Ghost In The Shell

I think we may see more anime and cyberpunk novels remade into Hollywood blockbusters now the superhero genre has burst open the doors for science-fiction to make a killing at the box office.

Later this year, the long-awaited adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower will hit screens but, before then, we have the equally-fevered live-action version of Ghost In The Shell.

I’ve gotta say upfront that I came to Rupert Sanders’ film without seeing the original and that the more hardcore fans may disagree with this review, and the below score, but, equally, I can represent those with no prior knowledge of the first.

From the get-go, we’re firmly in ‘hardcore’ sci-fi territory. This is a Blade Runner-esque, cyberpunk future setting with the neon pizzazz and holographic advertising to match. It’s a full-on assault on the senses; glorious to behold in parts, brain-fryingly overstocked in others.

We follow Scarlett Johansson’s Major, a technology-augmented soldier. She’s a human brain in a robotic body; the 'ghost' in the 'shell' of the title, a gun-for-hire for a shady robotics company. Upon discovering that senior members of the organisation are being assassinated, she’s sent to investigate but, on the way, discovers the truth of her past.

Being based on an existing, and widely-celebrated, anime the story and plotting is rock solid. Whilst there’s liberal use of future terminology and audiences are advised to just accept everything that comes with the future setting (almost every character, human or otherwise, has some sort of robotic enhancement or augmentation, some explained, some frustratingly not) the narrative intrigue and plot twists come thick and fast.

There’s some great, Matrix-esque action sequences (the original anime being the biggest influence on the Wachowski’s classic) and some more heartfelt moments as well.

The wonderful ScarJo is excelling at these more action-centric roles of late and again, like her performances in Under The Skin and as Black Widow in the MCU, she is brilliantly capable of playing a detached, hardened super soldier whilst also injecting enough charisma and likeability to be the driving force of the story. Accusations of ‘whitewashing’ don’t do her justice to her suitability to the role and there is a lot of diverse casting in the rest of the film. I do understand the complaints but it’s clearly specified that her body is manufactured and SPOILER ALERT the film does show her true appearance towards the end.

Another film to add to the cyberpunk classics. Bizarrely, because the original was so inspirational, this remake does come off as being a slight facsimile of its forebears, and it’s nothing we’ve not seen before, but it’s tight, thrilling and an enjoyable trip to the cinema.

4 stars ****