Written by: Kevin Berge
It is tough to convince people looking at a poster like this that this is a deep movie about the meaning of self. (Image Courtesy of: simmsview.com)
Quick Take: Ghost in the Shell will always be an enduring classic in its alluring artistic and music style combined with an intelligent exploration of identity in a cybernetic landscape, but it does get bogged down in its dialogue especially thanks to voice actors (Japanese and English) that cannot quite make the words feel natural.
***This review will focus heavily on the many elements that make up the 1995 anime classic Ghost in the Shell and will contain spoilers. Those wanting to see the movie unspoiled that have not done so yet should not read ahead.***
Some movies are so legendary you create an idea in your head of what they are without ever seeing them. I knew about Ghost in the Shell over a decade before I ever sat down and watched it. In that time between hearing about it and seeing it, I created countless ideas in my head of what it was.
This was a film so inspirational in its scope that it is credited as a defining cinematic experience far beyond anime. The Wachowskis were not afraid to admit it was a heavy influence on The Matrix, and James Cameron considered it a heavy inspiration seen most directly in Avatar.
Moreover, it is a deeply complex thematic tale that was shockingly successful on arrival despite being dense in its meaning. How do you make a movie this popular and memorable while primarily driving the story through mystery and complexity that takes multiple viewings to fully uncover?
I was going in with high expectations with a firm picture in my mind, and I did not get exactly the experience I was expecting. This is not a purely existential ride. It is a truly engaging short-form action thriller that has its sights firmly set on the question of identity.
This is a science fiction experience that can be enjoyed on a fairly basic level. The story is set in 2029 where consciousness has now become transferable with bodies become shells for these movable "ghosts". The focus is on The Major, the leader of an assault team for the government branch Section 9.
She is assigned an assassination mission connected to a strange perpetrator called the Puppet Master, who has the ability to ghost-hack people replacing their memories. The action associated with The Major's fight to get to The Puppet Master is intense and fun on its own.
Some movies are so legendary you create an idea in your head of what they are without ever seeing them. I knew about Ghost in the Shell over a decade before I ever sat down and watched it. In that time between hearing about it and seeing it, I created countless ideas in my head of what it was.
This was a film so inspirational in its scope that it is credited as a defining cinematic experience far beyond anime. The Wachowskis were not afraid to admit it was a heavy influence on The Matrix, and James Cameron considered it a heavy inspiration seen most directly in Avatar.
Moreover, it is a deeply complex thematic tale that was shockingly successful on arrival despite being dense in its meaning. How do you make a movie this popular and memorable while primarily driving the story through mystery and complexity that takes multiple viewings to fully uncover?
I was going in with high expectations with a firm picture in my mind, and I did not get exactly the experience I was expecting. This is not a purely existential ride. It is a truly engaging short-form action thriller that has its sights firmly set on the question of identity.
This is a science fiction experience that can be enjoyed on a fairly basic level. The story is set in 2029 where consciousness has now become transferable with bodies become shells for these movable "ghosts". The focus is on The Major, the leader of an assault team for the government branch Section 9.
She is assigned an assassination mission connected to a strange perpetrator called the Puppet Master, who has the ability to ghost-hack people replacing their memories. The action associated with The Major's fight to get to The Puppet Master is intense and fun on its own.
I can almost not be creeped out by the uncanny valley art of the cybernetics but then The Major never blinks... (Image Courtesy of: veehd.com)
With strong artistic focus and animation especially for 1995 as well as an unforgettable score from Kenji Kawai (Ip Man), it is shocking how quickly and elegantly the movie pushes forward in its mere 82 minute run-time, a credit to director Mamoru Oshii (The Sky Crawlers).
You just have to forgive the voice acting. The original Japanese actors are all right but feel bland and unbelievable. The English dub is stronger than it has any right to be for a 1995 production, but it is laughable in parts with Mimi Woods (Battle Athletes) never able to sell The Major's imposing intelligence.
Where the movie stands out long term though is its thematic focus. This is absolutely a story about identity though one without firm answers. We see and hear in The Major the primary conflict of the story. How do you define self in a world where so much of living is becoming artificial?
It is difficult to sympathize with The Major because she is intentionally far removed from her humanity. Despite having a human ghost, most of her is entirely robotic after an accident wiped out her original body. She spends most of her time ruminating over her disconnect from humanity.
She feels so disconnected in fact that she has no sense of gender identity. She spends much of the film in a skin-tight suit because it is the most practical, allowing her to go invisible. Only her partner Batou, enhanced but still more in touch with his human side, sees an issue, trying to cover her up whenever he can.
In some of the movie's most powerful scenes, imagery defines the disconnect in this world. The Major goes swimming so that she can feel the living water and get some semblance of life, ultimately breaking through the surface of the water that holds a reflection of herself. There are several long sections focusing on the city with Major lost in it, the life bustling out of her reach and understanding.
You just have to forgive the voice acting. The original Japanese actors are all right but feel bland and unbelievable. The English dub is stronger than it has any right to be for a 1995 production, but it is laughable in parts with Mimi Woods (Battle Athletes) never able to sell The Major's imposing intelligence.
Where the movie stands out long term though is its thematic focus. This is absolutely a story about identity though one without firm answers. We see and hear in The Major the primary conflict of the story. How do you define self in a world where so much of living is becoming artificial?
It is difficult to sympathize with The Major because she is intentionally far removed from her humanity. Despite having a human ghost, most of her is entirely robotic after an accident wiped out her original body. She spends most of her time ruminating over her disconnect from humanity.
She feels so disconnected in fact that she has no sense of gender identity. She spends much of the film in a skin-tight suit because it is the most practical, allowing her to go invisible. Only her partner Batou, enhanced but still more in touch with his human side, sees an issue, trying to cover her up whenever he can.
In some of the movie's most powerful scenes, imagery defines the disconnect in this world. The Major goes swimming so that she can feel the living water and get some semblance of life, ultimately breaking through the surface of the water that holds a reflection of herself. There are several long sections focusing on the city with Major lost in it, the life bustling out of her reach and understanding.
It's tough standing out next to the greatness of Major, but Batou deserves more credit for being the ultimate bro. (Image Courtesy of: pinterest.com)
The Puppet Master is completely removed from humanity, a ghost born on the network and trying to find some understanding of self by hacking human beings. In doing so, he breaks people with an especially heartbreaking moment early in the film when a man finds out his memories of his family are not real.
Despite searching out a firm understanding of life, he can never convince humans of his sentience. His ultimate goal is to procreate, to continue his anomalous species, a sense of mortality dominating his actions. He succeeds by merging with The Major, creating a new complete life that is still hard to quantify.
While the film has a clear sense of direction, it still stumbles most directly with portraying its messages. There are multiple sections in the story that perhaps due to the poor voice work do not come off as genuine, instead just playing out as poorly devised monologues on the conflict of identity.
Nowhere was this more clear than after The Major resurfaces from the water after her dive. The quiet imagery is juxtaposed by the ham-fisted discussion The Major has with Batou on her own reason for diving and the emptiness she struggles with.
The film shines in its imagery and style but cannot quite translate the thought-provoking conversations that likely came off better in the original manga. For such an old film, this is an impressive enduring feat of animation, but a few scenes written and acted with more nuance would have elevated it to everlasting perfection.
I was glad to have finally seen Ghost in the Shell, and I will hopefully find time to rewatch and dissect it further down the line. I would not be surprised to find I am more impressed with it on repeated viewings as it is a film packed to the brim over its short run.
Despite searching out a firm understanding of life, he can never convince humans of his sentience. His ultimate goal is to procreate, to continue his anomalous species, a sense of mortality dominating his actions. He succeeds by merging with The Major, creating a new complete life that is still hard to quantify.
While the film has a clear sense of direction, it still stumbles most directly with portraying its messages. There are multiple sections in the story that perhaps due to the poor voice work do not come off as genuine, instead just playing out as poorly devised monologues on the conflict of identity.
Nowhere was this more clear than after The Major resurfaces from the water after her dive. The quiet imagery is juxtaposed by the ham-fisted discussion The Major has with Batou on her own reason for diving and the emptiness she struggles with.
The film shines in its imagery and style but cannot quite translate the thought-provoking conversations that likely came off better in the original manga. For such an old film, this is an impressive enduring feat of animation, but a few scenes written and acted with more nuance would have elevated it to everlasting perfection.
I was glad to have finally seen Ghost in the Shell, and I will hopefully find time to rewatch and dissect it further down the line. I would not be surprised to find I am more impressed with it on repeated viewings as it is a film packed to the brim over its short run.
