Customer Reviews

Akira

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember borrowing the film from my friends older brother and wondering why he even watched cartoons but after sitting infront of the television screen dewy eyed and amazed I understood. Aside form the incredible visual effects the music made the film come to life. This wasn't just some ordinary cartoon, this was an animated film. The sequences were perfect and so real that you forgot you were watching a cartoon. The soundtrack was used all throughout the film and enhanced every scene. I was expecting to here something like a Pokeman soundtrack. You know the one, O-Town, Westlife, Aaron Carter and I hate to say it the B52's. Instead I heard a sound that my young and untainted ears never heard before. Thunmping and shaking and drumming that removed me from that well developed concaved couch cushion and through the screen and into every scene. Well, after watching and hearing Akira I didn't know what to think I was overwhelmed by what I heard.
Akira has one of the most mature and beautiful soundtracks of any film to date. Those sounds that I couldn't identify back then suddenly became comprehensible and even more appritiated by yours truly. All that drumming and "weird" singing were nothing more then aspects of Japanese theatre and opera. I think back then I thought it was just cool and different but today I have a better understanding of what I heard. The maturity and sophistication of Akira became clear. The character developement is so great that films should take a tip from Akira director Katsuhiro Otomo and try to put at least half of the love and emotion that he did into an animated film.
Honestly the soundtrack isn't for everyone. It's differnt, there are no actual songs either in English or Japanese but it is incredible. Using traditional Japanese accents such as the theatre and opera styles and even religious ceremonial music Akira serves it's owner with something that only one place in town has. Watching this film or listening to the soundtrack, especially listening to the soundtrack, you can feel the passion that was put into making this film.
FYI if you ever have the chance to watch the movie the best part is the motorcycle chase in the begining which also features the best track on the soundtrack.

Maybe I'm weird but all that "banging and drumming" and stuff intrigues me. It sounds like Balinese gamelan music or the Indonesian Kecak Dance (I think that means monkey dance). I'm not sure what relationship that type of music has to this Japanese movie, but the resemblance is uncanny. The soundtrack is very expressive; it's almost ethereal at times, at others its chaotic and exciting. I think if you have an open mind and you enjoyed the intense plot of the movie you would enjoy the music as well.

This is the closest one can get to an actual soundtrack for the film Akira. The musical works on this CD were written and composed before being placed in the film, so even though most of it is recognizable to the viewer, there are a large number of differences. What's fairly interesting about this is that the musical themes were created in a `module' format, so that bars from several different themes could be combined into one. This soundtrack is also one of the earliest to use computer to cut and paste arrangements, as well as alter tunings of traditional instruments into keys that are impossible for them to play in. The original pressing of the CD by JVC has extensive liner notes about the creation, but if you can't get it, the bonus documentary with the recent Pioneer DVD release covers a lot of the same ground.

You would think with the method that the music was arranged, that the end result would be extremely sterile. However, this is not the case. If you haven't heard anything from Akira before, it's a little hard to describe. The music is at once modern and yet rooted in the past. The jegog (bamboo xylophone) and the Balinese gamelan (an instrumental influence on early `80's King Crimson and Tool) create a rich mixture of polyrhythmic counterpoint to the odd vocal stylings used by Geinoh Yamashirogumi (anything from large choir drones to avant garde `noises' that wouldn't sound out of place in a NY art performance). Throw in the odd electric guitar, traditional Japanese percussion and a large church organ and you still can't really get a sense of it. It's unlike anything I've ever heard before.

The best tracks are the opener Kaneda (an excellent introduction to the jegog), Tetsuo (which over it's 10 minute length over quirky rhythms, builds, breaks down and then builds up even further than before. The crystal clear bell like tones of the gamelan are gloriously offset by the sheer, driving power of the choir's accents), and the closing piece, Requiem (which at nearly 15 minutes goes through a number of incredible changes. There's nothing that compares to the emotional power of the human voice in choir, particularly when it's bookending a massive sounding church organ and concluded with an even more massive sounding drum hit). The other pieces are good, but don't even come close these three. Doll's Polyphony doesn't sound nearly as good as it does in the movie, basically because of a missing male choir counterpoint that really adds to the creepy visuals in the film.

I bought this soundtrack because I really liked the percussion in the movie. When I first listened to the cd I was a little disappointed. But after my son, who is 4, kept asking to listen to it in the car, I realized what an awesome piece of music it really is. It exposes the listener to so many musical ideas and styles. It really is moving.

that have an interest and the patience to hear and appreciate the intricate nature of Akira's music. In many ways I'd say this music is best suited to being heard in context (too exceptions would be "Kaneda" and "Requiem". They're great any time.) Hearing the music in their respective scenes makes them seem perfect (i.e. "Battle Against Clown" and "Exodus", but hearing them alone requires you to really listen and gives you a clear understanding of what it took to make the very unique sounds. I wouldn't recomend the soundtrack to anyone just trying to feel like they do watching the movie. It's something more to help you appreciate the work that went into making it. (Oh, and of course it's great whenever you want to listen to "Kaneda" and "Requiem" ;-)

This is a half/half cd. Half of its good and the other half [is smelly]. Some of these songs are really [poor]. Has some people randomly banging on drums and some guy making weird songs (goes on for 8 mins.) However there are a couple good songs. I barrowed the cd from a friend and I am glad I did not buy it or I would of wasted my money (my opinion.)