Review of Ghost in the Shell (2017) by Joseonone — 02 Apr 2017

This live action adaptation stays true to the spirit of the original anime film. While it doesn't quite reach the thematic depths of the original, it does explore them, albeit in a more visual fashion. Scarlett Johansson was excellent in the lead role. She captures the essence of the character, really going all in. She has the acting chops to convey thoughts and emotion with just her facial expressions and nuanced body language. If you are not paying attention, you can easily miss them. The supporting cast was generally pretty good, especially Pilou Asbaek as Batou and Takeshi Kitano as Aramaki.

I have to take issue with some of the reviewers. Pretty much everyone consistently lauds the film's visuals, it's a gorgeous film. The costumes were spot on and the score was excellent. So even if you did not like the film, and it sounds like it is mostly because it is lacking some of the thematic heft of the original, on the positives alone, it is not a 0 to 3. That just does not make any logical sense. A movie has multiple elements, and these are motion pictures after all, so why not give a film its due for its visuals.