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Post by gomezaddams666 on Mar 29, 2017 3:46:08 GMT
Scarlett Johansson stars as Major, a human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals. Her soul or "ghost" has been placed into a cybernetic built body, which is also called the "shell" because her essence still lives inside that body.
Going any further into the plot would land us in spoiler-ish territory and I would not want to do that, what I will say is that the manga and the Japanese 1995 anime movie will not be disappointed as it pays a huge respect to that particular story in ways I guarantee you will not see coming.
What I can say is that director Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) has delivered a stunningly beautiful movie, the visuals of the movie are like nothing there has ever been before when it comes to FX. the CGI scenery paints the image of a near-future Japan that looks astoundingly natural, there is too much that can be said about the visuals but this is a movie that has to be enjoyed in 3D to fully take in all its remarkable wonders.
As for the story line it was pretty solid, it paints a very bleak future where technology seems much more important than humanity, and with the lack of human interaction these days it can almost be seen as a pretty scary omen.
The performances were pretty outstanding, with amazing character development by the leading actress, Scarlett Johansson, and a pretty well built supporting cast that includes screen legend Juliette Binoche, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt and a very faithful performance by Pilou Asbæk as the iconic Batou from the Japanese manga.
All in all I can easily say this is the most fun I have had in the theater so far this year, it would really shock me if the Academy does not recognize this movie's nearly perfect and beautiful visuals, as much as I would be in awe if fans do not see this movie three times at least in the theater, because I know I will.
And I can't ignore the controversy surrounding the casting of an American actress as Major, or the fear some anime fans might have that this movie may turn out as a blasphemy to the source material. But Scarlett Johansson, Rupert Sanders and everyone involved in this movie put every controversy to rest as I assure you this movie pays respect to the Japanese manga. In fact, I rate it 9 out of 10!!!
This version of Ghost In The Shell definitely has a lot of soul.
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Post by brownstones on Mar 29, 2017 3:48:28 GMT
........you liked your own review?
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Post by gomezaddams666 on Mar 29, 2017 6:10:26 GMT
I was trying to edit it, actually.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2017 20:12:49 GMT
It was a horrible movie. I even left the theater near the end, I just could not take the emptiness and shallowness of the movie anymore.
Biggest disappointment I had in decades. Moviewise anyway.
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Post by brownstones on Mar 30, 2017 21:38:52 GMT
It was a horrible movie. I even left the theater near the end, I just could not take the emptiness and shallowness of the movie anymore. Biggest disappointment I had in decades. Moviewise anyway. does it suffer from the same issues Snow White and the Huntsman had? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2017 22:38:22 GMT
It was a horrible movie. I even left the theater near the end, I just could not take the emptiness and shallowness of the movie anymore. Biggest disappointment I had in decades. Moviewise anyway. does it suffer from the same issues Snow White and the Huntsman had? Aah, I haven't seen that movie yet, I'm afraid  |
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Post by gomezaddams666 on Mar 31, 2017 3:24:45 GMT
Let me guess... the "white washing" offended you.
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Post by hardball on Mar 31, 2017 3:28:45 GMT
Sitting at 50% on RT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2017 14:34:58 GMT
Let me guess... the "white washing" offended you.
Good god no. Not at all. It's a Hollywood movie, if they can get someone like Scarlett Johansson to star in it, they'll take it. And I have no problem with that at all.
It's the story that got to me. The visuals weren't that bad, but given current technology and the financial investment in this movie, it would have been weird if those were bad. I unfortunately was forced to watch a 3D screening of the movie, the local theaters do not offer any other version. I don't like 3D, especially when it's quite obvious that the 3D aspect of the movie isn't really all that good. The visually pleasing scenes were lifted straight out of the first animated movie, so originality wasn't really important to the creators of this movie.
And it's especially obvious when you look at the storyline. What little there was, anyway. This movie lacks most of what made the original series good (not all of it, but the three movies definitely were). That's just frustrating, there's no excuse for it.
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Post by merh on Mar 31, 2017 23:42:11 GMT
I enjoyed it. My millenial & I argued all the way there & heading to the restaurant & all the way back to her place. Whitewashing. No excuse. "So what do I tell my Japanese friend who always looked at The Major as a hero of hers?" I reminded her she had to see Thor first. I was horrified they were going to ruin a childhood hero, a character I wrapped around my dad so much, a bad portrayal would hurt. My ancestors came from Denmark, my father told me. My father & Marvel's Thor were both 6 ft 7. He is special to me. So you tell your friend if it hurts that much, don't go. I felt the gave a good reason for the Major to not be Japanese. The company saw her as a weapon only. Product. So her memories were wiped. Her name throughout is Major Mira Killian until she is given back her past. I liked her inability to mesh with the wotld, as though there was something amiss, but she didn't know that was the problem. |
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Post by chatterer on Apr 1, 2017 4:52:07 GMT
Let me guess... the "white washing" offended you.
Good god no. Not at all. It's a Hollywood movie, if they can get someone like Scarlett Johansson to star in it, they'll take it. And I have no problem with that at all.
It's the story that got to me. The visuals weren't that bad, but given current technology and the financial investment in this movie, it would have been weird if those were bad. I unfortunately was forced to watch a 3D screening of the movie, the local theaters do not offer any other version. I don't like 3D, especially when it's quite obvious that the 3D aspect of the movie isn't really all that good. The visually pleasing scenes were lifted straight out of the first animated movie, so originality wasn't really important to the creators of this movie.
And it's especially obvious when you look at the storyline. What little there was, anyway. This movie lacks most of what made the original series good (not all of it, but the three movies definitely were). That's just frustrating, there's no excuse for it.
I Couldn't careless about whitewashing. People get stuck on that but for me it was the story all shell and no ghost. |
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Post by jaynadiah on Apr 1, 2017 10:46:09 GMT
I felt the gave a good reason for the Major to not be Japanese. The company saw her as a weapon only. Product. So her memories were wiped. Her name throughout is Major Mira Killian until she is given back her past. I actually thought that was horrible. It just felt sooo shoehorned in as a lame excuse to cast scarlett johanson.. it felt forced... Overall though I wouldn't say the movie was terrible.. it was just kind of disappointing for a fan of the original movies and SAC like myself.... and felt pretty disjointed the way they meshed bits of the original movies and Stand Alone Complex.. it just didn't flow right at all. It was too simplified and where they on occasion tried a bit of philosophy it was so in your face and self explanatory.. it just felt pretty dumb. While the story itself felt too generic. The only good bits where the re-envisioned fight scenes taken from the original anime and the imagery of the world was great. But yeah overall it was pretty disappointing.. I can see those who haven't seen the original anime or SAC probably appreciating this more... but from a fan of everything GITS.. this was a 5/10 from a story standpoint.. I guess I would give it a 6/10 for the visual imagery though. |
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Post by jaynadiah on Apr 1, 2017 11:41:11 GMT
But Scarlett Johansson, Rupert Sanders and everyone involved in this movie put every controversy to rest as I assure you this movie pays respect to the Japanese manga. In fact, I rate it 9 out of 10!!! This version of Ghost In The Shell definitely has a lot of soul. If you rate this move as a 9/10 then I am interested to know what you rated the original anime movie as? Also if you have seen Stand Alone Complex what would you rate that? This interests me because I honestly cannot see how anyone could rate this more than the original or SAC.. so either you must rate those as perfect 10/10's or you somehow find this disappointing hollywood version better! which is astonishing to me! |
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Post by merh on Apr 1, 2017 12:54:07 GMT
I felt the gave a good reason for the Major to not be Japanese. The company saw her as a weapon only. Product. So her memories were wiped. Her name throughout is Major Mira Killian until she is given back her past. I actually thought that was horrible. It just felt sooo shoehorned in as a lame excuse to cast scarlett johanson.. it felt forced... Overall though I wouldn't say the movie was terrible.. it was just kind of disappointing for a fan of the original movies and SAC like myself.... and felt pretty disjointed the way they meshed bits of the original movies and Stand Alone Complex.. it just didn't flow right at all. It was too simplified and where they on occasion tried a bit of philosophy it was so in your face and self explanatory.. it just felt pretty dumb. While the story itself felt too generic. The only good bits where the re-envisioned fight scenes taken from the original anime and the imagery of the world was great. But yeah overall it was pretty disappointing.. I can see those who haven't seen the original anime or SAC probably appreciating this more... but from a fan of everything GITS.. this was a 5/10 from a story standpoint.. I guess I would give it a 6/10 for the visual imagery though. I have a lot of anime. This actually isn't all because some of them weren't listed on IMDb. So yeah, I have the first movie, the 2nd, & Gits series 1 & 2nd gig. Yes, my daughter hated that they didn't cast Rinko Kikuchi, but she has never impressed me with her acting chops in the 3 movies I've seen her in. She just seems to be the female filling the role. She didn't own it. She didn't make it seem no one could not see any other person in the role. I even pointed out manga-kas leave some points unsaid. I recall more than a few arguments over on ANN over open-ended endings which many American fans hate. They seem to really desire every little thing explained while the makers of more than a few anime leave it up to the viewer. That particular thing reminded me of so many musicians not wanting to make videos for MTV back when it started because many composers felt whatever the listener got out of it, that's what it was about. They feared a music video would lock down 1 meaning, ending all other interpretations. So one can argue the kids were stolen, kidnapped. Their past erased. Given new identities by the people running 2571. Wouldn't staying as far away from their Japanese selves by making them something else make it less likely they will ever remember? Remember, there were 98 failures. Cutter viewed them all as disposable. They were things, not people. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 13:06:29 GMT
That's just it, why keep them in the first place? Why keep the brain of an anti-governemnt, anti-technology 'terrorist' (or just really engaged activist, perhaps) in the body of a powerful construction? And have her be part of a secret government organisation? And then only rely on a doctor who was too close to the project to begin with, to control her? Just keep wiping her memory, when it's clear that this would not help. It's Robocop all over again, when they use the unstable brain of an addict to control an immensely powerful body and then they're surprised it all goes wrong.
They should have just used those teenagers, the runaways to make it work, then use actual volunteers for the real deal. The whole storyline just does not make much sense to begin with.
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Post by merh on Apr 1, 2017 15:14:10 GMT
That's just it, why keep them in the first place? Why keep the brain of an anti-governemnt, anti-technology 'terrorist' (or just really engaged activist, perhaps) in the body of a powerful construction? And have her be part of a secret government organisation? And then only rely on a doctor who was too close to the project to begin with, to control her? Just keep wiping her memory, when it's clear that this would not help. It's Robocop all over again, when they use the unstable brain of an addict to control an immensely powerful body and then they're surprised it all goes wrong.
They should have just used those teenagers, the runaways to make it work, then use actual volunteers for the real deal. The whole storyline just does not make much sense to begin with. Because it has happened in the real world? People used as guinea pigs without their permission? It is STILL an experiment, remember? Major is the first "success" after 98 failures. They weren't up to a working model yet when she was made remember Cutter saying to terminate Major & start over again? Why would they waste volunteers at this stage? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 15:56:53 GMT
That's just it, why keep them in the first place? Why keep the brain of an anti-governemnt, anti-technology 'terrorist' (or just really engaged activist, perhaps) in the body of a powerful construction? And have her be part of a secret government organisation? And then only rely on a doctor who was too close to the project to begin with, to control her? Just keep wiping her memory, when it's clear that this would not help. It's Robocop all over again, when they use the unstable brain of an addict to control an immensely powerful body and then they're surprised it all goes wrong.
They should have just used those teenagers, the runaways to make it work, then use actual volunteers for the real deal. The whole storyline just does not make much sense to begin with. Because it has happened in the real world? People used as guinea pigs without their permission? It is STILL an experiment, remember? Major is the first "success" after 98 failures. They weren't up to a working model yet when she was made remember Cutter saying to terminate Major & start over again? Why would they waste volunteers at this stage?
Yes, it happened in the real world (East Germany for certain, tens of thousands of people were used in medical trials, apparently, without them knowing a thing.), but it's not a good analogy, imo. They didn't know, nor were they abducted for it.
In this case, they killed of 98 kids for the experiments. Fine, let's say that was the fastest way of doing this. (in contrast as to going to a hospital and visit the terminal ward. Find the patients with no family and make them a deal they will find hard to resist. No fuss, no mess.) The Major was a succes, so why keep her around? They cracked the case, they know how to do it now, so why keep her around? And why on earth do you plant a kidnapped and brainwashed kid in a top secret government intelligence unit? In a hard to destroy body, with complete free reign. That's absurd.
I still just find it ridiculous. [/p]
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Post by merh on Apr 1, 2017 17:21:54 GMT
Because it has happened in the real world? People used as guinea pigs without their permission? It is STILL an experiment, remember? Major is the first "success" after 98 failures. They weren't up to a working model yet when she was made remember Cutter saying to terminate Major & start over again? Why would they waste volunteers at this stage?
Yes, it happened in the real world (East Germany for certain, tens of thousands of people were used in medical trials, apparently, without them knowing a thing.), but it's not a good analogy, imo. They didn't know, nor were they abducted for it.
In this case, they killed of 98 kids for the experiments. Fine, let's say that was the fastest way of doing this. (in contrast as to going to a hospital and visit the terminal ward. Find the patients with no family and make them a deal they will find hard to resist. No fuss, no mess.) The Major was a succes, so why keep her around? They cracked the case, they know how to do it now, so why keep her around? And why on earth do you plant a kidnapped and brainwashed kid in a top secret government intelligence unit? In a hard to destroy body, with complete free reign. That's absurd.
I still just find it ridiculous. [/p]
[/quote] Remember-"1 year later" after we see the girl wheeled away as we see ScarJo for the first time? 1 year is easily STILL in the realm of experiment, particularly because she was still experiencing memory glitches. She was still very much an experiment |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 17:41:20 GMT
I don't know, a year is a long time for this kind of experiment. At the very least they have to had realised that they have a viable and pretty stable specimen.
I suppose it just irritated me, there are still a lot of other questions that arise with her being assigned to Section 9. How come they never found her out? Was her background that solid? It doesn't seem likely that Section 9 would not have checked her out quite intensively.
How could Kuze create that kind of elaborate plan with no resources and in that short a timespan? Not sure if the movie ever stated how much time passed between his brain being transplanted and when he escaped? Or the time between his transplant and hers? It's all vague, seemingly unimportant.
The movie annoyed me, almost from the start. I doubt that will change if I see it again, someday, maybe it will. But it's unlikely. It never felt as a whole, having elements from the series, the movies, yet never really coming together as a new and fresh look on the world of GitS.
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Post by merh on Apr 1, 2017 18:44:52 GMT
Damn stupid program....... I had all these answers typed & looked up the name of a manga-ka & POOF all gone
I don't know, a year is a long time for this kind of experiment. At the very least they have to had realised that they have a viable and pretty stable specimen.
She was having memory glitches. AT THE LEAST I would expect 90 days & more likely minimum 6 months (likely longer) of not haven to wipe her memory before she is considered a working model. They then likely need to repeat the experiment It sounded as though she was sold as a weapon like the Tachibanas.When Cutter demanded her termination, didn't Aramaki say they viewed her as a team member, not a weapon to be decommissioned? She has been in service 1 year which means he has had that year plus the time he was in service where he learned the tools of the trade, plus he's fallen in with hackers, people who know extra tricks How many anime seem to have almost nothing in common with the manga? I sat through a Comic-Con International panel with Tsuda Masami where attendee after attendee asked about the anime. She politely kept pointing out the anime was the anime. She wrote the manga. I felt so sorry for her. Almost no one was there for her. They were there for the anime. I grew up a child in the 60s. My Mother the Car. It's About Time Captain Nice Wild, Wild West As long as the show sticks to its world, I'm good. Don't say Hobbits can't fly, then they fly because you need it for the finale It's one of my bitches with Christopher Nolan. He will bend characters to get to his climax. |
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