View Larger Image |
Ghost in the Shell Actors: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi Director: Mamoru Oshii Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Animated, Widescreen, Dolby Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Running Time: 115 minutes Studio: Palm Pictures/Manga Video Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 1998-03-31 Buy from Amazon |
 "You've been hacked sh**head!! John O. Booker"Ghost in the Shell-- poses the question, "What makes us human?" through the personage of a sleek, sexy cop made of mechanical parts. She's among a new class of cyber-humans and an operative of the Shell Squad. Motoko Kusanagi can access any site or brain on the web via USB sockets on the back of her neck. She is partnered with a fresh recruit named Togusa whose cybernetic brain has just enough gray matter to make him `human'; Ichikawa, the oldest member, spends most of his time alone on the Net; and Batou, a blonde, surly tank serves as Kusanagi's right-hand-man and is completely cybernetic. In an unidentified Asian metropolis, ribbons of silicon and concrete tie skyscrapers and corporate networks together. A shadow organization creates a program called Puppet-Master or Project 2501 for industrial espionage and intelligence manipulation. The Puppet-Master becomes sentient, however, and escapes his physical body by uploading his mind into the Internet. There he monitors Kusanagi's (Motoko) online activities and allows himself to be captured. She uplinks with him and is forced to confront the meaning of her own existence; what does it mean to be human? Does the presence of a "ghost" or soul constitute life, even if that soul is in a synthetic shell? The cityscape of Ghost in the Shell is so detailed that, at times, it's as though acetate was laid over actual maps and traced. Skewed angles transform vertical highways into prisms. Lights fleck rippling water, reflections skate across panes of glass. The look of the film draws a razor-sharp line between upper and lower society, juxtaposing hard, silvery skyscrapers and high-tech gadgets against the grimy tones of urban existence. This cinematography is reminiscent of the movie that started cyber-punk, Blade-Runner. Lengthy utterances on the duality of human and machine existence are interspersed with loud, beautifully styled action sequences. The running time (85 minutes) is probably the only downside to this anime. Many concepts from Ghost in the Shell were used in the original Matrix, the directors of which openly acknowledge as inspiration for their movie. "The precuel of everything!"This is the first story. Then... lot of stories followed it. At least, they get ideas from it. (don't you see even some 'matrix' similarities with lot of things?)... It's an awesome movie. "greatest movie i have ever seen and ever will!"This movie i feel is without a doubt the greatest cinematic accomplishment ever experienced. i never get tired of watching it, all the thoughts that were put forth in this masterpiece opened up a world of ideas and concepts that i think are relevent in the world today. I wish i knew how shirow masamune created the script for this movie, its incredible. greatest movie ever i would give it ten stars if the rating could that high. everyone should see this movie, it will make you evaluate your priorities in life.  "What is the Matrix? Oh sorry wrong movie..."But the similarities are endless, well this is the movie that the Matrix was based on so what are you going to expect. Anyway, this movie is refreshing break in that it's not artistic or too deep. It's all out action which is a blessed release after the mind jobs Akira and Perfect Blue put on you. But this anime is superb with more breath-taking visual effects than you could poke a stick at and a lovely score that could bring Scrooge to tears. As with all other things, i suggest viewing before buying. I have built it up to be a really good movie but it obviously won't be everyone cup of tea. Manga and Anime fans, knock yourselves out at trying to buy this, anyone else, try before you buy. "One of the Best Science Fictions"Ghost in the Shell is a visually stunning piece of anime and science fiction. i know my anime and science fiction but i have never seen anything like this. Amazing story about cyber technology and humanity. |
