The worldwide phenomenon that is Ghost in the Shell has recently been treated to the Hollywood treatment with a modern live action remake staring the sensational Scarlett Johansson. With beautiful special effects that blow your mind but a plot no richer than water, viewers will leave the theatre feeling amazed but certainly not entertained!
The problem with a lot of films in today’s age is that a lot is given away in the trailers, and Ghost in the Shell was certainly an excellent example of this. I personally expected a deep, meaningful plot that would question the ethics of this new and strange world as well as explore the true meaning of what it is to be 'human'. Sadly, however, viewers will be treated to ninety minutes of an extended cinematic trailer. Now, don’t get me wrong, the film isn’t a complete shambles. Its only saving grace lies in the amazing performances from the lead actors, smooth graphics thoughtout the film and very good costume design. Despite this, a confusing plot with an unclear enemy and plot holes throughout spoiled this movie and left me disappointed.
BAFTA award winning actress Scarlett Johansson plays the main protagonist, 'Major', who is the most advanced robot ever built. What makes her truly unique is the fact she has a living human brain, making her the first of her kind. She is the ultimate weapon designed to battle terrorism in a world where everyone has been upgraded with cybernetic enhancements. However, when she finds she had a life before the Hanka company 'saved' it, her allegiances come under questioning as she hunts for the truth. A deep, thick plot that sounds amazing! Except that’s it, no real twists or shocks in the movie mean that it feels bland and boring.
Additionally, this film was rushed. Not enough time was put in to the characters development and points within the film become unclear and confusing. Late into the film a character says that they are going to upload their conscious into an online server, says goodbye, closes his eyes… and is promptly killed, leaving it completely unclear if he was successful in his attempt to upload himself. Despite this, viewers still don’t know the character enough to even care if he did, despite being one of the lead characters!
A lot of people including myself are struggling to understand the decision made to cast Scarlett Johansson as the lead role in this movie. Masamune Shirow, the Japanese author of the series, pictured Major as a young Japanese woman in a futuristic Japan. Everything within this movie is set within Japan and most of the actors and extras are Japanese. However I feel the lead role within this picture being cast as Scarlet Johansson, no matter how well she plays the role, ruins the feel for this classic Japanese source material.
Overall I would give this film 41% due to how dull the film feels despite the spectacular special effects. The solid performance from Scarlett Johansson isn’t enough to save Ghost in the Shell from a poorly written plot. The film only lasted one hour and twenty minutes which wasn’t long enough to fit what the director was clearly trying to do. Going into this movie I knew practically nothing apart from what the trailers had told me, I expected a film that could parallel with the likes of Christopher Nolan’s 'Inception'. What I got was nothing other than what the trailer had already told me!
To summarise – open YouTube, watch the trailer, and save your money.
Written and published by Lewis Broadway.
Edited by Beth Parker.
Photo credit: Lewis Broadway
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