Akira

I can't stop thinking about this film. this is the second time in around two weeks in which I have watched Akira and it continues to be all that is on my mind, so much so that I even bought the manga. Akira is there with the greatest works of Japanese culture which truly capture Japan's reformation after Hiroshima. Like I said in my last review, Akira is about this utter stupidity mankind possesses when believing we have control over power that is over our heads. On this watch, I found Akira has a deeper, underlying subtext at play here, because while it seems that the film would end on a hopeless note, there is something special about the way the characters handle the immense loss. Kaneda, Kei, and Kaisuke, pick up right where they left off with a smile as they ride off into the city. It speaks about the resilience of the human spirit, the good in the all the evil of humanity: destroying ourselves, but able to look forward in pursuit of a better future. As for Tetsuo, I'm not sure what happened to him fully. Perhaps he was engulfed by Akira and became one with the universe, at least that is what it seems like. However, I don't believe that was the point of the ending. As you watch Tetsuo for the whole movie up until the very end, his power is attempted to be controlled by humans. It isn't until his power isn't controlled, but embraced by powers greater than him, that he can finally be at peace. Like Kei said: "But there is a power... a power that resides in all things, even in a grain of sand. And it’s been there since the beginning of time. It’s just waiting to be awakened." This power shouldn't be awakened by humanity, where it is awoken, I'm not sure, but that isn't for us to decide.