Poll: JK Reviews: Ghost in the Shell

[Julianking93]

Japanese anime, despite being around for decades, still hasn't gained a lot of the popularity or praise that it deserves. Sure, like with any culture or form of entertainment, there are those who embrace the style and will remain fans of it forever. However, seldom does anime ever seem to break through to many western audiences and only occasionally does it ever make its way into conventional cinemas. With the exception of films like Akira or the later released Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell is one of the few anime films to have broken into a bit of mainstream appeal in western culture and, more importantly, has solidified anime as an important and worthwhile entertainment medium and for good reason.

[HEADING=2]Ghost in the Shell[/HEADING]​

Taking place in the not so distance future of 2029, Ghost in the Shell tells the story of a world that is connected by one large electronic network wherein nearly all of the human population is connected to, allowing hackers and criminals an easy way into the minds of others. In an effort to combat this, Japan sets up Section 9, an anti-cyber warfare taskforce, to help prevent cybernetic terrorism in order to stop those seeking to use the minds of others for their own destructive or malevolent purposes. Leading this squad is Major Motoko Kusanagi, a ruminative and brooding cyborg along with her partner Batou. The main plot revolves around the force tracking down and stopping a dreaded hacker known only as The Puppet Master, who is able to control people through the network. As Section 9 continue to hunt down the Puppet Master, the team uncovers political conspiracies, discover more about the ideals of artificial intelligence and even the Major begins to doubt her own reality and question her existence.

Filled with deep philosophical themes and dialogue patches discussing and questioning one's very own existence, Ghost in the Shell presents a highly intelligent plot and a very well written story. However, the problem with this unfortunately, is that for those unfamiliar of either the Masamune Shirow manga, which the film is based upon, or the anime Stand Alone Complex, it will be difficult (if not, outright impossible) to grasp all of these elements in the first viewing. That's not to say that people who actually are familiar with previous entries of the series will know what the hell is going on either. Ghost in the Shell is a film that practically demands multiple viewings. This obviously will not appease all viewers. The calm and carefully planned feel of the film coupled with the rather slow narrative and slow paced action will either fascinate you and keep you entertained throughout, or bore you and leave you completely uninterested.

Even fans of original Shirow comic might be displeased with the film. In order to settle with the 88-minute runtime, many of the subplots have been cut in favour of sticking to the main story. This unfortunately leads to far less character development. In order to stick to the main story, the focus of the characters has been turned almost entirely to Major Kusanagi, allowing the viewers to only ever connect with her rather than the rest of the cast. However, this is something well done, taken by itself. The relationship between Kusanagi and the Puppet Master presented more and more throughout the course of the film is one of the things that kept me hooked from the beginning and watching as Kusanagi questions her state of consciousness is what kept the story engaging until the end. Though, with this heavy emphasis on merely two characters, the supporting cast ends up suffering because of it. You only ever get a feel for one other character in the entire film while everyone else either feels like filler or simply that the movie itself sacrificed their stories in order to keep things simple between the two primary characters.

One thing that bugged me about the film itself however is how much it derives from its source material. The film is presented in a dark setting with the majority of the characters acting very robotic. While that works for the film considering... well, that they are in fact robots, this takes away a lot of the ability to empathize with the characters whereas the comic presented a balance with the characters in both likable humanity and a harsh, calculative demeanor. Along with the sympathetic nature of the characters, one aspect absent from the film was Shirow's brand of humour. While this isn?t inherently a bad thing, it?s still something I personally missed from the comic.

However, what was lost in terms of character connectivity and humour from the manga is certainly made up for in the sheer depth of the plot. While much of the story has been abridged for the transition to the screen, the film still manages to bring the intricate and intriguing plotline over mostly intact. The only real downside to this, it seems, is that there was more than one occasion I felt a bit overwhelmed by the complex and almost overly involved plot and it is easy to get lost throughout, especially during the sometimes heavy-handed philosophical altercations.


Though, one of the best things this has going for it is simply its animation. Ghost in the Shell is absolutely beautiful and the art style in itself was enough to keep me attached to the film until the end. The mix of CGI and hand-drawn anime is almost perfectly balanced, with only a few moments feeling either out of place or just a bit unpolished. This makes the action sequences extremely entertaining to watch. The character animation is presented in a realistic way allowing the animation to move fluidly during the high paced fight scenes. However few there may be (two to be exact) the action is magnificent, regardless. When it comes to the voice acting, however it is, for lack of a better word, fucking horrible. Some of the main characters are voiced well, with a special mention of Batou, but the rest of the cast all feel about as stiff and mechanical as the robots they're playing. The actors have absolutely zero range and no one ever seems even remotely interested in what is being said. I've heard this has been vastly improved in the second film and in the anime series, but as for the first movie, the voice acting is almost on par with that of Bible Black.

My biggest problem with the film however comes again from the rather highly abridged story. While it's entirely understandable why the filmmakers decided to, or rather had to, keep the movie at a short runtime, it seemed to lessen the affect of the story itself. I found myself highly engaged by the plot around a half hour through and even on the edge of my seat up until the film's big climax and reveal... but then it ends. The movie feels as if around 10 minutes of the ending scene were cut for time restraints. Perhaps the rest of the story was answered in the anime series and the film leads into that, but overall, with that ending, the film felt rather unfinished and left me wanting more, in a bad way. Where as the manga left me satisfied with a rather good ending, the film ends with a rather dull cliffhanger and an end to a story arc that I genuinely cared about, only to have it conclude in a fairly lackluster way. It's not that it's really even bad, necessarily, but rather that it simply is dull. After a heavy buildup throughout the film for this one scene, it ends in a completely underwhelming way.

Even with my complaints, Ghost in the Shell is still a fantastic anime that manages to keep a unique and original feel throughout. Despite how much I may have enjoyed the film myself, it remains something I'm wary to recommend, especially to those new to anime. It's a brilliantly written anime with well handled subtexts and undertones, but it certainly isn't something everyone will enjoy. Though the philosophical themes and dark undertone are enough to keep even the most contemplative of moviegoers entertained, this is not an anime for everyone. Those looking for a fast paced thriller filled with action, look elsewhere but for those who want a deep and engaging film that is both thought provoking and a spectacle to watch, look no further.

Spoiler: Rating

[HEADING=1]4 Stars[/HEADING]​

Spoiler: Other JK Reviews

Movies:
Best Movies of the Decade [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.164045-Best-Films-of-the-Decade-Warning-Extremely-Long-Review]

Inception [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.215806-JK-Reviews-Inception]

Oldboy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.236848-JK-Reviews-Oldboy]

Thirst [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.238393-JK-Reviews-Thirst]

Noroi [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.258713-JK-Reviews-Noroi]

Games:
Bayonetta [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.169030-JK-Reviews-Bayonetta-Warning-May-Contain-Spoilers]

Game of the Year [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163760-Celebration-for-My-5000th-post-Game-of-the-Year-awards]

God of War III [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.182952-JK-Reviews-God-of-War-III]

NieR [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.203204-JK-Reviews-NIER]


Castlevania: Lament of Innocence [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.206361-JK-Reviews-Castlevania-Lament-of-Innocence]

Maximo: Ghosts To Glory [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.212014-JK-Reviews-Maximo-Ghosts-To-Glory]

Kingdom Hearts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.229506-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Kingdom-Hearts]

Kingdom Hearts II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.230725-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Kingdom-Hearts-II]

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.248762-JK-Reviews-Assassins-Creed-Brotherhood]

Top 12 Games of 2010 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.252471-JKs-Top-12-Best-Games-of-2010]

Bioshock [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.262110-As-Per-Request-JK-Reviews-Bioshock]

Music:
Equilibrium's ReKreatur [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.204108-JK-Reviews-Equilibrium-ReKreatur]

Remember, that I am now taking requests for reviews, so any suggestions for future reviews or lists you may have, please let me know via PM or in the replies to this review.

 

[AvsJoe]

it will be difficult (if not, outright impossible) to grasp all of these elements in the first viewing.

Hell of an understatement. It's difficult just to read the subtitles at many points in this movie, they talk so freaking fast. Took me three viewings to grasp everything. Damn good film though.

 

[Marter]

Despite how much I may have enjoyed the film myself, it remains something I'm wary to recommend, especially to those new to anime.

Guess I'm not watching it then. No real desire to anyway, but this line seals the deal.

 

[Alluvian_Est-Endrati]

The terminus of the film was rather abrubt. However the two movies did do a very good job of capturing how weird and surreal some of the later GitS manga were. Myself I love both movies, the two TV shows (Stand Alone Complex & 2ndGGG) as well as the Solid State Society move/OVA. Good stuff.

Newcomers be warned: The original GitS movie (and its sequel, Innocence) have no relation to the Stand Alone Complex continuity. Also a very different feel between the two as well.

 

[Julianking93]

Psst, the first picture with them as a group is from Stand Alone Complex, not the movie <.<
\

Yes, I know but I wanted a picture of all of them together but couldn't find one from the film :3

You need to watch the second film, Innocence, and the third one, Solid State Society for the complete story arc. The film does end abruptly, but that's because the arc isn't finished. Innocence and SSS wrap it up quite nicely, so go watch them. And then review them. As for the ending by itself, I liked it. I liked the open-ended nature of it, with Kusanagi being finally free and construct her own image. I can see why it annoys people though. Compared to other manga-movie adaptations to come out of Japan in that era it did a far better job at presenting a self-contained story. Akira, for example, was just a mess.

The thing is, I like to judge a film on its own merits. On the first film alone as if it just came out rather than relying on the sequel. Sure, it ended as if to continue into another film, but the overall ending, despite the general theme of it, had me disappointed. It just felt a bit... bleh.

I loved the whole freedom aspect of it though. Having Kusanagi able to freely choose how she wants to live and be was a good way to end it but still, it just felt way to abrupt for an ending at that moment to me.

I think I regard the film far higher than you do. For me, it's probably one of the most brilliant, clever and mature pieces of animation ever and is probably the purest example of how the medium can be translated for an adult audience rather than just another fucking Toy Story 3, which to me had all the depth and sophistication of an etch-a-sketch picture. It was just plain emotional manipulation, with nothing backing it.

Yes, I believe you do
It is very well written and I absolutely loved the maturity of it, which is why I regard the film as high as I do. It was one of the first anime films to show that animation can be used as a mature and grown up sort of medium rather than it all being just a child's form of entertainment.

The one thing I will give the film credit for over the manga is being highly mature and being just a generally dark film, adding that sense of "Hey, animation's not just for kids now" to it, at least for me. I may have liked the manga far more, but the anime does have that advantage :3

Still, I felt that whatever good philosophical themes this did have was often weighed down by little aspects, such as the acting or the sometimes drawn out feel of things. This is a fantastic movie, don't get me wrong, but I felt that it can be a whole lot better. Perhaps if I were to watch the rest of it, I would enjoy it more with a completed feel.

As for teh reviewz, it was good. There were a few mistakes (you used 'shear' instead of 'sheer' in paragraph five) but it wasn't distracting.

... oh goddamn it!! That's one that I made a point not to fuck up XD

Oh well, thanks anyway for commenting and all! ^-^
Glad you at least somewhat enjoyed it :3

 

[Julianking93]

Guess I'm not watching it then. No real desire to anyway, but this line seals the deal.

Aww. I kinda wanted to hear your take on it in one of your 2.50 reviews :3
Pweeeeaaaasseee?? ^-^

 

[Sassafrass]

A very good review, Mr JK. I shall have to try and find a site where I can watch this, while I have some what stable connection. (House-sitting for a mate is good~ XD) It seems interesting. Do I need to watch.read anything else to understand what happens or is it pretty accessible for someone like me?

Anyway, as for what you should review next, New Vegas. Doitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoitdoit. ...Do it. XD

 

[Zeromaxx]

Well look at that, you have another well written review here. I think it would be much more uncommon to see a badly written one from you at this point.

To be honest, since I heard of this film I had very little interest in seeing it. The first exposure I had to GitS was the Stand Alone Complex series which I found pretty boring, but after reading this I may just have to clear a couple of hours and watch it.

 

[Julianking93]

Do I need to watch.read anything else to understand what happens or is it pretty accessible for someone like me?

The only thing I had been exposed to from Ghost in the Shell before was the manga which I read and loved. However, the anime film, as I said, diverts from the main plot a lot and there's only the matter of basic plot to have known prior.

Even with that, I was still very confused and it take several re watches to really get it for anyone, so at first you'll be like me; very fucking confused but intrigued. I'd say give it a shot and watch it. From what I've heard, the series Stand Alone Complex doesn't even have much to do with the basics of the entire plot and doesn't follow that arc. So yeah, go ahead and watch it (and perhaps do a review of it too ^_^)

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Nice review. Good to see an anime review that doesn't degenerate to bashing other mediums to uphold a presupposed superiority.

I have a passing interest in this film, since it looks like the animation quality is higher than I usually expect from anime. Might check it out after this review.