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2017 Film: Ghost In The Shell
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 [youtube.com], 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 [theguardian.com] as cultural appropriation [hollywoodreporter.com]. 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 [dailymail.co.uk] but, heh, it overshadows casting of the character Batou, who, like Gogol from Cyber City Oedo 808 [wikipedia.org], 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 [youtube.com] versus jumping from a building [youtube.com]. Or a fight in shallow water [youtube.com] versus a fight in shallow water [youtube.com]. The trailer's inclusion of a remix of Enjoy The Silence [wikipedia.org] 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 [tvtropes.org].
Where the rebirth sequence [youtube.com] differs from the animation [youtube.com] it more closely resembles the failed remake of Robocop [youtube.com]. (And both have hints of the 2012 Judge Dredd film [youtube.com]. For example, OCP's building [youtube.com] looks like the Justice Department building [youtube.com].) 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 [returnofkings.com] 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 [youtube.com] are equally indebted to Ghost in the Shell and the Proportions of Man [wikipedia.org].
