Akira [VHS] [1991]

But just a few words for those hardcore Manga fans out there regarding this particular release. If, like me, you prefer watching the original language versions of Manga films you may want to think twice about the Ultimate Collection. Why? Well, there's only one English subtitle track and it's for the hearing impared. This means that, along with the dialog, you get a load of little notes regarding what sort of background sounds accompany the scene, which is, frankly, as annoying as hell. Take the opening, for example, with the dramatic shot across the crater, you're just getting into the mood of the film when up pops "[wind blowing]" along the bottom of the screen. This sort of thing spoils the atmosphere of the film, especially when you can hear the wind blowing for yourself. I'm not saying there shouldn't be comments for the hearing impared, I'm saying that there should be the option to have regular subtitles as well, without all the little sound effect comments.

Second issue; one of the selling points of the re-mastered version is the new translations. Sadly, though some parts of the dialog are much better and flow more naturally, many other parts lose out. The original had more 'peotic' phrasing in some areas where the new version sounds cold and awkward. For example, where the orginal version wonders whether Akira's power might be "divine", the new version wonders if it "comes from God". On the whole I prefer the original text. Once again I am commenting on the subtitles, I'm afraid I still can't bear watching the dubbed version of the film (even this "improved" version) - it is still not anywhere near as good as the original Japanese voice acting.

Aside from the niggles regarding translation and subtitles, the image quality is very good, I've finally rediscovered the subtelties in colour shades and crisp image I experienced when I first saw the film in the cinema, both of which were sadly lacking from the VHS version.

So, does this version merit the "Ultimate Collection" tag? I'd say close, but not quite...

The film is set in 2019, thirty years after a secret weapons project during World War 3 destroyed Tokyo and centres around the friendship between two gang members, Kaneda and Tetsuo. After Tetsuo is involved in a bike accident with an escaped Military test subject, he is then captured and experimented on to give him powerful psychic abilities. Unfortunately his powers get out of control and a new threat looms on the horizon for Neo Tokyo.

In 2002 they released a version of Akira on DVD, this is what the fans had been waiting for for long enough. It looked beautiful it has to be said, and the remastered sound is a feast on the ears, but what happened with the dubbing. All those classic lines had now been repleaced. Growing up with the original dub i was so dissappointed that they had done this, for me it had ruined an already perfect film. Fair enough the new dub is probably a bit closer, and the syncing is better but it just wasn't akira anymore.

And now we have the 'Ultimate Collection'. Finally they've put the original dub on to dvd but have left it in its original state, and you can clearly see the difference in quality between it and the remastered version. And shame on Manga Video, the first disc is the disc from the 2 DVD version from 2002, they couldn't be bothered to do a completely new package. Very disappointing.

Having said that if you're new to Manga and Akira then get this version as its got everything you could ever want to know about one of the greatest films ever made.

Any chance of a remastered version of the original dub then Manga Video. Then i'll be happy.