Certificate: 12A
Running time: 106 minutes
Directed by: Rupert Sanders.
What's it about: Based on the Japanese manga of the same name, Ghost in the Shell is set in the near future where the line between humans and technology has been blurred. Major, played by Scarlett Johansson, is the first of her kind - a human, cyber enhanced to be the perfect weapon.
The verdict: I'll admit straight away that I've not seen the original Ghost in the Shell, so this will be a review purely based on this version. I have read that fans of the original haven't been overly impressed with the film, but it would be unfair to say that will be the case for all fans of the original, because as I said I haven't seen it! There was controversy in the casting of Scarlett Johansson as Major, and accusations of Hollywood 'whitewashing.' Interestingly, since watching this version, it has made me want to watch the original and see the differences/similarities.
The best thing about this film is its visuals. It's certainly aesthetically pleasing, between the futuristic landscapes and choreographed fight scenes, there is so much that draws your eye. And this is definitely a film for the big screen, I'm not sure it would be quite as striking on the small screen.
The story is solid, it's not overly strong but it's not weak either. The premise is interesting and intriguing, but it doesn't necessarily feel that original. It was reasonably easy to guess the plot points before they occurred, which may not bother some people, but for me it lessens my engagement - I want to be kept guessing or surprised. There are no surprises in Ghost in the Shell - not for fans of the original who will obviously already know the story, and not for newcomers either. The one twist is given away in the trailers anyway.
The performances are strong, it's a good ensemble cast. Scarlett Johansson works well in this role, although sometimes she has her work cut out trying to stand out amongst the massive visuals. I particularly liked Pilou Asbæk as supporting character Batou. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of character development overall, and none of the other characters are given a backstory which is a shame as there was potential to explore that.
One thing I wondered slightly, is if Ghost in the Shell would have worked better if it had a higher certificate rating. The original has a 15 rating, and it seems like it had so much potential to be grittier and bloodier. This would have fit in well with the story and visuals as well.
Overall, although I enjoyed watching this and it was visually pleasing, upon leaving the cinema it was pretty forgettable.
Should you watch this film? Yes, but only because it would be best seen on the big screen.
The best thing about this film is its visuals. It's certainly aesthetically pleasing, between the futuristic landscapes and choreographed fight scenes, there is so much that draws your eye. And this is definitely a film for the big screen, I'm not sure it would be quite as striking on the small screen.
The story is solid, it's not overly strong but it's not weak either. The premise is interesting and intriguing, but it doesn't necessarily feel that original. It was reasonably easy to guess the plot points before they occurred, which may not bother some people, but for me it lessens my engagement - I want to be kept guessing or surprised. There are no surprises in Ghost in the Shell - not for fans of the original who will obviously already know the story, and not for newcomers either. The one twist is given away in the trailers anyway.
The performances are strong, it's a good ensemble cast. Scarlett Johansson works well in this role, although sometimes she has her work cut out trying to stand out amongst the massive visuals. I particularly liked Pilou Asbæk as supporting character Batou. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of character development overall, and none of the other characters are given a backstory which is a shame as there was potential to explore that.
One thing I wondered slightly, is if Ghost in the Shell would have worked better if it had a higher certificate rating. The original has a 15 rating, and it seems like it had so much potential to be grittier and bloodier. This would have fit in well with the story and visuals as well.
Overall, although I enjoyed watching this and it was visually pleasing, upon leaving the cinema it was pretty forgettable.
Should you watch this film? Yes, but only because it would be best seen on the big screen.
Comments
Post a Comment