Akira is also the only anime DVD that I cared enough to buy. It can't be labeled overrated by some if majority didn't think it was great. It was a neat film where all those little attention to the details made it cool -- things like those light streaks, the look of the neon glow, shattered glass sparking, the guy getting shredded up by bullets, etc, etc.
I remember an anime-fan buddie of mine hating on Akira, saying how overrated it was, and how the general laymen think that's how all anime are supposed to be and shit like that. And yeah, I can give him that, but then this guy goes off and watches little girlie sailor-suit-type anime. Hm.. so shit like that is supposed to be the real-deal anime?
Anyway, back on topic, I can't really see how this thing is going to look half-decent as a live action film. I can already imagine that it'd rely heavily on CGI, which is a bit off-putting IMO.