Review of Ghost in the Shell (2017) by Talbis — 10 Jul 2017

This is one amazing looking movie here and despite controversy around casting of Scarlett Johansson in the main role, it catches the eye with visuals, while Johansson gives a stellar performance. It is however impossible to review this film and not look at Masamune Shirow's original work or it's 1995 masterful adaptation by the legend - Mamoru Oshii.

Both, the original and 2017 live action movie, take a look at themes of identity, humanity and the meaning of being human. In a world of cybernetic enhancements, where does the human end and the machine start? This version however takes a different approach to the topic, more straightforward and less philosophical, seemingly more "dumbed down" version.

.. and yet it still gets the point across. Some plot changes were disappointing and for some reason the Major seems to be more brutal and bloodthirsty in the Hollywood adaptation. Also the movie focuses more on her past, a plot point that doesn't exist in the original, as there Major knows exactly where she comes from only beginning to question her humanity after meeting the Puppet Master - a character that was turned from the original AI starting to evolve beyond its programming into a living being, to Kuze, a highly enhanced human.

Whereas the original work questions the humanity itself, this movie wants to ponder the theme of Frankenstein - the creation killing its creator, this plot point in a rather silly and uninspired way, cliché, (a standard for american movie makers), to create a conflict.

Some scenes are recreated from the 1995 movie here and they're a joy to watch, a feast for your eyes! Overall, this isn't all that bad, however while the original and Oshii's adaptation left me wondering for weeks, this movie is rather forgettable, saved only by the amazing cast, especially Scarlett Johansson, and visuals.

Give it a watch, but for the real masterpiece, look for the 1995 version.