Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Review

120min

Genre:      Sci-fi, Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery

Director:   Rupert Sanders

Cast:        Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano…and more

Writers:    Masamune Shirow, Jamie Moss & William Wheeler

-Synopsis-

Set in a near-future where man and machine have become one; a crime-fighting cyborg leads a counter-cyberterrorist unit against a dangerous and shadowy hacker who targets individuals and crucial systems at the heart of society, only to discover the truth about her past and the organisation which conceived her—in a big-budget Hollywood adaptation of the hugely popular Japanese Manga.

Based on Masamune Shirow’s 1989 cyberpunk vision of the future—and the subsequently brilliant 1995 Anime—where humanity has developed a symbiotic relationship with technology, ‘Ghost in the Shell’ is a big-budget Hollywood adaptation of a groundbreaking and action-packed existential character drama, and warning story about our reliance on technology. Now over twenty years later, director Rupert Sanders has the daunting task of adapting this prophetic, iconic and hugely influential piece of animated science fiction into a mass appeal live-action spectacle for a Western audience—and for a society already interconnected and too distracted to see what may be coming, or too dependent to care about the consequences.

Scarlett Johansson stars as ‘Major Mira Killian’ (or ‘The Major’), an advanced and enhanced human-synthetic hybrid with a hazy past, who leads the ‘Section 9’ specialist unit—alongside her partner ‘Batou’ (Pilou Asbæk) and under the eye of director ‘Aramaki’ (Takeshi Kitano)—fighting against cyber-terrorism within a fictional metropolis in a dystopian future. But when her path crosses with a mysterious and dangerous hacker (Michael Pitt), who threatens those she protects and a technologically dependent  society, ‘The Major’ soon finds herself at the centre of a conspiracy which leaves her questioning everything she knows . . . and her very identity.

It’s probably tempting to compare ‘Ghost in the Shell’ with the previous and ill-fated Scarlett Johansson sci-fi vehicle, 2014’s hugely disappointing Luc Besson thriller ‘Lucy’—also featuring Pilou Asbæk—but seeing as this is adapted from a brilliantly written and masterfully crafted piece of science fiction, the comparisons are few and short-lived.

This film is truly a feast for the senses, featuring a hypnotic score from Clint Mansell & Lorne Balfe—who pay homage to the exceptional music of the anime, while adding their unique touches and takes on the popular trend of pulsating and atmospheric electronica . . . and with plenty of video game influence too. Meanwhile the visuals are a transfixing triumph; from the wonderful east-meets-west modern cityscape—even more influenced by ‘Blade Runner’ than the original Manga—to the array of distinct and diverse characters, both human and hybrid, and of course the spectacular and dynamic action set-pieces, which are often lifted directly from the 1995 anime but in a different order.

However Sanders and the writers have made something here that’s very much an adaptation, as opposed to a straight live-action version of ‘Ghost in the Shell’. Unsurprisingly this is far more of an action/thriller and less of a high-minded concept piece than the Japanese source material—which was a major influence on films like ‘The Matrix’, and itself inspired by the groundbreaking sci-fi works of Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov.

There’s also a greater focus on the central character of ‘The Major’ here—which Johansson does a solid job in bringing to life, despite the reactionary criticism which came from her casting—and there’s a key shift when it comes to the ‘villain’ of the piece too. But fear not, the profound themes which define the original story are still present, they just occupy a different space in the narrative, and aren’t allowed to stand in the way of movie franchise potential.

It’s easy to see why sci-fi purists and fans of the original Manga would be so critical of Sanders’ adaptation though; the profound concepts of consciousness and what constitutes sentient life are much more of a backdrop here and there’s less of a political element—with the story revolving entirely around the Major’s life story, and with the more familiar themes of betrayal and corporate exploitation taking centre stage. When combined with a dulling of the edges when it comes to the erotic and more graphically violent content of the original, it makes for a more palatable mass-appeal product for a Western audience.

Yet aside from the stylish banquet for the senses, there’s still enough on which to feed the mind with this ‘Ghost in the Shell’. The warning stories about the dangers of our reliance on technology and where our tech-dependent society is heading are still intact, as are some of the existential musings about the individuality which makes us humans, just not as expertly conceived or executed. Ultimately for those who aren’t familiar with Masamune Shirow’s masterful work, this might come across as a visually entrancing, entertaining and thought-provoking piece of science fiction, with great potential—little do they know that the potential was mostly realised over 20 years ago.

The Bottom Line . . .

While it may not have the edge or the resonance of the original Manga and its 1995 Anime adaptation—or feel as unsettlingly prophetic 20 years on—‘Ghost in the Shell’ is still an absorbing and visually mesmerising Hollywood adaptation of its iconic Japanese source material. Rupert Sanders’ second career feature and second major studio blockbuster certainly won’t trouble the ranks of genre re-defining classic cinema sci-fi, but time will tell if the box-office results overwhelm the thus far mixed critical response to justify a lucrative and entertaining new franchise for Paramount pictures . . . and its star.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

A cyborg policewoman leads a counter-cyberterrorism unit against a mysterious hacker who threatens a future society where man and machine live symbiotically, in this existential sci-fi anime classic based on the hugely influential Manga by Masamune Shirow.

Directed by Mamoru Oshii and starring Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi and Akio Ôtsuka among others.

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