I guess this is the kind of movie which give its best when watched under drugs. I can't say I really liked it because I found the plot quite weak but the achievement of this movie is in creating a real atmosphere of a dystopian city. Drawings and music are very nice though.
If you have to start your anime education, you sort of have to start with this one. The ultraviolence is juicy and disturbing, the animation still stands up today, and the soundtrack is terrific. No easy answers at the end though.
These animated movies all look alike to me, there is always violence, tons of blood and something related to the world of fantasy. At least this movie has a cool character that I like: Kaneda.
3.5/5
Up until now my experience with Japanese anime has only consisted of a few films and every Miyazaki film ever made. I’ve never really been into the fantasy element that accompanies such anime shows as “Full Metal Alchemist, “Bleach”, and “Dragon Ball Z”. I’ve read about “Akira” in articles detailing the history of sci-fi and have read on multiple accounts that it is the best anime film ever made. When I was browsing Amazon a week ago I noticed that “Akira” has recently been released on blu ray and I decided I could afford to spend a moderate amount of money on a blind buy. I’m glad I did. What I ended up witnessing is in fact the greatest anime film I have ever seen and one of the finest animated films of all time regardless of country of origin. I only thing is that I don’t really understand what the hell I just watched.
The film is set in 2019, thirty years after World War Three. Tokyo was devastated but has only recently rebuilt its city center. The setting in the city is one of light dystopian future. While there aren’t raving lunatics trolling the streets, there are street gangs and more specifically, street bike gangs. This is where were find our main characters. The gang is run by Kaneda, a member who may be in possession of the coolest bike in the city. Along with him, Tetsuo, Yamagata, and a few others attend their run down high school during the day and prowl the streets at night invading bars and looking for fights. During one of these street fights the gang runs into demonstrators fighting the government over the use of human experimentation and general imperialism. Tetsuo, trying to create an identity for himself, takes Kaneda’s bike and runs into a local gang. Tetsuo is saved by a mysterious boy who comes into contact with Tetsuo, possibly transferring over some kinetic energy to him. Tetsuo is then taken by the government after they learn he has come into contact with the boy.
Got it? It may seem complex as hell, mostly cause it is, but the overall plot of the film is laid out pretty well during the film. What follows next cannot be explained in detail because it was that fun to watch it all unravel. I can say that it was an animated experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The film goes down a rabbit hole into psychotic masterpiece and never looks back. The cover of the box claims that without this film there could never be a Matrix. I happen to agree. The concept of perceived reality is questioned about twenty times throughout the duration of the film but also keeps the entertainment factor high with excellent violence and breathtaking hand drawn animation. The colors, which are important considering most of the film takes place at night, are vibrant and unrelenting. It;s a gorgeous film rendered perfectly on this new blu ray disc.
If you’re a fan of anime I’m sure you’ve already seen this film but if you’re into science fiction or animated films at all I suggest giving this a watch, hell maybe two viewings would do it. It’s a fever dream of a film that I can’t begin to comprehend but will certainly try over many more viewings.
WOW. What a strangely captivating film. The animation is astonishing, and so visceral. Some of its scenes were particularly haunting, namely Tetsuo's nightmare and the final mutation. The whole apocalyptic ambiance and atmosphere is extremely well-built, too.
I felt kind of disturbed, though, not only because of the overall violence and the intensity of the scenes involving Tetsuo's power struggle, but also because of its powerful themes. Its commentaries on the dangers of government intrusion and the people it decides to grant power to should not be overlooked, too, and I found the symbolism quite remarkable.
It is definitely not an easy movie to forget, and technically laudable. But it is also not an easy movie to watch, I felt myself quite internally divided.
In any aspect, it definitely deserves its placement among the most memorable animated movies. I'll probably be keen on seeing it again some other time, when the spirit is right. The first reaction is definitely too WOW-based to create a well-formed opinion.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 38
diirtyharry67
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wufKraKAg7Q part 1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOkhUbaO8Hc part 2
English dub for both
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pdxdmxE0Y
full movie, but in german
stefapalooza
There's no denying that this film is beautifully drawn. But the plot was rubbish.Serehrenfest
I guess this is the kind of movie which give its best when watched under drugs. I can't say I really liked it because I found the plot quite weak but the achievement of this movie is in creating a real atmosphere of a dystopian city. Drawings and music are very nice though.Siskoid
If you have to start your anime education, you sort of have to start with this one. The ultraviolence is juicy and disturbing, the animation still stands up today, and the soundtrack is terrific. No easy answers at the end though.Ebbywebby
This is the most-listed film I haven't seen. I've tried to watch it twice now and...I can't bear it at all. I think it's time to give up.Duke of Omnium
I'm not an anime fan. I was impressed - the level of detail of "Neo-Tokyo" was magnificent, but I think the film's beauty and power was lost on me.Petrux
Honestly i didn't understand a single fuck of this movie.V012
I have never been so blown away by a filmstexdo
It's the Blade Runner of anime, an original, thrilling and crazy movie. One of the best animation movies ever.mysteryfan
I think I have found a correlation:Any movie in any 'cult movies' list is bound to be a shit movie.
Cult movie = Shit movie
Joker of Gotham
These animated movies all look alike to me, there is always violence, tons of blood and something related to the world of fantasy. At least this movie has a cool character that I like: Kaneda.3.5/5
Carota
not hard to follow at all. very very very impressive.The_Comatorium
Up until now my experience with Japanese anime has only consisted of a few films and every Miyazaki film ever made. I’ve never really been into the fantasy element that accompanies such anime shows as “Full Metal Alchemist, “Bleach”, and “Dragon Ball Z”. I’ve read about “Akira” in articles detailing the history of sci-fi and have read on multiple accounts that it is the best anime film ever made. When I was browsing Amazon a week ago I noticed that “Akira” has recently been released on blu ray and I decided I could afford to spend a moderate amount of money on a blind buy. I’m glad I did. What I ended up witnessing is in fact the greatest anime film I have ever seen and one of the finest animated films of all time regardless of country of origin. I only thing is that I don’t really understand what the hell I just watched.The film is set in 2019, thirty years after World War Three. Tokyo was devastated but has only recently rebuilt its city center. The setting in the city is one of light dystopian future. While there aren’t raving lunatics trolling the streets, there are street gangs and more specifically, street bike gangs. This is where were find our main characters. The gang is run by Kaneda, a member who may be in possession of the coolest bike in the city. Along with him, Tetsuo, Yamagata, and a few others attend their run down high school during the day and prowl the streets at night invading bars and looking for fights. During one of these street fights the gang runs into demonstrators fighting the government over the use of human experimentation and general imperialism. Tetsuo, trying to create an identity for himself, takes Kaneda’s bike and runs into a local gang. Tetsuo is saved by a mysterious boy who comes into contact with Tetsuo, possibly transferring over some kinetic energy to him. Tetsuo is then taken by the government after they learn he has come into contact with the boy.
Got it? It may seem complex as hell, mostly cause it is, but the overall plot of the film is laid out pretty well during the film. What follows next cannot be explained in detail because it was that fun to watch it all unravel. I can say that it was an animated experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The film goes down a rabbit hole into psychotic masterpiece and never looks back. The cover of the box claims that without this film there could never be a Matrix. I happen to agree. The concept of perceived reality is questioned about twenty times throughout the duration of the film but also keeps the entertainment factor high with excellent violence and breathtaking hand drawn animation. The colors, which are important considering most of the film takes place at night, are vibrant and unrelenting. It;s a gorgeous film rendered perfectly on this new blu ray disc.
If you’re a fan of anime I’m sure you’ve already seen this film but if you’re into science fiction or animated films at all I suggest giving this a watch, hell maybe two viewings would do it. It’s a fever dream of a film that I can’t begin to comprehend but will certainly try over many more viewings.
5/5
www.thoughtsfromthebooth.com
CHE6yp
Insanely overrated.Plot doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Animation is cool though, and there is a boobs shot. Still not worth watching.
Lostio
WOW. What a strangely captivating film. The animation is astonishing, and so visceral. Some of its scenes were particularly haunting, namely Tetsuo's nightmare and the final mutation. The whole apocalyptic ambiance and atmosphere is extremely well-built, too.I felt kind of disturbed, though, not only because of the overall violence and the intensity of the scenes involving Tetsuo's power struggle, but also because of its powerful themes. Its commentaries on the dangers of government intrusion and the people it decides to grant power to should not be overlooked, too, and I found the symbolism quite remarkable.
It is definitely not an easy movie to forget, and technically laudable. But it is also not an easy movie to watch, I felt myself quite internally divided.
In any aspect, it definitely deserves its placement among the most memorable animated movies. I'll probably be keen on seeing it again some other time, when the spirit is right. The first reaction is definitely too WOW-based to create a well-formed opinion.
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