Product description

Ghost In The Shell [1995]

Price: £17.39
RRP: £19.99
Average customer rating: 4.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5022366552943
Label : Manga Entertainment
Manufacturer : Manga Entertainment
Publisher : Manga Entertainment
Release date : 2000-02-28
Title : Ghost In The Shell [1995]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Suitable for 15 years and over
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1995-12-08
Region code : 2
Running time : 111
Studio : Manga Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 1996-03-29
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The skilful blending of drawn animation and computer-generated imagery excited anime fans when this science fiction mystery was released in 1995: many enthusiasts believe Ghost suggests what the future of anime will be, at least in the short term. The film is set in the not-too-distant future, when an unnamed government uses lifelike cyborgs or "enhanced" humans for undercover work. One of the key cyborgs is the Major, Motoko Kusanagi, who resembles a cross between the Terminator and a Playboy centrefold. She finds herself caught up in a tangled web of espionage and counterespionage as she searches for the mysterious superhacker known as "The Puppet Master."

Mamoru Oshii directs with a staccato rhythm, alternating sequences of rapid-fire action (car chases, gun battles, explosions) with static dialogue scenes that allow the characters to sort out the vaguely mystical and rather convoluted plot. Kusanagi's final quote from I Corinthians suggests that electronic evolution may compliment and eventually supplant organic evolution. The minor nudity, profanity and considerable violence would earn Ghost in the Shell at least a PG rating. --Charles Solomon

Customer reviews

review by: He's the strongest, he's the quickest, he's the best! date: 2008-08-05 rating:

"Your effort to remain what you are is what limits you."
`Ghost in the Shell' and `Akira' are often hailed as something of a turning point for Japanese Animated film - it's grown up, articulate, deep.

When you watch this DVD, if it's the first time you've seen the film then much of what you see feels familiar. And that's not surprising considering this has embedded itself deep into film culture - take the opening credits for example and you'll see the direct influence on American thought-provoker - the Matrix.

This film presents concepts which take some thinking about to fully understand, definitely a film to be watched twice. This feels more like a live action film than anime, and that's not all down to the beautifully detailed artwork, it's due to the realistic feel of the story. It's far fetched - but not too far-fetched that you can't imagine this as a possible future for the world, with people cybernetically `enhanced', the lines between human and robot blur to eventually give rise to a sentient being with no physical body - existing only as software, a being in code only.

This is a milestone in film history and deserves to be watched by all who consider themselves film or Sci-Fi fans. It doesn't introduce anything particularly new, but it packages everything in a mature way. There's no spoon-feeding of plot here, you need to sit up, pay attention and open your mind to a story of police chases, espionage, and robots.

In a nutshell: If you like mindless violence then this isn't for you, but if you like to watch something designed to challenge - then this should have a spot on your DVD shelf.

review by: cluricaune date: 2008-07-23 rating:

Spirit Lives When Man Dies
This is the first "Ghost in the Shell" movie to have been based on the popular manga. It's set in 2029, apparently in Hong Kong, and follows the agents of Section 9 - a government agency that deals with unsavoury (and frequently criminal) elements. Life is very different : the internet plays an much greater role in life than it does now, while most people now have technology-enhanced bodies. These improvements range from controlled metabolisms to cybernetic bodies.

Section 9 has a small, though clearly very effective team. Daisuke Aramaki is is charge, though takes no active part in the missions - a rather elderly gentleman, he deals with bureaucrats, politicians and reports. (In fact, he life seems to ne so busy that her doesn't always get to read the reports submitted to him). Major Motoko Kusanagi effectively operates as the team leader in the field. Kusanagi is a cyborg - a human brain fitted in a metal body that features some very cool optional extras. Batou is not only a very experienced officer, he is also - apparently - the closest thing the Major has to a friend. While he is primarily biological, he does have some quite significant implants - most obviously his eyes. Togusa, who has virtually no implants at all, is the most recent arrival to Section 9. He was recruited by Kusanagi herself, who views diversity as a strength. Ishikawa, meanwhile, barely appears at all - he acts as Section 9's computer expert and doesn't6 take part in any of the fighting.

As the film opens, Section 9 has been helping the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deal with a couple of difficult political asylum cases. (The individuals requesting asylum were proving to be as unsavoury as those they were requesting asylum from...Section 9's involvement meant no awkward decision had to be made by Minister Nakamura). At the same time, Nakamura is building up to a round of very secret talks...disturbingly, it would appear that the talks and the delegates are now under threat. The Minister's Interpreter has been attacked, with the technological upgrades to her brain proving her weakness. These upgrades have been hacked into, by a shadowy terrorist known only as the Puppet Master. This process is known as Ghost Hacking, and is an attack on the victim's very consciousness. It allows the hacker to alter his victim's memories - essentially destroying their very identity. The interpreter, the Monkey Man believes, would have been used by the Puppet Master to kill the key delegates at the talks - and everyone involved with these talks is now under surveillance.

There is very little to go on as to the Puppet Master's true identity. The "infamous Master Hacker", whose nickname was coined by the Ghost Pack, is believed to be American. However, any remaining details - age, background and (despite the moniker) even gender - are all a matter of speculation. However, this incident is the first confirmed Puppet Master attack in Hong Kong - and it seems clear that, for whatever reason, Nakamura's round of talks is his intended target.

The film features some great artwork and is very atmospheric. With the Major, in particular, there is a very clear and real sense of isolation. This stems from the fact she is largely technological, rather than biological - "cyborgs", she says "have a tendency to be paranoid about their origins". Ironically enough, she's not alone in her loneliness - despite how much easier technology has made it to communicate, it's a mood that seems all too common throughout the city.

review by: Werthead date: 2008-06-29 rating:

A fine movie
Ghost in the Shell is a 1995 anime directed by Mamoru Oshii, based on the manga by Masamune Shirow. Like the earlier Akira, Ghost in the Shell broke out out the traditional anime/manga fanbase and won a large following, including the Wachowski brothers who used some of its ideas and motifs in The Matrix a few years later.

The setting is Hong Kong in 2029 and chronicles an intercine power struggle in the justice and law-enforcement agencies of the city, with most of the protagonists belonging to Section 9, whilst the antagonists belong to the government and Section 6. A number of innocents, criminals and agents belonging to Section 9 get caught up in this whirlwind of conspiracies and violence. The main character is Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg who finds herself riven by existential questions over her nature and consciousness whilst investigating the activities of a criminal known as the Puppetmaster.

The movie version of Ghost in the Shell is notably less complex than the manga or the later TV Stand-Alone Complex TV series, stripping away a lot of secondary storylines to focus on Kusanagi's dilemmas and the Puppetmaster storyline. As a result, Ghost in the Shell is a surprisingly approachable anime for those not versed in the genre (especially for those whose only contact has been Akira or other notably dense anime). The storyline is reasonably complex and operates on multiple thematic levels, but events and charcter motivations are depicted clearly and elegantly. The movie is notable for its use of music - especially a gorgeous but unsettling choral piece - and lengthy, well-animated establishing shots to cover moments of character introspection.

This is a thoroughly intriguing and thought-provoking movie which raises many of the same issues as the later Matrix but investigates them far more elegantly and with a less tedious running time. There are a few criticisms, though. A couple of scenes are rather heavy on the exposition and some of the secondary characters are not as well-developed as might be wished. For example, Motoko's partner Togusa initially appears to be an important character and as the least cybernetically-enhanced member of Section 9 is set up to be an 'in' for the ordinary viewer into this cyberpunk world, but he quickly fades into the background in favour of the (admittedly more interesting and dynamic) character of Batou.

Overall, this is an intelligent and well-made science fiction move that asks some interesting questions and doesn't provide easy answers.

review by: date: 2008-03-21 rating:

Close to perfection.
So, all anime is for kids right? Well try watching this and tell me it's anything other than an adult movie. In spite of the awesome 'Akira', it was 'Ghost In The Shell' that showed audiences worldwide that anime was thought-provoking, adult material, that could and should, be mentioned in the same breath as the best live-action sci-fi movies you can name.

Many people just didn't get this. They complained when there wasn't enough action. Expecting a body count in the thousands and naked chicks everywhere, instead they got a cyber-punk mystery thriller, far more concerned with mankind's battle with machine than mindless slaying (go watch Fist Of The North Star' or something). Well, this is a mature film for mature people, and should be seen at all costs.

But action junkies fear not. There's plenty to get the pulse racing, including a phenomenal cyborg versus tank scrap, and a thrilling chase through a busy street, featuring bullets, martial arts and all sorts.

So to all anime virgins, check this out. You may never look back.

review by: Ballfook date: 2008-03-03 rating:

WHAT ?
I have seen so many reviews praising this film, and I just dont get it!

Other than Akira, I have been informed that there is no better Manga film than this....and quite frankly I would rather put my balls in a blender than watch it again.

I was bored from the get go, and the moment where she beat up the bloke on the water whilst invisible is the only decent part of action I actualy managed to see.

The storyline was good, very adult, but the action was lacking.

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