Ghost in the Shell
When I woke up today, I decided that what would really make my day is getting a whole bunch of angry comments on my website.
Considering the various methods at my immediate disposal, I felt the best way to accomplish this would be to right a review of an anime that is generally loved by most (and hated by a few). I don't believe there's much of a middle ground with Ghost in the Shell.
Technically, the anime is amazing, especially given ithe time it was released. It looks great, the action scenes are amazing, and the music fits the film very well.
I think that the movie is poorly paced. It starts out quickly with a few action scenes, then goes into the doldrums for most of the film. The action isn't really the focus of this film. The real meat of Ghost in the Shell is in the "cerebral" other moments. Frequently, I think that calling something "cerebral" is just a nicer way of saying slow and pretentious (see: Texhnolyze).
In its defense, it does pose the question of what makes a person a person, and where the soul ends and begins in a world where high technology reigns, cyborg bodies, cybernetic implants and other improvements are an afterthought. This movie only wants you to think about it, though, it doesn't really supply much else, and that includes a plot.
Ultimately, I don't believe that Ghost in the Shell is a great movie. Technically, yes, but a question just isn't enough for me in a movie. The action and much of the rest of the stuff in the movie just seems like an excuse for philosophical discussion, and because of this, the plot seems contrived or muddling at times.
But maybe there is a middle ground, because while I don't think this is a great movie, I also don't hate it. Given its status in the history of anime, everyone should watch it at least once.
Rating: B