Aug 26, 2011
I watched the first movie quite a while ago (what, I was fourteen?) but the second one definitely lives up to the name of “Ghost in the Shell”.
I daresay I understood this movie better than the first (maybe because I’ve matured, or maybe because the presentation was simplified), but it does require the viewer to have a philosophical way of thinking. This isn’t on the level of Evangelion. Evangelion is grade school maths compared to this.
"Let one live alone doing no evil, care-free, like an elephant in an elephant forest."
The questioning of reality, existence and morality is constantly challenged in this film. Heck, the
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scene in Kim’s mansion is pure gold. What does it mean to be human? How can we be sure that we're living in reality? It isn't spoon-fed to the viewer, and nor is it so hard to understand that you'd need a degree in Philosophy. The ideas are presented in a way that makes the viewer think deeply about the question at hand. However, I felt that not enough time was given to stomach all of what was being said.
Half of the dialogue is made up of quotes. They’re hard to interpret, that’s for sure. But if you can understand them, it brings so much more meaning to viewing the movie. As I said, you can't watch this unless you are mentally prepared. This puts many people off this movie, so you'd better be ready for some big names to be mentioned. Confucius is the high flyer of this movie.
As for how the story goes, it was quite solid with a few surprises. The flow of the movie changed quite drastically according to the situation the characters were in. At one point they'd be leisurely questioning reality, and soon after they'd be thrust into a gunfight. Keeps you on the edge of your seat, no?
Batou does well to express the philosophical feel of this movie. As the protagonist of this movie, we get to see a side of him that wasn't revealed in the first movie. He is even compared to the Major at one point, which shows just how much he has changed. His only real attachment to the world is shown through his pet. His dog is the only organism that he is close to; he refers to his home (whom he shares with his dog) as his 'love nest'. It is pretty ironic, considering that the story started off with the malfunctioning of sex-droids. Togusa is also a well thought-out character. Being the most ‘organic’, he is the human perspective, perhaps even the most immature, of the cast. He provides the ‘normal’ way of looking at things; almost like a student who has been exposed to philosophical ideas for the first time. A contrasting duo tackling crime; where have I heard that before?
What people complain about is the use of CG in this movie. Over-used? Perhaps. But it wasn’t a bad idea; it represents the future world of cyber-technology and robots very well. It’d be weird to use full 2D animation in 2004, wouldn’t it? Besides, most of it was used on the scenery, and I must say it looked beautiful.
The soundtrack was impressive too, though somewhat lacking in variety. It was the sound effects that really stood out though. The sound of a car speeding past a lamp post to the sound of a robot's mechanical joint movements. All of it is executed seamlessly.
If you’re looking for a mentally challenging, philosophical anime, then go for it. If you have seen the original Ghost in the Shell, then definitely do not overlook this movie. But above all, do not watch this movie half-heartedly. You’ll find that the enjoyment plummets severely if you’re not prepared for what’s in store (haha, see the joke I made there, Batou?).
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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