Amazon.com essential video: The skillful blending of drawn animation and computer-generated imagery excited anime fans when this science fiction mystery was released in 1995: many enthusiasts believe Ghost suggests what the future of anime will be, at least in the short term. The film is set in the not-too-distant future, when an unnamed government uses lifelike cyborgs or "enhanced" humans for undercover work. One of the key cyborgs is The Major, Motoko Kusanagi, who resembles a cross between The Terminator and a Playboy centerfold. She finds herself caught up in a tangled web of espionage and counterespionage as she searches for the mysterious superhacker known as "The Puppet Master."
Mamoru Oshii directs with a staccato rhythm, alternating sequences of rapid-fire action (car chases, gun battles, explosions) with static dialogue scenes that allow the characters to sort out the vaguely mystical and rather convoluted plot. Kusanagi's final quote from I Corinthians suggests that electronic evolution may compliment and eventually supplant organic evolution. The minor nudity, profanity, and considerable violence would earn Ghost in the Shell at least a PG rating. --Charles Solomon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - An inspiration for future sci-fi
For an epic like this, I can't recap it as well as others, and I'll probably bring nothing new. With that said, there are an incredible amount of parallels to Hollywood sci-fi throughout, and here's the ... Read More
Rating: - 4 ½+ Stars: Incredibly Clever and Challenging Science Fiction AIMED at an Experienced Audience
One of the best animated films I have ever seen is a Japanese anime called KOKAKU KIDOTAI, otherwise known as "GHOST IN THE SHELL" (1995) Honestly, for those very unfamiliar with anime, its storyline can ... Read More
Rating: - Thought provoking and visually stunning
I am reviewing the DVD version.
The story is light, but metaphysically deep. Its about cosmology and what defines "self." The animation is top notch and blends seamlessly with CG.
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Rating: - Awesome anime.
I saw this for the first time a few days ago when I bought it. I'm new into the world of anime and after buying all the Studio Ghibli stuff, this was recommended to me when I stated I wabted to branch out ... Read More
Rating: - That Great Cyberpunk Anime
Ghost In The Shell' (released 1996 in the U.S.) by director Mamoru Oshii was a real butt-kicker for its time and brought renewed interest to Japanese Animation from North American film critics long after the ... Read More
- An inspiration for future sci-fi