[Indi]

Rules:
No polls, just a review and your opinion on why you believe the film you've chosen should stay higher up in the list. 50 words or more, 40 is accepted if you have expressed your opinion in a satisfactory standard.

Have fun!

[Slamman]

For me, Brazil as a Criterion LaserDisc was more then just a purchase to have at a good price, though it was at the time. The LD compiled the good and bad endings, the Hollywood vision of how the film should play, it is also steeped in iconic set dressing and visual imagery, Monty Python being the creative force behind it, Terry Gilliam goes into details if you get the special edition, LD or DVD, it's worth examining the various attributes of the movie

[John The Grudge]

Akira. I can't be bothered coming up with 50 words for these things so I guess it doesn't count. I'll say that I love the score, the Neo Tokyo setting, the relationship between Kaneda and Tetsuo and the detail that's went into every frame of the film. On a technical level alone few films to this day have matched it.

[El_Diablo]

Brazil will always be a classic.

but I think in terms of it's actual impact (which was in a lot of ways revolutionary for both animation and American-action cinema), Akira is the far more inspired film.
I talk with a lot of people who feel 50/50 about Brazil, given how it is open to bizarre interpretations. but almost no one that I talk to feels anything other than a great affection for Akira. almost everyone seems to share the idea that Akira was something very moving and mystifying.

it made you think, in addition to going through a rollercoaster ride of emotions from beginning to end.
it also begs to be watched repeatedly. Brazil is brilliant for a variety of reasons, mostly in its blunt irony and dark comedy, but it's also very straightforward. I never really felt like viewing it more than twice.

I could watch Akira again right now just talking about it.
seems like no matter how many times I see it, there is always a new realization or revelation to discover.

the vote is for Akira.

[Tycek]

It's both interesting and funny how two movies totally randomly picked from the list got something in common. We had a fight of two gangster themed movies, we had fight of two war movies and now we have a fight of two sci-fi movies, which are both showing us dystopian future.

In Akira we got Neo Tokyo rebuilt around 30 years after III World War. Our heroes are teen members of biker gang, who usually spend their life on drinking, swallowing all kinds of pills, driving their bikes and fighting with another gangs (clowns gang mostly). One encounter with strange kid on one of the derelict highways will change their lifes.

I like Akira, but today after another seans, I must say this movie isn't as appealing as it was back in the days. The story isn't bad, but it also isn't anything spectacular. I found Tetsuo' character changes far more interesting than reason of this changes. Characters portrayed in that movie are also kinda indistinct. Kaneda, Tetsuo and Colonel are crafted in great way, but the rest of them is just background. We can't tell much about Kei or Kaneda's friends. I know someone can tell that Akira is based on manga, but: 1) movie was directed by manga author, 2) scenario was written by manga author, 3) characters in the manga aren't much better and 4) movie should be able to defend on its own. What is most disturbing that this movie aged kind quickly, graphics aren't great and animations seems kinda jaggy from time to time. Soundtrack on other hand is still great and overwhelming.

Atmosphere of this movie is kind of strange, on one hand we got world after III WW, but on another we got big city full of cars, people, neons and skyscrapers. I know that japanese people are great and they could rebuilt whole country, but this Neo Tokyo looks farfetched to me. They're building stadium for olympics, but who is gonna take part in them? Wasn't rest of the world destroyed just like Japan. Where is Japan taking their resources from if they're importing almost everything these days. I know that I am digging too deep, but this details are slightly destroying atmosphere of the movie. Luckily the rest of the atmosphere is based mostly on relationship between Tetsuo and Kaneda and that was pictured perfectly.


Brazil also shows us dystopian future set in world with overgrown bureaucracy, where everyone is just a number and everything should be done by filling tons of documents. Overgrown ministries (especially Ministry Of Information, which logo is written of almost everything - fish bowl) are trying to control every aspect of people's life in a very unhuman way. Who else could you give receipt for your arrested husband?

I like the atmosphere of that movie made by great claustrophobic city and music which reminds me Vangelis masterpieces used in Blade Runner. I love the technology pictured in that movie, full of pipes, wires, and small screens with magnifying glass, which reminds me of Fallout world. I like acting shown in the movie, especially by main character. One thing is bugging me, what is DeNiro doing there? I love the satire pictured in that movie. Story wasn't maybe too strong, but it kept me interested for over than two hours.

Because I found Brazil more interesting and because it was something fresh (I haven't seen it before) my vote goes to it. +1 for Brazil.

This post has been edited by Tycek on Wednesday, May 16 2012, 11:50

[ShaneHunter]

Both amazing films but the nature of Brazil fascinates me more, i love japanese anime and Akira is no exception but Brazil is among a rare breed of films and Terry Gilliam has a creative mind and his style of directing is not like your common director, Brazil is a beautiful film which ever way you look at it. I choose Brazil

This post has been edited by ShaneHunter on Friday, May 18 2012, 14:54

[Indi]

Voting stopped.

Brazil wins.