Ghost in the ShellDirector: Rupert SandersStarring: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette BinocheRating: ★★★½
FILM REVIEW
By WILLIAM ARNOTT
With technology advancing at a breathtaking rate, and the philosophical questions that come with it, there has been a resurgence of cyberpunk media.
Whether it’s nostalgia for films from the '80s or concerns about where the future may be heading, cyberpunk is well and truly alive.
It has a large cult following around the world, which makes this live-action adaptation such a risky move. Hollywood doesn’t have the best track record with adaptations of anime (Dragonball Evolution, for example) and fans don't want to see their favourite series butchered like a Michael Bay movie.
One thing that should be kept in mind is that this is an adaptation. Don’t go expecting to see the 1995 anime original redone with real actors; it follows the same beats but is not a remake.
It does, however, feel like a Ghost in the Shell movie.
The film portrays a detailed world ready to explore, with plenty of amazing effects and themes integrated within.
Just like the original, it lets the viewer drink in the atmosphere of classic "high tech, low life" aesthetics. You’ll see slums and skyscrapers, corporate hit squads and yakuza thugs, and bars that look straight out of William Gibson’s Neuromancer.
The amount of detail that has gone into fleshing out the city is spectacular. It feels as if it's teeming with activity, like a busy city street during peak hour. While some of it wanders close to the "uncanny valley" – the idea that human replicas which are not quite perfect feel unsettling – it doesn't break the immersion.
The original film primarily focuses on what it means to be alive, and whether an artificial intelligence can also truly be alive. In contrast, the new film focuses on what makes us human – whether that’s our memories, our bodies, or our compassion.
It doesn’t feel as cerebral as the original, but there are still plenty of philosophical discussions between characters as the Major (Scarlett Johansson) struggles to figure out her identity.
The fight scenes are adrenaline-filled blasts that feel varied and distinct, occurring in all manner of settings like skyscrapers, sewers, slums, and laboratories.
There are a number of iconic fight scenes which are lifted from the anime original, and look as spectacular in live action as they do in animation.
Overall, Ghost in the Shell is a solid film. If you’re a cyberpunk or sci-fi fan, you’ll probably enjoy it. While it lacks some of the complexity of the original, it is still a quality film that embraces the flashy style of the genre.