A masterpiece

Rating: 7/10 (5 June 2004)

This is the "Watchmen" of the Orient. An awesome masterpiece which has so much to say to young people. The struggle in 2019 in Neo-Tokyo by the orphaned teenagers is our struggle. We identify with Tetsuo and his horrifying decent from childhood into manhood and beyond. A marvelous superhero story and the human relations. Tetsuo´s girlfriend and "best friend" we know and understand these problems. Akira remains the elusive opponent of Tetsuo. But in reality the battle is not between Tetsuo and Akira but between Tetsuo, his friends and the leaders of Neo-Tokyo. I cannot emphasize how much I recommend this movie. It is the animated version of Kurosawa blending with the modern art of Tsukamoto´s "Tetsuo" which is definitely build on "Akira". I didn´t know that until I saw it today. I guess it has something to do with the Japanese concept of "Manga". Anyhow, don´t believe the "low" rating for Akira on IMDB. This is one of the most important films ever made. 10/10.