Ghost in the Shell

Name: Ghost in the Shell
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: March 31, 2017
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Johan Philip Asbæk, Juliette Binoche, Lasarus Ratuere

2017

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 1027 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 1027 Ratings

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Ghost In The Shell

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: March 31, 2017 | PG-13

Starring: Chin Han, Danusia Samal, Johan Philip Asbæk, Juliette Binoche, Lasarus Ratuere, Michael Pitt, Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano, Yutaka Izumihara

Summary: In the near future, Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people's minds and control them, Major is uniquelyIn the near future, Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people's minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that she has been lied to: her life was not saved, it was stolen. She will stop at nothing to recover her past, find out who did this to her and stop them before they do it to others. [Paramount Pictures]… Expand

Director: Rupert Sanders

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Mar 28, 2017

There are moments which directly recreate Oshii’s best scenes, with real sets and actors performing a balletic kind of stunt-karaoke. But the story is far more graspable – more streamlined – and the gracenotes, action-free, tend to be the highlights. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Mar 30, 2017

Ghost in the Shell is like an amalgam of 2017 anxieties. Fear of technology. Fear of big business. Fear of being spied upon. Fear of the sacred disappearing, and of the crass, the loud and the empty crowding into every corner of existence — crowding out life itself. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Mar 31, 2017

Ghost in the Shell is visually compelling but tone deaf. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Mar 30, 2017

This version may not break new ground, but it revisits familiar territory with a vibrant sense of style and welcome restraint. It exemplifies the kind of respectable and utterly unnecessary remake that now defines the Hollywood business model. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Mar 31, 2017

Ghost in the Shell can’t escape its own ghosts, the movies, stories, characters and even settings of truly original work that predates it. For all its gory mayhem, it’s a movie as bloodless as it is sexless. Read full review

Kwame Opam

Mar 31, 2017

Maybe it’s instructive that Ghost in the Shell is a solid film made on a broken foundation. Maybe this is the movie that needed to be made so the backlash would help Hollywood question the kinds of cross-cultural adaptations it can make. Read full review

The Film Stage Daniel Schindel

Mar 30, 2017

This iteration of Ghost in the Shell remixes elements from the various comics, films, and TV series that have come before, but offers nothing new or interesting in doing so. Read full review

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User Reviews

AdamJensen77

Mar 31, 2017

Amazing movie, visually stunning, the action sequences were fantastic. I'm a huge cyberpunk fan, and we dont get this kind of movies to often so I already knew I was going to enjoy this film.

46 of 82 users found this helpful4636

rdcl170

Apr 11, 2017

Legitimately good movie. Well paced plot, engaging, good characters, never got boring. This is coming from someone who generally does not care for action movies. I've seen the originals and enjoyed what elements this took from them.

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

onesix18

Apr 9, 2017

Most of the critics are absolutely missing the point. This is a very good film. The incarnation of GITS is truly in the spirit of the original anime and series, even if the story has been 'streamlined' a bit. Many of the great stories and myths of humanity have commonly used elements...thatMost of the critics are absolutely missing the point. This is a very good film. The incarnation of GITS is truly in the spirit of the original anime and series, even if the story has been 'streamlined' a bit. Many of the great stories and myths of humanity have commonly used elements...that doesn't detract from their power.

I actually went into the film a bit skeptical, based on much of what I'd read. And yet...as I sat there waiting to be disappointed, the film grabbed me and didn't let go. I was lost in this world, and emotionally invested. Without revealing too much, many scenes (particularly the ending) perfectly capture the trademark intense bursts of action that are so appealing and characteristic of the original animations. These are incredibly satisfying scenes to watch.

P.S. - I'm a long-time reader of Metacritic, and created an account for the first time specifically to write this review...to counteract some of the negative reviews here.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

kotymba

Apr 3, 2017

Honestly, this movie deserve 6 points, but I gave one extra point for Takeshi Kitano. He is so suitable for "Chief Daisuke Aramaki" role. I liked this movie, it even surpassed my expectations. But it's not so brilliant and touching as 1995's anime. In general pros and cons are following:Honestly, this movie deserve 6 points, but I gave one extra point for Takeshi Kitano. He is so suitable for "Chief Daisuke Aramaki" role. I liked this movie, it even surpassed my expectations. But it's not so brilliant and touching as 1995's anime. In general pros and cons are following:
Pros - amazing cyber-punk visualization, good action, acting performance, sound and Doge Easter egg at the end :) Cons - it's hard to understand plot if you haven't seen anime or read manga, I don't like how they try to explain philosophy about "ghost" and "the shell" and sometimes boring.
But I'll recommend watch this movie even if you feel skeptical about plot, Scarlet or smth else, I am defiantly sure that if you liked anime, you'll find smth interesting in this action film too.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

ozymandias79

Aug 25, 2017

This live action version wasn't terrible and I was expecting garbage. The visuals are great but it doesn't handle the deeper themes of the anime very well. Also, ScaJo was a poor casting choice. She's a little bit too knock-kneed to play a cyborg.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattBrady99

Sep 3, 2017

"Ghost in the Shell" is probably the most decent adaptation based on anime we got compared to previous attempts. However, as a stand alone film it struggles to be remembered since it's release. For someone who has heard about the anime, but hasn't seen it, the movie at least did a good job"Ghost in the Shell" is probably the most decent adaptation based on anime we got compared to previous attempts. However, as a stand alone film it struggles to be remembered since it's release. For someone who has heard about the anime, but hasn't seen it, the movie at least did a good job of world building to get me interested.

It's visually good looking with some well executed fight scenes. The villain surprisingly wasn't anywhere near generic or boring. Scarlett Johansson did a decent job, despite feeling a bit missed cast. She honestly did better in "Her" as a robot.

Putting the controversy aside, it's a decent film with a lot of things going for it. It's not going to stick in my memory by the end of the week, but at least I watch to judge for myself, not like some.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

restatements

Apr 4, 2017

Looks good and visually pleasing and that's about it. I was born and raised on the original anime and this is no where near what it was supposed to be. Westernized, soul-less, and simplified for the general populace. Really a sad adaptation. I wish they had just left the classic alone.Looks good and visually pleasing and that's about it. I was born and raised on the original anime and this is no where near what it was supposed to be. Westernized, soul-less, and simplified for the general populace. Really a sad adaptation. I wish they had just left the classic alone.

Even with the debacle surrounding the casting of SJ as Major Motoko Kusanagi, ignoring that piece. It still is severely lacking.… Expand

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

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