*This Review will contain spoilers for Ghost in the Shell.
I am not an Anime person. I just wanted to state that at the beginning of this review, as my opinions are not based in a former enjoyment of Anime.
That being said, this film has me interested in this genre of entertainment and animation film. The live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell felt like an anime in spirit, but a live action "shell" (pun intended).
I found the cinematography remarkable in this film, as numerous shots felt like panels from a graphic novel, similar to how The Walking Dead occasionally copies a shot directly from an illustration. However, this feeling was present throughout the film. A fantastic example comes when Major strains her muscles ripping open the tank. The splitting of the muscle and the particles flying off feel like an image from a comic book. It is shots like this that made for an inclusive experience. While I saw the film in 2D, I could see the 3D version having a similar impact as that of Avatar, where you feel drawn into the world, rather than having stuff fly out at you, which for me ruins the illusion.
Scarlett Johansson plays the role of Major beautifully. Her actions as a human mind within a robotic shell are a perfect blend of real and robotic, giving a realistic feel to the character. I also found her emotional development throughout the picture a strong progression, as a mind with no memories of emotions can be hard to feel, but as she finds her past, she becomes more human in that sense. This growth makes for an amazing character. I also agree with the choice of casting Johansson in the role, despite the backlash, claiming that it was "White-Washing" the anime genre...
...And it's for this reason that the casting is fantastic. Look at the character of Major: An Asian woman who was kidnapped, had her memories erased, and placed in a robotic suit that is not longer her original self. She's no longer herself, so it makes sense she wouldn't look the same. This also connects with the idea of "purity" and "perfection" in the film. Look at the Model's synthetic face pieces that Major has her remove. They were white, a subliminal creation of the idea that white is perfection. And it is this uniformity and perfection that the film desires to challenge. This is a representation that the outer characteristics of a person are not as important as what's inside: Their spirit, or "Ghost" as the movie calls them.
The CGI really doesn't have a distinct moment that stands out, but the fluidity and integration makes it rather difficult to determine what is CGI and what is practical. Naturally, the Camoflage and Major's body are CGI, but things like the vehicles and the Spider Tank look real, and I can't tell whether they were CGI or not. Another example is Kuze, played by Michael Pitt. Kuze's appearance could very easily be prosthetic, but it could also be CGI. I won't describe him, as it is difficult to explain his appearance, and one has to see him to understand.
This film has got me interested in Anime as a whole, and I think it is a fantastic reminder about how styles of film can transfer mediums. It is definitely worth viewing in the theater, in my opinion.
Let me know what you thought of Ghost in the Shell in the comments below.
Click here to Pre-order the film, and here for the original anime film.
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