Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by janrinok on Saturday December 17 2016, @09:03AM   Printer-friendly
from the one-to-watch dept.

The 1995 hand-drawn anime version of Ghost in the Shell was, arguably, the high water mark for Eastern animation and was widely watched in grainy NTSC or PAL VHS; along with a few other favorites, such as Akira, Bubblegum Crisis and Dominion Tank Police. From the trailer, the Mar 2017 film, Ghost in the Shell, exceeds the animation while also being more Blade Runner than Blade Runner.

A remake could easily fall into the category of a shallow money-grab, like Dune, The Italian Job, Alfie or The Day the Earth Stood Still. Furthermore, the choice of Scarlett Johansson as Major Motoko Kusanagi has been described as cultural appropriation. I'm just disappointed that a lead actress was cast who, to me, looks like a less attractive, less successful sister of a celebrity. Admittedly, she does some of her own stunts but, heh, it overshadows casting of the character Batou, who, like Gogol from Cyber City Oedo 808, has cybernetic eyes and a determined certainty when his gun is drawn.

The trailer indicates that some of the best scenes have been matched or improved and it will be complete eye-candy in IMAX 3D. Compare jumping from a building versus jumping from a building. Or a fight in shallow water versus a fight in shallow water. The trailer's inclusion of a remix of Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode adds greatly to the dystopian mood. "Words like violence / Break the silence." However, "All I ever wanted / All I ever needed / Is here in my arms." jars against Major Motoko Kusanagi's untrusting dependence upon an evil corporation.

Where the rebirth sequence differs from the animation it more closely resembles the failed remake of Robocop. (And both have hints of the 2012 Judge Dredd film. For example, OCP's building looks like the Justice Department building.) The Ghost in the Shell film appears to have some lesbianism. Does this follow the manga or is this more befitting of Tromeo and Juliet? I don't know. Unfortunately, the Ghost in the Shell film also seems to have strand of emo angsty existentialism; much like the deeply unsatisfying Jason Bourne films.

Despite the poor casting and thin plot elements, Ghost in the Shell will be the kinda dumb effects extravaganza that I enjoy. Furthermore, it is likely to be hugely culturally influential. For example, the creepy mannequins in the circular frames from the Westworld television series are equally indebted to Ghost in the Shell and the Proportions of Man.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @10:32AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @10:32AM (#442406)

    I have the hots for Scarlett.

    I don't mind her acting, or looks if we're getting into that, but I just don't feel like she was the right person for the role. I will admit I'm not a hardcore fan so my judgement means nothing but it's my opinion nonetheless.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @01:23PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @01:23PM (#442421)

    There have been a lot of complains already that the casting is quite poor, Aramaki could be an exception, Motoko is a bit off, but personally I'm a bit more worried about Batou.

    First, his eyes. They made them sticking a bit too much out, making it look a bit weird.
    Movie: http://empireonline.media/jpg/70/0/0/640/480/aspectfit/0/0/0/0/0/0/c/features/582aeb3a737b36a418464d36/ghost-in-the-shell-pilou-asbaek-batou.jpg [empireonline.media]
    Animated: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batou#/media/File:Ghost_in_the_Shell_Stand_Alone_Complex_Batou.png [wikipedia.org]

    Second, Batou in the Manga and Movie is IMHO more of a big, tall guy (but trained, so he has muscles), but not a full blown body builder (as I get the impression of the movie footage).

    I do hope they get Batou doing some of the humor that he is known for in the manga (which was a bit lacking in the animated movie as well). That, and I hope for some Tachikomas (even if it is just some cameo).

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @04:01PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 17 2016, @04:01PM (#442451)

    She was pretty good as the alien in Under the Skin. [youtube.com]
    She was also very nude in a completely asexual way.

    I wouldn't be surprised if that movie is what put her in consideration for GITS.