Warner Bros. Officially Greenlights Live-Action Akira

[Your Fearless Captain]

Well I for one have faith in this movie. Miracles are know to happen from time to time.

 

[Fbuh]

Oh well, at least Keanu Reeves isn't going to be making a live action Cowboy Bebop anytime soon.

I can think of worse actors for the movie than Garret Hedland, though. I'm not even going to bother being annoyed, because I already knew that this movie would be horrible. Still, it can't be as bad as Dragonball: Evolution, right? Right?

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Here's a concept you may or may not understand. There is this thing called war. In it, a country that is fanatical, genocidal and imperial is one that is dealt with by any means necessary. Japan at the time was unquestionably all three, something you seem to have forgotten. You don't just say right or wrong as if thats even close to an argument, thats sociopathy. It neuters an act of self defence as if it were an attack, and relegates any death as being equally punishable regardless of intent. And yet, in any and all cultural representations of it, the parralel event is invariably depicted as random and with Japan having done nothing to incur this wrath. Which is akin to the Germans saying the Allies were totally picking on the Nazi's, who did nothing wrong at all.

By contrast, 9/11 was done in a time of peace, with no warning, and with no sane outcome apart from just the slaughter of innocents.

You say Japan was genocidal yet you ignore the fact two nukes wiped out far more than the US had lost and you claim 9/11 was done during a time of peace and that they got no warning but you people never warned the Japanese about nuking them not once even when you aired flyers dropping leaflets for them to evacuate did you never mention nuking them and not to mention you wiped those who wished to live out in the fraction of an instant.

When have we ever had peace?, have you completely ignored the rest of the world and what's been going on during the many centuries? because i cannot begin to think of a time when we have truly had "peace".

Also say what you will about the Japanese during WWII and the acts that followed but do not and i repeat do not forget about what your country did to them and only them the only country in the world to ever be nuked and forget about it like it was nothing.

 

[Virgilthepagan]

Because you did specify, I'll give something beyond http://nooooooooooooooo.com/
Honestly, Akira wouldn't be suited to a movie format regardless of who made it. Freaking Spielburg could take on this project (though if Liam Neeson was in it, hm...) and it would still be terrible. Remember the attempt at a live action Death Note movie? There's just way too much going on in Akira for something like this to work with anybody at the helm.
That said, this looks like an especially egregious example of American adaptation decay. After all that though, I'd love it if they keep the gigantic Tetsuo-vs.Satelite laser moment.

 

[Palademon]

I don't even like Akira, but I can't wait to see how they make the ending.
Shit was freaky enough without being live action.

 

[Koroviev]

That guy was bad enough in Tron, I don't need another helping of Blandy McBlanderson.

 

[Delusibeta]

No, it was an anime. As much as Otaku may say its an act akin to genocide and the greatest injustice of all creation, there are a lot of people who simply don't watch anime.

The problem with that argument is that calling this film "Akira" would put off the people who don't watch anime.

That requires the reason they don't watch anime is because they just coincidentally hate all the stories told by anime, instead of it being because they don't like or appreciate anime as a style. If its live action, the barrier for these people is removed.

Point D still applies however: I'd imagine the posters will resemble those of Dragon Ball Evolution, and we all know how that went down.

In fact, Dragon Ball Evolution seems to be the model this film is taking, and while that was reasonably successful, I doubt lightning will strike twice.

Reasonably successful? It won 2 Razzies. It was called by a professional critic: "Did to Anime fans what the Kennedy Assassination did to American Life."

I would not call that a success.

Money, dear boy. $57.5 million box office out of a $30 million dollar budget. As far as Fox is concerned, that would be "reasonably successful". Sure, sequel potential is zero, so Fox seems to have not attempted to try again. Still, I'll be willing to bet that's why we're talking about a live-action adaption of Akira today.

 

[Infernai]

The live Action Akira Movies going through now huh? Really?....W-we're doing this Hollywood? *sigh* Alright, time to suit up guys!

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Here's a concept you may or may not understand. There is this thing called war. In it, a country that is fanatical, genocidal and imperial is one that is dealt with by any means necessary. Japan at the time was unquestionably all three, something you seem to have forgotten. You don't just say right or wrong as if thats even close to an argument, thats sociopathy. It neuters an act of self defence as if it were an attack, and relegates any death as being equally punishable regardless of intent. And yet, in any and all cultural representations of it, the parralel event is invariably depicted as random and with Japan having done nothing to incur this wrath. Which is akin to the Germans saying the Allies were totally picking on the Nazi's, who did nothing wrong at all.

By contrast, 9/11 was done in a time of peace, with no warning, and with no sane outcome apart from just the slaughter of innocents.

You say Japan was genocidal yet you ignore the fact two nukes wiped out far more than the US had lost and you claim 9/11 was done during a time of peace and that they got no warning but you people never warned the Japanese about nuking them not once even when you aired flyers dropping leaflets for them to evacuate did you never mention nuking them and not to mention you wiped those who wished to live out in the fraction of an instant.

Hirohito was warned of the destruction that would be brought upon Japan and given ample time to surrender. He decided not to tell his people, believing it a bluff. The emperor was wrned of the pain that would be put upon his people, but he decided to ignore it, deeming the threat to the people who trusted him not worthy of his surrender. When given the option to surrender a second time, he told the US "Go fuck yourselves". One nations actions were done to end a war. The others were done to end a human race. Intent shows genocide, not numbers.

As for not telling him about the bomb, the manhattan project was one of the most closely guarded military secrets in the world. You cannot reveal that sort of thing to another head of state, it tips ones hand in a war.

Oh, and if we want to talk slaughters, how were those Chinese causalties by the Japanese in the Rape of Nanking? That show any signs of genocide? Tens of thousands of civilians slaughtered by hand, thousands of women raped, a death toll that reaches 300,000?

Whatever point you try to make it will not sway in your favor because i still see many possibilities that could have been attempted but i feel as if you now hold some sort of grudge.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

I'm still gonna watch this.
As an anime / cartoon fan, and someone who've seen the original, I feel obligated to, no matter how horrible, as with Dragonball: Evolution, The Last Airbender, and Blood: The Last Vampire. Plus I don't dismiss things that hasn't even started filming yet.

Although, I'm not a terribly big Akira fan, so maybe I just don't care. I liked it, but I'm just not a big fan. Same goes for the above mentioned. Now, if it was something I'm a HUGE fan of and generally love, then maybe my feelings would be different.

Call me when they start filming the Death Note movie.

 

[Unhappy Crow]

Darn it. I was hoping they would forget this whole thing.

 

[Callate]

Histrionics aside, would anyone like to point out solid, concrete reasons why this thing is going to be terrible?

How about "because when American directors try to adapt from anime and manga sources, we get the likes of Speed Racer, Dragonball: Evolution, Priest, and The Last Airbender?"

(Yes, I know Priest's original source was Korean. Yes, I know Avatar was American. Please resist the impulse.)

Somehow I don't expect the director of House of Wax to create a more subtle and contemplative take on the work. I suspect there will be a lot of dumbing-down, and where there isn't, there will be painfully ham-handed exposition.

Akira, whatever you may think of it, really was an important cultural moment. It was perhaps the first film to suggest that Japanese animation not aimed at children could have a place in the U.S., and without it we likely wouldn't have gotten a chance to see Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke over here, nor would things like Avatar: The Last Airbender most likely exist.

 

[Sphinx86]

Well it may depend on whether Katsuhiro Otomo has any sort of creative influence as an Exec. Producer, he may be able to limit the amount of suckage involved. Personally I don't know what any of the dozen people with 'Producer' style credits actually do so if anyone wants to fill me in go ahead.

 

[Orks da best]

um, I don't know what this is, but if it helps, let storm the place and burn the plans for the movie!

 

[MajorDolphin]

According to the rumor mill, all the bikes will be built by Orange County Choppers (of American Choppers), Tetsuo's main squeeze Kaori will be played by Lindsay Lohan, and Justin Bieber has been chosen to play one of the main roles. He may also contribute to the soundtrack! Hurray for Hollywood!