Ahh... Akira, this just makes the memories come flooding back... It was about four or five years ago (it really seems like longer but I can't believe we've had our little satellite dish for that long of a time) when I first saw this movie, on a Friday or Saturday night when the fam was gone.  I sat and watched this movie, as it was the only thing on TV and I was a lazy little chub master that had no social life (kinda like today, except I'm not as chubby).  I remember the feelings that welled up in me as I viewed Akira, the first was confusion.  I had no forking idea what was going on, I spent the whole movie wondering who the hell Akira was and the only reason I didn't stop watching was because I thought  that Kaneda's bike kicked ass.  A much stronger emotion was fear.  I almost shit my pants because this movie freaked me out so bad, coupled with my lack of understanding of what was going on, the crazy transforming act that Tetsuo pulled and monster teddy bears didn't make me feel better.  I was all - I want to stop watching, but for some reason I can't, it must be the motorcycle - and so I sat through Akira for the first time, scared shitless and with no idea what was going on.

          Just a few months ago was my second opportunity to see Akira.  Some friends and I were out on one of our expeditions to rent at least one shitty movie to make fun of (Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town - Jailbait Babysitter - any Leprechaun movie) and an anime.  Thinking that it was about time to watch Akira again, mostly because I had Schuster there to defend me in case some crazy assed monster jumped out and tried to eat me, we got it and watched it.  I was surprised to find that it actually made some sense this time around and I thought it was okay.

          I rented it again about three days ago and watched it all alone (I'm so lonely...).  Phew, holy terds on a blanket, not only did I understand almost everything, but I think this movie is as cool as velcro!  We got crazy animation that's about as smooth as that one big guy that walks around my old high school with chains around his neck, cowboy boots and old shirts buttoned only halfway, fucking smooth!  We got 'splosions, guns, cool motorcycles, original story, a growling army man, tanks, good characters, umm.... some humor... lot's of stuff damnit!

          Since I'm tired, I'll try and keep this short, Akira is about a good guy, a bad guy and their battle for supremacy.  Wait... never mind, it's about crazy magical mind powers and motorcycles with electricity shooting out from the wheels.  Hold on, I'm tired... Just watch it and pay close attention to what's going on, otherwise you'll get lost.  I've heard that part of the reason Akira is so confusing is because the people who made it didn't explain everything as completely as it was explained in the manga (comic).  You know, you'd understand the movie more if you knew the manga, that kinda deal.  But hey, don't feel bad if you are confused by this, it took me three times to get it, and we all know how smart I am right?

          Anyway, it's badass, watch it.

Genre - action/sci-fi

Animation - Holy shit my friend, it doesn't get much better than this.

Sub vs. Dub - I haven't seen the sub and might not considering 'Vash' and 'Faye' do voises in the re-dub

the Good - The laser gun acted like a laser gun should, no Star Wars pee shooter bull-shit, animation, music, action scenes, decent characters, good story, cool shit all over the place.

the Bad - The Dub is pretty bad in parts, especially when Kaneda starts yapping like an idiot, the story is a bit hard to follow

Overall - If only I had realized how good this was back in the day, I wouldn't have lived so long fearing it like I fear that one dog headed guy who was standing in the middle of my room laughing at me when I woke up about ten years ago, shit dude, that was seriously fucked up, he had a fucking head like Goofy, except evil!