Average Bufph Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano
2017
In the near future, Major Mira Killian is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals.
I had mixed feelings about this adaptation of the beloved anime. While the visual effects were absolutely stunning and captured some of that cyberpunk atmosphere I love, the story felt somewhat hollow compared to the philosophical depth of the original. Scarlett Johansson did her best with the material, but the film seemed more focused on action sequences than exploring the deeper questions about identity and consciousness that make this genre so compelling.
The production design was impressive and you can see they put effort into creating that futuristic world, but it didn't quite reach the heights of films like Blade Runner 2049 in terms of meaningful storytelling. It's worth watching for the visuals if you're into sci-fi, but don't expect the mind-bending experience that The Matrix delivered.
I found 'Ghost in the Shell' to be a visually impressive adaptation that explores familiar themes of consciousness and identity in interesting ways. The film's cyberpunk aesthetic and philosophical questions about the nature of the soul in artificial bodies reminded me of elements I loved in 'Blade Runner 2049' and 'Ex Machina'. Scarlett Johansson delivers a compelling performance as Major, bringing both physical intensity and emotional vulnerability to the role.
While the film doesn't quite reach the intellectual depth of the original anime, I appreciated its exploration of memory manipulation and what makes us human. The action sequences were well-crafted, though I found myself more engaged by the quieter moments of self-discovery. The visual effects create a stunning futuristic world, even if the plot occasionally feels predictable. It's a solid entry in the cyberpunk genre that raises thought-provoking questions about technology and humanity.
