It's great, it really is, but Ninja Scroll is the best anime ever

Rating: Null/10 (30 July 1999)

Akira was my intro to the world of anime back in'89. I can't explain it, but the moment I saw the flickering sign outside of the bar, I was grabbed. It's an incredible piece of art, but I've only seen the dubbed version and it's a little difficult to comprehend just what in the hell is going on, even after multiple viewings. This movie is similar to David Lynch's Lost Highway, where just when you think you have a valid explanation of the film, you pull your hair out when you realize that you've left out one detail that brings the structure of your overall grasp of it crashing down. That's why I'm not even trying to explain the film. I've seen it God knows how many times and I still can't grasp it completely. Akira has just been announced for DVD, so I'll hopefully be able to watch it in the Japanese language with English subtitles and explain it afterward, since this tends to be the most accurate way to watch these movies. It definitely oozes style and the animation does surpass anything that Disney's put out (except Tarzan, which is incredible in it's own right) and yes, the music is amazing. It drags a little in places but not to the point where it's excruciating to watch. This movie is a triumph of anime and it's my strong belief that it comes in second only to Ninja Scroll, my all-time favorite. AKIRA Rating: ****1/2 out of *****.