Ghost in the Shell

Movie Review: Ghost in the Shell

This is by no means a apologist letter to how Ghost in the Shell is being treated by critics. But given the kind of material, you can somewhat understand the logic as to why the movie turned out this way. It was tight-roping between the hard core fans who are expecting something deep as the anime got vs. an at-large audience who need to be introduced into the world of GiTS quickly within the limit of 2 hours or so.

SPOILERS AHEAD. DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YOU.

First, let’s put this Asian casting issue to rest. The movie is out, so there’s nothing much we can complain about it. What I can share at this point are some opinions coming from a fan of the franchise for more than a decade. What I loved about Ghost in the Shell is that juxtaposition of solid action sequences with the philosophical questions about human-machine interaction and existentialism. For those new to the movie, this anime was the precursor to alot of more quickly know franchises such as the Matrix. Urban legend has it, the Wachowskis was showing off this movie as they were pitching for their trilogy.

The difficult yet core part about the original anime is wrestling with the philosophical questions against the action sequences. Ghost in the Shell was a slow burn, and took awhile before it gained traction among anime fans through word of mouth. To introduce this to a new audience at the same time satisfy the needs of the core fans presents as the challenge. What happened was dial down the mind games, and up the visual treat in the hopes that it would appeal on both sides. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a walk in the park.

At this point, I didn’t hate the movie, but at the same time, I didn’t blow my mind away as much as the anime did. During long breaks, I never failed to re-watch any of the movies or series to get my fix. Even though I can narrate the plot lines from memory, it was still a treat getting reacquainted with them every now and then.

I guess the few misgivings I have about this movie were..

The skimming through of the plots from various parts of the anime franchise just for the sake of visual fan service. It was fun at first getting to catch the references from the original movie, Innocence, Individual Eleven, and Puppet Master all mashed into single flick. There lies the double-edged sword… each individual plot served to push a greater story within their respective arcs. I enjoyed them visually, but from a story-telling standpoint, I found it quite lacking.
How Kuze’s character was severed from the background manipulation of Gouda. Though after watching the live action movie, I went about re-orienting myself with the Individual Eleven part of Stand Alone Complex 2nd GiG. I doubt if the casual audience would have the patience to really digest the philosophical exchange between Batou, the Major and Gouda on certain parts unless they have watched all the movies and series as part of their homework.
The ret-conning of Batou’s background. He already had the cybernetic eyes.. not to mention.. he was also a full prosthetic like the Major from the start. So that doesn’t make the Major the first or unique.
Other team members of Section 9 weren’t properly introduced, but that’s forgivable given the time. I did like Saito’s “cameo” with the Hawkeye in the end. A nod to his classic sniping prowess.
The Major’s mom or parents for that matter were no where to be found in the anime. This I found weird.
The Major and Kuze already knew each other as kids in a hospital ward from an airplane accident. Not as runaway teens in the past. I wonder why they had to change the origin story. I guess to make it within time frame again?
The opening de-shelling sequence should’ve been laced with music from the original, and not used it as an ending credit music.
The boat scene should’ve had the San Miguel Beer product placement if Rupert wanted to put that much detail in his homage! But that’s just me.

But yeah, with that said… I would still be adding this to my video collection of Ghost in the Shell. At least good to know Hollywood is starting to mine some outlying franchises. Now, about that live-action Macross…

Edit (04.07.17): It’s rare in Hollywood to see an anime adaptation make it well (e.g. Edge of Tomorrow). Probably the biggest divide Western producers have between any anime source material is looking at them only from their lens and not from the perspective of the original creator or intentions. Anime adaptations are such an alluring prospective property for them seeing all the attention and the potentials. But as long as they are not letting go of their habits in understanding “foreign” material to them, Hollywood would never make a decent anime live-action film. Like moths to a flame, their attempts get them burned at the end.

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Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Early on when Dream Works announced they finally secured the rights to Ghost in the Shell, my mind just flipped out over the idea of having a serious anime franchise make to Hollywood. Then it came almost crashing down, suddenly remembering their track record of gutting out a franchise to suit their own agenda. (Dragon Ball anyone?!). Then criticism came to a peak over this whitewash casting when ScarJo was finally announced taking on the role of Major Motoko Kusanagi. Even having veteran Kitano Takeshi on board as Aramaki didn’t abate fan reactions to this travesty of a selection. Lots of pop culture fan sites in the West were making their own casting choices for The Major, even citing out Rinko Kikuchi as a seemingly “obvious” choice coming off her role in Pacific Rim.

I’m a big fan boy of the franchise having to do two cosplay shoots dedicated just for The Major.

Then suddenly a series of snippets came out, coupled with a teaser and featurette of the original anime’s director Mamoru Oshii slowly started changing the conversation towards the movie. Of course there still the die hard so-called purist fans still bashing the casting bit, but you can’t help but gush over the visuals of the movie. It’s like taking Blade Runner and giving it a millennial makeover. Now if Ruper Sanders did his homework well, there should be a can of San Miguel Beer Pale Pilsen somewhere in the boat scene between the Major and Batou.

After some digging around YouTube, I found this clip of the Major’s creation sequence filmed by IGN during the trailer’s launch in Tokyo over the weekend. It was so cool they decided to use the original score in the original anime movie. It like a “pirated” camera recording, because I think it is. Though stated on their YouTube page, they were given permission.

Here’s the original 1995 anime version for comparison…

Of course here is the official trailer:

Somehow this trailer puts my mind at ease about how the movie looks. I mean from the get-go you can already name the scenes they give homage to from the various movies and TV scenes in the franchise.

I also read on ET Online‘s exclusive on-set visit, just got irritated at the host’s innate skill for holding a dumb blonde conversation with ScarJo on the set. I was hoping he could ask more intelligent questions rather than commenting on her hair.

From serious doubt, I have now shifted to cautious optimism. Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson and Kitano Takeshi, comes into the big screen March 31, 2017.Check out my youtube channel for your regular glimpse behind the scenes! While you’re at it, drop buy the online store and get goodies from your favorite models!

For those interested in my commercial work, check out pointblankstudios.net and follow us at @pointblankmnl in IG.

Movie Review: Ghost in the Shell

SPOILERS AHEAD. DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YOU.

Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Travel Bug: Production I.G. Store

Ghost in the Shell