Today’s quick review: Ghost in the Shell. Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind: a human brain inside a fully prosthetic body. At the request of her creator, Mr. Cutter (Peter Ferdinando) of the Hanka Corporation, she is put to work at Section 9, an elite government counter-terrorism unit run by Chief Aramaki (“Beat” Takeshi Kitano). A year into her career, she chases a hacker named Kuze (Michael Pitt) who has been hunting Hanka scientists.
Ghost in the Shell is science fiction thriller based on the manga by Shirow Masamune. A live-action remake of the original animated film, Ghost in the Shell depicts a future where cybernetic enhancements are commonplace and humanity is on the cusp of revolutionary breakthroughs in cyborg technology. With no memories of her past self and a disturbing resemblance to the soulless robots around her, Major must find meaning in her radically altered life.
Ghost in the Shell makes for a solid action thriller, with a healthy amount of action, polished visual effects, and a good mix of plot and characterization. The story is straightforward but well-acted and well-told. The story has enough ties to both the elaborate setting around it and Major as a character that every part of the movie is necessary and the whole feels cohesive.
Science fiction fans will delight in Ghost in the Shell’s vivid depiction of the future. Technological advances like cybernetic augmentations and holograms have warped the fabric of society, producing a bustling, high-tech metropolis radically different from our own. At the same time, recognizable humanity peeks through the cracks, keeping society alive and haunting Major with its elusiveness.
Ghost in the Shell adapts its source material in interesting ways, remixing the most compelling concepts and moments from its predecessors. Fans will be disappointed by some changes and disoriented by others, but on the whole the changes are sensible and made for principled storytelling reasons. The differences in setting, character, plot, and focus are enough to make Ghost in the Shell its own movie, with separate strengths and weaknesses from its source.
Watch Ghost in the Shell if you are in the mood for a science fiction thriller with vivid CGI, a rich setting, and a decent plot. Though it lacks the visionary quality of its predecessors, solid execution and generally good decisions make it an enjoyable watch. If you are looking for a more elaborate plot or greater philosophical depth, check out the Ghost in the Shell animated movie or the Stand Alone Complex TV series instead.
6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid science fiction that lives up to some, but not all, of its potential.