Anthony: I wonder whats inside? *opens the box, which resulting that he was sucked in the box to the other dimension* What?! What the heck?!
*As Anthony leaves the alleyway, it turns out he lives in the future city*
Anthony: Wow... This is a huge place... *looks around* I've never seen how cool and futuristic it is...
*As he he's going to walking around, he sees an agents walking together, as they scan for a cyberterrorist*
Anthony: Uh oh... I think i better stay away from these guys. *goes back in the alleyway as he didn't get sighted by the agents*
*After waiting that they walk away, he was relieved that nothing happen. He tries to find the other way, but not before being caught by a cyborg who looks like Anthony (named "Impostor Anthony"), but his face is nearly reveal of robot and naked with his black brief*
Anthony: Ah!! *got jumped back from impostor of himself*
Impostor Anthony: *grabs his throat and looks at his face for scanning. After that, he was in fact a human* ...
Anthony: O-Ok...?
Impostor Anthony: *pushes him down* Worthless human being...
Anthony: W-What??
Impostor Anthony: You're look like me, worthless bastard! You'll made my new plan that il be hiding forever that the security Section 9 will easily catch you that they'll believe that you're a cyberterrorist...!
Anthony: N-No! I didn't do anything like escaping from the factory of memories or something. Im just an innocent person, i don't want to be arrested or killed! I... *looks around, before he sees a right door of movie room* I... I can do anything for you!!
Impostor Anthony: Anything for me?
Anthony: Y-Yeah, i mean... We can go to the door on the right that we can have a conversation for a plan or something, right?
Impostor: Hmm... Very well, human being...
Anthony: Um, its Anthony, thank you very much. *opens a door that he and the impostor entering the room and turn on the light that there's a futuristic film projector of "Ghost in the Shell 2017"* Hm? There's a film projector. *walks toward it* Looks pretty interesting, i wonder if the major or other agents can come to the room to see this movie.
Impostor Anthony: Don't even think about it... The Section 9 will never found us, unless if there's a woman major who's a smartest.
Anthony: Huh?
Impostor Anthony: No time to explain, start the projector, Anthony...
Anthony: Ok, lets see how this movie goes... *starts the projector to watch a movie*
*Several hours later*
Hm, that was... Honestly good.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
Back in the old days, Hollywood is always like to cash in to making movies based on Japanese works like Manga and Anime. But most of them are pretty bad that it should not be exist for the fans. *cough "DragonBall Evolution" cough* Even though some that might be good, like Guyver: Dark Hero (since i saw it in "Brandon's cult movie review".).
Later on, they decided to cash in to making a movie, based on the Japanese Sci-Fi classic with a humanoid cyborg.... of Black Widow...
Ghost in the shell 2017 is a Sci-fi action film that was directed by Rupert Sanders, produced by Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Steven Paul, and Michael Costigan, and written in screenplay by Jamie Moss, William Wheeler and Ehren Kruger.
This film was considered to be based on the manga with the same name by Masamune Shirow. However, i believed that its like a remake from a 1995 anime movie. Even though i never read the manga or the anime, its just i was a little bit familiar, not before i stumble the live action remake with Scarlett Johansson. Back then in 1995, the movie was considered to be a best Sci-fi anime movie with fun action and great characters. Ever sine it was succesful, they made an anime show called "Stand Alone Complex" and "Arise". Like i said, even though i never seen this franchise, so maybe il watch in the future.
So, with all that said, will this movie make a good appeal for American viewers, or is this type of film that was tricking us that we never seen the 1995 version by the hackers?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
It takes place in the near future that the humanity are augmented with cybernetics for strength, vision and intelligence. It the beginning, on Hanka Robotics, doctors found a body of a woman for the experiment to integrate the brain on the mechanical body. Once the experiment is completed, we introduce a woman who's revived named "Mira Killian" (Don't worry, il get to that later.) that she was into a cyborg and being picked up to join as a major in Security Section 9. One year later, Major Mira was on in the objective to finding a robotic geisha for hacking a victim for hacking. Which it turns out that the geisha was manipulated by mysterious entity named Kuze. Its up to Major to finding him to stop the threat.
Even though i know that it was different than the original movie, but i find it ok for that. I like the concept of an anti-terrorist group dealing against the cybercriminals in the future. Even though was a little bit slow, since it has almost plenty of subplot, like explaining about the cyborg and where Major sees a flashback that i don't know what has to do. Which the flashback didn't happen until later on. But the one thing that made me confused is the mention that Major lost her family that they drowned of death and she nearly survived before become a cyborg, which is kinda annoying for we want the focus of finding hackers rather than explain about the backstory.
Although the story is good, even though it has a flaws from the subplots of mentioning flashback if its this or that.
The Production
Unlike the previous film which is obviously a hand drawn anime, this one is a live action film and i gotta say, it looks beautiful. The concept of the city is amazingly colorful, especially it has a butt-load of hologram, they're all over in this place. The background that they film is a nice location choice and the designs like futuristic cars is damn cool. The action scene is pretty intensely cool, with gunshots and a fists fight with stealth, it was a fun and entertaining to including a nice visuals. The character concept is nearly like in the manga, although they look good, especially with Major in naked, which im glad they didn't show nips and vag, although in the anime version kinda has a nips. But the one thing i don't like, is the they film of close-up of Major, especially with the interrogation scene, it used more than five times like stop showing Major's face, you made feel like being hypnotized!
The production of the movie is fantastically done, but i just can't help but nitpicking about Major's close-up.
The Characters
Now im sure some of you may familiar of these characters in the series. However, they have some flaws for a lack of developments.
First, we have or main protagonist herself, Major Mira Killian (played by Black Widow herself, Scarlett Johansson), she's knwon to be strong, highly intelligent and strong-will. In this movie, she's considered to be emotional and emphasis when she was reborn as a cyborg. However she has flaws, first up, i don't like that her name was changed to "Mira Killian", which it doesn't work for the change that we all known that its "Major Motoko Kusanagi", which her name didn't happen in the beginning at all. And fanilly that im sure you know whats happening, since Scarlett is picked up to playing a cybernetic major, it went into an outcry of controversies that idea is plain "whitewashing", meaning that Scarlett is portrayed as a Japanese character, since she's a Caucasian. As for the Japanese thoughts? Well, they're fine for her role. Some say that its not as important for a franchise's theme for her look. Some others saying that the Japanese worshiping white people, instead being sensitive. In other words, they claimed that Scarlett's role is a good choice of casting. For me, im on Japanese side, which not only thinking she's fitting for her role, but she did a great job for her role. So seriously, over-sensitive fanboys, you need to chill out and except the Japanese's opinion.
Next we have Major's sidekick, Batou (played by Pilou Asbaek), he's best known to be a secondary agen of Section 9, he's heart-warming, funny and a kind of guy with no BullS*** personality. In the movie, im pretty he's pretty much like in the anime. Although he shown normal with human eyes until he got cybernetic eyes. He's an cool looking guy and Pilou did an interesting work of his role.
Then we have a big boss of Section 9, Daisuke Aramaki (played by "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, who's an actor, director, author, screen-writer, producer-- Ok, how much business he took back then?). He's portayed as either calm or a serious chief of security anti-terrorists. Although he did have some action and he's the only one who only speaks Japanese in the movie, which im fine for that. Although Takeshi is an interesting man for his role. Its either that or i'd rather play his own game called "Takeshi's Challenge".
Next, we have three of them in Hanka Robotics, one is Dr. Ouelet (played by Juliette Binoche), Mr. Cutter (played by Peter Ferdinando) and Dr. Dahlin (played by Anamaria Marinca). These guys are supposed to given some development about cybernetics, but they're rather forgettable. Ouelet is sorta portrayed as a mother-personality, Cutter ic a CEO with demanding and Dahlin who's a consultant who literally smoking in the department (I mean, didn't she learn from a warning sign?). Although Juliette and Peter did a nice work, but couldn't be safe for lackluster role.
And finally, we have a main antagonist, the puppe-- Er, i mean, Kuze (played by Michael Pitt). This is one a big example that its different than before. In the anime movie, the main villain is "The Puppet Master", who's a cybernetic manipulative hacker for taking over the city. But in this movie, they changed the villain to Kuze. Which he was from "Stand Alone Complex", that he's a terrorist. Anyway, he has a similar portray "Puppet Master" for taking over the city. Despite of change, i like his design that he looks badass to showing that he has less human skin, even though he's stuttering (since he's a cyborg). I find that he's rather interesting, mysterious and rather manipulative.
Although some characters that are interesting, even though some of them are not as likable for a development.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, this movie is honestly good. With not bad story, amazing productions and some characters are enjoyable and the Hanka workers are easily the weakest. Although its not easy to pick which one is a better adaptation film of Manga/Anime, but this one is rather good in my opinion. Even though the story is different that the fans are disappointed and the casting choice of Scarlett Johansson created a controversies of racism from these over-sensitive D***heads that they want her to be replaced by a Japanese actress, but the people in Japan defend Scarlett's role that its a nice casting decision that i rather accept to them. So for my favor for the fans of the series, just watch the 1995 film or even "Stand Alone Complex" to calm the hell down, if not, shame on you for how sensitive you are. But in my opinion, its not a bad movie, its almost like a guilty pleasure film, but more like a slightly above average film.
So, il rate this movie 7/10. It may not be watchable, but you can give a try if you never seen the 1995 version.
So this ends of my movie review, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at the comment bellow.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
*Review ends*
Anthony: Well, i guess im done, i bet--
*a screeching tires comes out of nowhere*
Impostor Anthony: *looks at the door* Its them!!
Anthony: The Section 9?
*The door breaks out that its Major Kusanagi and Batou*
Batou: Stop righ-- what a minute? There's two of them.
Anthony: Wait, What?! N-no no no! I am not a same guy of him, i mean, i was just--
Batou: *shoots at Anthony with his pistol*
Anthony: Ah!! *avoids it* Ok ok! I guess il let major to verify if its me or that guy for... Reasons...
Major Kusanagi: *looks at Anthony and the impostor one for thinking, but not before shooting at impostor one in the legs with her pistol*
Impostor Anthony: AAOW!! *falls flat on the floor*
Major Kusanagi: You're under arrest for breaking out of company when they need to memorizing your ghost, Antaku
Impostor Anthony (aka Antaku): No, i'd rather prefer to be no-one!
Anthony: *breaths fast as he can't takes it anymore*
Batou: what about him?
Major Kusanagi: *looks at him*
Anthony: AH!! *opens the door behind quickly and runs away*
Major Kusanagi: *shoots him, but misses that she starts running after him, but not before that it was too late, which he was disappeared*
Batou: Did you got him?
Major Kusanagi: No, he's disappeared out of nowhere... We better find him next time before he comes back...
*meanwhile*
Anthony: *pants from a chase* Man... That was close for-- *sees a comic book on the floor* Hm? A comic book?
To be continued...
Hm, that was... Honestly good.
Back in the old days, Hollywood is always like to cash in to making movies based on Japanese works like Manga and Anime. But most of them are pretty bad that it should not be exist for the fans. *cough "DragonBall Evolution" cough* Even though some that might be good, like Guyver: Dark Hero (since i saw it in "Brandon's cult movie review".).
Later on, they decided to cash in to making a movie, based on the Japanese Sci-Fi classic with a humanoid cyborg.... of Black Widow...
Ghost in the shell 2017 is a Sci-fi action film that was directed by Rupert Sanders, produced by Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Steven Paul, and Michael Costigan, and written in screenplay by Jamie Moss, William Wheeler and Ehren Kruger.
This film was considered to be based on the manga with the same name by Masamune Shirow. However, i believed that its like a remake from a 1995 anime movie. Even though i never read the manga or the anime, its just i was a little bit familiar, not before i stumble the live action remake with Scarlett Johansson. Back then in 1995, the movie was considered to be a best Sci-fi anime movie with fun action and great characters. Ever sine it was succesful, they made an anime show called "Stand Alone Complex" and "Arise". Like i said, even though i never seen this franchise, so maybe il watch in the future.
So, with all that said, will this movie make a good appeal for American viewers, or is this type of film that was tricking us that we never seen the 1995 version by the hackers?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
It takes place in the near future that the humanity are augmented with cybernetics for strength, vision and intelligence. It the beginning, on Hanka Robotics, doctors found a body of a woman for the experiment to integrate the brain on the mechanical body. Once the experiment is completed, we introduce a woman who's revived named "Mira Killian" (Don't worry, il get to that later.) that she was into a cyborg and being picked up to join as a major in Security Section 9. One year later, Major Mira was on in the objective to finding a robotic geisha for hacking a victim for hacking. Which it turns out that the geisha was manipulated by mysterious entity named Kuze. Its up to Major to finding him to stop the threat.
Even though i know that it was different than the original movie, but i find it ok for that. I like the concept of an anti-terrorist group dealing against the cybercriminals in the future. Even though was a little bit slow, since it has almost plenty of subplot, like explaining about the cyborg and where Major sees a flashback that i don't know what has to do. Which the flashback didn't happen until later on. But the one thing that made me confused is the mention that Major lost her family that they drowned of death and she nearly survived before become a cyborg, which is kinda annoying for we want the focus of finding hackers rather than explain about the backstory.
Although the story is good, even though it has a flaws from the subplots of mentioning flashback if its this or that.
The Production
Unlike the previous film which is obviously a hand drawn anime, this one is a live action film and i gotta say, it looks beautiful. The concept of the city is amazingly colorful, especially it has a butt-load of hologram, they're all over in this place. The background that they film is a nice location choice and the designs like futuristic cars is damn cool. The action scene is pretty intensely cool, with gunshots and a fists fight with stealth, it was a fun and entertaining to including a nice visuals. The character concept is nearly like in the manga, although they look good, especially with Major in naked, which im glad they didn't show nips and vag, although in the anime version kinda has a nips. But the one thing i don't like, is the they film of close-up of Major, especially with the interrogation scene, it used more than five times like stop showing Major's face, you made feel like being hypnotized!
The production of the movie is fantastically done, but i just can't help but nitpicking about Major's close-up.
The Characters
Now im sure some of you may familiar of these characters in the series. However, they have some flaws for a lack of developments.
First, we have or main protagonist herself, Major Mira Killian (played by Black Widow herself, Scarlett Johansson), she's knwon to be strong, highly intelligent and strong-will. In this movie, she's considered to be emotional and emphasis when she was reborn as a cyborg. However she has flaws, first up, i don't like that her name was changed to "Mira Killian", which it doesn't work for the change that we all known that its "Major Motoko Kusanagi", which her name didn't happen in the beginning at all. And fanilly that im sure you know whats happening, since Scarlett is picked up to playing a cybernetic major, it went into an outcry of controversies that idea is plain "whitewashing", meaning that Scarlett is portrayed as a Japanese character, since she's a Caucasian. As for the Japanese thoughts? Well, they're fine for her role. Some say that its not as important for a franchise's theme for her look. Some others saying that the Japanese worshiping white people, instead being sensitive. In other words, they claimed that Scarlett's role is a good choice of casting. For me, im on Japanese side, which not only thinking she's fitting for her role, but she did a great job for her role. So seriously, over-sensitive fanboys, you need to chill out and except the Japanese's opinion.
Next we have Major's sidekick, Batou (played by Pilou Asbaek), he's best known to be a secondary agen of Section 9, he's heart-warming, funny and a kind of guy with no BullS*** personality. In the movie, im pretty he's pretty much like in the anime. Although he shown normal with human eyes until he got cybernetic eyes. He's an cool looking guy and Pilou did an interesting work of his role.
Then we have a big boss of Section 9, Daisuke Aramaki (played by "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, who's an actor, director, author, screen-writer, producer-- Ok, how much business he took back then?). He's portayed as either calm or a serious chief of security anti-terrorists. Although he did have some action and he's the only one who only speaks Japanese in the movie, which im fine for that. Although Takeshi is an interesting man for his role. Its either that or i'd rather play his own game called "Takeshi's Challenge".
Next, we have three of them in Hanka Robotics, one is Dr. Ouelet (played by Juliette Binoche), Mr. Cutter (played by Peter Ferdinando) and Dr. Dahlin (played by Anamaria Marinca). These guys are supposed to given some development about cybernetics, but they're rather forgettable. Ouelet is sorta portrayed as a mother-personality, Cutter ic a CEO with demanding and Dahlin who's a consultant who literally smoking in the department (I mean, didn't she learn from a warning sign?). Although Juliette and Peter did a nice work, but couldn't be safe for lackluster role.
And finally, we have a main antagonist, the puppe-- Er, i mean, Kuze (played by Michael Pitt). This is one a big example that its different than before. In the anime movie, the main villain is "The Puppet Master", who's a cybernetic manipulative hacker for taking over the city. But in this movie, they changed the villain to Kuze. Which he was from "Stand Alone Complex", that he's a terrorist. Anyway, he has a similar portray "Puppet Master" for taking over the city. Despite of change, i like his design that he looks badass to showing that he has less human skin, even though he's stuttering (since he's a cyborg). I find that he's rather interesting, mysterious and rather manipulative.
Although some characters that are interesting, even though some of them are not as likable for a development.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, this movie is honestly good. With not bad story, amazing productions and some characters are enjoyable and the Hanka workers are easily the weakest. Although its not easy to pick which one is a better adaptation film of Manga/Anime, but this one is rather good in my opinion. Even though the story is different that the fans are disappointed and the casting choice of Scarlett Johansson created a controversies of racism from these over-sensitive D***heads that they want her to be replaced by a Japanese actress, but the people in Japan defend Scarlett's role that its a nice casting decision that i rather accept to them. So for my favor for the fans of the series, just watch the 1995 film or even "Stand Alone Complex" to calm the hell down, if not, shame on you for how sensitive you are. But in my opinion, its not a bad movie, its almost like a guilty pleasure film, but more like a slightly above average film.
So, il rate this movie 7/10. It may not be watchable, but you can give a try if you never seen the 1995 version.
So this ends of my movie review, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at the comment bellow.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
*Review ends*
Anthony: Well, i guess im done, i bet--
*a screeching tires comes out of nowhere*
Impostor Anthony: *looks at the door* Its them!!
Anthony: The Section 9?
*The door breaks out that its Major Kusanagi and Batou*
Batou: Stop righ-- what a minute? There's two of them.
Anthony: Wait, What?! N-no no no! I am not a same guy of him, i mean, i was just--
Batou: *shoots at Anthony with his pistol*
Anthony: Ah!! *avoids it* Ok ok! I guess il let major to verify if its me or that guy for... Reasons...
Major Kusanagi: *looks at Anthony and the impostor one for thinking, but not before shooting at impostor one in the legs with her pistol*
Impostor Anthony: AAOW!! *falls flat on the floor*
Major Kusanagi: You're under arrest for breaking out of company when they need to memorizing your ghost, Antaku
Impostor Anthony (aka Antaku): No, i'd rather prefer to be no-one!
Anthony: *breaths fast as he can't takes it anymore*
Batou: what about him?
Major Kusanagi: *looks at him*
Anthony: AH!! *opens the door behind quickly and runs away*
Major Kusanagi: *shoots him, but misses that she starts running after him, but not before that it was too late, which he was disappeared*
Batou: Did you got him?
Major Kusanagi: No, he's disappeared out of nowhere... We better find him next time before he comes back...
*meanwhile*
Anthony: *pants from a chase* Man... That was close for-- *sees a comic book on the floor* Hm? A comic book?
To be continued...
