Review of Ghost in the Shell (1995) by Chris W — 18 May 2012

"Ghost in the Shell" is regarded as a landmark for anime, and has inspired the creators of "The Matrix" and many other sci-fi films. With it's "Blade Runner"-esque backdrop, futuristic characters, and stylized action scenes, "Ghost" definitely has a distinct tone to it. Also, much like every film in the genre, the pacing is VERY slow, and it makes an hour and a half feel like 2.5 hours. If you can get over that, you may actually enjoy the film.

"Ghost"'s themes tend to be centered around artificial intelligence and the meaning of being human. There's a lot of exposition and chatty scenes, but oftentimes things get complicated and the story gets muddy. I think they could have had a bigger impact with "Ghost" if they had skimmed down the script and even the themes, and boosted up the action a bit more. I mean, artificial intelligence has been the subject to many sci-fi films...past and present.

Overall "Ghost in the Shell" is a good anime film--and I'm not the biggest fan of the genre. It features a lot of sleek animation, fast action, and an intelligent story. Check this one out if you're interested in films like "The Matrix" and "Bladerunner." Recommended.