Akira

Rating:
Summary: This movie belongs in a museum, and not because it's ancient
Review: I am a huge Anime fan, yet until October 16th 2001, I had not seen Akira. There are two legendary movies I saw for the first time this week. Two movies, considered by most to be the best of their kind. Citizen Kane, and Akira.

I watched Citizen Kane yesterday, and then finished watching the Akira Special edition (bought the limited TIN) a few minutes ago. I can see why both movies are referred to as the greatest movies of their kind. Much like Citizen Kane, Akira influenced every movie of it's genre. Much like Citizen Kane, Akira set standards for others to follow.

The first thing I want to comment on, are the extras. They are FANTASTIC! The second obviously is the movie. This movie is what American Audiences consider the best Anime. The first anime to be so successful in America was Akira. This movie belongs in a museum, and not because it's ancient, but because it's a piece of art.

Every anime has it's "corny" moments. There is always some point or another where there is some over used dialogue, or something about the script makes you laugh at it's absurdity, not Akira. It's a VERY ORIGNAL movie, and you can see why all other animes want to be IT.

Akira is set in troubled times (Aren't they all?). The politicians are corrupt, the economy isn't booming, and the last thing the people of the world seem to care about, are teenagers. Our heroes are ill mannered ruffians, who are part of a biking gang. Somehow they get involved in a government experiment, and one of them becomes a major guinea pig of these experiments. The brotherly relationship between the two male heroes is very touching and is very real, because it's not overdone. The chemistry between the hero and the heroin is very satisfactory. My favourite part is probably when the General decides to start a coup against the corrupt politicians.

The Visual quality of this special edition is actually quite brilliant. I'd go as far as to say, this is almost as good looking as Samurai X, or Blood. The most memorable visuals in the movie are the Tokyo scenes from a Bird's Eye view. They are simply breathtaking, and remind us of any metropolitan city, such as Toronto, New York.. or Tokyo :)

There are not too many parts in the movie where the lighting is good. This makes for some excellent shade visuals. Sometimes the lighting is red, or blue, and the shading is brilliant.

The movie is not typical at all. Very little comedy, or nudity. Though the violence takes a while to get used to. I really enjoyed this movie for it's visual prowess, and it's great story line. I found the characters memorable, whilst the motorbikes were definitely out of this world! Certain characters possess superhuman powers, and the display is excellent. The physics are well thought out, and the people suffering seemed all too real.

Do I think Akira is the best Anime of all time? I don't know, but it's certainly one of my favourite animes.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST for Anime Lovers
Review: This DVD was better than Blood: the Last Vampire!
This thing is really fast paced and awesome, and I'm sure you'll love it if you buy it. The ending is very strange, but if you pay attention and use that pause button, it'll make sense.
Kinda gross in some parts, but in all it's really good for anyone who likes action anime

Rating:
Summary: Good, but it could be better
Review: About 2 years ago is when I rented "Akira". I am very fond of actor, Cam Clarke, who plays Kaneda in the original, so 2 years later, when this so called "Special Edition" came out on DVD, I rented it to see it. I was very Disipointed, because neither Cam or the other original cast, such as Drew Thomas (Tetsuo), was involved. Instead, it's replaced by no-named actors with no talent. Second of all, the dialouge has changed too...remember the scene in which the gang is "Deciplined" by their P.E. teacher? Instead of him yelling "Shut Up!!", it's instead "Decipline". Third, the color format has changed, making everything look brighter. But enough blabber...let's talk.

In 1988, WWIII has just ended, but a nuclear holocast hs destroyed everything...including Tokyo. 21 years later, Tokyo has been rebuilt and is now called "Neo-Tokyo". The locals believe that a strange god-like force caused the holocast, called "Akira", which was named after a boy whom was experimented on with the powers. Neo-Tokyo is a ticking time-bomb in the world of politics, which the entire city is spilt up in three groups...The Politcians, the Government Military and the residents. The city's citizens are constantly breaking out into riots and cults, leaving the Military and Police a hand full. Meanwhile, two gangs, The Clowns and the E.X.P.L.O.D.E.s battle out on the dying highways. The EXPLODE leader, Kaneda (which in this version is pernounced "Canada", others it is prnounced "Canaeda") with his awesome BMW Red-Fire Motorcycle, leads his men in a bloody battle. The youngest of them is Tetuso ("Tent-Sue-oh"), a anal retentive 16-year old, who wants to kill his first Clown (no pun intended). Meanwhile, a man and a blue, pale skinned boy run through downtown, being chased by cops. The man is shot to death and the boy escapes, within a few minutes later, is run down by Tetsuo. Tetsuo is paralyzed from the crash. Before Kaneda can assist his best friend, the government takes him and the gang is arrested. A few days later, Tetsuo returns, exausted and banged up, but amazingly, isn't paralyzed like the night before. His girlfriend, Karori (Carrie, really) and him decide to run away, but are run down by the Clowns. He is beaten up and his girlfriend is raped. But he then loses it, and kills one of them with his bare hands. He starts to hear a kid saying "AKIRA!!!" and his falls into a state of shock. Once again, he is taken by the government. Kaneda wants to find out what is going on here, so he goes to a secret alliance, run by a girl he admires named Kay. Her Boyfriend, Roy, works for a sleazy rich manor (which for some reason, if made a live movie, would perfectly be played by Marlon Brando) who is trying to get Neo-Tokyo's governmet to it's knees. Tetsuo is starting to get strange powers too. He then escapes to find the one known as "Akira"...

I could g on, but you hve to rent it for yourself. The story goes on and on, too, so it would be impossible to tell it all for you. Rent it. Or better off, rent the original. The stor is more in depth than the Director's Cut and the acting is better. Peace.

Rating:
Summary: 2019 A.D. Neo-Tokyo
Review: this movie is like no other! it is by far the greatest anime films out there, and also one of the best movies out there! this is a violent sci fi story about a group of teenagers living in a nightmare future. in 1988 (movie terms) an explosion goes off in the middle of tokyo destroying everything. three hours later, World War III begins. now the story picks up at 2019, Neo-Tokyo, a new city built next to Tokyo's ruins. in this new city, a teenager named Kaneda is the head of a high tech biker gang. in this gang, is Kaneda's childhood friend Tetsuo. while driving around one night, tetsuo collids with an escaped government project with phychic powers. the government captures the subject and takes Tetsuo with them. they soon discover that Tetsuo has phychic powers more powerful than they have ever seen...even more powerful than thier most powerful subject, AKIRA. well, as tetsuo's power becomes more and more powerful he goes crazy and starts killing everyone in his path. after he learns of another as strong as he, AKIRA, he goes out to try and kill him. now the only person who can stop tetsuo is Kaneda, his old friend. can he save the world and stop tetsuo!? I'M NOT TELLING, GO OUT AND BUY IT IF YOU WANNA KNOW!

Rating:
Summary: Actually 4.5 stars
Review: hate to say this, but I miss the old dub. I actually can't believe that I'm saying that. I really do prefer the old "Robotech" cast dub of Akira. Maybe it's because those voices I associate with the characters. Maybe it's because I know the old script by heart. I don't know.

That's o.k., I can still watch the Japanese language audio track with subtitles.

The restoration is great, and the film looks as beautiful as the first time I saw it. It still holds up, in my book. Most people in my generation grew up watching G-Force, Star Blazers, and Robotech; not really thinking anything other than they were really complex and different cartoons. Very few of us were able to get our hands on The Macross Movie or Bubblegum Crisis.

Then, in the late '80s came Akira, and we were all introduced to the word "anime". To many of us, Akira is what made us start anime clubs and start importing and subtitling tapes to be passed from club to club. Our underground movement that really got the anime ball rolling for several companies who we have supported (even though some *coughVIZ* *coughADVISION* charge way too much money for a 45 minute disc). If you haven't seen anime, or Akira; it is like nothing you've seen before. Akira is why we call it "anime" and not a "cartoon".

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: It's bloody, it's violent, it's not at all for kids. But the harsh reality it portrays draws you in and won't let go. It's a very strange but very deep symbolism that makes the movie great, but it's not without the great action and art that so make so much Anime famous. This edition is redubbed, and I had some issues with that at first: famous lines were delivered differently, some names were changed to be pronounced correctly but seemed alien to me, etc. But all in all, well worth the money and the time.

Rating:
Summary: BEST ANIME EVER
Review: THIS FILM IS WONDERFUL, THERE IS JUST SO MUCH IN IT THAT YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO KEEP EVERYTHING STRAIGHT, BUT IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT AND MONEY FOR THIS ANIME CLASSIC. THE NEW VERSION WAS A LITTLE WEIRD BECAUSE OF THE NEW VOICES, BUT THE SOUND WAS INCREDIBLE AND THE VISUALS ARE STILL SOME OF THE BEST NON-COMPUTER GENERATED IN ALL OF ANIME. THIS ONE WILL NEVER DIE.

Rating:
Summary: Motorcycles and Guns and Explosions, oh my!
Review: Well, there are motorcycles, and they're the coolest part of THIS anime! Akira, although I've never seen it before this version, is incredible. The dubbing is fantastic, the artwork is great, and the DVD gives it a little extra touch that makes this worth its hefty price. Here's a little synopsis, w/o giving away any spoilers, really:

Kaneda is a biker gang leader. He doesn't have a beer-belly, he is just a dude who likes motorcycles, and so is the rest of his gang. They ride mad-cool hi tech electric bikes, and battle other biker gangs. Kaneda (Kah-nay-dah) whoops them all on his orange/red BMW motorcycle. Tetsuo (Tet-soo-oh), one of Kaneda's friends, almost hits a little kid on his bike, but then the bike blows up. Military choppers come, kidnap the kid, and take Tetsuo for treatment. They find out he has psychic powers. Tetsuo turns evil, and a gory transformation takes place. Kaneda fights the Tetsuo ball-sac monster, and there are some pretty great fight scenes.

In then end:

1) If you like anime, get this!
2) If you like violence, get this.
3) If you like awesome motorcycles, get this!!
4) If you like psychic powers, get this!
5) If you like anything at all, you'll like this! Get this!

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: i never saw this when i was a kid. i grew up on robotech though, and i must say that i am impressed with this story. it has all the great qualities of japanese animation and story.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best, but Damn close!
Review: Akira is a momentous film, anime or otherwise. It provides deep insight into a possible future of the Human race and it is extremely cleverly written. Anyone who doesn't like this film clearly didn't understand it. Both the animation and the story are out of this world and the music is great too! The ONLY downside to this film is that it was based on a Manga (Comic Book) and a lot of the story from the Manga hasn't made it into the film, so unless you're very quick on the uptake you may have to watch the film at least twice to understand it fully.
A great film, buy it now!