“Akira” to be made into live-action film

[Bob]

The classic Japanese anime “Akira” is to be made into a live-action film.

“Titanic” and “Gangs of New York” star Leonardo de Caprio will be involved with the project as producer.

The original animated film – itself adapted from the 1988 manga of the same name – told the tale of a teen biker gang member from ‘New Tokio’, a city rebuilt after a nuclear war in 2019. The biker is subjected to a government experiment to wield his destructive telepathic powers, leaving the gang leader to try to stop the destruction that lies in his wake.

The remake, which will see the film moved to “New Manhattan”, is scheduled for a Summer 2009 release.

[Romeo]

Whenever Americans remake classic/cult movies they always completely miss the fundamentals which made the originals so brilliant.

This will be one to miss.

[Iain]

Akira is a classic. In fact I watched it again a couple weeks back.

Hopefully it is not butchered like so many other Hollywood remakes. Good luck Leo.

I notice that parts of Kayne West's video Stronger are similar to parts of Akira. Perhaps everyone in Hollywood gets together at Leo di Caprio's house to eat popcorn and watch the old classics, then go off to incorporate what they have just seen into their next work. Of course since the party was at Leo's, he gets to remake the entire thing.

Iain

[Waylander]

Whenever Americans remake classic/cult movies they always completely miss the fundamentals which made the originals so brilliant.

This will be one to miss.

Soon as Bob' post said the location would be moved to New Manhattan I thought the same. I've got the Original on DVD and I don't see any way or need to try to improve it.

Hope the DBZ live action remakes don't get the same treatment.

[clint640]

Given that the great thing about Akira was the spectacular animation, what there was of a story didn't really make a lot of sense... a live action remake is going to be a good idea how????

Clint

[Iain]

Given that the great thing about Akira was the spectacular animation, what there was of a story didn't really make a lot of sense... a live action remake is going to be a good idea how????

Clint

Explosions I'd imagine.

Iain

[Waylander]

Given that the great thing about Akira was the spectacular animation, what there was of a story didn't really make a lot of sense... a live action remake is going to be a good idea how????

Clint

Had a decent story actually with some very deep meanings in it somewhere.

[Jiminy]

Soon as Bob' post said the location would be moved to New Manhattan I thought the same.

Ah, shit, "New Manhattan", you're right. When I saw "The Departed", I cried as it is soooooo bad compared to "Infernal Affairs". Gotta be the same here

Loved the comic books, found the anime quite cool. But New Manhattan, come on! Now I'm officially depressed for the day .

Why can't Americans understand that there is more to this planet than the US of A? Mind you, the target public might not even know where Tokyo is...

[Steam]

So they will be riding a lot of Burgman's? On second glance, a lot of those Akira motorbikes are just oversized scooters.

[Waylander]

Ah, shit, "New Manhattan", you're right. When I saw "The Departed", I cried as it is soooooo bad compared to "Infernal Affairs". Gotta be the same here

Loved the comic books, found the anime quite cool. But New Manhattan, come on! Now I'm officially depressed for the day .

Why can't Americans understand that there is more to this planet than the US of A? Mind you, the target public might not even know where Tokyo is...

Fans will know, the rest of the US will probably think it's a new original movie.

[Waylander]

So they will be riding a lot of Burgman's? On second glance, a lot of those Akira motorbikes are just oversized scooters.

Alot, all of them were, but damn did they look cool.


ON another note, anyone remember this?
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=8541

[xwhatsit]

Ah, shit, "New Manhattan", you're right. When I saw "The Departed", I cried as it is soooooo bad compared to "Infernal Affairs". Gotta be the same here

Man, did they fuck up bad with that godawful Infernal Affairs translation. I mean, sure, Andy Lau isn't much less wooden than Matt Damon, but it was a bit of shame considering the original. And then it gets praised as an "American epic tragedy" by the critics? WTF?

What's with this strange habit of remaking HK/Japanese/French/Scandinavian films (and doing it poorly)? I thought the writer's strike was only a recent (and temporary) problem?