Akira: Katsuhiro Otomo

[Revisit Review]

Akira is a fine movie, but its incredible animation and production values are undermined by an uneven script and unfocused storytelling. The film feels like the first and last hour of a 5-hour television miniseries. Here are my three suggestions for how Akira could have been a better film.

1) Get rid of all of the city politician subplots. Colonel Shikishima can still declare martial law because that's important to the story.

2) Get rid of Kaori. She has no impact on the plot and exists solely to provide man-angst for Tetsuo by getting attacked, sexually assaulted, and killed.

3) Tone down Kaneda's antics at wooing Kei. These scenes feel like they were ghost-written by Rumiko Takahashi. There's nothing wrong with a bit of comedic relief, but these scenes almost ruin the serious and intense atmosphere and tone of the film.

8/10