Akira

Rating:
Summary: ANIME BREAKTHROUGH IS BETTER THAN EVER
Review: AKIRA Limited Special Edition, the ground-breaking film that put anime on the map, makes its long-awaited debut on DVD in a superior two disc set that includes a cleaned-up widescreen transfer with a new English dub in sterling 5.1 AC-3 Dolby Digital Surround. A unique feature allows for English translation of most of the Japanese graffiti seen in the movie. A second disc features a detailed production report, sound clips, an interview with writer, designer, director Katsuhiro Otomo and more. Ten years after its original release, "Akira" is still an eye-filling, visceral, tour de force plunge into a 21st century apocalyptic world of psychic forces (akira) and demonic entities. And of course the inexperienced biker Tetsuo who is at the center of the vortex. This is a cult film of disturbing power that some fans call prophetic.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie but the special case is awful
Review: Akira is probably the best anime I've ever seen. I love it. I went out and bought the Special Edition DVD the day it came out. The tin case is really nice looking BUT when you are removing the discs be careful. The little plastic hubs holding in the discs have no give at all. I thought I was going to split the discs but thankfully I didn't. The special features on the second disc are good. But don't plan on keeping the discs in the tin case, make sure you have an extra keep case that holds two DVD's. You think for what they charge for this it would come with a decent case! To sum up my review: Great movie but the case is crap.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Film to DVD transfer I have seen!
Review: The guys who did this transfer did it lovingly, and with great attention to detail. I have this movie on a Criterion Laserdisk, and after watching this transfer, I had to wonder if my glasses were always dirty when watching the laserdisk. Just simply a perfect, crips, detailed picture. I was seeing thing in the film I had never noticed before.

The 5.1 soundtrack remix was also done extremely well. Even the menus have 5.1 soundtracks. The New English Translation is first rate and much better than the old one.

If you have any love for this film, get this disk!

Rating:
Summary: It's about time and worth the wait!
Review: I think we've all waited long enough for this DVD! I was a little thrown at first with the new translation and voice acting since I've watched the VHS version many times. However, the story is much easier to understand and flows better. The VHS copy does no justice compared to the high quality of the anamorphic transfer. It was almost like I was watching it for the first time again. Hats off to the production team that created this well, masterpiece. I couldn't really see the detail in the VHS copy but from the foreground, background and the character animations, this is ALL cell animation! Very little CG! Very, very high quality work here. The story is deep and complex so be ready to be confused watching this for the first time. There are so many different smaller stories and plot twists going on that it can be hard to keep up with on your first sitting. The english dubbed soundtrack is remastered in Dolby 5.1 and was done very well considering that this movie is over 10 years old now. Purists beware since new foley has been added in addition to the original mix and none of the voice actors are the same as in the VHS english dubbed version. Gunfire and explosions were most prominent to me on the first viewing as sounding different and there are additional foley effects added but I liked it. I thought it hightened the realism and why not take advantage of all the improvements that current technology has to offer? This is an excellent film for those interested in grown up, in depth storytelling and you can't help but wonder if our government is doing similar experiments (I doubt with children) to bring out the powers of the mind. Who knows? That's thought provoking. Pick up this movie!

Rating:
Summary: Who had a problem with the old English Dubbing?
Review: I am really disappointed in this DVD. The sound effects and music where done great but the "New" dubbing I found lacking. First of all, this is a classic that has been around for over 10 years. They should have included an option to hear the dubbing we have all grown to know and love. The new dubbing isn't offal but I enjoy the original dubbing far better. If they already had the dubbing available, how hard could it have been to include a choice to hear that too? If you like Akira in original Japanese, then you should like this DVD but if you want to relive the movie you saw as a kid, try the VCD.............

Rating:
Summary: These people are fools...
Review: Like this guy Joshua below, who also gave Seven Samurai a single star, please... Even if *you* don't like it, doesn't mean it deserves a single star.

Lets add it up...

On the technical side of you have some of the most stunning animation ever made. Not only that but lovingly restored and looking better than ever, THX certified. One Star.

Sound effect were hollywood action movie quality, and music was highly original, and has not aged like some soundtracks or scores do. One star.

Like Blade Runner before it, Akira is a film that has changed cinema. Though felt more in animation, Akira still has had an impact in mainstream films. For that reason, that it is piece of history, it should be recognized. People that attack it, saying that it's over hyped, we should ask them if they like Star Wars. SW should get credit for it's cultural impact, regardless of objective quality, and so their point is moot. Bad or good, genius or flawed, it has changed people. One more star.

So even if you hate it, this DVD edition should be getting at least three stars, not to mention some super cool extra's on the second disc. Those of us who enjoyed the movie, will of course factor in that and give it more stars.

Rating:
Summary: It's About Time
Review: When my brother first told me about this movie back in late 1994, I was really skeptical about it. However, once I saw it, then I realized that this was not your typical anime movie. During that year, I purchased a laser disc player, and I went right away and bought Akira at a local laser disc store. I have been one of the lucky ones who was able to watch it over and over again, without any worries about ruining the tape. Now, I will certainly add this title to my collection. It is truly a story worth seeing and experiencing. The imagery is intense, and the musical score riveting. You will sit back and be memerized for over 124 minutes. The Akira limited edition Dvd is the one to purchase, as it provides more in depth knowledge about the movie. Do not wait to long or it will be gone before you know it.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Movie!
Review: OK, i have not yet even seen the DVD.. So I am not really RATING the DVD, i am rating the movie itself. And what a movie. Great plot, amazing sci-fi anime released 11 years ago. I downloaded a 218 MB asf version of this movie from the net because i could not find the VHS in stores, or in rental places. So i downloaded it. TERRIBLE quality, sound, etc. But, the movie itself, was truely amazing. Combined with good action, cool futuristic bikes, and plot. Along with pretty good anime for the 1980's. I thought the movie was amazing. In fact, I plan on ordering this DVD. The original one released by ORION apparently was not all that good (the one i saw). Apparently with the Pioneer release, they have re-done the entire thing. They cleaned up the video really nice, and they also re-dubbed it. Also, i heard that they translated all of the grafiti in the backshots. So that's quite a bit of work. Considering Pioneer did all of this within the 6 month area. I recommend you buy this DVD. If you liked Ghost in the Shell, theres no way you'll dislike this movie. In MY opinion, this movie is wayyy better than ghost in the shell. I didn't like ghost in the shell all that much, and frankly i was a little board. BUT, with akira, non-stop action, with great animation. Truely something you have to see for yourself!! Discover the secret of Akira!!

Rating:
Summary: Akira/ The Greatest anime ever made!!
Review: This is an epic tale of man vs. himself. It all starts off when Tetsuo Shima gets in a bike accident with a strange young boy while riding with his bike gang. This boy has increadable power. In the movie Tetsuo gets picked up by the military police and is taken off to be tested in a laboratory. The doctors find out that Tetsuo has a similar wave length to the legendary Akira. If this is true then the scientist might be able to harness the power and use it for the benefit of man. Kaneda, Tetsuo's best friend is on the search for his friend when he gets mixed up with a revolution terrorist group. This is where he meets a young girl by the name of Kay. (She is later used to help the little psychic kids out). But all goes to hell when Tetsuo catches wind that there is a more powerfull person out there. Tetsuo is determined to find Akira and sets out to the olympic stadium to find this thing called Akira. You watch Tetsuo plow his way through neo-tokyo only to find that Akira is no more. When Kaneda finally catches up with Tetsuo they engage in an epic battle. At the end, Tetsuo's powers metamorphasize his body into this hunk of flesh and Akira is awakend. When Akira is awakened, neo-tokyo pays the price. Akira's powers engulf the city and it's surroundings only to leave rubble in it's wake. Though it sounds mind boggling, you must buy or rent the movie to understand and appreciate such a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: ITS GREAT ITS AKIRA... BUT
Review: ...I have one complaint... they redid all the voices... and practically rewrote alot of the lines. I've seen the original english translation several times, and when watching this, it just seems like the lines dont fit the characters. Minor thing I know, but I also believe it will dissapoint hardcore Akira fans.