I just finished watching Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis, very loosely based on the 1926 Fritz Lang film.

I generally approach anime cautiously. At one point I figured that any anime that made its way into the semi-mainstream American markets was probably pretty good, but a lot of it just flat-out stinks. And I wasn't much impressed with the high-profile Princess Mononoke.

But the visual effects dude working on the new Matrix film listed this one has his second favorite film, so I thought I'd give it a try.

And the visuals were stunning. I'd recommend it for the wide-angle cityscape shots alone. Like most Japanese anime, it is thin on dialogue and plot, but these features are better in Metropolis than in most.

It, along with Ghost in the Shell, are probably the only two feature-length anime I'd consider any good. I still haven't seen Spirited Away, but maybe I'll rent it as well.

I'd simply never make it as an otaku, though. I thought Akira blew. And most anime either leaves me scratching my head or switching it off.

This one is definitely recommended, though.