Akira

(Movie, Dubbed)

CARL's TAKE: <<<Four stars>>>

Summary - Thirty years after Tokyo was annihilated in World War III, NeoTokyo is rising up out of its crater. Full of unrest, the metropolis is a hotbed for raging political protests and roaming biker gangs of delinquent youths. One of these biker gangs is conducting business as usual until one of its junior members, Tetsuo, has a near-fatal run-in with an escaped military psionics experiment. The military captures both the experiment and his victim, only to realize that the sudden shock of contact has awakened Tetsuo's own horrific power. Gang leader Kaneda joins the resistance and rushes to free his friend, unaware that Tetsuo's power has grown beyond the military's ability to control it. He breaks out and starts wreaking destruction upon the city in search of the elusive 'Akira', forcing Kaneda and him into a showdown of epic proportions.

Impression - Quite simply the best anime movie of all time.

Review - Here's a title so far-reaching in its effect and influence it even made waves here in America (and continues to do so). Based off the equally wonerful six volume manga series of the same name, Akira is often regarded as the grand-daddy of modern anime - for good reason. It masterfully blends elements that are each stories in their own right into a solid package that pulls you in without ever letting you down. From the General's political coup to the psychological study study of the mind of Tetsuo, a boy suddenly granted dream-like powers, this movie is sure to burn itself into your memory and only gets better the more times you watch it. In fact, it's not until the second or third viewing that you actually start to get a handle on how deep and remarkable this title really is.

VERDICT: find a copy and watch it. Now.

Original vs. Special Addition - I was a little wary of the idea when I first heard of it. How could they improve on this classic? Are they just repackaging it or something? Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The animation easily looks twice as crisp and clear, every word of dialogue has been rewritten and rerecorded, and the phenomenal new voice actor for Tetsuo is among one of the best dub performances I have yet heard. It's great either way, but if you have a DVD player I seriously recommend adding the Special Edition to your collection.

MOST MEMORABLE ANIME MOMENT AWARD - Tetsuo makes a superman cape out of a red shop curtain then stops a tank shell two feet in front of his face. Brilliance.

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