Rating: 
Summary: Poor English Re-dub!
Review: The original voice acting for this film was great. Apparently some idiot sitting in an office without any clue about anything outside of a profit margin decided to redo the english dubbing. The results are too terrible to listen to. Wait until a dvd with the original dialogue shows up.
Rating:
Summary: This Dolby 5.1 Soundtrack sucks!
Review: I just rented the DTS version just to see the difference and I would have to say that the DTS version is much much better soundwise. But if you don't really care about surround sound, then pick up this Special Edition has great features and the movie sounds ALRIGHT on the DD version. But for all home theater folks who like this movie, get the DTS version. It is like the single disc DD version except with Japanese DTS 5.1 audio, English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and the movie. But seriously I recommend the DTS version if you want to truly enjoy the movie!
Rating: 
Summary: GET THE NEW DTS VERSION!
Review: Everyone reading this review who has a DVD player that came with a Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1, 6.1 whatever Receiver built in that came with speakers, get this version and listen to the DTS Version and compare it to the Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation on the other releases. You will definitely like the DTS Version, I did very much. Now I have to go spend 20 more dollars on a new surround soundtrack so I can enjoy the movie more. I wish Pioneer would have done this in the first place and put both DTS and DD on one disc so we could enjoy the movie this way, oh well. Get this version!
Rating:
Summary: Yes it's an essential.
Review: Ok so most people today probably are familiar with Akira, and know that it helped expose anime to the American masses. You really can't dislike a movie as menacing as Akira, I've seen the most visually chaotic films, and this is definitely one of them. The soundtrack alone is mesmerizing, and the animation is stunning, especially for its time. Without really any backround information on characters like Tetsuo, Kenada, and Akira himself, they leave questions without answers. I always wished they would have elaborated more on the backround of the characters, and Neo Tokyo itself. The ending was also very mystifying. Maybe Akira is just a grim sign of things to come for our own future? Most people I know who have just gotten into anime didn't enjoy it. The plot is sophisticated, and will go over some peoples heads. The idea behind the top secret government sect conducting telekenetic experiments on human children is an interesting concept. "This makes Blade Runner look like Disneyland", I couldn't agree more. This is cerebral sci/fi anime at its finest folks. Read the manga for all who loved the film.*Review is based mostly on the original english dub/jap dialogue. The new English dialogue on the special edition is pathetic.*
Rating:
Summary: A True Masterpiece
Review: I remember watching sporadic parts of this movie a ling time agao when I was too young to really understand it. But now that I got a new dvd player, I decided to buy this DVD becasue AKIRA is considered to be "THE" anime movie of all time. They don't make these like they used to, only short 60 minute films are the craze in the anime world, so this 2 hour epic is truly a work of art in the anime world. The picture of a boy walking up to his bike may sway viewers, but this is not a "bike" movie, it is a work of art (did I already say that?). Some people have complained about the redubbing, I think it is a vast improvement over the original voices: more mature and a better "full" script. If you are an anime fan then check out this DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Updates in all the right places!
Review: This review is not about the film, so much as this joyous new DVD release. I first experienced AKIRA around 1991, when the first VHS release came to the U.S. The film had quite an impact, but I have to admit that it suffered from the plague which do most anime imports: poor transfer, inadequate dubbing, and VERY lackluster translation. I guarantee, if you had just a little trouble understanding this film on VHS, you weren't alone. I must have watched my tape about a hundred times and still had questions left unanswered. Several years after the last time I watched AKIRA, this wonderful DVD release came the U.S. I bought it for the greatly improved transfer (the colors are vibrant and the aspect ratio restored), but was rewarded with a new stellar translation and voice-over dubbing. It was like I was seeing AKIRA for the first time. Suddenly, everything I never understood came clear, and I was really convinced that the characters were children (this time they sounded like children). I agree that dubbing is unacceptable for live-action films, but I think it works for animation--only if the voice actors are appropriate and the translation accurate. Japanese is a very different language from English, and I have a feeling that more popular fare like Pokemon and Dragonball Z mean something much different over there. Such is the same with AKIRA. If you've only seen the previous VHS version, you've really not seen the film. As a fan of anime, and AKIRA, I rejoice in this DVD, as I know I have come quite a bit closer to seeing what the animators originally intended. Now go watch THE END OF EVANGELION!
Rating:
Summary: Akira Analysis
Review: My Storyline Analysis:
Akira has a convoluted plot. In my opinion the storyline voices the author's rendition of the world, society and humanity in his own view. Only watching the story once, and without another run-through, I would say the quintessence of the story is a contradiction or paradox of humanity. We are able to do much good (like the 3-powerful children), but we can also do great harm (the member of the gang dude). In my opinion, the author suggests that we should question our own actions and motives to determine if we are like one of the children or the gang member. This story indirectly is an impetus to one's journey inward. The story ends with a rebirth and the author's optimistic outlook in his final words. Buy this movie if you want to challenge your acumen and get a different person's perspective on our contemporary world!!! -Go AP Lit!-
Rating: 
Summary: Weird but cool
Review: My first encounter with Akira was not with the movie, but with the manga, and that seriously enhanced my understanding of the film. So first of all, I have to say that people who have read the Akira manga are probably going to get the most out of this. People coming to the movie first may be more than a little confused.
That's not to say it's not a good movie. Soundtrack, animation and production are all great, the plot is...interesting at least, and there are some very powerful and dramatic moments. I would recommend this to anyone who's liked/been intrigued by the manga, and anyone who enjoys anime or dystopian sci-fi drama. However, I would not recommend it to people who get fed up if the plot is confusing, or people who are easily offended by strong language or violence - Akira is not for kids, I'd say for 14 years and up.
This movie made a strong impact on me, and for the right person, it's a truly mind-blowing experience!
Rating:
Summary: great movie but...
Review: theres always a but. I realy didnt get it. the whole movie was great and normal story and then the end just like totaly flew out of control and i didnt get it at all. call me stupid but it made no sense to me. like when the kids were talking at the end and saying stuff like "we should be able to........" and "becuase........" i mean finish your freakin sentence for christ sake! well the ending realy made no sense to me...ive watched it like 19 times i fear i will never understand it but all and all a good movie.
Rating:
Summary: Confusing, but strikingly cool anime...
Review: This is the film that really jump-started the anime craze. Without it, America wouldn't be as overwhelmed with all of these Japanese imports from the obvious like Dragonball Z to the atypical like "Grave of the Fireflies." "Akira" never really bothers to flesh out its story. Instead, it works as a way to stir things up in the mind a bit. It's ultraviolent and savage at times, but very captivating. One of the qualities is that it always feels fresh and original. But it's one of those films that needs to be seen more than once to be fully understood. The animation is very slick and great to look at and the music has a futuristic tone to it. Overall, "Akira" makes for a great film for even the most casual of anime fans such as myself.
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