anime greats...
I think that i'd add to the vote for Wings of the Honneamise - saw it late one evening on ITV, I believe and it blew me away. Just a stunning mix of 1984, The Right Stuff...god, it's beautiful and once you start watching you can't stop. It's not the usual schoolgirls and tentacles pornorama, so it's often overlooked, but I'd say it's just a stunning piece of cinema, nevermind whether it's animated.

Adding to the list, I'd have to say Akira - yes, it's weird and the last five or ten minutes make little sense to those who aren't Japanese, I feel, but it's the look of the film that sticks in the mind - no-one I know could watch it and resist the urge to imagine riding Kaneda's bike. He was toooo cool!

I agree on Steamboy - it's a cracking film. Made by Ken Otomo (I think) - the guy who did Akira, anyways. Blinding, even if they make Isembard Kingdom Brunel into some well-built tall Engrish man, as opposed to the sickly midget he was in reality.

I'd also argue that the first Crying Freeman was a good film - not the usual sci/hentai mix. Actually, the live-action version is worth a watch, too.

Finally Ghost In The Shell - not an amazing film, but very stylish and it was the basis for the original Matrix film.
(Chad, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 14:38, Reply)