Ghost In The Shell: Our Future & Films.

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Ghost In The Shell is the new blockbuster adaptation of the anime of the same name and with actors such as Scarlett Johansson attached to the poster you can’t go into this with rock bottom expectations. I was desperate to see this movie on the big screen, there was no way I was going to miss the cinematic experience of this movie; with the majority percentage being special effects, it is the perfect example of a movie made to be seen BIG.

I’m not entirely sure where to start with this review, not just because it has been a while since I’ve posted one, but because there are a million and one things I want to say about this movie, but this is an analysis, not a novel so I’ll do my best not to ramble for too long, although avid followers will know rambling is my forte.

Rather than talking about it’s relation to the origin anime, I’m just going to talk about the movie itself because this film has instantly become very important to me and the invention of google is to search for facts, so if you desperately need to know about the anime also, to you my darlin’, I give THE INTERNET!

I’ll start with the most obvious and necessary organ of this movie and that is the effects; this movie is one of the most visually overwhelmingly stunning things I have seen in any movie over the past few years. I knew that as a Sci-Fi nerd, and from seeing the trailer, that I would make some aesthetic comparisons to the classic Blade Runner and although I did that, the world of GITS was still entirely it’s own. I stereotypically had that jaw to floor, eyes wide expression of awe plastered onto my face between the badass fight scenes and that one bit where, yes to no surprise, I cried. With the city and technology of this world we were fed this future, that undeniably is completely possible, without being stuffed till our brain popped out our eyes like cotton innards. Through the shots of the city, you see all these hologram advertisements, bigger than the buildings they neighbour, bringing in that futuristic realism of advertising, consumerism and even as an audience member that's where your eyes are going, even in this made up world, future, you are following your artificial instinct of advertisement viewing. That being said, there wasn’t product placement in this movie, if there was, it wasn’t large and it wasn’t used to comprise this glorious glowing figures. The effects of the outfits and beings was done well and there were parts that were original that I really loved the concept of, although characters abilities to go predator style invisible was cool, it was the hologram communication that I smiled at. Let me explain; you remember how in Star Wars, Leia was a blue small hologram projected from R2-D2? Well, in GITS it looks like the person is actually there, life size, colour, the only thing that gives it away are the minor little glitches of pixels; but the part about that that I was envious of not thinking of first, was how when the call was ended, the figure would crumble like sand bit by bit, TOTAL SCI FI BONER.

It may surprise none of you, but I have to mention it even if momentarily, and that is that Scarlett played Major impeccably. She kept the characteristic of her, well character, constant throughout, emphasising the moments when Major showed her traces of humanity through her loneliness, sadness and anger. Every shot of Scarlett was hypnotising and her eyes were fierce but also had times where they were child-like in the sense of seeing something new, or seeing deeper into what she was looking at. Now, Michael Carmen Pitt-OH MY BEEJUS. Where has this dude been? I don’t know if I just haven’t been looking, but after loving him in Boardwalk Empire and then popping up in the opening sequence for Seven Psychopaths, I haven’t seen him anywhere. I do think that Michael is an EXTREMELY underrated actor, but I’m hoping that his portrayal in this movie will add the extra shovel to get him out of that category. Michael, who plays Kuze, was amazing throughout, from being subtly sinister, to even gentle, I truly felt pain and love towards him and for him. There is a scene between Scarlett and Michael, in which they communicate for the first time, face to face and it was one of my favourite scenes in the whole movie. A thunderstorm of emotions were portrayed, allegiances tested and another side to the story revealed. The growth of characters could easily be pinpointed here, between knowing who you are and people keeping you from knowing. I existed in that moment with them and it’s times like that I become content as an audience member.

Now, I was surprised to hear that the director of this movie was the same director of Snow White and the Huntsman; Mr. Rupert Sanders. As fantastical as Snow White was and as entertaining as it was, it was definitely more a movie of potential, so I was a tiny bit worried. For some, even filmmakers, there can be a fine line between Sci Fi and Fantasy and with the importance to long time GITS fans and even to current, there’s a lot of pressure to stay true and only cross lines created by this specific idea. I think Rupert Sanders, showed us much more of what he’s capable of and that he could easily become a force to be reckoned with. Every single shot of this movie was beautiful, intense, emotional, completely hypnotising, this movie could've been brainwashing me and I wouldn’t care because it was so incredible to look at and experience visually. Dude, in case you don’t get an oscar, here-have a Velvet Award!

Okay, okay, I should probably find a couple of marginal flaws in this movie because I’m sure you’re sick of my bias reviews and my excuses for being bias, I can’t help it! I love movies, and love talking about the movies I love! Right, bad things….errrr...OH! Major’s fellow agent Batou, who is cool and loves dogs, has for lack of better words, robot eyes that remind me very much of the bad guy from Men In Black 3.

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I personally would've liked to see a tiny bit more of relationship building between Scar and Michael’s characters, although it’s because the scenes they did together were my favourite and both of the cast members made me cry, the reactions may have been that tinier bit easier to pull out of others if there was a bit more building. Also, this isn’t necessarily a flaw, because their great, but quick question-does anyone else find it strange to see this as a Dreamworks production, is that to do with the anime or are they finally moving on from Shrek?

GITS is a great Sci Fi movie, with A.I reborn, respected and untarnished and it definitely centered the movie on not just the possibilities of A.I and human co-existence but also the fear of it, with the idea of immortality and human loneliness being the cherry on top. If the story isn’t enough for you, or maybe too much for some, there is definitely enough action to keep your interest, with an almost Matrix style undertone at points, you feel the adrenaline in the neon lights and as a female, I gotta say, Scar definitely showed one for the team.

In conclusion, if you couldn’t tell, I loved this frickin’ movie. I’d say it one for the history books, but for current audience members; if you’re a Sci Fi nerd, action lover, cinematographer or an aspiring one, check this ghost out!

VF.