A mind blowing roller coaster! And that's just my review!

Rating: 10/10 (2 August 2004)

Akira is one of those films that EVERYONE should see.
If any movie has ever deserved a "5 star rating", 10 out of 10, then this is the one.
From the stark musical score of the opening frames, till the final names in the credits disappear from view, I was hooked.
The movie is a portrait of friendship and love, as well as having some kick ass action scenes, and the obligatory romantic story doesn't feel as though it was merely tacked on, like many other films I could mention.
On the issue of "the rape scene" and the gore, they have both been blown out of proportion. Neither is as graphic as I expected (it only just scrapes the definition of rape, and she's topless for less than 10 seconds), but I will accept that under 15's should probably be kept away from the household copy of "Akira".
The two leads, Kaneda and Tetsuo, are such wonderful stereotypes of the genre while still remaining unique to themselves. And our trusty heroine, Kay, is a sturdy, resourceful, independent woman, who will do her all for something she believes in. This too sounds like a stereotype, but she is much more than that. Even Kaneda and Tetsuo's gang are depicted as real people, rather than the standard kinds of chaps we see in most stock Japanese animation.
The movie is a sad tale of boys in world that does not allow them to grow or express themselves in any way. Our two heroes drift apart, one able to overcome the obstacles, the other spirals down, unable to cope with the power and responsibilities in his life.
A true classic.