Um...I guess it was just too built up

Rating: Null/10 (26 June 1999)

For a while, my friends have been telling me to see the phenomenon that is Akira. So, yesterday I rented and did. I must have missed the phenomenon. Akira wasn't that good. It had a great beginning, but there wasn't enough backstory. For instance, you only get a hint of Tetsuyo's apparent trouble with fitting in with the gang. Even this had been more clearly fleshed out, his behavior in the last hour or two would have made it more interesting.
Like I said, the opening was terrific, with the awesome opening action. But it was overly gory. It wasn't the bloodbath people said, but it was, once or twice, unnecessary. Hey, to anyone who has seen Dark City, don't the shadow guys in that remind you of the little akira kids in this. They certaintly reminded me. Overall, a 6 out of 10. However, this could have just been overhyped. I was expecting more.