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| Title: Akira Run Time: 124 minutes List Price: $29.99 Company: Pioneer Animation Rating: R |
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| 10-20-02 Finally, a re-mastered edition of one of the greatest animes around. Akira on DVD can be bought in a Special Edition, which contains the feature on one disc and a second disc of extras. It is also available with the first disc alone. Everything has been digitally re-mastered, and this version includes an updated version of the original translation. The story is a good one, but unfortunately, it begins in the middle of the manga. Akira started as a manga, like many other animes, before it was given the big screen adaption. For some reason, the creators decided to begin right in the middle of the story line... And end in the middle, too. Anyway, the story starts with a biker gang, of which childhood friends Tetsuo and Kaneda belong. The story begins on the streets, as they fight against a rival gang, the Clowns. During the chase, Tetsuo takes a wrong turn. A crash with an escaped, experimental subject releases Tetsuo's psychic powers. The government captures Tetsuo and performs experiments on him. When he escapes, his one goal is to destroy those who have oppressed him and find that one power greater than his own... Akira. The story of Akira really doesn't start out as a complex one. It may be a bit hard to understand on the first viewing, but a second viewing will easily remedy most of this. I say most because the ending is nigh impossible to understand. To someone who hasn't read the mangas, the ending will no doubt make no sense what so ever. Akira really could have benefited from a series treatment. They really should have started from the beginning and just made several movies instead of one. Anyhow, the animation in this movie is great. It's hard to believe that Akira was made almost 15 years ago, and yet, with this re-mastering, it looks like new. Compare Akira to any other late 80's anime, and you'll agree. The characters are also drawn nicely, the large eye look synonymous with many an anime is gone, and the characters all look distinctly Japanese. The sound is also well done, as you'd expect from an anime that recieved a theatrical release. The dubbing is good, and I had no particular gripes about any of the voices. The music also was fine. It wasn't repetitive or anything, but there was nothing great about it either. Nothing really... caught my ear. Akira is a true classic. Any anime fan should have this in their collection. Rating: 9 / 10 |
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