Review of Akira

Akira is gorgeous. It's somewhat of a narrative mess on your first watch, but that's to be expected when you condense a 2,000 page story into a two hour film. The first half is a quite faithful adaptation of Volumes 1 & 2, however the second half speedruns 4 volumes of plot using bits of material from volumes 3 & 6. Don't get me wrong; the narrative still makes perfect sense, however the pacing is absolutely bonkers and this will be a huge turn-off for viewers who prefer a slow-burner. Myself, with my ADHD-riddled brain, quite loved this. It meant the film continuously ramped to it'sexplosive conclusion — without ever taking a break. While the movie adaptation cuts character development, side plots & exposition it gains color, animation, voice acting and a gorgeous psychedelic soundtrack.

It feels like a very faithful adaptation, despite cutting a significant portion of the story, which I'd accredit to the original author being the director of the film: Katsuhiro Otomo. I often cite directors not connecting with the source material very well as the largest reason for adaptations to end up as failures. Denis Villeneuve is a perfect example of how to do it right. Villeneuve was a huge fan of Frank Herbert's 'Dune' novel for over forty years before he started directing the 2021 adaptation and you can feel that in the end product. The respect to adapt the source material with perfection is present in every scene. However not all authors are great directors; what works on a page doesn't always work on screen — take Kubrick's & King's adaptations of The Shining, for example. Film requires someone with a strong understanding of visual storytelling: something novelists often don't possess. Manga authors, on the other hand, are both excellent writers and visual storytellers simultaneously. There are other famous examples of talented directors being simultaneously talented manga authors; Hayao Miyazaki, director of some of the most successful animated films of all time, published the critically acclaimed 1100 page 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' over the course of 12 years. It's so fascinating to watch Akira because it feels like the exact images inside the authors brain, that were put to paper six years prior, have been brought to life. Which means all the little intricacies and details in his head were able to accurately be put to screen. Every sound effect, every color choice, every animation choice, all exudes a very cohesive, yet distinct, feel that is very much "Akira"; I don't think this would be possible with a different director in charge of the project — irrespective of their talent.

While I'd rate this film a strong 9 or 10 when it comes to audiovisuals, it's the substance that really holds this film back. It doesn't necessarily do anything wrong, per se, but falls short of meeting the necessary profundity my films of higher scores entail. The film is littered with allusions towards post-WW2 Japan, Icarus, and critiques of the rising capitalist Japan. The striking body horror imagery is fascinating and striking. However I didn't walk away from this film feeling like I'd taken something with me on the rest of my lifelong journey, I just had a great time. This is how I feel about a lot of my 8/10s, to be frank. They're amazing watches, and personal favorites, but haven't particularly impacted me as an individual. Almost like a drug with an incredible high, but nothing remains after the fact other than the experience.

In conclusion, if you want a lightning-paced joyride with some of the most gorgeous and imaginative audiovisuals to ever bless big-screen animation: look no further than Akira.