before i start and let me say that my experience of this movie might have be influence by the dubbing and which i gather from other comment be the original one which be consider inferior by some . so and it be entirely possible that subtitle or the apparently new dvd version would make a difference . i have also not read the corresponding book while i be only familiar with one other japanese manga and might be lack cultural context . potential minor spoiler ahead . i usually like darkly ting science fiction story ( the like of blade runner and 12 monkey and etc . ) and but i do not enjoy this movie at all . while it start out mildly intriguing and it become tedious by the time it be only half way finish . there be all sort of problem while let start with what be probably the most severe represent the dialogue . the character seem unable to formulate complete sentence while if they aren not shout each other name for the n th time and they be usually grunt monosyllable ( kanedaaa . and tetsuoooo . and huh . and grrr and etc . ) . this leave most of the character entirely underdeveloped and two dimensional . it doesn not help in the least that a lot of them get only a few minute of screen time without anything interesting to say that would develop them away from the stereotype suggest by the visuals . the grunting be augment by some random pseudo philosophical technobabble that sound vague and uninspired even by star trek standard . there be nothing deep and meaningful here it all seem haphazard and thrown together at random from various bit and piece of stock sci fi idea with no coherency whatsoever . what little there be of an intelligible plot be no more than an excuse to begin the overlong final sequence which consist of escalate scene of mayhem and destruction . not that there anything wrong with a nice bit of mayhem and destruction and of course while but in this case you will find yourself ask what the point of it all and and how long until it over . character development in the last 30 minute or so consists of little more than tetsuo turn into pizza the hutt for no readily apparent reason . the end resemble the one in 2001 a bizarre string of image that and far from resolve or explain anything and leave the viewer feeling he just be look into a kaleidoscope for two hour . i be sure some will claim that this sort of thing be art while but to me it be just a lot of admittedly imaginative use of colour and shape . ( some of the music be also quite interest ) . unfortunately it all style and no substance . tire of disney . want to watch animated movie deal intelligently with adult theme . i be sad to say youre more likely to find that sort of thing in south park .