Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Okay.
Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you are a fan of the “Ghost in the Shell” franchise
Score: 3.0/5
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 106 minutes (~1.75 hours)
“Ghost in the Shell” is a science fiction action drama that is based on the anime and manga franchise of the same name.
The film is set in the near future, where robotics have become a part of everyday life. A highly skilled counter terrorist finds her mind being placed in an artificial body that functions as a human “shell”. However, this cyborg soon learns that not everything is as it seems.
“Ghost in the Shell” is directed by Rupert Sanders with a screenplay by Jamie Moss, William Wheeler, and Ehren Kruger. It stars Scarlett Johansson (Major), Takeshi Kitano (Daisuke Aramaki), Michael Pitt (Hideo Kuze), Pilou Asbaek (Batou), Chin Han (Togusa), Juliette Binoche (Dr Ouelet), and Peter Ferdinand (Cutter). It is rated PG13.
“Ghost in the Shell” has been the subject of so much controversy that you can’t help but go see the film just to see what all the fuss is about. It’s not so much the subject of whitewashing as it is the result of trying to cram in every relevant culture into the film. As a result, rather than a melting point of cultures, “Ghost in the Shell” feels like an awkward mishmash of all of them. It’s worth a watch just to satiate your curiosity about how it turned out, though.
Highlights
Stylised cinematography and treatment
There’s no denying how the cinematography contributes to the slightly dystopian, moody feel of the film. The pessimism of the setting isn’t overt, but it lingers just long enough to let you realise how far away humanity is from the promised technological utopia that our future should have been. It’s all fictional, of course, but the attitudes hit just a little too close to home to make us ponder about the themes of the film.
Good special effects
“Ghost in the Shell” boasts good special effects – it has to, given its genre and the action sequences, after all. It’s not the evocative, flashy sort of SFX either. Rather, it’s rooted in realism and grittiness, thanks to the treatment of the film, and this makes us think that it would be uncomfortably plausible in just a few years time. It also serves to remind us of the fantastical elements of the “Ghost in the Shell” universe.
Pays homage in unobtrusive but spectacular ways
Many of the obstacles that Major (Scarlett Johansson) has to face are actually homages to the anime, rather than being original sci-fi creations. I’m not a serious fan of the series, but it’s cool to see that the opponents she has to face are updated versions of classic elements from the anime itself. They’re not shoved in your face though, so it’s weaved in rather naturally and organically.
Letdowns
Lacks impact
The biggest problem with “Ghost in the Shell” is that for all its deep themes and messages about identity and technology, it doesn’t leave you with much of an impression. You can tell that it’s supposed to be a thought-provoking commentary on what makes a man, but that’s not what results after the film is over. It ends its exploration with a half-hearted shrug.
Lacks authenticity
“Ghost in the Shell” also lacks a unifying vision to tie it all together. It feels like many sequences or references were done just for the sake of doing so. It could do with a little more heart in its execution.
“Ghost in the Shell” looks good but feels hollow.
“Ghost in the Shell” opens in cinemas:
– 30 March, 2017 (Singapore)
– 29 March, 2017 (Philippines)
Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter, having written for Police & Thief, Incredible Tales, Crimewatch, and Point of Entry. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find him on social media as Optimarcus and on his site.
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