Ghost in the Shell

GHOST IN THE SHELL (12)

D: Rupert Sanders

Paramount/Dreamworks/Reliance (Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Steven Paul & Michael Costigan)

USA 🇺🇸 2017

106 mins

Action/Science Fiction

W: Jamie Moss, William Wheeler & Ehren Kruger [based on the graphic novel by Masamune Shirow]

DP: Jess Hall

Ed: Neil Smith & Billy Rich

Mus: Clint Mansell & Lorne Balfe

Scarlet Johansson (Major Mira Killian / Motoko Kusanagi), 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano (Chief Daisuke Aramaki), Michael Pitt (Kuze / Hideo), Pilou Asbæk (Batou), Juliette Binoche (Dr. Ouelet)

Based on a graphic novel which itself was made into a 1995 anime film (considered by many to be the best Manga movie of all time), this sci-fi action could almost be described as Frankenstein meets Blade Runner.

Set in a future where humans have robotic enhancements, Major Mira Killian becomes the first of her kind. A victim of a car accident, her brain is saved and placed in the body of a cyber-enhanced android soldier, owned by the government for the purposes of stopping the most dangerous criminals.

The film is very much style over substance, owing a rather large debt of gratitude to Blade Runner for its production design. Scarlet Johansson is very miscast in a role that really should have gone to an oriental actress and this was highlighted by the media and fans of the original source material.

The visual effects are decent and the music is particularly good, but it won't have much appeal to those who haven't seen or have no interest in the original film or comic book. Even those who are fans will prefer the 1990's version.

4/10