Ghost in the Shell

9

JoseonOneApr 2, 2017

This live action adaptation stays true to the spirit of the original anime film. While it doesn't quite reach the thematic depths of the original, it does explore them, albeit in a more visual fashion. Scarlett Johansson was excellent in theThis live action adaptation stays true to the spirit of the original anime film. While it doesn't quite reach the thematic depths of the original, it does explore them, albeit in a more visual fashion. Scarlett Johansson was excellent in the lead role. She captures the essence of the character, really going all in. She has the acting chops to convey thoughts and emotion with just her facial expressions and nuanced body language. If you are not paying attention, you can easily miss them. The supporting cast was generally pretty good, especially Pilou Asbaek as Batou and Takeshi Kitano as Aramaki.

I have to take issue with some of the reviewers. Pretty much everyone consistently lauds the film's visuals, it's a gorgeous film. The costumes were spot on and the score was excellent. So even if you did not like the film, and it sounds like it is mostly because it is lacking some of the thematic heft of the original, on the positives alone, it is not a 0 to 3. That just does not make any logical sense. A movie has multiple elements, and these are motion pictures after all, so why not give a film its due for its visuals.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

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2

JeffRegendApr 2, 2017

Incredibly shallow. All the meaningful questions raised by the source material don't even so much as show up. With source material that asked things like 'how much can you change before what's left isn't the same as what you started with', orIncredibly shallow. All the meaningful questions raised by the source material don't even so much as show up. With source material that asked things like 'how much can you change before what's left isn't the same as what you started with', or 'what can you trust if you give away control of your senses', this movie somehow turned that into a by the numbers, get revenge on the one dimensional bad guy, sci-fi action flick. It had a great coat of paint but absolutely zero substance. I can't fault the actors for this however. It's plainly obvious they did what they could with an atrocious script. Whether this is because the creators the film thought audiences would be to stupid to understand the concepts laid out in the original or if the script writers and producers didn't understand it themselves is questionable, although I'm inclined to say both as even when the film attempted to pay lip service to it's source it managed totally botch the message, at times delivering the exact opposite. Very disappointing, a puddle deep sci-fi action flick that simply used the Ghost in the Shell name and nothing more.… Expand

8 of 18 users found this helpful810

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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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10

Critic4LifeApr 2, 2017

This movie is best anime adaptation movie created on these day. I hope this movie will boost a franchise and in next parts, side characters will be explored more. Because the potential of this universe is enormous and this movie as a "startThis movie is best anime adaptation movie created on these day. I hope this movie will boost a franchise and in next parts, side characters will be explored more. Because the potential of this universe is enormous and this movie as a "start of exploring" this universe is working really well. Also I've got to mention visual effects - these are the best visual effects I've seen in a long time. All fears about Scarlett Johansson as Motoko can be dropped, because SJ nailed that role and authors did a genius twist about her origin. So... as for conclusion I can definately say that what authors archived is: Visual implementation of 22-year anime beauty into modern standards and one step forward of Japanese culture spirit implementation in Hollywood.… Expand

7 of 12 users found this helpful75

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2

Yanko_BApr 1, 2017

The biggest flaw of modern's adaptation films is the lack of respect towards the fundamental esence of the movies; Ghost in the shell is the quintessential example of how bad can you screw up franchises by selling us fake dreams. TheThe biggest flaw of modern's adaptation films is the lack of respect towards the fundamental esence of the movies; Ghost in the shell is the quintessential example of how bad can you screw up franchises by selling us fake dreams. The tolerability I had for this movie broke in the very first minutes of the film; The script is very weak in terms of carisma, the name "ghost in the shell" could be pretty much removed and I wouldn't notice the difference between a Michael Bay's, Jacob Gentry's or Wachowski's film. In terms of direction we have this weird fusion of action driven play that don't don't developes the plot at all, but even worse, before and after that we have moments of very brief scenes of Mamoru Oshii's GITS (1993) contemplative shots that miss the point of reflection towards humanity and machines, existence and self. The dialogues are probably the worst thing at all, filled with cliche phrases like "They created me. But they can not control me" and "They did not save your life. They stole it", didn't took the time to develop the meaning of "ghost", wich term is crucial to understand the film. We get a glimpse of some of the members of sector 9 team, for like 30 to 60 seconds of screen time of Togusa, Saitou, Ishikawa and Borma (Hell, I recall seing Ishikawa for 5 seconds before the movie was over when I totally forgot about him). The director just smashed whatever was in his mind when seeing the movie and removed the complexity of the play just to make it more accesible, but obviosly, was still flawed in its delivery.… Expand

6 of 17 users found this helpful611

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10

CheneygramApr 1, 2017

Honestly I loved it! When an anime has alot of information to cover they need to simplify it so people can actually understand it and not be confused the whole time. Also they have to have it fit in a reasonable time. I feel GITS did justHonestly I loved it! When an anime has alot of information to cover they need to simplify it so people can actually understand it and not be confused the whole time. Also they have to have it fit in a reasonable time. I feel GITS did just this. They changed the main story and I was still happy. Im a big fan of the anime movies and series, and loved the direction they went for this movie. Plus the CGI was **** amaze.… Expand

7 of 14 users found this helpful77

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9

zergiioblu123Apr 1, 2017

la película es gran mente grandiosa de los mejores CGI hasta este momento del cine, la historia es lo mismo pero no es igual a la del anime su único fallo es que su desenlace es muy rápido y no tan profundo como debería ser

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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10

domyalexApr 1, 2017

I loved the original anime and loved this movie as well. Very well done, great acting and gorgeous visuals. Ignore the so-called "experts": go watch it and enjoy it.

8 of 13 users found this helpful85

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7

SquaredRenMar 31, 2017

This movie is a little dumbed down from the original, it does played safe for newcomers to the franchise...it's not perfect, but still I enjoyed it. It's a good movie so go out try it & support it if you can.

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

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7

cachi01Apr 1, 2017

Maybe not as good as the original, but it's still a damn fun watch and clearly a love letter to the series. The Major might be written quite different from her previous appearances but she is still an interesting character.

10 of 11 users found this helpful101

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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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7

ZerpnosApr 1, 2017

Animesinden çok az farklarla işlenmiş ve ortaya görsellik ve bilimkurgu adına çok güzel şeyler çıkmış. Daha önce animesini izlemeden, filme gelenlerin fazla anlayacağını sanmıyorum. Yine başlangıç filmi olarak, anlaşılır detaylarla işlenmişAnimesinden çok az farklarla işlenmiş ve ortaya görsellik ve bilimkurgu adına çok güzel şeyler çıkmış. Daha önce animesini izlemeden, filme gelenlerin fazla anlayacağını sanmıyorum. Yine başlangıç filmi olarak, anlaşılır detaylarla işlenmiş fakat sinema çıkışında "Çok sıkıcıydı, anlamadım" tarzı şeyler duydum. Scarlett'ın performansı gerçekten muazzamdı. Rolünü çok iyi yapıp ortaya çok güzel bir oyunculuk çıkarmış, tebrik ediyorum kendisini. İzleyiciyi sıkmayan, animesine oranla daha fazla aksiyon barındıran bu felsefi, bilim kurgu filmini beğendiğimi ve iyi olarak değerlendirebileceğimi düşünüyorum. Paranıza değecek bir film olmuş, gidin ve keyfini çıkarın.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

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10

wolf-mvpApr 1, 2017

I was afraid that the film would be turned over, thank God I was wrong. Better manga/anime adaptation ever. Waiting for continue =)))))
10 Tachikoms/10

9 of 14 users found this helpful95

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10

EdNamelessApr 1, 2017

It's impossible to create better adaptation for non-anime-lovers audience.
Sometimes I just wanted to stop the movie and explore through the picture, so many details, so much tension.

10 of 14 users found this helpful104

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10

AerostatApr 1, 2017

After reading such middling reviews and being doubtful as to the viability of pulling off this imagining of such a classic franchise, I can only say I was left gobsmacked. Everything worked, every change suited the medium and I felt as IAfter reading such middling reviews and being doubtful as to the viability of pulling off this imagining of such a classic franchise, I can only say I was left gobsmacked. Everything worked, every change suited the medium and I felt as I did after seeing the original animation. The audio visual masterclass is paced and explored perfectly and it's one of the most satisfying movies I've enjoyed in a time. It knows it is beholden to the unrealistic expectations of certain types of fans/critics but it brushes them aside in a studiously respectful piece of thought provoking entertainment. The Kenji Kawai epic reprise during the credits sealed the deal. This is top tier.… Expand

8 of 11 users found this helpful83

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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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8

Fritzio711Apr 1, 2017

I went into this film thinking that I was going to hate it because I do not like Scarlett Johannson, But I didn't I bloody loved this film.

Scarlett Johannson as Motoko was really good, she felt like Motoko and Pilou Asbæk as Batou wasI went into this film thinking that I was going to hate it because I do not like Scarlett Johannson, But I didn't I bloody loved this film.

Scarlett Johannson as Motoko was really good, she felt like Motoko and Pilou Asbæk as Batou was amazing the attention to detail how Batou has a love for basset hounds Is In this film, every time The Major gets undressed how he feels uncomfortable is in this film, There is so many recreation scenes from the anime in this, How Motoko has a Gender Identity disorder is in this film. This film tries to fix the problem that Ghost In the Shell had in the original It gives more of an inside look at the origin of everything and Motoko, It recaptures GITS so well it's ridiculous. I don't think it's perfect It does have some problems/flaws but It is still a solid film I wanted a recreation the best that I could get and I got It this is it. Please watch the anime before going In as this is not just an action film, there is action, but this film is more about a story and character interaction when it builds up it builds up, but for some, they will think it's boring when it isn't it's trying to tell the story through heavy dialogue as so did it with the original It wasn't all just action Don't listen to the critics as most of them don't know jack **** about anime this is not a film that you review as a normal movie, So if you haven't watched the anime don't watch it at all.… Expand

10 of 12 users found this helpful102

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7

EmphaticApr 1, 2017

I think all the nonsense about whitewashing is over blown, this movie does its best to capture the spirit and tone of the original, controversy aside I very much thought this movie did its best to pay homage to the original while makingI think all the nonsense about whitewashing is over blown, this movie does its best to capture the spirit and tone of the original, controversy aside I very much thought this movie did its best to pay homage to the original while making something new and fresh.… Expand

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

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10

QldgamerMar 31, 2017

This is a fantastic movie. Great plot and special fx. A great use of the known movies and series. It tkes the ideas to a different place from the anime, being what makes us human.

9 of 14 users found this helpful95

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9

NerobiancoMar 31, 2017

With stunning visuals and presentation, Ghost In The Shell tries to recreate the franchise onto the the big screen. It is very digestable and filled with iconic scenes, depicted in a very accurate way. The story isn't as deep as some peopleWith stunning visuals and presentation, Ghost In The Shell tries to recreate the franchise onto the the big screen. It is very digestable and filled with iconic scenes, depicted in a very accurate way. The story isn't as deep as some people expected, but it's logical and easy to follow. A good introduction to the franchise. I feel like the biggest crime of the movie, is the fact that it exists. Unsatable expectations of rabid fans aren't met, but as its own thing, the movie delivers with greatly crafted details.… Expand

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

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0

veganoxMar 31, 2017

All style and no substance. Dumbed down from the original to accommodate the masses. Random slathering of scenes taken from the original with none of the plot importance attached. It is a visually stunning movie. It's plot is better thanAll style and no substance. Dumbed down from the original to accommodate the masses. Random slathering of scenes taken from the original with none of the plot importance attached. It is a visually stunning movie. It's plot is better than Dragonball: Evolution. But I'd rather gouge my eyes out than watch that abortion of a movie, so that's not really praiseworthy.… Expand

20 of 67 users found this helpful2047

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10

SirusMar 31, 2017

After being a fan of GITS and watching this movie, I really enjoyed the live action GITS. To the ignorant, there is no white washing of this movie, in the original source material, the Major preferred a Caucasian cybernetic body over an AsianAfter being a fan of GITS and watching this movie, I really enjoyed the live action GITS. To the ignorant, there is no white washing of this movie, in the original source material, the Major preferred a Caucasian cybernetic body over an Asian body. To think that she would be Asian based off her name and location is itself racist. That's like saying only white people can be in American moves or only black people can be in African movies.

Back to the movie, the visuals are stunning, and it uses a lot of the source material, but it's not completely restricted to it, the movie does take some liberties with the story, which is common in all movie adaptations. If you like GITS or you enjoy a good Sci-Fi movie, this one should be on your list.… Expand

9 of 14 users found this helpful95

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10

ShadowareMar 31, 2017

I absolutely enjoyed this Movie, like the Animes before :) For sure we could battle for hours about the pros and cons, but honestly?: Dont like the movie? Than dont watch it again.
I will :P

10 of 15 users found this helpful105

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8

magicman66Mar 31, 2017

Ghost in the Shell is a visually stunning and action packed movie that keeps you entertained the entire time. I went into this movie with my expectations quite low but I walked out of the theater blown away. The visual effects and overallGhost in the Shell is a visually stunning and action packed movie that keeps you entertained the entire time. I went into this movie with my expectations quite low but I walked out of the theater blown away. The visual effects and overall atmosphere of the movie was truly breathtaking and it was one of the few movies that I actually enjoyed seeing in 3D. The action in this movie is amazing; although not as graphic as it could have been if it was rated R, it was still very good. I enjoyed the characters and found them to be interesting, although maybe not as much as in the original Anime movie. Overall this is a great action movie, with some of the best visuals in a movie.… Expand

10 of 13 users found this helpful103

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8

marcmyworksMar 31, 2017

The critics have been hard on this film, especially the casting of Scarlett Johansson as the Major. Some of her characterizations were authentic to the original Anime character, but her range as an actress did not always convey this well.The critics have been hard on this film, especially the casting of Scarlett Johansson as the Major. Some of her characterizations were authentic to the original Anime character, but her range as an actress did not always convey this well. Overall I thought the film was beautifully shot and gorgeously rendered with the CGI. This film really is stylized as the American remake of the 1995 original film, only with the characters being more fleshed out. The script is not the strongest out there, but it is a good film with potential to trend even more Anime/Manga films made live action.… Expand

11 of 13 users found this helpful112

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3

budspencer2012Mar 31, 2017

I just came back from it. It's really disappointing compared to the anime. I was not expecting a frame to frame remake of the anime but man it was not enjoyable to watch. The story is bland and very cliche. The visuals are there, the city isI just came back from it. It's really disappointing compared to the anime. I was not expecting a frame to frame remake of the anime but man it was not enjoyable to watch. The story is bland and very cliche. The visuals are there, the city is beautiful but there is no sense of life to it. It feels sterile and dead. The supporting characters are under developed. The movie has a big lull in the middle where everything slows down to a crawl. The movie cannot find its feet properly. What made things great for the anime were washed away and replaced with predictable and 1 dimensional villain/situations. It's like one of the bad episodes in the anime series. I hope it does good money and i hope to see a sequel but man they will have to ramp up to a way better story than what we just got. As a first time person getting your Ghost in the shell cherry taken, you might enjoy this. As somewhat hardcore fans, you will go meh!… Expand

2 of 16 users found this helpful214

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9

jbrock11Mar 31, 2017

Let me preface this by saying I haven't read the manga but I've watched all GitS animes except for the Arise series. With that said this was a great movie that 100% honors the franchise. Even as a stand alone movie ( no pun intended ) it wasLet me preface this by saying I haven't read the manga but I've watched all GitS animes except for the Arise series. With that said this was a great movie that 100% honors the franchise. Even as a stand alone movie ( no pun intended ) it was great. Don't want this to be too long of a write up because I'm on my phone but I'll do some pros & cons.

Pros:

* The world - GitS comes to life in this movie. I've never seen another anime/comic series even come close to matching what this movie does.

* Character building - This is also a con but I'll get to that later. I think Major's character is actually better in this movie than the anime. No she's not quite as bad ass as the anime but I felt more connected to her than I did at any point in the original movie or SAC. ScarJo did a great job. Batou, Kuze and Aramaki were also very well done. Batou is basically a 1 for 1 Batou from the anime. Kuze is very similar to his character from SAC as far as his story arc and Aramaki actually has the most bad ass scene in the movie imo. I'll let you guys see that for yourself.

* Iconic moments - A LOT of scenes were taken from the original movie, Innocence and SAC. Pretty much all of them were what you'd hope for and for people that are familiar with the series it's a nice touch for fans.

* Action - A lot of cool little action sequences and two pretty memorable ones at least for me. Don't want to spoil anything but like I mentioned before the Aramaki scene was bad ass and the other is a scene from the original movie.

* Emotion - To hell with reviews saying this movie has no "soul" or whatever. This is completely false or either these people didn't see the same movie I did. While she is a little different than in the animes, this movie does a great job of connecting you to Major and there were some moment where I genuinely got a little teary eyed.

* The score - While there was no Kenji Kawai or Yoko Kanno, Clint Mansell did an awesome job. Whenever I heard they didn't get any of the original composers I thought we'd get the basic generic Hollywood sci-fi music but Mansell does an awesome job of complementing the world and the visuals. Genuinely haunting at times.

Cons:

* Pacing at the beginning - The pace is a little weird/slow in the beginning as the story seems to be jumping all over the place without time to digest what just happened in the scene before. Luckily this goes away about 30 minutes or so into the movie.

* Character building - While they did a great job with all those I mentioned above, the rest of Section 9 were pretty much after thoughts. Maybe even less than that. I think the movie should have been a little longer so they could properly introduce those characters as I think they would have only added to what was already a great world.

* Nitpicking - There are little things throughout the movie I wished they done better but I don't even know if I would even necescarilly classify them as cons. They could have just done a few simple things better and got greater effect out some of the pivotal scenes. I'll point them out but I dont want to give them away. You guys will probably be able to spot what I'm referring to.

1. The opening
2. The boat scene
3. The ending battle and follow up
4. The hacking scene

Summary:

While it's not a 1 for 1 recreation of the original which some maybe hoped for it does a great job of honoring the spirit of the GitS franchise. It's not as philosophical as the original but it does hit on the same themes and does a better job of connecting you to the main characters. There will be moments that will really effect you on an emotional level. Long story short don't believe all these reviews out there saying the movie is terrible, it's anything but that.

Rating: A- 9/10… Expand

10 of 16 users found this helpful106

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9

MckaosMar 31, 2017

I think this is one of those times where you have to not compare it to the old series, and realize the time and effort and amazing quality of this film, over anything else. Critics are, well, critical. They only take away points from a movieI think this is one of those times where you have to not compare it to the old series, and realize the time and effort and amazing quality of this film, over anything else. Critics are, well, critical. They only take away points from a movie when they count up the flaws, and don't add back points for the goodies. This movie is a pure joy to watch, me knowing of the series, but only ever watching the original film, i was completely awed by the amazing visuals, fight scenes soundtrack etc. The only reason i give this movie a 9 and not a 10, is because the story was not exactly the same, and seemed dumbed down for the audience, though that didn't make it any easier to follow than what the original did. This movie is a must watch for those who love visuals and music, and especially those who love anime. Being a fan of video games and anime surely helps my review, but even all my friends and family who have never heard of it before, loved it and compared it with Blade Runner and such, giving it scores usually around 8. Please do yourself a favor and watch this movie, i don't think it deserves all the negative reviews it's getting.… Expand

11 of 15 users found this helpful114

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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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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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10

evillhobbesMar 31, 2017

A fantastic and beautiful story set in the future about the merge between humans and artificial intelligence. A 'must watch' for anime fans of the 90's movie.

10 of 15 users found this helpful105

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10

elediMar 31, 2017

I really enjoyed the movie to be honest. It's something new but also something from the original. You've got nothing to lose here really, you should go see it.

10 of 17 users found this helpful107

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3

portmanteauMar 31, 2017

beautiful art direction, stilted dialogue, absurd truncated editing and characterisation. All in all, a bit of a train wreck as a film/story. Not remotely engaging, lack lustre action. All the gloss, none of the substance. What a shame.

8 of 22 users found this helpful814

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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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9

BinSenseiMar 31, 2017

This movie was the dystopian cyberpunk Sci-fi movie that I've always wanted. Critics don't know what they are talking about. The casting controversy was unfortunate but ScarJo did a really good job as The Major so I'm not even mad. Plus theThis movie was the dystopian cyberpunk Sci-fi movie that I've always wanted. Critics don't know what they are talking about. The casting controversy was unfortunate but ScarJo did a really good job as The Major so I'm not even mad. Plus the visual effects are just WOW.… Expand

11 of 16 users found this helpful115

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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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10

AceTrigger94Mar 31, 2017

Whitewashing problem aside, the fact that this movie managed to recreate the gorgeous visuals of the anime almost perfectly deserved a 10 rating in my book. Also, you can't expect it to be deep & thoughtful like the anime. It's a HollywoodWhitewashing problem aside, the fact that this movie managed to recreate the gorgeous visuals of the anime almost perfectly deserved a 10 rating in my book. Also, you can't expect it to be deep & thoughtful like the anime. It's a Hollywood adaptation for crying out loud. But for a Hollywood adaptation, they did a pretty damn good job. Kudos to all the visual effects people!… Expand

13 of 16 users found this helpful133

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8

J227BRMar 31, 2017

Very good adaptation, excellent visuals, good acting, great score, respectful to the manga/anime,exciting, even though the script needed some work its still rather good

18 of 27 users found this helpful189

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7

moebius_risingMar 31, 2017

Wasn't even going to see this movie, but SJW's started complaining, so there must have been something good going for it. Excellent action, cinematography, pacing, and way beyond my expectations. Would recommend.

11 of 15 users found this helpful114

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9

PsychopompadourMar 31, 2017

Read a ton of reviews before going to see and was pleasantly surprised. Feel like this is the best they could have done in the Hollywood system. I had a great time. I could tell that it was made with love.

20 of 29 users found this helpful209

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2

GraileonMar 31, 2017

Where to start? Lets start with the VERY FEW good things. The movie is pretty. The Effects and Scenes are fantastic visually. That's about it for the GOOD. As a hardcore Ghost in the Shell Fan, I am horrendously appalled with this beingWhere to start? Lets start with the VERY FEW good things. The movie is pretty. The Effects and Scenes are fantastic visually. That's about it for the GOOD. As a hardcore Ghost in the Shell Fan, I am horrendously appalled with this being called Ghost in the Shell. There are clear MOMENTS where they seem to follow the story but they failed at trying to follow any bit of the Original Story. The notable scenes that scream to GitS fans are from all manner of points within the history of the Anime/Manga and not one full coherent story arc. Hollywood yet again takes liberties in the story to add elements that aren't even supposed to be there to try to justify how they wrote this monumental failure. I refuse to put in spoilers but it is obvious that this is more of Futuristic Cyberpunk Movie based loosely on Ghost in the Shell, for the general consumer with little to no knowledge of the Manga/Anime. This film would have been something decent had the character names been changed and been named something else entirely. If you are going to make a Ghost in the Shell movie, make one with one of the ample story lines available and stick to it. I won't even touch the casting or character portrayals in this film because the casting is mired in controversy that I want no part of and the Portrayals, while not necessarily on point, they weren't as bad as they could have been. Overall, if you don't know and or care about Ghost in the Shell pre-Hollywood movie you might love and enjoy this, but for any real GitS fans out there this is a bitter disappointment that reeks of a failure that will devastate any hopes we have for a real Ghost in the Shell live action ever to come into existence.… Expand

4 of 21 users found this helpful417

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7

octogonpcMar 31, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. SPOILER ALERT: This is mostly a live action translation of the original GITS, even in how the scenes are setup and shot. That said, I enjoyed the movie, especially after the 15 minute intro. This could have been EPIC, however like Ep. VII, they played it safe, and SAFE can be boring at times. The 3D wasn't as phenomenal as it could have been (like the accompanying GOTG Vol. 2 Trailer), but it was fair. Lastly, this movie needed a better score, however the Anime Theme does come, eventually.… Expand

9 of 10 users found this helpful91

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8

Greeney22_Mar 31, 2017

Ghost in the Shell had fun action but it's story could get a bit muddled at times. The first two acts were great, but a love story emerged in the final third which didn't make sense for Major's character. Lots of Fanservice kept me happyGhost in the Shell had fun action but it's story could get a bit muddled at times. The first two acts were great, but a love story emerged in the final third which didn't make sense for Major's character. Lots of Fanservice kept me happy while the action didn't feel repetitive but fresh each time. Good time Popcorn flick all round… Expand

10 of 12 users found this helpful102

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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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10

dannygardsMar 31, 2017

As a GiTS fan I went into the screening with zero expectation given previous live action re-makes I have seen (Fist of the North Star anyone?!). But too my surprise I have to say It was actually very good. The world is outstanding – BladeAs a GiTS fan I went into the screening with zero expectation given previous live action re-makes I have seen (Fist of the North Star anyone?!). But too my surprise I have to say It was actually very good. The world is outstanding – Blade Runner will struggle to top it. ScarJo does an excellent job as the Major and the character is developed in a way that is possibly better than in the original. Action scenes as you would expect are excellent (Many taken directly from original film). Now, the story itself - I suspect this is the area that will divide many people. I can accept that they had to streamline and "dumb down" many elements/themes. In all reality if they had stayed faithful to the anime this could have become 3 hour box office bomb. I expect the filmmakers had many Hollywood compromises they had to make (running length, x-amount of action, accessibility to a new audience) and all in all I think they have found a good balance. I had realistic expectation in this regard, however I can appreciate there will be a certain sections within the fan base who will be unable to accept the compromises. So in conclusion, taking the film for what it is – A Hollywood version of GiTS I thought it was excellent, better than I ever expected.… Expand

19 of 30 users found this helpful1911

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3

TRPandaMar 31, 2017

There's only one word that can describe this movie, boring. This movie is a bore from start to finish, and not because of a lack of action, but because of a lack of anything meaningful actually ever happening. From the get go we areThere's only one word that can describe this movie, boring. This movie is a bore from start to finish, and not because of a lack of action, but because of a lack of anything meaningful actually ever happening. From the get go we are introduced to the "Major" (Scarlett Johansson), a robot with a human brain; which is intriguing. And to be honest, the premise of this film is really intriguing. Except, the execution of this premise is crap. How the hell can the future where everyone is cybernetically enhanced be boring? Congrats to the film makers for making it so. Every other shot in this movie is a shot of the futuristic city that the movie takes place in, which is cool, for a bit. Then it just becomes annoying. It's like the film makers know that it's boring so they show a cool city scape to distract people, but it doesn't work. The action is also crap. I'm not going to pretend I know much about the original anime from 1995, but I've seen clips of the action in preparation for watching this movie, and I was super hyped for the cool, stylised action. But no. The action sequences are short, lackluster and half of the time action is just skipped. There's a scene were Johansson escapes a building; and we see her take out two or three guys then it cuts to her having escaped. I wanted to see her take out an entire buildings worth of security! And then there's a scene with Batou (Pilou Asbaek) where some guys come to kill him, and before the action starts, it cuts to a scene of him driving away in his car! Why can't we see him kickass? He was a cool badass character and you skip the one action scene he has on his own! There's also a scene where Johansson has to take on a Spider-tank. I thought "this might actually get interesting" but no. She just shoots it a bunch until it dies; much like a Destiny boss - boring. And then there's the villain, or should I say villains? The first time we meet the first villain (minor spoilers ahead) he dumps a truck load of exposition and then ceases to be the villain. Then the movie adds a new villain (who granted is in the beginning of the movie, but is just shown to be a bit of a dick) who has absolutely zero set up. He's just bad because he runs a company. And his end has absolutely zero payoff because he had no set up. Overall, I get the sense that this should've been a series of films, in order to set up all of the characters, especially the villains. I'm very disappointed with this film, but his has intrigued me to go ahead and watch the orignal. 3/10… Expand

3 of 19 users found this helpful316

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10

AdamJensen77Mar 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

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7

LamontRaymondMar 31, 2017

Absolutely worth seeing. I'm not the biggest ScarJo fan, but she is awesome in this. The visuals are pretty amazing - the first 3D movie in a while that I was impressed with. Pretty solid action, as well.

12 of 14 users found this helpful122

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8

HassenIjouMar 31, 2017

Despite some plot related problems and its weak phisophical implication, Ghost In The Shell is a solid adaptation of the universe created by masamune shirow.

25 of 39 users found this helpful2514

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7

kressnikMar 31, 2017

Visually stunning movie, with some minor storytelling problems.
I haven't watched the original so can't tell how different this one is in terms of plot, but I have a feeling it was dumbed down a bit, happily not to a point where you feel likeVisually stunning movie, with some minor storytelling problems.
I haven't watched the original so can't tell how different this one is in terms of plot, but I have a feeling it was dumbed down a bit, happily not to a point where you feel like they treat you like a complete idiot.… Expand

21 of 31 users found this helpful2110

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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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Ghost in the Shell

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