|
Click here to visit the Official Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex site! Volume 3 of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex was everything you've come to expect from the series, with action and intrigue throughout and some steps forward taken in the Laughing Man plot, but I was surprised to find that volume 4 is more than a little different. This time round the disc is made up of four 'standalone' episodes which don't link to the main Laughing Man arc in any way, and after some explosive action the episodes on display take on a somewhat melancholy air. The main protagonist this time round seems to be Batou rather than Motoko, so the intrigue takes a bit of a back seat, and as events progress there are signs that he is questioning his position in Section 9. The disc starts with one of the most out and out action episodes of the series so far, as Section 9 go on an all out assault on a terrorist stronghold in order to rescue a kidnapped girl. It's unusual for an episode to feature all of the Section 9 agents in full on action mode, and normal service is resumed for the second episode of the volume in which Motoko, Togusa and Batou are dispatched to stop an assassination attempt on a reclusive tycoon. However, the performance of the Tachikoma battletanks are under scrutiny after erratic behaviour in these missions, they are becoming more inquisitive and individual and despite winning over Batou it seems that Motoko is far harder to impress and could call for them to e decommissioned. With the potential fate of the Tachikomas on his mind Batou goes undercover to try and determine if a former champion boxer is selling state secrets in the final episode on the disc, a mission that once again causes him much heartache. It seems that the boxer is a bit of a hero of Batou's, and his mission could lead to him destroying the life of a man he once looked up to and admired. Once again Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex comes up trumps on action, particularly in the first episode on this disc, but as mentioned things get a little melancholy towards the end of the volume as the cheerful Tachikomas potentially head towards the Section 9 scrapheap and Batou faces bringing down his hero. Considering this is the way the disc goes it is bizarre that there are some funny moments in it - particularly Motoko's embarrassment at being dropped into the rubbish and the Tachikomas attempts to impress her - as well as plenty more depth given to Batou's character. The stories are strong as usual and the animation and sound is excellent, but this time round there are a couple of problems. The first thing that becomes apparent is that the subtitles are large and blobby, which can lead to L and I looking the same, and the opening and ending themes are only subtitled in English with no option to view them in the original language. You do get used to this, and the theme issue won't bother many, but it is still a shame. Also, this volume is guilty of something the previous ones have avoided, and that is that it sometimes doesn't make sense. In one episode for example a character has prematurely aged but no real reason is given for it, and in another a highly dangerous criminal wanted in several countries is apprehended with such ease that you wonder how no-one has managed it before. Maybe I'm reading too much in to these events, or maybe I missed something, but such is the quality of the series that these kind of things stick out more than they normally would. At the end of the day though these problems can be lived with, and there is still plenty of entertainment and drama to be had in this volume. Batou's character is further explored, the action ranges from gun battles to some superbly staged sparring matches in the volume's final episode, and whilst the volume winds towards a strangely depressing ending it still remains very watchable. The disc is extras laden as always, and don't miss the bizarre Tachikoma Days shorts which run after the closing credits of each episode! Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex vol 4 is a release I would definitely still recommend - but I hope things take a more uplifting direction next time. Ratings Feature:
|
