When an elite hacker threatens Japanese security, the covert Section-9 team headed by Motoko Kusanagi (Atsuko Tanaka) are tasked with discovering their identity in this near future thriller. “Ghost in the Shell”, based on the popular manga by Masamune Shirow, with a screenplay by Kazunori Ito, follows a secretive government agency attempting to uncover the identity of a hacker known as ‘The Puppet Master’, who is able to remotely control individuals’ cybernetic brains, allowing him to potentially destabalise the country. As the investigation progresses, they discover that the hacker is part of Project 2501 an advanced cognitive system that has gained consciousness and free will. This mind has its sights set on Kusanagi Motoko, who has begun to question her own identity in a world in which memories and data, easily manipulated, are the only reliable measure of individuality.
“Ghost in the Shell” is a masterpice of philosophical science-fiction, asking fundamental questions about our existence and our potential evolution as we head towards an increasingly computerised age. The film’s central plot is tightly written and requires concentration to follow as it moves at a breakneck pace through the various connections between Sections 6 and 9, the research laboratory experimenting on cutting-edge programs, and foreign agencies. It can be hard to keep up with the constant stream of fresh revelations, but the film does a good job in condensing a complex story down to its essential elements. Characters are given enough time for their personalities and specialities to shine without going into detail (which is fitting for the story). Major Kusanagi, introduced in a spectacular assassination sequence, is joined by fellow Section 9 team members Batou (Akio Otsuka), Togusa (Koichi Yamadera), and Ishikawa (Yutaka Nakano); all led by the irascible Section Chief Aramaki (Tamio Oki) The world created by the artists and animators is a near-future that is not so different to our own, with recognizable city-scapes and everyday concerns sitting alongside unfamiliar technologies such as cyberbrains. Kenji Kawai’s haunting score perfectly complements the subtle melancholy of the visuals and the philosophical nature of the script.
A classic of science-fiction cinema, Oshii’s film takes a darker tone than much of Shirow’s original manga, but delivers the same fast-paced drama and action. The film asks tough existentialist questions, while also showing us a near-future which is still beset by political corruption, personal traumas, and societal inequality. In some of the most powerful moments the film relies solely on the animation and score, leaving a meaningful pause for the audience to reflect on everything they have seen and heard. A completely captivating experience and food for thought about where humanity is heading.
