of what the story is all about, Sho as a kid was a petty thief along with his older brother Shinji and a friend named Toshi. While striving to get away from the gangster they just robbed, Sho met Kei, a vampire virtually on his death. Sho saves him and brought him to their hideout. The three orphans were able to accumulate heaps of money from the gangster they newly robbed, just when they tried to keep the money from the gangster, they were almost killed, and Kei then kill the goon by doing what a vampire should do right before the very eyes of Sho. Thus instigate the bond between two individuals in a society full of cruelty beyond thoughts.

Sho grew up under the care of Kei; hence Kei became his protector through his adversaries and from viciousness of the world they’re attempting to blend in. It was fun most of the time, but you can’t have the best of both worlds in most cases. When a group of gangster killed Toshi, Kei in response, ferociously killed his target and as a result was sent to penitentiary and was sentenced to death. On the other hand, Sho became a big time gangster, got married and turn out to be a loving father to his daughter named Hannah.

When Sho’s wife Yi-che became terribly ill, he seek for Kei’s help and ask him to make his wife be like him, a vampire. Kei refuse to follow Sho’s pleading, surely he doesn’t want Yi-che to go through what he’s been through all his life, not even for his beloved Sho. Being immortal in an unkind world is the least thing he’d rather choose.

Both Kei and Sho went through difficult times, but more often than not, they’re at least grateful to have each other like a single soul dwell in two bodies. They live together, laugh together, love together and rest together as the moon succumbs to the orange sun. A simple illustration of two individuals united in the spirit of pure friendship, respect and love, that’s how I see and comprehend what Moon Child is all about.

Photos courtesy of Photobucket dot com.

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