this is a brilliant movie, a Japanese work of art

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2005)

It would be futile to say that I loved Akira. The term "love" is far below what I felt when I first saw this magnificent Japanese manga. It happened when I was 8 years old. I had rented it, and the tape was black and white and in French. I knew a little French, but still... I rented that movie for two weeks, and during those 2 weeks, Akira was the only thing I watched. I watched it over and over, non stop, that means, I rewound it over and over again. What can I say, I became addicted to that movie. Now, I finally got it in English, and I have to say everything has enlightened. Akira is a very special film. Yes, it is full of blood, and yes, it may appeal mostly to gore addicts, but do not misunderstand. Akira is full of philosophy, drama and action. It is an excellent display of human emotion. However, it's depth will be observed and understood if the person watching knows how to relate to the facts and the characters, and also has patience to see the whole film and then mix it around in his head. This film is extremely appealing and it will intrigue you. The music is great, the rhythms and the occasional "bangs" will help you feel everything better. The characters are complex and do not be fooled by the similarity to regular teenagers. They are human beings capable of many deeds. Finally, this film excels as a Science-fiction thriller, and its story is not as far-fetched as it may seem at the beginning. I recommend this manga to all manga/anime fans, but also to anyone who wants to experience something between "an already used idea" and "a unique film creation".