Akira

What an absolutely phenomenal movie, no wonder it was the west's big introduction to anime. This is one of those movies I just wanna eat. If this movies visuals were a person I would propose on the spot. The entirety of neo-tokyo is so well established through it's vast vistas, it's factions and politicians, all of it builds this kettle that is just ready to boil over. The movie is filled with this motif of peverted childhood, from the seemingly young-but-old children, the creepy daycare in the middle of the top secret science laboratory, but it's definitely at its most recognisable when Tetsuo fully transforms and loses control of his power, his new monstrous form being a "big baby" couldn't be more on the nose. It makes you wonder, what happens to the children who grow up in this world, the disenfranchised youth, and what happens when one of them is suddenly placed into the position of godhood? The answer is catastrophic. Despite Tetsuo's power trip being more or less the fourth coming of world-war, you can't really blame him too much; he's just the product of the perverted childhood this city forced upon him And just like in real life no one has learned anything from their previous tragically dangerous ideas. The never forget mentality in the face of mass death doesn't stop the carnage, it simply allows you to watch and understand, as it happens again. I couldn't really find a place to say it in this ramble but the sound design here is some of the best I've ever heard; how the sounds and music cutting in and out is used just adds so much to the terror, had my heart racing, had me on the edge of my seat, had me stress eating my popcorn. This is one I will definitely be returning to, I feel there's so much to dig into here and I've barely scratched the surface, I'm sure all the praise I have heard on this movie has been heaped time and time again. But wow, I was impressed!