With the impending Hollywood release of "Ghost in the Shell", we set our sights to have a look into the 1995 anime release. Rest assured, the film hasn't aged a bit in the two decades since its release. The film is a trifecta stunner with its art-house worthy visuals, engulfing soundtrack and deep philosophical themes into artificial intelligence, existence and humanity.
In the year 2029, the world is interconnected by a vast electronic network that permeates every aspect of life. Humanity has access to this network via "shells", cybernetic bodies that holds their consciousness and give them superhuman powers. Major Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) and her team Public Security Section Nine, has been tasked in apprehending the master hacker known only as the Puppet Master. The Puppet Master, who is capable of hacking human minds, has left a trail of victims robbed of their memories.
We're not really anime fans but if "Ghost in the Shell" is any indication into the genre, then consider us into the bandwagon. The film's basic narrative is straightforward maybe even too simple but the themes and dialogues were not. It's these moments of deep conversations between protagonists or even antagonists that had us hooked in. The film more than anything else will have you thinking deeper into a possible future where the delineation between what constitutes as human or a basic living being versus artificiality is highly-blurred. It's unique take into the boundaries of technology - where hackers tap into humans and modify them into something completely different -is a plausible scenario and ultimately creepy. But the film is not all philosophical. The visuals stand out too and the soundtrack a huge complementary foothold in ensuring that the film will have your complete attention. The movie is literally filled with artistic moments where you can pause and take in all of its visual grandeur. While it also mixes in stunning animation while its in motion. "Ghost in the Shell" is a film you need to see. Anime fan or not, it's a rare beast that you have to see and hear to really get what the hype is all about.
Rating: 4 and a half reels
Why you should watch it:
- the film delivers a trifecta with stunning visuals, aurals and thought-provoking thems
Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the narrative was simple
- the pacing was a bit off
Why you should watch it:
- the film delivers a trifecta with stunning visuals, aurals and thought-provoking thems
Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the narrative was simple
- the pacing was a bit off
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