Plot: What’s it about?
This film has an intense and complex storyline, so instead of covering all the branches to be found, I will provide a general overall synopsis. In this fashion, you can watch the more subtle portions unfold, which I think adds a lot to the movie’s experience. In 2029, the world has become heavily reliant on electronic information, which means the bulk of the vital information could be taken down, if precautions aren’t taken beforehand. The authorities are always on the watch for crimes, but as their forces evolve, so do the hackers and it becomes almost impossible to ward them all off. In an effort to minimize the hackers and their attacks, a special unit has been formed to deal with them, Section 9. This team consists of powerful and well connected cyborgs, who can access whatever they want, whenever they want. A skilled hacker has still been able to crack through the system though, taking over human minds and calling himself the Puppet Master. As the total victim count continues to rise, a female cyborg and her human partner have to track down this elusive hacker, before it is too late.
Even if you dislike most anime titles, Ghost In The Shell is one flick you won’t want to miss. It uses elements of action, adventure, science-fiction, and even more genres to conjure up a terrific viewing experience. You can see elements of this film within The Matrix, although I happen to think they’re better presented here in Ghost In The Shell. The storyline can become a little hard to follow at times, but I think sci/fi veterans should be all right in the end, as no real gaps seem to be present. The story is very well developed and so are the characters, which is always welcome within any film, even in anime. The action driven sequences were my personal favorites, but I think all the scenes work well and no real dull moments to be found here. This film does have a lot of violence, strong language, and even some nudity, so while it is an animated features, this one isn’t for the wee children in the house. If you’re a fan of action and sci/fi, especially within anime, then Ghost In The Shell is more than worth a look. A rental will suffice in some cases, but this is a film that gets better each time, so a purchase is also a worthy investment.
Video: How does it look?
Ghost In The Shell is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a real class visual presentation, one of the finest ones I’ve seen in terms of anime releases. This film uses very dark contrast levels and almost supernatural colors, so the transfer has to work overtime to keep up, but it does. The black levels are sharp and well balanced here, which allows detail to be high and the image look very crisp. No real issues with the colors either, the greens look better than others, but all the hues come off well here. This is a top notch transfer for a fun movie, what more you can ask for?
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc sports a pro-logic surround track in Japanese and a Dolby Digital 5.1 track in English, which forces a tough choice. I always prefer the original language track, but in this case, there is a massive difference in terms of surround use and overall effectiveness. The Japanese track isn’t bad by any means, but the English version is so much more active and immersive, which means the tough choice has to be made. But in either case, you’ll be given a more than adequate experience, which is good enough in this case. You can also enable English subtitles, should you need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You’ll find some information on Manga’s fan club and other releases, extensive production notes, the film’s theatrical trailer, and a thirty minute featurette, which offers a glimpse into how the film was made. The focus is on the animation process of course, which makes for an interesting watch if you liked the flick.
