Comments on: Akira (Blu-ray), Early Look/Review

By: AtoMic domhnall

AtoMic domhnall — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:25:38 +0000

I would much rather have intense, passionate, even over-the-top readings of the original Streamline dub. Though the new dub is a much better translation, and is clearer in its presentation of the story, the grit and charm and believability of the old dub supercedes its inaccuracies in its translation as well as its liberties in pronounciation. The melodramatic excess of the original is, for me, vastly superior to the dry, stale, uninterested accuracy of the readings in the new dub. I will not be buying Akira on blu-ray until the original Streamline dub is included.

By: Stevo

Stevo — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:33:45 +0000

Very disappointed this doesnt have the VHS audio I grew up with. Just doesn’t seem right to me watching it with different audio :(

By: tarki_souki

tarki_souki — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:07:48 +0000

The Steamline version is available on the official release in DVD in Australia (as the English 2.0 option). It won’t cost you $200US either. You can grab it at http://www.dvdcrave.com.au, or check http://www.dvdplaza.com.au – it has links to a few different online retailers where you should be able to grab it!

The official website of the Australian distributor is http://www.madman.com.au. Just make sure you can play PAL/R4 DVDs if you want to watch it on an America TV. Like you, I tend to watch it with the dub I grew up with, but I’ll make allowances to watch it in BluRay quality!

By: Thatblows

Thatblows — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:19:05 +0000

I have been a huge fan of this movie my entire life. I have the VHS version and watched it so many times that the tape is barely holding itself together. I am a fan of the original Streamline DUB and think the characters had more depth than the recent dub. Its a travesty they did not include it. I would have paid $200 to get it if thats what is costs. It looks great and I am excited for the visual upgrades but the latest dub was corny and childish. If anyone knows how to get the Streamline version on DVD let me know.

By: tarki_souki

tarki_souki — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:33:18 +0000

And by Tetuso… I mean Kaneda ;) Just testing!

By: tarki_souki

tarki_souki — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:29:00 +0000

Great review! I’ve placed my order based on this review! Any chance of a screenshot with the classic Tetsuo skidding pose (like http://www.justpressplay.net/images/stories/akira.jpg)? My desktop could do with a new screenshot while I wait! :)

By: vick86

vick86 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:49:32 +0000

Talk about major improvements then again my old dvd looked truly terrible (since it’s been asked on the mania forums) it’s from the dutch version and it wouldn’t surprise me if they just did a simple ntsc-pal conversion of the dvd files instead of using the actual film masters.

By: Marc

Marc — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:28:07 +0000

Added the requested screencap, it’s at the very end of the gallery, enjoy.

By: vick86

vick86 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:35:05 +0000

Thanks for the screens. I’m so getting this. I’ve compared it the my old pal dvd not only does it look a lot better (goodbye edge enhancement hell), I’m actually gaining footage on the sides. Could you post some more with multiple characters in a medium wide-shot like this one (23 minutes in when they walk out of school after getting punched by that gym teacher) http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1264/vlcsnap119834fa4.png

By: Marc

Marc — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:21:16 +0000

Pie, the English track is a 48kHz 16 bit lossless track, while very good, it isn’t the English language track on top of the Japanese sounds, effects, and music tracks.

So while it’s very good, it doesn’t reach the heights of the Japanese track.

The booklet mentions this, and even then mentions that a persons hearing ability may mean they might not notice any difference with the ‘Hypersonic’ track anyways.