Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by brewthunda (A) on August 30, 2001 at 08:34:25

Don't know if anime is your cup of tea, but I just picked up the new DVD release of Akira . .. and I gotta say they did a really excellent job. They did a full digital remastering of the video and created a new 5.1 soundtrack. The sound is particularly impressive on this one. The DVD also comes with a THX video/audio setup program which is pretty handy.

For those of you not familiar with Akira, it's probably the pinnacle of Japanese animation. (although I still haven't seen the Lain series, so that's open for debate) It's pretty bloody and extremely violent, but has some truly jaw-dropping imagery. I'd give it two thumbs up. It's also a great introduction to anime, for those of you new to the genre. One caveat though - it gets pretty boring for a good 20 minutes near the end . . so don't say I didn't warn you.

From allmovie.com:

Plot Synopsis: One of the most influential examples of Anime, Akira is based on the manga (comic book) by Katsuhiro Otomo. The story is set in the post-apocalyptic community of Neo-Tokyo. Akira is a fiercely individualistic member of a scrungy motorcycle gang. The despotic authorities, the robotlike police, and even the cycle gang pursue Akira when he's bombarded with a new, insidious energy source that has rendered him telekinetic. Budgeted at $8 million, Akira has become a cult favorite in the States thanks to generous midnight-movie exposure and multiple showings on cable TV's Cartoon Network. — Hal Erickson

Review:
Anime has had a devoted following since its beginnings, but it didn't have much crossover appeal until Akira came along. The drawing style was always respected for its distinctive characteristics — the large, soulful eyes, the expressive color, the jagged representation of fantasy worlds. But it fell short of true sophistication, since many of the drawings had the herky-jerky quality that comes from animating fewer backgrounds or character movements than necessary for a seamless flow, usually for reasons of speed or poverty. Akira represented a fully realized anime film, both smooth in its appearance and coherent in its narrative, and the result was to awaken the affections of fans outside the anime kingdom. It's a thoroughly unsubtle film, with big explosions, mystical platitudes, and hysterical emotions, but it is also visually glorious in a way that far outdistanced its predecessors. Akira is never going to win converts beyond a certain age — the overblown, angst-ridden plot, which stretches on for over two hours, is best lapped up by wide-eyed teenagers. But this brash, brave effort to bring anime to the outside world is remarkable in how well it achieved that goal, and how greatly it exceeded the modest expectations of its brethren. — Derek Armstrong