Rating: 
Summary: Terrific Movie
Review: I just got into anime about a year ago, and finally got this from amazon today. It is a great movie. I have heard that the best 3 anime titles are Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Princess Mononoke, and this is the best one outta those. It has the deepness of Ghost in the Shell, without the boring, unnecessary jabber that it consists of (I don't like Ghost in the Shell very much), and the extreme action of Princess Mononoke (which I like very much). And despite what many people say, it is not that violent. That's a good thing. All-around, this is an excellent movie, with pretty good animation. Oh! and the DVD. I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of the DVD. The picture looks as clear as can be and the sound is excellent. One of my favorite aspects of this DVD is the great interactive menu pumped up to full volume in surround sound and hearing the motorcycle sounds when you pick an option. It's amazing.
Rating:
Summary: Like a trip back to my childhood.....
Review: Bravo! The first time I saw Akira was in 1990. I was a boy in Japan, living as an Marine brat. I got my hands on a ... VHS copy from a friend, and I fell completely in love with it, even though I couldn't understand a single word. The animation blew me away. It was revolutinary in its adult-based content. And it set the stage for a worldwide appreciation of Japan-imation. The digital transfer is superb! The sound is first rate! Not only was the voiceover work re-done, but so were the sound effects. I can see how some people could become attached to the Orion release's pronunciation of names and voices. But having the true Japanese tilt to the read is a joy for the true fan.... To belittle the work done here is to show just how incapable a person is of appreciating the clean-up. This is the same kind of person who gets upset over remastering classic Hollywood movies so they can be appreciated as the director originally intended. This film has the original director's sanction. Can we assuredly say the Orion release did ? The extras are worth the extra cash. They probably could have given us more detail, but they don't disappoint as an inside look at a true cult classic. I don't regret a single penny spent on this, and neither will you.
Rating:
Summary: Neo Tokyo is about to explode on your TV.
Review: This double disc is a must of Akira Fans. Remastered and redigitized (enhanced colors) this movie is a joy to watch. I guess the non collectors edition must be ok too, but come on this is AKIRA! Who are you kidding you know you NEED the two disk version....
Rating:
Summary: Apocalyptic Story with Remarkable Animation
Review: A benchmark in animation and content, "Akira" is a science fiction production about a Neo-Tokyo teenager in the year 2019 who threatens to repeat an apocalyptic event that destroyed the metropolis thirty years earlier. Tetsuo, a troubled motorcycle-gang member with an inferiority complex, crosses paths with a mysterious child from an ultra-secret government project code named "Akira." The encounter awakens Tetsuo to a force of biblical proportions, enticing him to uncover the secret of the government's program and cause mass destruction along the way. There are numerous other characters in this story, but the major players are Kaneda, Kei, the "Colonel," and the three children of the "Akira" project. Kaneda is Tetsuo's older friend and fellow gang-member who eventually confronts Tetsuo in a climatic battle. Kei is the terrorist, drawing Kaneda's attention and presence into her plot to uncover the secrets of "Akira." The Colonel is the commander of the project, and the only member of the government's executive council who understands the dangers of "Akira." Then there are the three children of the "Akira" project who pool their gifts in an effort to stop Tetsuo from unleashing the destructive powers that have been kept in check for the past thirty years. Written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, "Akira" is presented in animation of amazing detail and style, rivaled only by some of Hayao Miyazaki's features and Mamoru Oshi's "Ghost in the Shell." Even more remarkable is the absence of computer animation, with exception of a few minor scenes, and the film done entirely by animators. It's a staggering accomplishment, particularly when viewing the documentary feature on the second disk of the special edition package. I've watched numerous American productions and none of them come close to the animation quality of this film. The special edition features a new English dub production more loyal to the original Japanese script, painstakingly matched up with the oral movements of the characters' mouths (there's that kind of detail in this film), although arguably less entertaining than the original English dub. The twin disk edition comes in an attractive tin container and features beautifully restored imagery. There are still some imperfections that show up on the screen, but it far surpasses my old deteriorated VHS copy that I'm sure other Akira fans have had to tolerate up to now. This is a "must have" for Akira fans. The film is geared for young adults, but many adult animation enthusiasts will find this an entertaining feature, but I do not recommend this for children due to several violent scenes, the film's graphic nature, and some brief nudity.
Rating:
Summary: Landmark Anime - Wonderful new translation
Review: I saw this film when I was in my early teens, and found it interesting, but very confusing. The earlier VHS dubs and subtitles were not translated in a way which led to being able to understand the plot. I was a little worried that my tastes had changed so much that I wouldn't like Akira when it came out in July of 2001 with a remastered version. How wrong I was. The story is very subtle in places. You are given only a hint of what a particular plotline tells, and it is left to the imagination to think of what might have occurred in the past. The little moments are what is best in this film. The translation is head and shoulders above most that I've seen. I watched the english dub along with subtitles to compare, and it is *very* close, no meaning lost at all. A rare case where the dub actually gives a better experience than the subtitled version. I have started reading the graphic novel, but it is a little bit more loose and jumpy than the film. Many claim the graphic novel is supeior. Like always, I am going against the grain and saying that the film is better - more is left to the imagination, and sometimes there is more depth in simplicity. This is among the 5 best japanese animation films I have seen (which do not include Ninja Scroll). Deceptively complex, politically intriguing, and philosophical, this film must be viewed multiple times to appreciate it.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice Picture,Bad Voices
Review: Waiting all these years for Akira to get rereleased was a pain,but when they give it to us....they kill it. The picture is amazing,it has never looked so sharp...But these voices lack so much emotion its not even funny..and my 3 fav lines were cut!! - "Nice ridein' Tetsuo" and "Scum Bag!" "How about we get lost and have a few laughs...If Pioneer really cared,they would have given us the option of wich English Dub we want..this one lacks emotion. I want the original!!
Rating:
Summary: WOW - one of the best remasters I have ever seen
Review: If you love Akira and saw the old version on VHS or LD - you are in for a treat. The newly remastered DVD is stunning! Also, and more important - the newly dubbed english dialog is honest to the original script - it's like watching it new for the first time! I can't believe how much the first edition differs from the new remaster - the dialog is completely different AND BETTER! The VHS edition just does not do this one justice. I always hated the fact that some Japanese anime is dubbed poorly when transated into english. This release shows how it should be done, NOT WATERED DOWN - R rating to PG - I HATE IT when they do that. I can't recommend this DVD strong enough, you have to have this one for your collection. Strong buy recommendation for Akira fans - you'll be watching it for the first time all over again.
Rating: 
Summary: You think I'm a loser! It's not my fault I'm smaller!
Review: Akira. When I first heard that word in conjunction with another favorite, "DVD", I was excited. One of my all-time favorite films was finally being released. It's still an amazing movie, but the newly redone English dub is horrible. The voices are poorly done and don't match the feel of the real characters. It's upsetting they didn't think to include both the old and new dub -- the old dub is much more enjoyable. My suggestion is to pick this up, but also get your hands on the old VHS version or, if you want something in disc form, grab yourself a VCD of this classic.
Rating:
Summary: Akria
Review: This is the greatest anime i have ever seen. It is a must have for any anime fan.
Rating:
Summary: What the special features add, the new englis removes
Review: When I first heard that Akira was being re-released in DVD format I immediately rushed out and reserved a copy. I counted down the days till my special collectors edition complete with a second disc packed full of extras, a new 5.1 digital sound track, and a digitally enhanced picture would arrive. $ days ago it did, and I quickly popped it into the DVD player and got ready to see one of my favorite movies of all time redone and digitally enhanced. I was let down It seems some genius decided it would be better to rehash the old picture with new voice overs which not only consisted of new voices, but changed lines! That's right, liberties were taken, and being the fan I am I decided to keep an open mind, however it got bad. The wonderfully synchronized voices of old were replaced by off key speaking, odd translation, and new pronunciation of character names. Kaneda is referred to time and time again as Canada, and Akira is now pronounced Ahkeeda...now I understand that this might be the correct Japanese pronunciation, but for a long time fan of the ORIGINAL English version it makes watching almost unbearable by itself. Combine that with the above mentioned and mix in a drowned out soundtrack (the beautiful background music in the clown gang fight scene is barely noticeable anymore) and you have a prime example of what happens when you try to bring a classic picture "up to date" as the crew puts it in one interview. On to the good points. The video quality is FAR superior to the original, and the 2 disc set is PACKED full of extras that are a fine edition for any Akira fan. The full Japanese version is also available to see (If only they would have thrown the 1988 English version as well) as well as full subtitles, and a cool "capsule" option that pops a pill onto screen prompting you to hit enter whenever a sign, or other image appears in Japanese so you can get an English translation...very cool. In summary, without the extras I would have rated this version much lower, but with the beautiful picture, and all the add ins it's worth owning....just be sure to watch in the original Japanese with English subtitles and save yourself the horror of watching one of the greatest animes of all time reduced to lines about crack smokers, and out of place name calling.
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