Hi everybody. So, everything I’ve read about the inevitable Akira remake is just tragic.
Therefore, I decided to offer up my list of things that could make the movie work.
Number one: keep it Japanese. The setting should stay in Neo Tokyo and the characters
should be played by Japanese actors. Why would you mess with this? Akira has a huge following
in Japan and the United States. We fell in love with a Japanese movie. Do Americans really
need another movie about New York? At this point, I think a Japanese setting would be
refreshing. Just look at another Sci-fi movie in America that has a large following:
The Akira manga actually began in the same year Blade Runner was released. Considering
they are making a live-action Akira and a Blade Runner sequel, there is obviously demand for this aesthetic.
Number two: keep the 80s vibe. Akira was released in 1988 and oozes with everything that was
great about the 80s. Kaneda’s jacket (perhaps the coolest jacket ever) is an obvious nod to
Michael Jackson’s jacket in the Thriller music video. We’re looking at this kind of retro futuristic style
in clothes, color scheme, architecture… Think about the target demographic—these
are 70s and 80s kids who are nostalgic for the 80s style. Even 90s kids are nostalgic
for the 80s. Taylor Swift’s new album highlights the fact that she was technically born in
the 80s—even if it was 18 days before the 80s ended.
One thing I would change here would be the soundtrack. Seeing as the film was made in
1988, everything about it (including the soundtrack) is 80s, but we’re considering a style that
is looking back to the 80s rather than looking ahead from the 80s. There is a great opportunity
to capitalize on the 80s vibe by using New Retro Wave or Outrun music that would help
give the sense of a “new 80s.” New Retro Wave sounds like this…
Number three: language. Release the film in both English and Japanese. This is an idea
that I’ve been kicking around for a while and, as it turns out, I’m not alone. There
was a recent posting on reddit by unsoundamerica that contemplated this very idea. I’m not
advocating shooting the whole movie twice. Here is how it would work:
First, shoot on digital to keep the cost down. Second, (and this may be tricky) cast bilingual actors.
Third, shoot all actionless dialogue shots that are medium or close up in both
languages. This would also be a good excuse to remove unnecessary dialogue and to use
interesting and creative shots and blocking. Fourth, all long shots or wide action shots
with yelling and so forth will be dubbed. And if it is absolutely necessary, CG may
be used on the mouths as long as the characters are small enough in the frame for it to be subtle.
Number four: a shot-for-shot remake of the opening chase scene. This is key. It will
provide a perfect homage to the original, will satisfy the fans before any changes or
updates are made to the story, and it will serve another purpose that I will go over in a bit.
Number five: practical effects. As many practical effects as possible will be used. Including
means that haven’t been used for special effects purposes before—like a rocket sled.
A lot of compositing will be done where the actor will be composited on top of a practical
effect. Building facades will be created in the desert and will be blown apart by real
artillery. A bunch of good but cheap cameras will be purchased, like the 4k cinema camera
by black magic design, their feeds will be recorded remotely and they will be placed
within the path of destruction. Models mixed with cg and compositing parts of real futuristic
locations like Tokyo, Dubai, and Shanghai will create Neo Tokyo. Nothing organic will
be computer generated, so experiments will be done with practical materials to display
Tetsuo’s transformation.
Number six: marketing. For the time leading up to a few months before the release no images
from the film will be shown. Then there will be released production photos of each main
actor in their iconic costume released to social media a week a part. We will do the
first real trailer for a trailer. In this teaser, only the title Akira with a big booming
soundtrack in the background and perhaps the opening shot of the nuclear bomb will be shown
followed by text revealing the release date of a 4 minute trailer. This has to look like
it will be the most epic movie ever. Finally, the 4 minute trailer will be 4 full minutes
of the shot for shot remake of the opening motorcycle chase scene. This will be released
to theaters and on social media that will end with the release date and the words, “see
it on IMAX.” Oh yeah, and obviously it will be rated R.
Number seven: who will direct? Well, it would need to be someone with an awesome style.
Someone who knows their way around violence. Someone who can deliver on the ‘new 80s vibe.'
Someone who is not afraid to be as strange, gritty, and ultra cool as the original Akira.
Have you guessed it? My pick for the director of the Akira remake is
Nicolas Winding Refn. His work on Drive and Only God Forgives makes him a really great candidate for
someone who could possibly deliver this movie. I think it would look a little something like this:
Thanks for watching. Go ahead and leave a comment letting me know if you agree or disagree.
Obviously a decent amount of what I said is fantasy and not at all what producers would
go for. It is all technically possible, however and I believe this would yield the best result.
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more videos on the way for cinephiles like you. Thanks again for watching.