Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (Japan,
2015) has recently had its U.S. theatrical release. Despite a U.S. live action
adaptation of Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlet Johansson due out in
2017 this latest feature film in the legendary cyber punk series has not received much
press coverage state side. Ghost in the Shell: The
New Movie (Japan, 2015) is a prequel to the classic Ghost in the Shell (Japan, 1995). Despite being the third best film
in the tetralogy it’s still worth it to check this film out especially if you’re a
science fiction fan.
In
America the vast majority of animation is produced for a youth audience. In
Japan animation produced for adults is just as popular as animation produced
for children. Ghost in the Shell: The New
Movie (Japan, 2015) has some of the best action sequences of 2015. Adult
fans of action films should not let the fact this film is animated stop them
from enjoying the large set pieces and balletic gun play. In an era of CGI if
you are watching a film with large action sequences and or set pieces you are
most likely watching animation anyway.
Some of
the scenes feature animation that is truly a feast for the eyes. I screened the
movie at a large Cineplex with a 4k digital projector and I’m certainly glad I didn’t
wait for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of Ghost
in the Shell: the New Movie (Japan, 2015).The animation being stylistically
different from Pixar is refreshing. The animation style is reminiscent of Ghost in the Shell (Japan, 1995) but also
draws influence from the latest Ghost in the Shell TV series (Arise).
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Japan, 2004)
doesn’t have the same nostalgia as this latest iteration primarily because Motoko
Kusanagi (“The Major”) doesn’t appear until the end of Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Japan, 2004). Returning to
the cyber punk future of Ghost in the Shell is always fun and thanks to this
iteration being a prequel we get to spend more time with the series most fascinating
character (Kusanagi) as the protagonist.
Instead
of existential ideas dealing with what it means to be human Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (Japan,
2015) felt like it was exploring political and economic ideas as opposed to
philosophical ones. The world building and mise en scene isn’t as strong as the
previous two films.
Since Ghost in the Shell (Japan, 1995) is a cyber
punk classic saying Ghost in the
Shell: the New Movie (Japan, 2015) is
not as good a film as the original doesn’t mean it’s not a solid film worth seeing. Don’t
let the silly name scare you away and let your ghost leave your cyber brain and
immerse yourself in
Ghost in the Shell: the New Movie (Japan, 2015).
RECOMMEND
3 out of 5 Motoko Kusanagi’s
