I remember when Ghost in the Shell came out in 1995, it was sold as the next Akira. I didn't see it then because I'd also heard I shouldn't believe the hype. Real late to the party here, but I think both statements are true. On the one hand, it has that level of technical mastery, though laden with primitive CG animation (still turns out well), and while people always praise the animation on these things, I want to give a shout-out to the background artists because that stuff is just as amazing. There's also some great sound design. And like Akira, the story can be a bit obtuse. That's where the hype stops being true. I find the philosophysing on the nature of identity delivered in the most boring terms and tones imaginable. The story just stops so characters can deliver speeches. No, not speeches, TEXT. Don't get me wrong. It understands that cyberpunk has an important existential component. I just wish it were less on the nose about discussing that angst, as the visuals tell a better story than the dialog does.
I was underwhelmed. The visuals are great, but that's not enough to make a movie good. The film is surprisingly short: less than an hour and half, and I feel that was a major reason I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. The characters are interesting and the philosophical ideas are nice, and the few action set pieces (this movie had less action than I was expected) were memorable, but everything is so damned perfunctory. The philosophical ideas take center stage, but with such a short run time its difficult for them to rise above what you'd get in a freshman-level philosophy lecture. The characters barely had any time to express themselves or interact with each other, so they come across as shallow, and almost no time is given for world building. The audience is thrown into this sprawling sci-fi dystopia and before they know which way is up the plot and theme come hammering down. When the movie ended I had major feeling of "that's it?" I'm sure things are expanded upon in the sequels and manga, but good movies have to stand on their own, and this offered much less I than expected, especially since it's considered a classic of the anime genre.
I think probably I saw this movie 20 years too late. Though its level of visual detail is admittedly stunning, the existential questions posed by Kôkaku Kidôtai have since been more stylishly asked (and occasionally answered) by films like Ex Machina and innovations like IBM's Watson or Apple's Siri. I wonder whether the evil machinations of governments and corporations can seem novel after Coppola's The Conversation or regular doses of The X-Files.
AtomicSquid is absolutely right. A shameless, cringeworthy amount of exposition. The philosophical questions everyone is talking about aren't raised by the story, they are literally asked in the dialogue. Fantastic visuals but really weak writing.
Those looking for a cool anime, action sequences or sexy lead characters will find these here, but will also be warded off after the opening sequence ends and the movie switches to raising philosophical questions about the nature of existence while hardly caring to explore the futuristic world in which his movie takes place or to explain the intricate plot that drives this movie, leaving much to be pondered about throughout the movie and after it.
amazing movie. this will definitely stick in your head. problem is it will stick only in the extremes. it will either amaze you or bore you. there is no between. but personally i loved it. the themes discussed, though not relevant today, are things mankind may have to face. it showed society in such a realistic way. but sometimes the dialog seemed a little bland though.
also to the guy complaining about the 5 minute music scene, i found that scene to be the most beautiful scene in the movie. it was a scene that showed how ordinary life in the future, even when surrounded by cyborgs and so much technology, could be. but the final shot emphasized that it would never be the same because cyborgs were here and would always be part of that life
Perhaps the best looking Anime ever and I found it interesting for that fact alone and the philosophical points it pondered, but I agree that the plot is overly complicated and sometimes plain confusing. I found the characters interesting though, at least far more so than Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, that's an animated movie with empty, boring characters. This one gets a thumb up due to its amazing visuals and atmosphere (The art direction made me think about Blade Runner).
I just finished reading Neuromancer, and wanted nothing more than to see a visualized version of it. Absurdly, decades after the novel first paved the way for cyberpunk, a movie version has yet to be made. This animated film is more than a sufficient substitute, however - dealing with many of the same themes (downloaded consciousness, artificial intelligence, computerized society, the cyborg, etc). Some great action sequences as well!
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Comments 1 - 15 of 26
satisfythecrave
I can’t wait to rewatch.Ah, yes - what makes us human, not just sentient, is the control of our memories.
Siskoid
I remember when Ghost in the Shell came out in 1995, it was sold as the next Akira. I didn't see it then because I'd also heard I shouldn't believe the hype. Real late to the party here, but I think both statements are true. On the one hand, it has that level of technical mastery, though laden with primitive CG animation (still turns out well), and while people always praise the animation on these things, I want to give a shout-out to the background artists because that stuff is just as amazing. There's also some great sound design. And like Akira, the story can be a bit obtuse. That's where the hype stops being true. I find the philosophysing on the nature of identity delivered in the most boring terms and tones imaginable. The story just stops so characters can deliver speeches. No, not speeches, TEXT. Don't get me wrong. It understands that cyberpunk has an important existential component. I just wish it were less on the nose about discussing that angst, as the visuals tell a better story than the dialog does.Paravail
I was underwhelmed. The visuals are great, but that's not enough to make a movie good. The film is surprisingly short: less than an hour and half, and I feel that was a major reason I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. The characters are interesting and the philosophical ideas are nice, and the few action set pieces (this movie had less action than I was expected) were memorable, but everything is so damned perfunctory. The philosophical ideas take center stage, but with such a short run time its difficult for them to rise above what you'd get in a freshman-level philosophy lecture. The characters barely had any time to express themselves or interact with each other, so they come across as shallow, and almost no time is given for world building. The audience is thrown into this sprawling sci-fi dystopia and before they know which way is up the plot and theme come hammering down. When the movie ended I had major feeling of "that's it?" I'm sure things are expanded upon in the sequels and manga, but good movies have to stand on their own, and this offered much less I than expected, especially since it's considered a classic of the anime genre.demagogo
am i the only one tired of existentialist bullshit portrayed as some kind of philosophical pinnacle?Jeckit
Matrix was inspired by Kôkaku Kidôtai.brian_fuller
I think probably I saw this movie 20 years too late. Though its level of visual detail is admittedly stunning, the existential questions posed by Kôkaku Kidôtai have since been more stylishly asked (and occasionally answered) by films like Ex Machina and innovations like IBM's Watson or Apple's Siri. I wonder whether the evil machinations of governments and corporations can seem novel after Coppola's The Conversation or regular doses of The X-Files.Shingwauk
Couldn't watch it. No matter how I try most anime does nothing for me.kellyoung
AtomicSquid is absolutely right. A shameless, cringeworthy amount of exposition. The philosophical questions everyone is talking about aren't raised by the story, they are literally asked in the dialogue. Fantastic visuals but really weak writing.Jneves7
Why is it in Doubling the canon and TSPDT?sureup
Pretty good but there was way too much stuff going on for such a short movie.Pallium Invisibilitatem
Quite intruiging movie I must say...have to see the second part to get ituritibon
Those looking for a cool anime, action sequences or sexy lead characters will find these here, but will also be warded off after the opening sequence ends and the movie switches to raising philosophical questions about the nature of existence while hardly caring to explore the futuristic world in which his movie takes place or to explain the intricate plot that drives this movie, leaving much to be pondered about throughout the movie and after it.aniforprez
amazing movie. this will definitely stick in your head. problem is it will stick only in the extremes. it will either amaze you or bore you. there is no between. but personally i loved it. the themes discussed, though not relevant today, are things mankind may have to face. it showed society in such a realistic way. but sometimes the dialog seemed a little bland though.also to the guy complaining about the 5 minute music scene, i found that scene to be the most beautiful scene in the movie. it was a scene that showed how ordinary life in the future, even when surrounded by cyborgs and so much technology, could be. but the final shot emphasized that it would never be the same because cyborgs were here and would always be part of that life
Zeltaebar
Perhaps the best looking Anime ever and I found it interesting for that fact alone and the philosophical points it pondered, but I agree that the plot is overly complicated and sometimes plain confusing. I found the characters interesting though, at least far more so than Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, that's an animated movie with empty, boring characters. This one gets a thumb up due to its amazing visuals and atmosphere (The art direction made me think about Blade Runner).TheStonyField
I just finished reading Neuromancer, and wanted nothing more than to see a visualized version of it. Absurdly, decades after the novel first paved the way for cyberpunk, a movie version has yet to be made. This animated film is more than a sufficient substitute, however - dealing with many of the same themes (downloaded consciousness, artificial intelligence, computerized society, the cyborg, etc). Some great action sequences as well!Showing items 1 – 15 of 26