I really should not even have to say why this deserves the Criterion treatment. It is a truly exellent important film, just the kind that the collectuion is full of.

I was amazed that this great Italian film was not feautured in the collection.

This is a brilliant American indy film that largely emobdies the spirit and greatness of film makers in the U.S. making films for their quality and not the all mighty dollar. Few films could deserv to be honored by Criterion more than this one.

This is the closest thing to the great Battle of Algiers that I have ever seen and being in such company deserves the Criterion treatment.

This may seem like an unusual choice as anime and Criterion don't general go together. However, just as Dazed nad Confused is more than just another teen movie and Spartacus is more than average epic, Akira is so much more than just another anime. It is an important work that should be presented with so many other pioneering works in the collection.

With this performance from Bruno Ganz, this film is worthy of the Criterion Collection.