Review of Akira

Akira is by far the best anime film I've seen till now. It was so captivating, fast-paced and jam-packed with action that I never realized how quickly 2 hours flew by. It's a mind-blowing cyberpunk action film that has a number of great things which include the simple but fresh story that is absolutely driven by action sequences and the gorgeous animation that encompasses every single bit of it. It's also a gory experience, so I can't recommend it for kids. For adults, it's a full-blown explosive ride! Akira is not a dramatic piece or a slow-paced character commentary, if that's the impression of the filmyou got from its phenomenal critical reception and reputation. Instead, it's a full blown action film loaded with high-speed motorbike chases, explosions and large-scale destruction; in simple words, it's an action fan's dream come true. I could feel the efforts by the makers in every single shot and it was really hard to believe the film was drawn entirely by hand, and especially when it's mostly nonstop action for 2 hours.

The film's story is impressive even if you might find the concept of uncontrollable power a bit dated now. The spectacular animation is what surprises me a lot for a 1988 film and undoubtedly it has aged very well. How I completely understood the characters was another plus; the dialogue was not at all difficult or hard to follow. Japanese filmmakers truly know the art of crafting a masterpiece, and Akira is definitely one of them. The depiction of 2019 is stunning and gives futuristic vibes even though it's no longer set in the future.

Akira is, all in all, an exciting action film that is like part superhero, part biker story but a perfectly balanced version of both themes instead of one. It might not be recommendable for kids due to the gory action and some intense scenes, but the overall tone is exciting and fun enough to entertain anyone for 2 hours without holding back. I was so impressed that I even watched the end credits, something to happen after a very long time. If I ever get a chance to collect it on DVD/Blu-ray, I'll never miss it at any cost. And yes, don't worry. It won't leave you sad or depressed but instead happy to have invested your time in watching the right film.