Akira

Rating:
Summary: certainly not the best anime ever
Review: akira this anime movie is not the greatest thing i've ever seen in fact it's probably one of the most confusing i've seen. i'll start with the story which is my biggest problem with the movie because it makes no sense why certain things happen they seem to just happen and for no reason and no explanation as to why they happened. the characters do all kinds of random things as well that you never understand why they act the way they do like when one of the main characters start going on a killing spree or those weird people that look like kids with powers that pop up outa nowhere start trying to stop the guy killing everyone and you never understand why those things happen. it's not like i have only seen the movie once i'm a huge anime fan and wanted to know why people liked it but everyone i asked to explain the movie couldn't they just liked it because it was the popular thing to do. i had a pretty big problem with the animation with the characters and their weird lips and mouths other than that it was ok as far as the rest of the animation was concerned. my other gripe with the story was what akira was because they never really explained what it ment or did i've seen this movie 4 times and still don't like it or understand it it might be because i didn't read the mangas if that's true then i just don't care and will continue to spread the word that AKIRA [is bad]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and for those of you that disagree well you just don't want to admit it's lame and are therefore lame yourself :P
oh and by the way for thos eof you docking points because of the new "versions" of the english dub THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE GET OVER IT there never was a difference i've seen the original and the new versions they are the same neither made more sense than the other so stop writing about those things cause it isn't true the movie sucks accept it

Rating:
Summary: Spectacular Animation. Bad Writing.
Review: First released in 1988 to much acclaim, "Akira" is still considered to be a classic among Japanese anime films and might be considered an early example of cyberpunk cinema as well. The film is based on the comic books of the same name by Katsuhiro Otomo, who also directed the film. "Akira" depicts a post-apocalyptic Tokyo of 2019 that is plagued with riots by day and terrorized by teenaged biker gangs at night. Young Tetsuo (voice of Nozomu Sasaki) is injured in a motorcycle accident and whisked away by military police who have arrived at the scene to collect a mysterious child who seems to have caused the accident. While in custody, Tetsuo becomes the subject of experiments which give him telekinetic powers. The leader of his gang and lifelong best friend, Kaneda (voice of Mitsuo Iwata) wants to rescue Tetsuo. And he is not the only one who wants to break into the compound where Tetsuo is being held. A group of anti-government activists have their own reasons for seeking the powerful subjects of these human experiments.

The animation in "Akira" is spectacular. Some of the scenes are breathtaking. I was especially intrigued by the way that the artists imitated the properties of film with animation: I had never seen selective focus animated before. And I loved the way the taillights of the motorcycles leave light trails at night. If you are a big fan of anime, or would like to see some excellent examples of its potential, "Akira" is a film you must see. Otherwise, I have reservations about recommending it. Adapting the considerable quantity of material in a serial comic book to feature film length is always difficult, but "Akira" does an especially poor job of it. The story is utter chaos. Large parts of it are incoherent. At the film's conclusion, we still have no idea who many of the characters are or why they did what they did, what the film's point was, or if it was supposed to have one. The characters, themselves, are two-dimensional at best. I've seen much more effective characterizations in animated films. And you'll find better writing in most any animated film. So enjoy the animation, but don't expect much from the story. Japanese with English subtitles (a dubbed version is available).

Rating:
Summary: Very Disapointed
Review: Ok this was an okay movie but...it cannot compare to the original us release. The acting on this is horrible. I am a die hard Akira Fan and im very disappointed.I like how it is digitally remastered...thats the only thing i like. I would like u guys to respond to my post please.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best anime ever, finally DVD quality
Review: AKIRA is a film for both newcomers to the anime world and for established fans of the genre. For new-comers, AKIRA may be a bit hard to take in during its first viewing due to the plethora of character introductions mixed with a somewhat complex plot. However, both characters and plot seemlessly come together towards the end of the film. For established fans of anime, we are all too familiar with the importance of an "ending" rather than an anime's "beginning." AKIRA will forever remain a timeless classic, and I especially like how the film demands more than one viewing, thus making it very "replayable," such as a video-game that's so darn good you just have to play/see it again and again and again! This DVD is enhanced both visually and audibly; in other words, it's DVD quality. I also enjoy the fact that there is new english dialogue in this DVD release. If you want to add an anime movie to your library, then AKIRA will do the trick.

Rating:
Summary: Makeway for the Advent of Akira
Review: Before getting into all the goodness of "Akira: Special Edition," I should get my only gripe out of the way. And it isn't much of a gripe, since it really won't detract from the experience of others, nor is it any great loss. This version of "Akira" has a new translation along with all the other goodies, and while most of the new lines, along with the correct pronounciation of Akira, are welcome, there are just a couple of lines that I wished they left to the original, wrong or right. However, the new one does allow some things to be understood that were hard to get in the older dubbing, and that's very necessary when it comes to "Akira," as multiple viewings or a manga-reading are necessary for total understanding of the story's complexities.

In the year 2019, this movie takes place in Neo-Tokyo, after the original Tokyo was destroyed in World War III, a good 30 years earlier.

"Akira," while containing many different and diverse characters, is really about two childhood friends: Kaneda and Tetsuo. Both are now members of a bike gang, where Kaneda is primarily the boss, and continues what he apparently has always done: telling Testuo what to do. Tetsuo admires Kaneda at times, but makes mistakes often, which Kaneda frequently calls him on.

On the night of the movie's opening, Kaneda's gang is fighting with a rival gang called the Clowns. Tetsuo goes off hunting two members and encounters a strange little boy, who halts Tetsuo's bike in front of him, causing it to explode.

This really is a quick and early synopsis of the plot, and I feel as though I should stop there to avoid revealing any more of the fantastic story, which stretches across several boundaries of science fiction and philosophy. Psychic powers come into play, along with civil uprising, politics, and friendship gone sour.

Visually, "Akira" is the best in Japanese animation to date. No other movie features the flowing movements that are expressed here without the aid of CG and cells, and the scenery and characters react as if they were in real life, with true movements and emotions as opposed to the typical cliches so many who watch Japanese anime are accustomed to. The body movements, wind wrapping around buildings, explosions, electricity, swinging of tube ducts, crushed bodies falling, and the hallucinations all come vividly to life and are a pleasure to the sight.

The music is just as incredible. Differing at points in the movie, while running with a main theme, all of it works in the places it's used, and all of it is wonderful to hear. Each tune is interesting and catchy, easily remembered by the listener, and matches well what's going on in the movie.

As said in the introduction, "Akira" requires repeated viewings to fully understand what's happened in some cases. Dealing with inter powers from the beginning of time, the unity of life, the creation of the universe, the power within all, and the question of whether or not that power can be controlled all move throughout the core details of "Akira." Kyoko's metaphor of the human and amoeba is particularly stunning when observed in Tetsuo's fate late in the movie.

I admit, I have not read the manga, so I do not know what those who have would expect of the movie. I know at least that the Great Tokyo Empire of the manga does not exist, but no one can expect 3000 pages to be crammed into a 2 hour movie. The fact that the movie lasts that long and is what it is proves to be a sheer enjoyment and it stands on it's own with Otomo's writing regardless.

As for the DVD, it has plenty. There are trailers, features, interviews, and a glossary of "Akira"-related people, places, and items. The subtitle reading may or may not take some getting used to, but what's there is interesting. I particularly liked the small sound clip for the creation of the music.

"Akira" is one of the core examples of anime that brought the genre out of Japan, and it is worth viewing for any fan of animation, science fiction, or movies that can entertain and at the same time provoke intruiging thought. It's worth your money, time, and attention. After 15 years, "Akira" remains a landmark in cinema.

-Escushion

Rating:
Summary: KENADA!!!!!!!
Review: I loved Akira the original, but I had to watch it twice to fully understand it. Now with the new translation I saw the story line better explained. Everything about this DVD is top notch and definetly worth the money. so many features. so many extras its just too good to be true, but guess what it is true. What more can I say? go out and get it.

Rating:
Summary: Best version
Review: Best version of one of my all time favourite Animes.

Picture and sound quality is a great improvement from VHS, and having subtitles instead of that awful dubbing I'd put up with previously is priceless.

Rating:
Summary: Superior animation
Review: Let me start out by saying that AKIRA, is by far the greatest anime of all time.
In my opinion it has never been surpassed in animation, storyline or characters in any anime since, and is far superior to any of the child oriented,overly bright and colourful Disney animations, or cop-out CG movies(ice age,finding nemo,shrek).

Its complex adult storyline deals with such concepts as friendship,jelousy,revenge,corruption,rebellion,underground government testing on children,physic warfare and the fine line between freedom fighting and terrorism.
This is the movie that I show people to introduce people to anime.I first watched it when I was 11 years old and have been watching manga movies ever since.
After watching most anime that is avaliable out of japan I have never found any visuals to match the level of detail in akira.
The huge cityscapes and destruction scenes are quite captivating, and although I have found many other confusing storylines in many anime,I have never found one as intelligent and well-thought-out as Akira.
I feel sorry for all the fools who moan about Akira making no sense, Your ignorance has denied you one of the greatest viewing experiences to date.
I highly recommend the AKIRA SPECIAL EDITION DVD.
The new english dub explains everything a lot more, making the plot even easier to understand.
If you watch this dvd 3 times and still can't understand the storyline, I would suggest avoiding watching anime in the future.
Your tastes may be better suited to "The Lion King" and "the Emperors New Groove".
Leave Akira to the adults.

Rating:
Summary: The Beginning
Review: This is the anime that started my practical obsession of anime. Though not the best anime I've ever seen it is most definitely my favorite and always will be. Even if the parts of the ending don't really make any sense to me I still love it and if you love anime you will, too. Or if you've never seen an anime in your life I suggest Akira as your first.

Rating:
Summary: One terrible Anime (saw on VHS)
Review: Akira is the most OVER RATED anime ever!
It starts good with biker gangs and the story starts decently but why is it name Akira, Akira is in the move for like 15 seconds and towards the end all you see is Tetsuo blowing stuff up with some really annoying voice in the background going BA BA!trying to sound scary! See Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, or Cowboy Bebop the movie instead, Akira is a waste of plastic!