Akira - (Ultimate Collection) > Reviews > Akira: Cult classic, or simply overhyped?

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	Two 'versions' of a popular anime, relatively cheap
Disadvantages:	Dated and overly extravagant

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

For years you hear about the legend. People tell you that it is the most groundbreaking film ever made, let alone anime. You're informed that you simply must see it before you die and, if you die, that you really should make an effort to see it anyway.

I picked up Akira for £20 in HMV after just a scant two years of being interested in anime. I had heard all of the above and thought to myself "Right, better check this out then! Sod the price, it's supposed to be awesome!"

I want to take this opportunity to say that in no way do I actually dislike the film; I loved it in fact. But years of hype had raised my expectations far, far too high.

Akira is the no-nonsense tale of psychic potential in uncontrolled individuals, and the film doesn't pull any punches; opening up with Tokyo in 1988 just as a gigantic explosion rips it apart. You know then that this film is going to be big on elaborate scenes.
I did of course enjoy it, as already said, but within the first half an hour I'd been disappointed in the smallest way possible. I'd been promised a legend but all I really got was a fantastic story that set the foundations for all subsequent anime.
The story was at times incredibly outlandish and, as I erect my telekinetic forcefield, I shall even go so far as to accuse it of being downright silly. But this should never ever put you off of watching it.

While being incredulous it also retains a specific charm, something that keeps you pulled in, on the edge of your seat and really involved in the film.
Well, in so much as you can be involved in a film, anyway.

The characters had a realistic depth you don't often see in animation characters, these are not your standard Disney knock-offs, that's for sure. From Kaneda's crumbling grip over his small gang to Tetsuo's escalating mental problems and superego we, the audience, are presented with a gritty tale of the near-future mixed up with liberal helpings of almost-fantasy.

Again I shall treat "special effects" as referring to "animation" and, while I know and understand that this is an old film I will just say that you shouldn't expect to be wowed by Akira's animation. It was absolutely amazing for its time, but that time has passed.
The soundtrack is simply wonderful, lots of luvverly orchestral scores with choral overtones, which I have always felt really lends credence to an epic. And Akira is an epic.

To my knowledge it's still around 20 quid in most retail outlets but of course you can get it second-hand, or even new on amazon for much less.
For a DVD boxset with two discs the special features are lacking, as in fact disc two just contains the same movie as on disc one; only older. Some people will enjoy watching this unedited version, but most will just be annoyed that they had to fork out for a tea coaster.

I can definitely recommend Akira to almost anyone, but do be warned that you probably won't find it has good as the hype would suggest.