Blog #42 Ghost in the Shell 2017 Movie Review

Directed by Rupert Sanders

Screenplay by Jamie Moss, Willian Wheller, Ehren Kruger

Based on Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow

Produced by Avi Arad, Steven Paul, Michael Costigan,

Starring

Illustration 2 Lucy meets Lucy in the film *Lucy* 2014

Scarlett Johansson– plays Major Mira, Ms. Johansson also played Natasha Romanov in Avengers movies 2015-2021, Midge Campbell in Asteroid City 2023, Lucy in Lucy 2014, Ashley Parker in Eight Legged Freaks 2002,

Takeshi Kitano-played Aramaki.

Michael Pitt- played Kuze.

Pilou Asbaek– played Batou, and also Kordan in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom 2023, Victor Koval in Outside the Wire 2021, Richard in Lucy 2014.

Illustration 4 Independence Day: Resurgence

Chin Han– played Togusa, and also Commander Jiang in Independence Day: Resurgence 2016, Councilman Yen in Captain America: Winter Soldier 2014, Tenzin in 2012 2009

Juliette Binoche- played Dr. Oulet

Cinematography by Bess Hall

Edited by Neil Smith and Billy Rich

Music by Clint Mansell and Lorne Balfe

Production Companies Paramount Pictures, Amblin Partners, DreamWorks Pictures, Arad Productions, Reliance Entertainment, and Steven Paul Productions

Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Illustration 5 Major Kira being a bad ass

Release Dates: March 16, 2017 (Shinjuku), March 31, 2017 (United States)

Running Time 107 minutes

Countries United States, Hong Kong, and China

Languages: English and Japanese

Budget $110 billion

Box Office $169.8 million

Synopsis

A young woman becomes part of an experiment. Her brain is removed and put in a synthetic shell. Her name is Mira, and she’s a robot/cyborg, and she doesn’t remember her previous life. Mira is told she was on a refugee boat with her parents, and terrorists destroyed the boat and killed all, including her parents, but she, by almost drowning, survives. The story explores Mira’s feelings; for the audience, it is a pretty bleak place where she is. Major Mira is an excellent soldier with a high ranking in The Mobile Armored Riot Police. She can get things done. Mira is not a super hero per se. She can jump a bit higher, and her skin can make her invisible. Mira is very well-trained and can take on multiple bad guys quickly. As the story progresses, the Major has to follow clues that eventually wrap around her.

Good Points

I liked the characters and rooted for Mira and her friend Batou. Mira’s boss, Cutter was a good superior who watched out for her. In general, Mira had a good group of people around her, and her superior abilities were fascinating and very useful. A clear distinction between good and evil made the film’s progression easy to follow and enjoy.

Illustration 7 The Geisha AI Robot that get hacked and goes crazy

I appreciated the investigation’s twists, which unfolded the reason for the initial crime and revealed Mira’s origin story. Her doctor, very much a mother figure, is both good and bad, but in the end, she comes through surprisingly to both Mira and Cutter, the boss.

Illustration 8 Batou, Major Kira’s best friend

Bad Points

The story originated in Manga and is well-known and loved in Japan. There was a question about the casting of Caucasian actors (particularly Johansson) who drew accusations of racism and whitewashing in the United States, although Mamoru Oshii, the director of the original anime, believed there was no basis for this accusation.

I resisted this movie at first. It was strange, like cyberpunk, making it a very different world for me. If you are familiar with Manga, anime, and the movies made from them, I imagine it wouldn’t bother you. However, if I were younger, I would have a creepy feeling and perhaps nightmares about the whole setting and the fact that the lead character had her brain removed and put into a robot.

Mira cannot feel, which is a good point for thinking this was wrong to do to a person. However, I don’t know if that is necessary. Our medical science is making great strides in this area. The brain can be tapped to control artificial limbs and be able to talk with a computer, so I don’t think this will be an issue.

Conclusion

I have enjoyed the movie since I bought it in 2023. Much of that was because I liked and sympathized with Mira and her struggle. I appreciated the end, where she learned to accept her past and present. I also liked that her co-workers were important to Mira and stuck by her. The setting was still strange, but I have seen similar movies and have grown accustomed to such settings and weird effects used to make it futuristic.

This well-written story had many turns and surprises. I recommend it heartily, but be forewarned: Its premise is creepy, and you could rightly say wrong. What happens when it is the only way to survive? Tough questions.

Where to Stream

Amazon Prime subscription

Apple TV from $3.99

YouTube from $3.99

Google Play Movies from $3.99

Microsoft Store from $3.99

Tubi TV is free with ads

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell_(2017_film)

2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424060/?ref_=tt_cst_i_1

3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1561982/?ref_=tt_cst_i_2

4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1977856/?ref_=tt_cst_i_6