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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 |
 "AKIRA - A misunderstood classic"When I first heard friend and the UK press banging on about this movie back in 1994, I thought it was worth a look. Upon first viewing I did feel slightly confused as it didn't seem to be the whole story as described. As it turned out the Anime and Manga are totally different animals. The manga actually does feature Akira in a key role, whereas the film (planned while the manga series was still running in Japan) removes any real direct involvement he has in the story. Opting instead for the story of Tetsuo Shima. Telling the tale of his rather awkward angst-ridden teenage rebellion against powers and situations beyond his control. Chances are, Americans will love the last action-packed 30 minutes with its' guns, mutation, death and mass destruction. But in my humble opinion the manga presents us with a fully developed world and each of our lead character's individual story arcs are given satisfying conclusions - and so is vastly superior to this over-rated, much hyped piece of Japanese Popular Culture and Animated Action Cinema. There simply isn't enough time to give Otomo's post-apocalyptic world the time and attention needed to grab an increasingly restless, impatient modern audience. I was 14 when I first saw the Streamline Pictures dub (still included on the most recent Region 2 UK and Region 4 Australian releases) and it took me several viewings to truly understand all aspects of Otomo's multi-layered film version of Akira. Over the years my appreciation for this smaller scaled story has increased steadily. As I matured, so did my tastes in movies. The Geneon/Pioneer 2001 dub is truer to the original script but totally unnecessary. Akira is best enjoyed in Japanese with the new Subs. I actually have three slightly different subbed versions: The Manga/Island World Communications UK VHS, The BBC broadcast version (not too different from the video) and the Pioneer Literal Translation Script of the Japanese (used for the Region 1, 2 & 4 DVD releases). You really are best revisiting the movie once you have read the Manga. I guarantee you will come back to the anime version with a deeper understanding of the intricate plot. To all those who want a throw-away movie experience - go watch a Poke'mon movie instead. If you can you should Import the Region 2 UK version (available from amazon.co.uk) with the old dub on a second disc with the 4:3 video transfer plus Dolby digital 2.0 Dual Mono (Front Left Channel & Right Channels - no surround sound) or the Madman Entertainment single disc Region 4 version with all 3 audio tracks on the same disc with the 2001 Pioneer Widescreen Re-mastered Version. The 2 disc American releases have more extras (on the restoration and re-dubbing, plus capsule option - translation of Japanese signs and graffiti) if you like that kind of thing. Happy viewing!! "The Film that paved the way for Japanese Animation to America"This film is a great sci/fi animation film that helped make America aware of some of the best talents wern't all from here or Europe but, also in the East. By todays standards this film is finally looking old yet, unlike todays animated films this was painstackingly all done by hand and trick freeze film cel photography. Like star wars this film pulled some nice tricks that just made you go wow how the hell did they draw that and make it look just like how it'd be in the real world. Plus this film had some of the best orgional music score unlike a lot of todays animated films which just feature crappy pop hits either from japan or the united states. The very beginning where the bikes are racing through tokyo to the end where kenada leaves our realm the music fits perfectly and moves the story in such a way.... The only thing i've never been able to figure out is why Pioneer felt the origional voice dubbing in english was in need of redubbing? Some of the new voice characters on the new one are plain flat wrong for the characters. Also, they changed up the dialoge cause like crappy star wars remakes they felt people didn't totally grab the concept of the film so they dumb it a bit for those who couldn't figure out what was going on... Pick up an old VHS copy and you'll see what i mean.... The only fault i ever thought this film was rather weak on was the middle part of where the captian fights with the city council members on what to do with Akira and the situation that was spiriling out of control. It's rather weak for what it was trying to show and a little bit too wordy with no substance.....Course for how this went down in the graphic novels and how big it was it's rather hard to press it all into a 2hr film without some content being lost... Regardless if you saw this film for the first time back in the eighties or just last week this film is the Citzen Cane of animation. Not all can stomach this film just like citzen cane....The film itself is worthy of a five star rating but, it gets a four cause of pioneer failing to also give us the origional dub version....Strangly the LaserDisc version had all three versions of this film so, not sure why they felt not compelled to do it again on dvd....  "Best Anime ever Made!!!!!!"If you are an anime fan or even a fan of movies to begin with and you haven't seen this film, then get off your butts and see it now, because believe me YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plot: To start out the plot is fantastic. Everything about it is absolutely perfect. Also, don't believe it when people say this movie is hard to understand because it's really not by any standards. Okay, I could see non fans of science fiction/anime not getting it because it is hard to follow in some places and there are alot of politics to keep track of, but still non the less the plot is no were near as convoluted as so many critics said it was. The problem with so many americans in general is that we don't like a challenge when it comes to films, all we want is high speed chases and special effects,and at times we cant take anything outside the norm. The ending to this film, which is completely brilliant,is an example of this, so many people complained about how it made no sense and didn't give enough answers, but the bottom line is that you cant expect every single detail of the plot to be thoroughly explained to it's viewer. Espesially since the situation exoressed in this film is something people have been trying to explain since the beginning of man. The ending to Akira is in many ways up to ones own interpretations. What is Akira and the source of his power? Is he ultimate energy? But what is that ultimate energy? Is Akira just a freaky little psychic child with immense random psychic abilitys or are his powers the memorys of the universe itself, that, as kei explains, we all may share hidden deep inside of us? The ending to this film may be interpreted as nothing but a memory. Akira, Tetsuo, Kiyoko, Masaru, and Takeshi, with all there powers combined relive the most important memory of all, the birth of the Universe. But why did the universe rebirth? As I said before, was it because the source of the psychics power was the universe's memorys, and when this power could not be contained within human flesh it was released, causing that memory to be relived? Or was their power a way to symbolize the power of god? After all, according to religion, god did create the universe. Also, at the end, the rebirth of the universe took the form of a giant grotesque baby. Why is that? Was it to show that the universe's birth was a disgusting creation? Or does the universe remember itself in a grotesque way, and rebirth was the ultimate way to attain perfection? Basically what im trying to say is there are alot of ways to interpret this movie, people should be more open minded and accept that not everything in a movie has to be explained because sometimes there are some things that are just up to ones own interpretations...but if you want answers I sugest you read the manga, which explains more as to whats going on. Animation: The animation in this film is awesome!!! Even by todays standards it's still one of the best. It's unbelievably fluid and there are never any stills. There is always some kind of movement going on in almost every scene. The ending to this film is probaly one of the most amazing pieces of animation I have ever witnessed. I also love the artwork. It's totaly different from your usual anime movie and is very true to Otomo's art style. There's no big eyed Bishounen here folks. Also what completely amazes me about this film is that there are no CG effects...it's pure hand drawn cell animation, which takes real talent, unlike all this computer animated Incredibles, Finding Nemo crud. Music: I really enjoyed the music in this film. It gave a very cryptic undertone to the film which I thought was very fitting. The music is also very original and unlike anything I've ever heard before. Voice Acting: I have actually have never watched Akira subtitled before, because with a dub this great thers no need to. The only complaint I have is that at times the voice didn't match up to the lip flap to well, however this is forgivable, only because the animation was very detailed around the mouth area and sometimes it seemed like it was hard to match. Overall: This is an unbelievable movie, and if you have never read the manga, I suggest you read that right after watching the movie.  "Old doesn't make it a classic"It just makes it old, and retarded looking. Ok when I first got into Neon Genesis Evangelion half a year ago, I wanted to buy the best anime on par with Neon genesis and I heard this was an classic movie and was great. So I bought it and watched it and I was embarassed. The age of the movie shows so bad in this one. Like Nausicaa and the valley of the wind was a 1980s movie, but it took place in a fantasy world so It didn't look old. but this movie takes place in the city so it looks too crappy. Let me explain what I mean. Ok those little kids with the blue skin look like something from a 1980 animated show like thundercats or something. It's not the anime I know and love. just look at the anime in Neon Genesis or Elfen Lied. It's bright and the girls are hot and it just looks plain cool! but this animation looks retarded in my oppinion. like come on the girl in this movie, Kai, looks like a guy. There is just something I can't stand. like how the main character has a big picture of a capsule on the back of his jacket. like why would you wear something like that?? Is he like 3 years old?? Stuff like that just bugs me to no end. like Tetsuo looked AWESOME with his red cape on and his metal arm, fighting the army. but that was the only thing I liked in the movie. The story also, is very confusing. Neon Genesis is just as confusing but NOT this bad! I am so lost at the end of this movie! I don't even know why this movie is called anime, it doesn't look like anime. It looks like crappy 1980 american crap animation. Go watch Neon Genesis or Excel Saga or Ghost in the shell or Elfen Lied to see what anime (adult animation) should look like. Not this kiddy looking animation. I bought this movie, like I said, and I actually threw it in my garbage. Maybe someone who likes bad movies will find it at the dump and love it. "Perfect!!!!"This is one of the most perfect movies. I hate to call it anime because it does not play like a typical anime film. Katsuhiro Otomo has taken great strides to create characters that are not two dimensional. I enjoy this movie so much because of the relationship between Kaneda( the protagonist/alpha male) and Tetsuo ( Kaneda's weaker best friend). Basic storyline, Tetsuo is hurt while trying to prove himself to the gang. The government takes him and does experiments thus releasing his psychic powers. Between Tetsuo's new power, drugs and his own inferiority complex mayhem ensues. This eventually leads to a showdown with Kaneda. I love this movie!! I actually owned it on VHS in original Japanese and English dubb, BUT this Special Edition is much better. I love the extras that have been included and I especially love the new dubbing. It is a clearer translation than the orginal dubb. If you love anime or just sci fi movies this is a must have. |
