Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Don't let the silly title scare you off. A review of Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie (Japan, 2015)



                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

  



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Thank you & have fun at the movies.