Read Mixed User Reviews for Ghost in the Shell (2017)

6

HerrKapitan9Apr 17, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was soooooo exited for this movie, i was really glad hollywood studios looked for an anime story to make a movie and i hope the continue to do so, they are so many masterpieces there. Yet something quite don't go as i was expecting with this one, here are my points.

1- Concept and Visuals, they are **** incredible!!! the level of artwork and concept is sublime! i loved the work, the clothes and also all those little things, like the noodles in a plastic bag i never new i need it or the bubble digital media headset that busy people watch as they walk in the streets. In this regard i think is a solid 10! Btw check the work of Maciej Kuciara. Damn Good!

2- Characters, In this regard i think its a little mixed, i like the concept of this japanese weird excentric boss in section 9 and i like Scarlett as Mayor, but most of the time they felt flat as the rest of the characters, there is not much development in their persons, so its not possible to have much sympathy with any of the characters, Plus the evil guys are not very convincing in their goals. Yet i loveeeed these cyber yakusa gang, though i think that goes more in the concept area.

Story/ Plot, this is the weakest part of the movie and its weird that in its run time a compelling story cannot be told properly, there is never a genuine threat and it feels so isolated from the beautiful world they created (which is a shame, its truly awesome). Way to many things fell exactly where they supposed to and so many things are too convenient to the story that it pulls you out of the story for the obviousness of it :/ In the end they do explain why the main character is not asian, and its a clever way in my opinion (yet i don't care about that particular situation) The movie as a whole is a beautiful eye candy that when it starts to taste good it never deliver that last flavour and then it ends. Hope they make good, next time.

And yeah Scarlett s hot as hell.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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5

Compi24Apr 2, 2017

Despite easily attaining the title of "greatest live-action adaptation of an anime that I've ever seen," director Rupert Sanders' "Ghost In The Shell" is still an overwhelmingly shallow and vapid experience, featuring hollow characters,Despite easily attaining the title of "greatest live-action adaptation of an anime that I've ever seen," director Rupert Sanders' "Ghost In The Shell" is still an overwhelmingly shallow and vapid experience, featuring hollow characters, muddied plot elements, and a molasses-paced first-half. Boy, does this thing look and sound amazing, though. It's just a shame there's such a mixed bag of a screenplay at the center of this fantastically designed slog through transhumanism and other traditional cyberpunk thematics. Fans of the original film, television series, and/or manga may have something to latch on to here, but for the uninitiated, this film may be a particular challenge to commit to.… Expand

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

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5

newrandomageMar 31, 2017

This was not the movie that was promised, sure, but it is far away from being a bad movie. Let me establish this from the get-go: Ghost in the Shell 2017 tries to integrate scenes from the 1995 anime Ghost in the Shell movie with goodThis was not the movie that was promised, sure, but it is far away from being a bad movie. Let me establish this from the get-go: Ghost in the Shell 2017 tries to integrate scenes from the 1995 anime Ghost in the Shell movie with good intentions, but some of them come out as interesting references while others are infuriating evidence that shows those scenes are there just to be cool and appeal massive audiencies. The story isn't based on the original film but on the manga, which makes it even worse.

The environment looks fake, both in form and looks, the city doesn't really make sense most of the time with bizarre and unrealistic houses and settings that were not there in the original story, and all the technology presented in the movie is used as an excuse to show special effects that sometimes are unnecesary and just make the experience worse.

That being said the script could have been executed in a poorer way, altough isn't perfect and really far from what the 1995 movie could offer, both on depth and meaning but it won't dissapoint the biggest part of the audience. Scarlett's performance prevent some scenes from being cringeworthy, Pilou Asbæk makes a really good Batou against all odds and Takeshi Kitano's performance is really good too despite the fact that his character making no sense.

Ghost in the Shell tries really hard to not fail at what it does, it has unforgivable mistakes but that shouldn't take away that most people won't even notice them and will be impressed by the special effects. A weak 6 for me. It could have been worse.… Expand

6 of 15 users found this helpful69

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5

EpicLadySpongeMar 31, 2017

Let's take whatever we can find to get a very great movie said the movie's director. Unfortunately, his ultimate predication fell flat on the surface when he found out even his film has flaws. Not even the cast (especially Scarlett Johansson)Let's take whatever we can find to get a very great movie said the movie's director. Unfortunately, his ultimate predication fell flat on the surface when he found out even his film has flaws. Not even the cast (especially Scarlett Johansson) could save the film from having these amount of flaws that just stops making the film fun to watch or being interesting all together during the halfway of the film.… Expand

8 of 21 users found this helpful813

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5

CanisrahApr 4, 2017

This film has two problems: 1. the pacing is off - and the way the story is told results in rises and falls such that the thread of the overarching narrative is hard to engage with.

2. Scarlett - seems miscast in this role. Her acting isThis film has two problems: 1. the pacing is off - and the way the story is told results in rises and falls such that the thread of the overarching narrative is hard to engage with.

2. Scarlett - seems miscast in this role. Her acting is wooden and unconvincing. So many scenes where you can envisage the director has just said 'action!' and Scarlett has done her thing. You can tell she's acting (or trying to act). Breaks immersion - I never really bought the character because she didn't do a good enough job of convincing me that she was the character.

The result is a film that looks slick but lack substance, character and soul.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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4

alexteo07Mar 31, 2017

Contrary to what the reviewer says, the film IS not ""respectful and successful as an adaptation"" NOR does it strive to ""capture the same intellectual conversation about identity, ownership and consent that are presented in the sourceContrary to what the reviewer says, the film IS not ""respectful and successful as an adaptation"" NOR does it strive to ""capture the same intellectual conversation about identity, ownership and consent that are presented in the source material.""
Or if it does strive, it utterly fails.

The dialogues are full of non-sense mumbo jumbo about ghosts and shells, lol.
Apart from the beginning, the plot differs widely from the original, and not in a good way. It's like they tried to make the philosophy behind the original very accessible to a wide audience, and missed the point completely. I can't figure why they tried to do that, because the concept of the original anime is not hard to grasp.

It's stunning from a visual standpoint, but that's about it. An empty shell....… Expand

3 of 12 users found this helpful39

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6

joaomlo2Apr 1, 2017

Even with lowered standards it managed to disappoint me. First two acts were all over the place with your average evil corporation plot apparent from the first scene, characters over-explaining the themes (I get that it is intended for aEven with lowered standards it managed to disappoint me. First two acts were all over the place with your average evil corporation plot apparent from the first scene, characters over-explaining the themes (I get that it is intended for a broader demographic but perhaps more good "show, don't tell" moments like when Major was with that human prostitute would be better), they looked like they got Section 9 wrong (I have no idea why they bothered to invent that new female Section 9 member when they give her barely anything to say/do) and they completely missed the point on making the body Major was in, be important when the idea is that she has no problem detaching herself from her human form.

What I will defend in this movie (besides it being a visual masterpiece) is that the 3rd act gets extremely close to redeeming this movie. Major's origin reveal pretty much gave a big middle finger to the whitewashing controversy in my opinion. Section 9 suddenly started being likable again and the climax with the spider-tank although being straight from the anime like many other scenes, it's a really well done copy nonetheless.

Another thing is the fact that one year ago I have been introduced to Ghost in the Shell (instantly becoming a fan) because I heard this movie was being made which means that many more people will see the movie and may want to know more about the original movie and series which is enough justification for this movie to exist. If people somehow come to me and ask me about Ghost in the Shell, I won't have much trouble pointing this one out first and tell them that if they like the questions it asks but want a better movie, they should drop the anime prejudice and go straight to the 1995 movie and so on.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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5

TayleenGravelMar 31, 2017

I believed that the film will be a really decent adaptation and surprise me. But unfortunately he has very much upset me.
The film is very much mired in clichés and stamps. Scenes of firefights and hand-to-hand combat leaves much to beI believed that the film will be a really decent adaptation and surprise me. But unfortunately he has very much upset me.
The film is very much mired in clichés and stamps. Scenes of firefights and hand-to-hand combat leaves much to be desired, music is unremarkable. Only the visual design of the city and acting of all the actors came out really decent. This is a very mediocre adaptation and just poor film.… Expand

1 of 10 users found this helpful19

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4

nopApr 11, 2017

This is an abomination. They butchered the original movie, removed bones, meat and the brain, did a story transplant from Robocop(totally neutered, of course), filled the rest with cringeworthy dialogue, aimed at 12 year olds.
CG looks cheap,This is an abomination. They butchered the original movie, removed bones, meat and the brain, did a story transplant from Robocop(totally neutered, of course), filled the rest with cringeworthy dialogue, aimed at 12 year olds.
CG looks cheap, some scenes still appear beautiful, because they were copied straight from the original.
There must be a special place in hell reserved for greedy talentless hacks who make soulless PG-13 remakes.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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5

TVJerryApr 4, 2017

This future vision of our world features dazzling cityscapes with giant 3D advertising. That's the best thing about this film, which takes place in an advanced world where people are cyber-ehananced. Even so, they still use guns withThis future vision of our world features dazzling cityscapes with giant 3D advertising. That's the best thing about this film, which takes place in an advanced world where people are cyber-ehananced. Even so, they still use guns with old-school bullets (than often miss their target) and they drive their own cars. Scarlett Johansson has her brain implanted into an artificial body and becomes a crime fighter. But it couldn't be that simple: She has to have an existential crisis about who she really is. There's plenty of fast action, but it doesn't feature innovative fights or even clear editing. Despite the noisy encounters, trite plot and advanced paranoia, this film's best asset is its cool visuals.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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5

ChowdahApr 26, 2017

Great visuals. Unfortunately that's about all the praise this movie gets. Incredibly slow paced with a shallow plot. Had a Bladerunner feel to it in the first 30 mins but quickly lost steam. Shame.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

RtheomApr 2, 2017

This was a fine enough movie on its own, but looking at it from that perspective, it also did nothing original. This is the American version of Ghost in the Shell in every regard, also known as Lady Robocop. The actors all do very well inThis was a fine enough movie on its own, but looking at it from that perspective, it also did nothing original. This is the American version of Ghost in the Shell in every regard, also known as Lady Robocop. The actors all do very well in their parts, but none of them actually managed to match their characters from the anime and manga. There are a lot of superfluous scenes that felt very much made for American audiences, and ultimately this becomes the classic American story of "discovering who you are in the world", which the Japanese version was not about at all.

But that's okay, you will enjoy it if you watch it, but you can definitely wait for this to come out on Netflix.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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6

KenmeiApr 3, 2017

We saw this in IMAX 3D and it honestly wasn't as bad as I expected. The acting was suspect in a few spots, especially ScarJo's performance here, but the effects were very cool and I quite enjoyed some of the action scenes. It certainly willWe saw this in IMAX 3D and it honestly wasn't as bad as I expected. The acting was suspect in a few spots, especially ScarJo's performance here, but the effects were very cool and I quite enjoyed some of the action scenes. It certainly will never hold a candle to the original movie and show but, for as bad as I was expecting here, this was a decent surprise.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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5

VitaminKApr 12, 2017

Hollywood gutted this extremely deep and rich series with a 107 minute action movie with Scarlett Johansson kickin' ass. If you are a true fan of the series stay away, it will only disappoint. If you just wanna see a futuristic action flickHollywood gutted this extremely deep and rich series with a 107 minute action movie with Scarlett Johansson kickin' ass. If you are a true fan of the series stay away, it will only disappoint. If you just wanna see a futuristic action flick where Scarlett Johansson goes to town on bad guys go on and check it out. Then go watch the old manga/anime versions for some head f*ckery and soul searching.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

Nobilis1984May 9, 2017

Criticism to Ghost in the Shell: I do not know him now well or whether I badly should find. He reminds stage manner me strongly of the Anime. But then other scenes are again so lame I the head must shake. The characters are well met in myCriticism to Ghost in the Shell: I do not know him now well or whether I badly should find. He reminds stage manner me strongly of the Anime. But then other scenes are again so lame I the head must shake. The characters are well met in my opinion. I would have wished, nevertheless, a Japanese principal character. At least, has tried to bring a good filming on the canvas Result: Without knowing the Anime it is worthwhile. However, one knows Him one notices this was much more complicated and better.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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4

EdelgulApr 9, 2017

Well, if they wanted to copy the 1995 Anime, they should’ve done so, but create half-made copy.
The movie is not bad, but it also not good. A number of scenes were copied from 1995 Anime, or its 2.0 upgrade. Few scenes were copied from SolidWell, if they wanted to copy the 1995 Anime, they should’ve done so, but create half-made copy.
The movie is not bad, but it also not good. A number of scenes were copied from 1995 Anime, or its 2.0 upgrade. Few scenes were copied from Solid State Society OVA. And I mean copied, in an almost frame to frame basis. However some other scenes were obviously invented anew (f.e. yakuza bar scene), and they do not match in style (and the difference in the choreography of the scenes is way too visible) and are much less stunning visually. The story is very different, and is full of Hollywood clichés – Evil Corporation™, fake memory™ etc. I was expecting a new story (and I’d rather prefer a new story to something, that I know well), however It is very secondary (to an extent, that I’d say I’ve seen it in every second American Sci-Fi movie including James Bond) and is mainly used to tie in the scenes. It is heavily based on Motoko, rather than exploring and presenting the world around, and the concept is that Motoko is unique first human brain transplanted into a cyborg body, who is on a hunt for her past (and you can easily guess the whole plot from here). Despite my initial skepticism about white washing, Johansson played the role well (although there was limited space for that), however actor playing Batou was very weak (the actor wasn’t trying at all). Other members of Section 9 made a very brief appearance to say anything serious about them. Aramaki also was quite good, although Takeshi Kitano decided to alter the character.
Verdict: 4/10 – Some scenes are visually good, and they are recreation of classical GITS. Some are way too bad/primitive/simplistic. Especially the bar torture scene, which was unnecessary, and way too out of the style of the movie.
I do not recommend seeing this in the cinema (CGI is not really that stunning – DR. Strange CGI was way better), just wait for an HD version appearing on sale.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

AvodeskormApr 1, 2017

Although I've never seen the original GitS, I could tell that most of the emotionally charged scenes and postmodern philosophy are totally subdued and streamlined to simplicity. It's a solid sci-fi action movie that I don't regret seeing butAlthough I've never seen the original GitS, I could tell that most of the emotionally charged scenes and postmodern philosophy are totally subdued and streamlined to simplicity. It's a solid sci-fi action movie that I don't regret seeing but wish the script was geared towards that thought-provoking element that the source material is known for. Seeing as how the one of the scenes present in the trailer was most likely cut from the movie most likely due to executive meddling, there may have been more to it then what we got (Example: The homoerotic kiss between actresses in the trailer). The potential for hollywood movies adapted from anime is very high if this movie is anything to go off of. The shift in high-budget hollywood movies is extremely exciting if they're willing to take more risks rather then staying safe. In the end, this film is stuck trying to decide if it wants to take that leap rather then taking a small step.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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6

rodogonioMar 31, 2017

This movie is a visual delight. Everything, from production design, to fx and art direction is so meticulously crafted that is hard not to feel satisfied by the presentation alone. Having said that, characters and their motivations lackThis movie is a visual delight. Everything, from production design, to fx and art direction is so meticulously crafted that is hard not to feel satisfied by the presentation alone. Having said that, characters and their motivations lack enough exposition as to develop properly thus generating a sense of void and boredom after half of the movie. Luckily, it ends right when you are feeling genuinely uninterested.… Expand

0 of 12 users found this helpful012

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6

Voodoo123Jul 15, 2017

This big production delivers great visuals and solid performances with an engaging soundscape makes for good sci-fi thriller. As a huge fan of the anime I was disappointed this live adaption drops the philosophical/political story complexityThis big production delivers great visuals and solid performances with an engaging soundscape makes for good sci-fi thriller. As a huge fan of the anime I was disappointed this live adaption drops the philosophical/political story complexity and texture that gave the original film its unique flavour. Where technology was used like an interesting backdrop for the story it now becomes the centre frame of the story almost like a retelling of robocop using a future japan as a template to tell that story again.
Nonetheless it serves as an entertaining and engaging take on the franchise which is enjoyable to watch.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

Brent_MarchantApr 2, 2017

It's unfortunate when the substance of a good story gets buried under layers of cinematic style, keeping the essence of the underlying narrative from shining through, but that's precisely the problem with this live action anime feature. AnIt's unfortunate when the substance of a good story gets buried under layers of cinematic style, keeping the essence of the underlying narrative from shining through, but that's precisely the problem with this live action anime feature. An over-reliance on action sequences and stunning (but decidedly excessive) visual effects dilutes the relevance and poignancy of this film, depriving viewers of the most important attribute it has to impart. Scarlett Johansson's staid, detached bad-ass routine is growing a little stale, too, a virtual carbon copy of the performances she gave in "Lucy" and "Under the Skin." And then there's the movie's tendency to borrow from numerous other sources, like "Blade Runner," "The Matrix," "Cloud Atlas," "Ex Machina" and "Total Recall," to name a few. Pass on this one -- you won't miss much.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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6

DirtyDaveApr 3, 2017

The visuals are good, the sound is great, and there are some genuinely enjoyable moments in this film. The biggest flaw is they are spaced too far between a plot focused on trying to be more profound than it is.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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4

ScienceAdvisorJul 6, 2017

Pure cinematics over story, form over entertainment. Compared to the 1996 animated materpiece, this was disappointing in every way, especially the director's mis-management of Johansson's character (Major). Shallow, trope-filled, andPure cinematics over story, form over entertainment. Compared to the 1996 animated materpiece, this was disappointing in every way, especially the director's mis-management of Johansson's character (Major). Shallow, trope-filled, and utterly lifeless.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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5

grimsfieldJul 9, 2017

Almost nothing like the anime. If you like the anime, you probably won't like this film. Its massively whitewashed and the plot is dumbed down. Beyond that, the plot barely resembles the original. That said, if you haven't seen the originalAlmost nothing like the anime. If you like the anime, you probably won't like this film. Its massively whitewashed and the plot is dumbed down. Beyond that, the plot barely resembles the original. That said, if you haven't seen the original anime or read the manga, you might like this movie. And I can definitely see why a lot of people would. However, being a huge fan of the anime myself, I cannot get beyond all the things that are wrong with this movie in its adaptation. I'm giving the movie a 5 because of that and because I can understand how people who haven't seen the anime may find this movie appealing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

RetroBlurApr 9, 2017

Kind of a mixed bag, to be honest. The visuals are fantastic, especially in 3D, but the script is half-baked; it sometimes feels like the original Ghost in the Shell, exploring Major's identity and her humanity, but largely plays it safe withKind of a mixed bag, to be honest. The visuals are fantastic, especially in 3D, but the script is half-baked; it sometimes feels like the original Ghost in the Shell, exploring Major's identity and her humanity, but largely plays it safe with a bland revenge story.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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6

russiangamerApr 6, 2017

Главные проблемы и недостатки, если сравнить с аниме:
1. Отсутствие потрясающей атмосфера, я бы даже сказал, что атмосфера вообще отсутствует.
2. Рейтинг PG13. Жестокость и обнажённые тела в оригинале тоже очень влияли на атмосферу, а тут этоГлавные проблемы и недостатки, если сравнить с аниме:
1. Отсутствие потрясающей атмосфера, я бы даже сказал, что атмосфера вообще отсутствует.
2. Рейтинг PG13. Жестокость и обнажённые тела в оригинале тоже очень влияли на атмосферу, а тут это отсутствует.
3. Актёры. Все, кроме главной героини играют нормально. Нет, она не отвратительна, но даже робота играет не особо.
4. Эффекты. С таким бюджетом было бы стыдно не сделать нормальную графику. Получилось неплохо, но до оригинала не дотянет.
5. Музыка. В аниме можно было просто любоваться деталями и пейзажами под потрясный саундтрек. В фильме же не чувствуется чёткой гармонии между музыкой и происходящем на экране.
6. Самое обидное - сюжет. Я думал, что это ремейк только первой части, но на экране мелькают какие-то персонажи и вещи из второй части, что окончательно меня запутывало. Порой, мне просто было не понятно на каком моменте сейчас идёт повествование. Так же сюжет немало порезали.
В итоге скажу, что не отрицаю того, что фильм может понравиться людям незнакомым с аниме, но поклонники будут не в восторге, как и я.
Как почитатель оригинала - 6/10 Как незнакомый с первоисточником - примерно 7/10… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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5

CineAutoctonoApr 2, 2017

The live-action version of "Ghost in the Shell" turned out to be very good, but seldom slow, and greatly altered the story of the anime, but retains its history and the story is completely new, Scarlett Johansson, excelled in her character,The live-action version of "Ghost in the Shell" turned out to be very good, but seldom slow, and greatly altered the story of the anime, but retains its history and the story is completely new, Scarlett Johansson, excelled in her character, and her performance as Such was good, and everything else, we do not stop enjoying it.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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6

Rebecca31Mar 31, 2017

Scarlett Johansson is the first of her kind, cyber-enhanced to be the perfect soldier, built to fight against dangerous criminals. Enter Michael pouty Pitt in a hoodie. Johansson is without a doubt the best thing in this movie, great castingScarlett Johansson is the first of her kind, cyber-enhanced to be the perfect soldier, built to fight against dangerous criminals. Enter Michael pouty Pitt in a hoodie. Johansson is without a doubt the best thing in this movie, great casting choice. Pitt’s character was built up well and then seriously neglected . I never liked the original movie and I was rather enjoying this up until about the halfway mark then it seemed to descend into a predictable boring mess. Disappointing to say the least. There’s nothing new about the story, it has numerous elements from other movies and you’ll see all the apparent plot twists well before they happen. And if you don’t well then you haven’t been paying attention. Perhaps you’ve been distracted by the spectacular visual effects and why wouldn’t you be? The attention to detail was mesmerizing. No I didn’t see it in 3D but I didn’t have to, the effort that went into all the effects clearly speaks for itself. Recommended for all you sci-fi fans.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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6

SecretS1xApr 11, 2017

Being a fan of the anime and the TV show, I went into the cinema with some expectation of what I would get. Yes, the special effects were there but in some cases great (cyborg designs) and in other cases very poor (...almost everything else.)Being a fan of the anime and the TV show, I went into the cinema with some expectation of what I would get. Yes, the special effects were there but in some cases great (cyborg designs) and in other cases very poor (...almost everything else.) Many scenes featured too much CG that led to seemingly different shot movies melded together. There may have been too much left unexplained during the movie which could leave many confused, and the most intriguing character (the villain) was underused. The action and Scar-Jo's performance were excellent though, however I left the cinema thinking I would be fine if I never saw that film again...… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

sandbornApr 5, 2017

Looks and sounds great, but the movie keeps audience at a distance. I found myself getting into it and getting out of it at times. When two characters had a private conversation, I felt like I was out of the loop. As for ScarJo, she wasLooks and sounds great, but the movie keeps audience at a distance. I found myself getting into it and getting out of it at times. When two characters had a private conversation, I felt like I was out of the loop. As for ScarJo, she was totally awesome in it! Too bad the movie wasn't better but it still has charm.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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6

thoodeeMar 31, 2017

Like you already probably read, the flick definitely is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They really did the anime justice as far as the look of the world created. The movie was overall entertaining and definitely worth the watch. However,Like you already probably read, the flick definitely is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They really did the anime justice as far as the look of the world created. The movie was overall entertaining and definitely worth the watch. However, I do I wish the story and the characters could have been more thought out and dove deeper. For example, showing more of the struggle for the major in keeping her humanity, or making the audience more empathetic to the terrorist. The movies biggest fault is it was kinda hard to really care for any of these characters. Again though, not as bad as many other critics have made it out to be.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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6

QuietCoyoteApr 13, 2017

A visually stunning movie that was a pretty decent popcorn flick, but was very shallow and full of painful cliches. It's arguably more entertaining and reaches a wider audience than the original movie, but loses the majority of it'sA visually stunning movie that was a pretty decent popcorn flick, but was very shallow and full of painful cliches. It's arguably more entertaining and reaches a wider audience than the original movie, but loses the majority of it's philosophical intensity in the process. Many scenes from the original seemed shoehorned in and lost their impact in the process. The character of Major was botched as it feels too broody, hopeless, sad, and mopey compared to the original major who was wise-cracking, relatively cheerful, and at peace with who she was. Perhaps that wouldn't be a problem if one hasn't seen the original, which i suspect the majority of moviegoers haven't. It was still bothersome for me.

Overall, it was okay. It was fun, but not amazing. It wasn't that memorable aside from the gorgeous special effects, and would be a decent redbox or netflix movie.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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5

miccaelDec 22, 2018

actors - great.
cyberpunk universe - not so great, a lot of things are unexplained. too much money spent on things like CGI, or looks great but movie is not only what is shown, it is about the story.
Villain(s) were ... not great, ended upactors - great.
cyberpunk universe - not so great, a lot of things are unexplained. too much money spent on things like CGI, or looks great but movie is not only what is shown, it is about the story.
Villain(s) were ... not great, ended up being too generic.
emotions don't work, dont care about people, maybe because I haven't seen the animation or know anything about the movie, just watching as a movie-goer.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

The3AcademySinsMar 31, 2018

Ghost in the Shell had a ton of potential. Odd casting choices aside, the film is just kind of a let down. The plot really peters out by the halfway point of the movie. An interesting premise with good source material and good art directionGhost in the Shell had a ton of potential. Odd casting choices aside, the film is just kind of a let down. The plot really peters out by the halfway point of the movie. An interesting premise with good source material and good art direction is turned into an almost unwatchable mess. Scarlett Johansson to her credit does give a solid performance, but the world around her and the situation she's in never seem to match tonally. It's not even all that revolutionary of a sci-fi film. I would say stick to the anime or manga.… Expand

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6

NihilisticApr 2, 2017

Though successful as an adaptation, it is far from the potential of the franchise.

Yes, I do understand how risky it is for Hollywood to do an adaptation of a Japanese animation/comic series, and I acknowledge that the release of this filmThough successful as an adaptation, it is far from the potential of the franchise.

Yes, I do understand how risky it is for Hollywood to do an adaptation of a Japanese animation/comic series, and I acknowledge that the release of this film is an amazing achievement itself. However, it didn't meet many of my expectations for what I expect from a "good" movie. Let's talk visuals first. CGI and graphic design wise, it is very appealing and was satisfying to watch. But the aesthetics left a gaping hole in my heart, and my problem wasn't with the 16:9 ratio on a cinema screen. A lot of the camera shots were far from aesthetically pleasing, and there were some scenes that were far from doing the animated series justice. However, the (potential spoilers) death scene at the end exceeded that of the animation. The visuals were probably the best part of the movie. The sound and music was mediocre, but I pay them little attention so they will not affect the score much. My probably was with the pacing, packing two seasons worth of animation into 1 hour and 40 minutes wasn't a smart move. It made the characters even more of an empty shell than what they originally were, just like a ghost in a shell. The terrible pacing led to weird developments as well, and I was quite unhappy about that. There were some very subtle plot-changing moments in the film which could have been climatic if the pacing was right. But, once again, it's a miracle that we got a decent adaptation. So I won't complain. Not too much.

I found the dialogue troubling at times, and a lot of it felt quite forced. I'm quite mad at the screenwriters and director for the dialogue which seemed like they took it straight from the animation, without any alteration. By the end of the movie, I felt like I had sat through an action movie, and that was it. I kept me on the edge of my seat at times, and sometimes I tried to stay awake. Thanks to the awkward timing and messiness of the plot. All of that said, it was decent. Not terrible at all.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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5

KaptenVideoApr 9, 2017

Based on media franchise of the same name, „Ghost in the Shell“ is the first live-action movie of the seminal cyber epic about human enhanced into super soldier who clashes with dangerous criminals.
In order to add some international starBased on media franchise of the same name, „Ghost in the Shell“ is the first live-action movie of the seminal cyber epic about human enhanced into super soldier who clashes with dangerous criminals.
In order to add some international star power, the main hero – originally Asian – has turned into sexy and nimble white girl (Scarlett Johansson), the choice surely liked by many and despised by some more hard-core fans. And adding some street cred, there is legendary director Takeshi Kitano supporting her.
There are– or at least one can perceive – nods to all kinds of mind-bending sci-fi classics that have gone before, „The Matrix“ and „Assassin’s Creed“ among others.
The gravity-defying asskicking and futuristic environments sure look good, with all the gigantic holograms dominating the cityscape and everything.
Sadly it does not really feel like a living breathing world – it’s much more like a videogame. So you may not remember it long after watching but it’s competent if unoriginal vision of what futuristic looks like.
What the fans of previous „Ghost in the Shell“ incarnations – especially manga and anime – may lament about is the horribly simplified approach that the western movie makers has used. But if you don’t know or care about the legacy, the first live-action movie may quench some thirst for futuristic action. The result is not bad, really. It’s just not terribly involving either.
It’s not gonna become a megahit, because for all the good looks it’s too niche for general audience and probably too shallow for manga or anime heads.
Oh well. At least we get an idea about how the coming „Blade Runner“ sequel and Marvel’s Black Widow movie(s) may look like.
There’s a fully functional spiritual side to the story, and it’s actually much more exciting to follow events this way. But all the spiritual stuff has been pushed to the background and is mentioned only in passing.
So it can’t effectively compensate for the shallowness of the main plot or sure-handed but emotionally distant style which never lets you close to the characters. The potential is all there, but the result will leave many a bit unsatisfied.
Watched it in 3D. Didn’t think the extra D added enough to justify its existence.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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6

GeminesesApr 18, 2017

Bored, maybe the anime movie was great, but this. Visually it was perfect, they remind me of the FFVII maps, and the crew has decent performances, but I do not feel any chemistry between them

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4

thedaywalkerApr 2, 2017

Not worth my money
If there's a word to describe this movie, it's obvious... The first 30 minutes can tell you the whole plot of the movie
Generic characters and obvious plot, with a 3rd act with A LOT more to be desired The first act wasNot worth my money
If there's a word to describe this movie, it's obvious... The first 30 minutes can tell you the whole plot of the movie
Generic characters and obvious plot, with a 3rd act with A LOT more to be desired
The first act was very good with very good visual, but this movie misses in places it shouldn't… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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6

PotaeSuprakitApr 6, 2017

Ghost in the Shell succeeds in adjusting, despite some problems.
See a little disappointing review, see fun hero scarlett johansson.
Ghost in the Shell has been adapted from the original, beloved and beloved content to understand what makesGhost in the Shell succeeds in adjusting, despite some problems.
See a little disappointing review, see fun hero scarlett johansson.
Ghost in the Shell has been adapted from the original, beloved and beloved content to understand what makes this franchise special and work well on the big screen. It looks good and does not feel like it is just copying the anime and the beauty of the manga instead of capturing what makes them separate to begin with. This stumbled in the third act and did not bring the point to a satisfactory conclusion. But Ghost in the Shell successfully solved the problem.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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5

FromKangaJun 25, 2017

This movie was really...meh
I wasn't the greatest fan of the original anime movie, I didn't hate it but it just wasn't really my thing so I had no expectations for this movie.
Visually, this film is beautiful and it has style to it, I admitThis movie was really...meh
I wasn't the greatest fan of the original anime movie, I didn't hate it but it just wasn't really my thing so I had no expectations for this movie.

Visually, this film is beautiful and it has style to it, I admit that the anime was incredible to look at and you can tell that the director wanted to stay true to the visual style the anime had, you can tell that there was a lot of effort put into this film.

As for the story...it's weak, I can tell what they were trying to do, they tried to give more emotion in the story which I can appreciate, but it stills ends up being bland and forgettable because the movie doesn't spend a lot of time developping the characters.

And that's the movie's biggest problem, the characters, they were forgettable and boring, they tried to give us an emotional story with our main character but it fails because the movie doesn't give a reason why we should like her, why we should feel invested in her story, I get she's a character who can't have feelings because she is kind of a robot but it still makes an unlikable main character, but the worst character was the real villain, he was one of the worst villains I've seen in a long time.
I do want to defend this movie particulary on the "white washing" complaint, I feel like people overeact for nothing, it's a stupid complaint, it's a hollywood movie, people need to understand that Holywood will always pick the most popular actors or actresses not because they are racist, it's because they think that the movie will do better at the box-office.

There was a lot of effort put into this film which I can appreciate, but it just didn't succeed in deliviring a good story and likable characters, it's not as bad as people say it is, but it wasn't anything special.… Expand

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4

badhairdayApr 2, 2017

This movie is a big load of nothing. It is the most aggressively bland movie I have ever watched. It was if the director slopped lukewarm spaghetti-o's down onto a plate and handed it to me. There was absolutely no heart in this movie, theThis movie is a big load of nothing. It is the most aggressively bland movie I have ever watched. It was if the director slopped lukewarm spaghetti-o's down onto a plate and handed it to me. There was absolutely no heart in this movie, the only character that gave me any twinge of emotion was her mother. Visually the movie looked great. The writing was boring and uninspired. This movie holds your hand throughout and treats the audience as if they do not have a brain. Or should I say "your soul, your 'ghost'." Absolutely pitiful script and I feel for Johansson and her supporting cast for having to read it. However bad it was they did their best with the material they were given. Throw in some sloppily applied lines about finding out who Johansson's character is and how she should view herself as either a robot or human that have the depth of a roadside puddle, and you have a forgettable, safe, and slightly insulting film that does little to no justice to its verbose and much more impactful source material.

4/10 for its good looks, the adequate job the cast did with so little to work with, and the absolute disregard shown in honoring the source material.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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6

GabMegaMay 27, 2017

La pelicula no es mala, Ghost in the Shell, solamente esta, ok.

Se nota que es una película que hicieron para los que desconocen y conocen bien de la obra original, pero aquí toca más cosas de origen del personaje principal con una nuevaLa pelicula no es mala, Ghost in the Shell, solamente esta, ok.

Se nota que es una película que hicieron para los que desconocen y conocen bien de la obra original, pero aquí toca más cosas de origen del personaje principal con una nueva historia, dando referencias a la versión animada.

La cosa que resulta malo aqui es el villano y que la historia llega a un cierto punto, olvidable, excepto en los minutos finales, que resulta importante. No entiendo por que mucha gente la catalogo como mala, quizás sea por que no resulto 100% fiel al contenido original ( mentalidad de mierda) o por que Scarlet Johanson es americana y no japonesa, excusas tontas sacadas de Rotten Tomatos.

Es una pelicula para entretenerse si les gusta la acción y el cyberpunk, y no es la única película que adaptan de una manga reconocido que resulta buena, veanse Old Boy o Al filo del mañana para que vean que esta industria se salva.… Expand

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5

RoballnApr 3, 2017

While it does hold good sci-fi features and some great action/futuristic visuals, on top of a real good acting by Scarlet Johansson, on average the film fails tu build up to its source material. As the film goes, some parts feel rather slowWhile it does hold good sci-fi features and some great action/futuristic visuals, on top of a real good acting by Scarlet Johansson, on average the film fails tu build up to its source material. As the film goes, some parts feel rather slow while others seem to be on a rush for the mere sake of moving the plot.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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6

CalumRhysUKApr 3, 2017

Visually, Rupert Sanders's adaptation of 'Ghost in the Shell' is stunning, featuring gorgeous cinematography and mind-blowing CGI, oh and of course Scarlett Johansson - but then there's EVERYTHING else about it.

Firstly, don't get me wrong,Visually, Rupert Sanders's adaptation of 'Ghost in the Shell' is stunning, featuring gorgeous cinematography and mind-blowing CGI, oh and of course Scarlett Johansson - but then there's EVERYTHING else about it.

Firstly, don't get me wrong, 'Ghost in the Shell' is far from a bad film, but equally it's far from being an excellent film, maybe just balancing above mediocre, and the reason for this is down to the clichéd and convoluted storyline, underdeveloped two-dimensional characters and lack of relation to its source material - but as I stated above, visually this film is a marvel. The original version of 'Ghost in the Shell' was one of the first anime films I ever had the chance to see, and whilst it does delve into the "weird" side of anime at parts, it is nonetheless an abstract piece of art and still stands the test of time as one of the finest anime films, however this will never come near that.

So what are the memorable qualities in this film? Um, there's, um... well there's Scarlett Johansson when she... um... yeah. Virtually nothing. It depicts a metropolitan future on an almost frightening note - but that's been done before time and time again. In this future, around 70% of humanity have cyborg-like alterations made to their body, and the general vistas of the city, whilst stunning, add an almost claustrophobic quality to them. Tight smothering streets, and enough fluorescent lights to make 'Blade Runner' jealous.

The story itself is rather straight forward, a woman is cybernetically-enhanced and forced to act as a weapon to prevent the occurrence of "terrorism" and "hacking", however along the way she begins to uncover more about her past and how she became the titular "ghost in the shell". But the problem is, this plot is clichéd to hell, and characters dash in and out of the story never having any real relevance within the movie's world, including the concluding villain (don't worry, no spoilers here). It tries to be smart, but just ends up convoluted and over-blown.

All-in-all it's a fair attempt at an adaptation, which is more than can be said for Sanders's film before. But it just falls short in too many places to really make its mark as a sci-fi great. If we were just there for the visuals, this film would be near-masterful, but that's not the case here.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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6

TropicalPaganApr 10, 2017

Its and entertaining movie with great visuals, but they managed to reduce a thought invoking anime into a mindless popcorn flick devoid of soul.

Johansson's incarnation is on point, if you ignore the obvious whitewashing of the character,Its and entertaining movie with great visuals, but they managed to reduce a thought invoking anime into a mindless popcorn flick devoid of soul.

Johansson's incarnation is on point, if you ignore the obvious whitewashing of the character, and the cheap excuse they give within the movie to justify it. Nevertheless she manages to present a cohesive character. The supporting cast is good too.

All in all, its an entertaining movie, though as I've stated before it lacks the philosophical nuances that made the original so endearing. It focuses on action to action a la Transformers… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

LucascastawayApr 14, 2017

Filme com um visual lindo, em algumas partes irritantes chega a ser ate irritante para o olho humano ( mais nao iterfere em nada a qualidade do filme ) cenas de a ação Boas
Mais não achei um dos melhores filmes que assisti Roteiro com algumasFilme com um visual lindo, em algumas partes irritantes chega a ser ate irritante para o olho humano ( mais nao iterfere em nada a qualidade do filme ) cenas de a ação Boas
Mais não achei um dos melhores filmes que assisti Roteiro com algumas falhas Emfim Nota 6.5… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

ron1971Jun 24, 2017

Considering the character look of the Ghost in the Shell animation I think it would have been better if they had gotten someone more generic lookin instead of Scarlet Johansson: she has a very unique distinct look that for me doesnt work.Considering the character look of the Ghost in the Shell animation I think it would have been better if they had gotten someone more generic lookin instead of Scarlet Johansson: she has a very unique distinct look that for me doesnt work. From what I have seen the acting of her is pretty solid but still she really doesnt look at all as the character in the animation even with the black hair the way they have modelled it in accordance with the animation character. In fact I dont even think the hairstyle fits with her face to be honest. Also her voice is too low. Furthermore in the animation she was externally a female but in the movie I dont know the scenes where you would see that she has some kind of suit covering the body or that is the body. The whole idea of a cyborg is to fool people into believing that she is a real human being and then externally it has to look like a normal human body. I saw 10 cloverfield lane and the actress in that movie Mary Elizabeth Winstead would way better fit the looks for the main character, sorry Scarlett. In addition the movie: it looks too over the top bombarding us with all these visuals so we dont even recognise it as taking place in our world. And in conclusion I think they should have left the original alone and instead of basically kind of having the same story, made a new movie from scratch like what has happened with stand alone complex. Or they should have made it into a sequel.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

wesker2012Mar 1, 2018

This movie captures the visual essence of the anime expertly and brings it to the big screen. Unfortunately, it turns the anime's thought-provoking content into an extremely simple, bland, and predictable plot/storyline. What we end up withThis movie captures the visual essence of the anime expertly and brings it to the big screen. Unfortunately, it turns the anime's thought-provoking content into an extremely simple, bland, and predictable plot/storyline. What we end up with is a generic, run of the mill sci fi action movie with cool visuals.… Expand