Ghost in the Shell
Year: 2017
Director: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Pilou Asbæk, Michael Cameron Pitt, Scarlett Johansson & Beat Takeshi
Runtime: 107 mins
BBFC: 12
Published: 03/12/21
Director: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Pilou Asbæk, Michael Cameron Pitt, Scarlett Johansson & Beat Takeshi
Runtime: 107 mins
BBFC: 12
Published: 03/12/21
Whilst my opinion of the 1995 Ghost in the Shell changes by the viewing, I do endlessly admire the philosophical quandaries posed by the questions in the film. But being one of the most highly regarded anime’s of all time, it was only a waiting game to see when Hollywood would want their grubby little paws on it. I was actually quite excited to see Ghost in the Shell’s live action remake as I thought the trailers looked fantastic, and I remember leaving the film feeling as though it was better than the original. Though I of course wasn’t allowed to vocalise that opinion because the internet is a horrible place and liking a remake of a beloved classic is something you’re not allowed to do. But it’s taken me a long time to return to the 2017 film for a re-evaluation of my thoughts. Was I right in thinking it was better, or much like the 1995 film do my opinions change with every viewing?
In the near future almost all of humanity has voluntarily augmented themselves with cybernetic technology leaving very few pure humans left. Cybernetics manufacturer Hanka develops a secret project that allows a human brain to be placed inside a totally mechanical body, therefore creating the perfect combination of organic and synthetic material. Being the sole survivor of a cyber-terrorism attack, but with a body damaged beyond repair, Mira Killian (Scarlett Johansson) is chosen to be the project’s test subject.
One year later and Killian goes by the rank of Major under Section 9, a government counter-cyberterrorist organisation. After encountering a new cyber-terrorist by the name of Kuze (Michael Cameron Pitt), Major digs deep into the secretive project that brought her back from the dead in the hopes of finding answers about Kuze.
In the near future almost all of humanity has voluntarily augmented themselves with cybernetic technology leaving very few pure humans left. Cybernetics manufacturer Hanka develops a secret project that allows a human brain to be placed inside a totally mechanical body, therefore creating the perfect combination of organic and synthetic material. Being the sole survivor of a cyber-terrorism attack, but with a body damaged beyond repair, Mira Killian (Scarlett Johansson) is chosen to be the project’s test subject.
One year later and Killian goes by the rank of Major under Section 9, a government counter-cyberterrorist organisation. After encountering a new cyber-terrorist by the name of Kuze (Michael Cameron Pitt), Major digs deep into the secretive project that brought her back from the dead in the hopes of finding answers about Kuze.
The live action Ghost in the Shell has a very different story to the 1995 film, though both tackle very similar issues, and a lot of the same events play out in both films. It’s almost like the filmmakers copied the original verbatim and then just changed a couple of names and shifted things around a bit to make it seem like an original story. As such watching it so shortly after the original film as I did actually kind of confused me because the story is both very different and very similar at the same time.
What I do like about the way the 2017 film approaches the story, in contrast to the 1995 film, is that what is happening is much more clearly communicated. It’s not dumbed down as some critics of the film might claim, because the themes present are just as complex, it just utilises dialogue that better explains what’s happening, and frames events differently to communicate the story more effectively. Understanding the why of what is happening is much easier to grasp in this version of the film as a result.
I also like that it makes a much more conceited effort to make the characters…well, characters. They explore people’s backstories this time around and are given more depth than just spouting philosophical nonsense any time they aren’t in combat. It makes them feel more like human beings, at least in the mind, which after all everyone still is.
What I don’t like about the story is that things are made considerably too PG-13, and thereby watering down the complexity of the philosophical themes present. Ghost in the Shell is heavy stuff, and it’s meant for adults. Now whilst I can understand toning down the graphic violence, language, and nudity from the original version to allow for a PG-13 rating and thereby a larger audience, I didn’t expect that to apply to the themes of the story too. This aspect of things was less dumbed down and more just side-lined. It’s all touched upon, but in shallower ways than even the 1995 film did, which that I even criticised for not spending enough time exploring these ideas of identity and humanity properly.
The film does look fantastic though. A number of sequences have been lifted directly from the 1995 film but considering the expanded length and scope of this 2017 film there’s also a lot of new content. It’s frankly gorgeous with a gritty Blade Runner aesthetic to it. The wealthy areas higher up are clean and shiny with the lower to the ground you get becoming more and more like slums.
The fight choreography is also impressive, once again evocative of the original film; and combine this with some generally strong performances from the cast and you’ll be hard pressed not to have a good time with the film regardless of your opinions on the story.
But 2017’s Ghost in the Shell does feel like an imitation of the 1995 original. It’s not a copy, it’s not original, it just picks and chooses what it thinks looks cool and then runs with that. The complex themes of the story get lost under a more family friendly approach and considering that’s what you really want to watch Ghost in the Shell for then it begs the question of why bother with the 2017 version.
I would say if you’re new to Ghost in the Shell then the live action version is a good starting point because it does a very good job at explaining the world of the film and the characters who inhabit it. But the 1995 original is what provides the political and philosophical complexities necessary to make the story truly special.
What I do like about the way the 2017 film approaches the story, in contrast to the 1995 film, is that what is happening is much more clearly communicated. It’s not dumbed down as some critics of the film might claim, because the themes present are just as complex, it just utilises dialogue that better explains what’s happening, and frames events differently to communicate the story more effectively. Understanding the why of what is happening is much easier to grasp in this version of the film as a result.
I also like that it makes a much more conceited effort to make the characters…well, characters. They explore people’s backstories this time around and are given more depth than just spouting philosophical nonsense any time they aren’t in combat. It makes them feel more like human beings, at least in the mind, which after all everyone still is.
What I don’t like about the story is that things are made considerably too PG-13, and thereby watering down the complexity of the philosophical themes present. Ghost in the Shell is heavy stuff, and it’s meant for adults. Now whilst I can understand toning down the graphic violence, language, and nudity from the original version to allow for a PG-13 rating and thereby a larger audience, I didn’t expect that to apply to the themes of the story too. This aspect of things was less dumbed down and more just side-lined. It’s all touched upon, but in shallower ways than even the 1995 film did, which that I even criticised for not spending enough time exploring these ideas of identity and humanity properly.
The film does look fantastic though. A number of sequences have been lifted directly from the 1995 film but considering the expanded length and scope of this 2017 film there’s also a lot of new content. It’s frankly gorgeous with a gritty Blade Runner aesthetic to it. The wealthy areas higher up are clean and shiny with the lower to the ground you get becoming more and more like slums.
The fight choreography is also impressive, once again evocative of the original film; and combine this with some generally strong performances from the cast and you’ll be hard pressed not to have a good time with the film regardless of your opinions on the story.
But 2017’s Ghost in the Shell does feel like an imitation of the 1995 original. It’s not a copy, it’s not original, it just picks and chooses what it thinks looks cool and then runs with that. The complex themes of the story get lost under a more family friendly approach and considering that’s what you really want to watch Ghost in the Shell for then it begs the question of why bother with the 2017 version.
I would say if you’re new to Ghost in the Shell then the live action version is a good starting point because it does a very good job at explaining the world of the film and the characters who inhabit it. But the 1995 original is what provides the political and philosophical complexities necessary to make the story truly special.