Review of Ghost in the Shell (2017) by Sam L — 25 Apr 2017

It's an interesting direction to take a live-action remake of a Japanese manga classic. Ghost in a Shell (GiaS) is an origin story wrapped in impressive visual package. The aesthetics are linked very closely with those portrayed in the anime, but the narrative lacks direction as to the motives of larger-scale conflict going on in the cyberpunk society.

While the inhuman horror of the antagonists in destroying the past life of the Colonel (Johansson's character) is evocative, it is mostly done through her interactions with people relating to her; in other words, although her character is merely a brain in the machine, it's odd that she isn't troubled when the memories come back.

Vengeful yes. But she doesn't convey this schism in a way that is compelling in a personal level. The repeated line of dialog in the film, obviously intended to be profound, summarizes my view of the work - it's not our memories but our choices that define us.

Yet it is her memories and shared experiences with the antagonist that the story revolves around. If there was more deliberation and introspection presented before she goes on the final plot arc (showing the decision process) it would make the film much more meaningful.

Regrettably, this is absent. I feel it shallows what could have been a more interesting expose of the human condition.