Type: Movie
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 83 min
Directed By Oshii Mamoru
Produced By Bandai Visual and Production I.G.
Year Produced: 1995
In the not-so-distant future (now, at least, the story is set in 2029), computers have taken over, but in a much nicer way than the Terminator. These computers ask you if you want fries with your Happy Meal.
Yep, cyborgs. Actually, there is a whole spectrum of body and being types, with just one of the many exciting options being cyborg. There's also "Prosthetic", "Android", and "Human" (but only if you don't have any money).
With the turn of this new technological age, there comes a whole new set of problems. Malfunctioning robots, cooperate and cyber terrorism up the wazoo, and also... robots becoming self-aware.
Major Motoko Kusanagi, the Ocular-Implanted Batou, and the rookie human Togusa now roam the mean-streets of Hong Kong, looking for the scum of the net. But something much more... weird is going on.
A super-hacker by the name of "Puppet Master" is hacking into people's cyber-brains and controlling them (mind control is just around the corner, people, get ready!).
So now it's up to our plucky band of new-age, near-indestructible heroes to find and stop him, even if Motoko has to get naked and wheel-kick some sleazy criminal, that's a sacrifice that I am willing to make for anime.
All in all, this was a very smooth anime, as expected of a classic. It got all around good marks from both me and the public.
The character development was well rounded and presented in a good time frame. I'm not sure what else to say other than that it was interesting enough to me to keep me watching, and not in that way where you just go "God, I wonder what kind of idiotic mistake he's going to make next".
Even though I find the whole "Who am I" question very "Ugh, headache", I was still mesmerized by the idea of self-awareness, especially when it's not done in the classic Terminator way (i.e. become self-aware, then launch nukes at humans).
I'm not sure why anyone or anything would want to be more human because we're the dumbest creatures on earth. Self-awareness has given us wars, racism, and fruitcake! I'll stop right there to avoid having to have an argument with myself about all of the benefits of self-awareness, so just forget about all of the good things in your life like medicine, television, and chocolate.
Other than that, the plot kept a good pace, and it had action and nudity, that's all I need in a movie.
The artwork was good very good all the way through. Actually, where I determine the quality of the artwork and general animation is during action sequences, or at least the sequences where there is the most movement, and since this movie had plenty of those, it gave me good time to check it out.
It wasn't all jerky and glitchy, and it kept a good pace/frame rate.
The cool thing about the movie that I noticed was that almost the entire thing took place at night. It lent a kind of heavy tone to the whole thing, all dark and stuff. I also noticed that, since it was at night, most of what you could see was lights out of windows and such. Gave it another tone of isolation and technological dependence or independence depending on how you look at it, a kind of reliance on the net. I'd say it was sad, but then I'd have to go outside and... (shudder) enjoy nature.
Again, the voice acting was very good on both sides (Japanese and English). When I watched the movie, I remember finding Motoko's voice (Mimi Woods) really awesome, but for some reason, after watching the anime, she kind of sounds weird now, but still good.
I thought that you were supposed to stick with your first impression. Maybe quantity wins out over first impressions in this case.
The music wasn't to my taste, and unless you're into the soundtrack to The Omen or any other score involving choirs of children wailing in an extremely depressing and... screechy way, you probably won't be much into it either. But it was interesting.
All in all, this really is a classic. 5 out of 5, A+, whatever. I'm not sure what else to say, watch it.
Seeing as this is an anime that is know to pretty much the entire world (there's a freaking Italian dub of it, damn), you should watch it even if you're not into anime or robots or whatever. You'll learn something, I guarantee it.
When it comes to adaptations, they usually suck, but even so, you should probably consider watching at least the first season of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime, and you should defiantly read as much of the manga as your mind can stand.
I'm not aware or any other anime that contains both the same content and style, so you're out of luck, so just keep yourself occupied with the 2 other movies, the 2 anime series, and the 3 manga books until I get around to discovering something like it.
I haven't watched Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, but I keep hearing bad things about it, so you should either steer clear of it, or if you're going to watch it, keep your mind open and it might not be that bad. I'll watch it as soon as I have the time... right after Naruto.
The Ghost in the Shell movie covers the main story in the Ghost in the Shell manga by the talented Masamune Shirow.
Personally, I liked the manga better for the art style, the presence of actual humor, and the more vibrant color, but I have to admit that the movie delivered the existential message in a more easily understandable way.
Download links... download links... don't have any. Actually, I'm watching a copy that I (no WAY!) bought online. The best that I can do is tell you is to check at MiniTheatre.
If you want to get the English dub as well, then check under the Dual Audio tab.
Coming up next!
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 1st Gig!
