Ghost in the Shell (2017)
A film that will only be of value if you haven't watched the original.
Presentation:
The film was shot on Arri with Panavision and Leica lenses. I'm not the biggest fan of the Leica look, which reminds me of Fincher's aesthetics. Something about this combination doesn't feel quite right, maybe a premium pastel look. The visuals are still stunning and the special effects are well done. Sets, lighting and general production are all very high. So what went wrong?
Story:
The 1995 original is iconic, influencing the likes of future films like The Matrix. As a mindless blockbuster this could be passable, but the material is so rich and deep setting the bar very high. The film fails to deliver the soul of the material, the existential crisis, what makes us human as nothing about the characters feel alive at all. This would be a one chili review, but the visuals are gorgeous enough with some well executed scenes to provide fans with enough to cling on to. Similar to the empty husk androids, the film is a shell with no ghost.
Conclusion:
This is obviously a big inspiration for me and where my name partly originates. The original was simply too good and this live action version misses the magic and soul of the anime. The performances are flat and and what you are left with is bits and pieces of a masterpiece with no regard for the original vision. Disappointing.
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Though no one will believe, it’s never just teenage angst.