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It's amazing how history can repeat itself. Back in 1995 Ghost in the Shell was a phenomenal success in Europe and the US, it pushed the boundaries of what animation could do and backed it up with a deeply philosophical and intelligent story, it was a remarkable achievement that would come to influence film makers for years to come. Now in 2006 Manga release a sequel which promises to do exactly the same thing, and you can get them both in a single cut-price boxset. Ghost in the Shell introduces us to a
future world where the line between human and machine has blurred.
Cybernetic implants are the norm, people can connect their brain directly to
computer networks to access information, save memories or communicate privately
with each other. However, when computers are linked directly to people's
minds hackers become the most dangerous of criminals, their skills allowing them
to access peoples thoughts and memories, or possibly rewrite them.
Government agency Section 9 is responsible for tracking down and eliminating
such threats, but this time agent Motoko Kusanagi and her partner Batou have
their work cut out to apprehend the hugely dangerous hacker known as The Puppet
Master. However, there is far more to the case than a simple
hacking, and as the plot
thickens Motoko begins to question her own humanity - how can she be certain
she is human when the only proof is her intangible spirit, or ghost, in the shell of her
cybernetic body? |
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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is set several years after the events of the first film and the focus shifts to the embittered Batou. This time Batou is partnered with the mostly human Togusa for an investigation into why cybernetic sex dolls known as Gyanoids are malfunctioning and killing their owners. Again there is far more to the story than there at first seems, why are the Gyanoids - meant to be nothing more than human looking dolls - acting in a human way? As they delve deeper they have to not only contend with deadly criminal organisations but also an extremely clever hacker, and the case begins to bring up uncomfortable questions about what it means |
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to
be human. Mostly cyborg in body and mind, Batou finds himself
struggling to retain what is left of his humanity - now that they
are seemingly acting independently what makes him any different from
the dolls he is investigating? |
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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is the first film in a very long time to truly blow me away. The animation is so absolutely stunning that it takes your breath away in nearly every scene, whether the surreal gothic mansion of Locus Solus, the bizarre carnival or the unbelievably realistic opening sequence. There is no film that even comes close for visual impact and it backs it up with a thought-provoking story on a par with that of the first film. The film's downbeat tone is balanced perfectly with the beautiful visuals and Oshii's amazing attention for detail, whether in the awesome cityscapes or Batou's basset hound, which is so realistically depicted you are half expecting it to |
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leap from the screen and lick your face. Action-wise the film doesn't let up either, but the undoubted highlight is Batou and Togusa's deeply surreal Groundhog Day-style visit to the hacker at Locus Solus which is not only unsettling but perfectly paced. You truly have seen nothing like it. A special note must also be made of Kenji Kawai's music in both films. In turns haunting, melancholy and bombastic, there really is nothing like it and it enhances both films throughout. It is just brilliant, whether the wailing choruses of the title theme or the unsettling music box twang of the Locus Solus mansion. In fact the only problem both films suffer from is that they are constantly teetering on the cusp of disappearing up their own backside. Obscure quotes fly thick and fast, particularly in the second film, and they sometimes get too philosophical and arty for their own good. Although the visuals and action scenes are superb you really have to concentrate and be patient to keep up with the plot, with the second film often making little sense until the story coalesces in the final quarter. These films challenge you to concentrate and if you do you will get a huge amount out of them, but not everyone will have the patience. At the end of the day though recommending this double pack is the easiest thing I've had to do for a long time. Yes, they're not always easy to follow and they can be unnecessarily wordy, but both remain highly watchable action packed viewing backed up with real depth and thought-provoking philosophy. The set is, to be honest, worth buying for the visuals and music alone. The quality of the animation in the second film near enough defies description, and rarely has a city been brought to life like the Hong Kong of the original film. As our reliance on technology increases the questions these films raise will only become increasingly relevant. Maybe Mamoru Oshii and original creator Masamune Shirow have looked into our future, maybe they haven't, but their stunning vision will be pushing boundaries for years to come. It is something that deserves to be seen by all. Extras: An unbeatable selection of extras grace this set. The first film crams a number of extras onto a single disc along with a host of subtitle options (see below). Manga trailers, a short 'Production Report', the original theatrical trailer and an extensive database of terms, characters profiles and creator biographies make a decent selection, but it's the second film that wins out extras-wise. The second film has two discs, the first carries a 'Making Of' featurette and an excellent audio commentary (subtitled of course) from Mamoru Oshii and animation director Toshihiko Nishikubo. The second disc carries the DTS audio tracks, an interesting but short interview with Mamoru Oshii, trailers and a sneak preview of Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG episode 5 (English only). All of this comes packaged in a nice looking and relatively sturdy slipcase box, which makes for one of the best value anime boxsets currently available in the UK. * English DTS, Japanese DTS and Japanese 5.1 audio tracks only included for Ghost in the Shell 2 ** Additional subtitle tracks listed only available on Ghost in the Shell Ratings Feature:
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