Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Everything about this movie is just incredible, from the questions posed about humanity to the stunning animation. True, more things could've been explained, but they don't need to be. I would highly recommend this movie to all fans of sci-fi or animation.

Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga came near the end of the cyberpunk boom of the 80's. Focusing on the near future and questioning what it means to exist in a world where computerization was becoming more and more prevalent and capitalism was dominant, cyberpunk found its voice early with the works of Phillip K. Dick, but would really shine with the novels of William Gibson and Neal Stephenson. Cyberpunk is a genre that is less explored than certain other "-punks" if only because the main themes have been done to death and the entire genre focuses on tropes that can go over the heads of the general movie-going populace. Smart science fiction isn't exactly what audiences are pining for so even when we are given a rare cyberpunk film in this modern age, they tend to be overblown blockbusters focusing more on action and style than actual commentary or philosophizing.Ghost in the Shell is an animated film and one of a handful of anime films that have showcased that the medium is not just about the more sexually exploitative or comedic cartoons being released every year, but can also be used to produce high quality mature entertainment. It's a critical darling in the United States, something rare for a non-Ghibli release.While the film gives in to philosophy and the plot is heavy on the technological mumbo-jumbo, at its core Ghost in the Shell is an action film. We are focused on Section 9, an elite group of counter-terrorism agents in Tokyo around the year 2030. The assault team is led by a fully cyberized woman named Motoko Kusanagi and she's backed up by a number of individuals of various levels of cyberization. She faces off against a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master, a person with the ability to erase the memories of cyberized people or even take over their bodies for himself.The action is quick, fierce, and extremely well animated. The vast majority of the action comprises of shoot outs, with the final battle against a bipedal tank being the standout scene of the film. Through it all we're given moments of quiet reflection, long sequences of Motoko looking around the city or discussions about whether she died after she became a cyborg. The questions of who we are and when we cease to be human are poignant and add a psychological horror element to the affair. Toward the end of the movie, as Motoko battles the tank, there's a misstep, in my opinion, in the use of an genealogical tree motif on the wall of the battleground. I understand what they were going for in using this, but it feels quite overt in comparison to the rest of the philosophizing.The final fifteen minutes are focused on Puppet Master and Motoko conversing, discussing becoming one and death. It's a fitting, thought provoking finale.Of course, I've skipped over quite a bit of story elements. There's a departmental feud between Section 6 and Section 9 that plays a huge role, as well as some broader politics, all of which enhance the world-building. This is a meaty movie, and though I do categorize it as an action flick in many senses, it is action with a purpose. While this site will continue to showcase action films that are seemingly purposeless aside from displaying violence, Ghost in the Shell is one of the rare instances where both action and inaction work together to tell a story that all science fiction and action fans need to see.

Oh boy... I know I'm gonna get a lot of flak for this one."Ghost in the Shell" is without doubt an incredible achievement in animation, and stands as a classic of its genre. An adaptation of a beloved Manga source material, director Mamoru Oshii's 1995 film is often a powerhouse of keen visual design, true-to-life motion and subtle, heady themes. And it most definitely deserves to be celebrated and beloved. It's a pretty great film, with a lot to enjoy both on the aesthetic surface and in the provocative ideas below. And it also deserves special commendation for being one of the first true breakout anime hits for many Western audiences, paving the way for Anime to take the world by storm. I remember being blown away by it the first time I viewed it about ten years ago, and I hold it in a pretty high regard.I just don't think it's quite as perfect as it's oft made out to be.Please! Put down the torches and pitchforks and hear me out, because I know that statement is going to anger a lot of people who hold this film high as an example of perfection. I'm not saying it's a bad film. From from it. But in the grand scheme of anime and the Science Fiction genre, I do think this type of story has been done a bit better on several occasions, and that the film does have a small handful of wonky moments that don't quite work, mainly pertaining to a few minor weaknesses in the writing and storytelling. It's a great film. Heck, I'd still call it a classic myself. But it's also a mildly flawed one.In a near future where technology has so advanced that the human body can be augmented or even replaced completely by cybernetic material, an entity known as Section 9 operates to protect key secrets and eliminate potential threats, without having to be constrained by corporate or political red-tape. At the head of it all is a cyborg known as Major Motoko Kusanagi, who serves as the leader of Section 9's assault team. When a mysterious cyber- terrorist known as the "Puppet Master" shows himself in a serious strange and bizarre incidents, Section 9 is on the case. However, probing into the matter, Major Kusanagi comes to find a treacherous web of political deceit and morally ambiguous circumstances that will leave her questioning her loyalties and just what it means to be alive...One of the greatest things about the film is also the source of one of its more noticeable weaknesses... that being the story. It's a very well thought out and generally solidly structure tale that lends itself well to analysis and deeper pondering. With complex and very rich themes of sexuality, gender identity and the concept of what constitutes "life", the film has many great talking points, and there's also plenty of fascinating twists and turns along the way to supply entertainment for those who are looking more for a traditional film. That being said, I can't help but feel the movie is fundamentally trying to do too much, too quickly and that it's pacing and handling of key dialog can be suspect from time to time. It's strange... the film often alternates between two key issues that I have with complex story lines... those being that it often holds the audiences hands a bit too much with blatant exposition dumps, while also being needlessly vague at other times. In a way, I'd compare it to the original entry in the "Matrix" franchise for that same reason. It wants to be a cryptic and masterful philosophical exploration piece... but every couple scenes it grinds to a halt so they can dump about five minutes of expository dialog that comes out and states what we should be thinking about instead of just letting us think it. But it doesn't do this consistently, and sometimes the ideas at play are vague to the point of being almost completely lost without frequently repeated viewings. It's a good story with great ideas... it's just a bit too... uneven to rise to the level of perfection.But beyond the story, the rest of the production is pretty much a top-notch affair all around. Characters are well-established, generally quite likable and lend a lot to the story being presented. I could just watch 90 minutes of Major and her friend/Section 9 accomplice Batou shoot the breeze, they have such a good dynamic. The visual design of the film is absolutely spellbinding and holds up incredibly well. It's beautifully conceived and expertly realized. The action, though limited, is very well-choreographed and very much leaves you on the edge of your seat. The bizarrely (and bizarrely good) experimental musical score will stay with you long after you turn the film off. And the animation is absolutely gorgeous. It's smooth. Fluid. Nails the right balance between realism and stylization. And has left its mark in the worlds of both Science Fiction and anime."Ghost in the Shell" is a phenomenal film that's held just shy of perfection, and it's OK to admit that. Admitting its minor flaws does nothing to tarnish its outstanding legacy or its generally exceedingly high quality. It's influence is still felt to this day and it remains one of the most widely beloved works of its genre. And you can't deny that.I give it a fantastic 9 out of 10.

Manny's Movie Musings: One of the best animated movies of the 1990s, "Ghost In The Shell" has secret agent/cyborg Motoko searching for a hacker nicknamed Puppet Master who can hack into a cyborg's "ghost," or human essence. Her investigation — often culminating in violence — will have her looking into her own government and make her ask questions about the definition of life and the basic principles of what makes a creature a human being. My most memorable, movie moment of "Ghost In The Shell" (1995) is the scene when Motoko, armed with a submachine-gun and a few grenades, takes on a tank as she pursues the Puppet Master. Every anime fan is aware of this movie and loves it; and that love is well deserved. Watch the movie and you'll see and hear for yourself.Mannysmemorablemoviemoments