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Akira Actors: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Format: Color, Widescreen, Animated Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Running Time: 124 minutes Studio: Pioneer Video Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2001-07-24 Buy from Amazon |
 "This film should be mandatory viewing..."I bought the Akira (Special Edition) DVD a few years back, and it remains one of my favorites. Crisp animation, a soundtrack that still sounds fresh, and a great plot make this release a classic. The film encompasses many universal ideas and has been interpreted differently by many who have seen it. Basically, Akira represents a demonized savior who tried to reshape his surroundings for the better. He suceeded, destroying the city. Eventually the city (Neo-Tokyo) was rebuilt, and in this movie we follow Tetsuo and Kaneda, two young misfits. Basically this movie deals with the idea that all things will eventually be destroyed, then rebuilt in a "new image", and that this circle will continue. What is considered "evil" by the masses is often very good, and what is considered "good" is often evil. This idea is applied to Tetsuo throughout the movie, and what certain groups would like to use him for. Overall this is a great film with a multi-layer plot that conveys many ideals and values to the audience. This bleak future is very realistic, and although this is animated, the characters are VERY real. 5 stars.  "Great Anime! A bit dated, but still worth watching"I remember renting this just a while after its major release and it really blew my mind. I had to watch it a few times as I could not follow the story. I just recently bought the DVD and watched it again for the first time in over 10 years and it's still great. I finally understood it also. It does seem a bit dated now, but it still holds its own. Watch it in the original Japanese with subtitles because the American voices sound really corny. It does drag on at times towards the end especially the "2001 space odyssey" like acid trip which is a little confusing, but fun to watch. The best scene in the movie is when Tetsou is in the military hospital and the other children pay him a visit. The animation is brilliant, such as a glass cup falling to the floor and Tetsou slipping breaking the glass and cutting his foot on the broken shards. OUCH! I can almost feel it! Yes, The animation is that good. There is also some excellent animation and sound effects in the sewer with the speeder bike like machines. I think anyone who watches this movie, whether an animation fan or not, will enjoy it. "Great Anime"I saw akira not too long ago. I thought that it is one of the greatest anime's i have ever seen. I suggest all of you that like anime that you have to think about. Not just straight up where someone gets killed and that's it. You actually have to think about the ending. Yes, there's a twist. And, kind of like a really good episode of the Twilight Zone. A MUST SEE!!!! ""My favorite Anime Film Ever""There aren't enough words to describe this incredible film . The directing is unbelievable; the acting, the soundtrack, and of course the animation is great. One reason why I love this movie, is the message it delivers to the audience. The message is how pathetic we really are, politics, war, riots, we are pathetic creatures. Another reason I like this film is that it's the first animated movie to question our existence. I didn't enjoy "Ghost In The Shell" as much as "Akira" because "Ghost In The Shell" tried to give out that same message, but it the message had been shown in "Akira." Don't get me wrong I love "Ghost in the Shell." I enjoyed the awesome, advanced 3d visual effects, and lot's it references to the Bible. Also the story was good but it was to short. If you see "Akira" do not see "Ghost in the Shell" unless you're tempted like I was to see both. I like films that give a true message through hard hitting action scenes not just through Bible references. Katsuhiro Otomo is a great director and has made a true animated epic. In fact, forget that it's an animated film; it's one of the greatest films ever made in the last 60 years. "Classic Anime."Akira is one of the most famous anime because besides Ghost in the Shell also another good anime this is one of the first anime ever released in the United States. Akira is a science fiction anime during the 21st century with the world bad enough getting hit and crushing the landscape in the whole world it is survival in the world trying to survive. Well thats just a summary I'm not telling the story so just buy it but be careful with the special edition it might not satisfy you. |
