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Ghost in the Shell is without a doubt
one of the most popular anime in the Western world. This, along with
Akira, are the two films that convinced people in the mid 90s that
animation wasn't just something saved for a Saturday morning.
In the year 2029, a computer hacker known as "Puppet Master" is controlling
and manipulating people around them through the borderless reality
we know as the Net. Its up to Major Kusanagi and Section 9 to solve
the mystery of this criminal, and shed some light on the reasons behind
the hacks. Based on the hit Manga by Masamune Shirow, right from the
first five minutes you know it was destined to be a classic. The gritty,
cyberpunk surroundings help set the mood, and thanks to some striking
shots from Mamoru Oshii make sure the film's as beautiful as it is
atmospheric. Using then groundbreaking computer graphics to blend
seamlessly with hand drawn animation, Ghost in the Shell still stands
today as one of the biggest visual feasts available. A pleasant surprise
was in the dub, which shows the obvious care taken by Manga to make
it as good as possible. The music captures the emotion of the images
on the screen and enhances it to bring the vision of Director Mamoru
Oshii to life.
This new DVD version of the film doesn't particularly improve on the
original release from a few years back. Not having owned the original
my self, I can't really comment on certain aspects of the DVDs it's
self and simply go on what information I can find. Most of the extras
stays pretty much the same, and anyone who (yes, that's all of you)
is annoyed by the lag between the soundtrack and the film it's self
has been fixed. The only truly notable difference is the cover that
is used. The first cover, which is the slip-case, has the much used
image of Motoko Kusanagi holding her gun, and on the back there are
manga-style images of Kusanagi. The actual case it's self has a manga-style
image on the front, but the anime one on the back. It's nice to see
Shirow's artwork on the shelves of your local shop, but to be honest
it makes things seem a little inconsistent after you watch the film
it's self. Among the other special features is a short documentary
on the creation and premiere of the film, which also includes interviews
with  various
cast and staff members. Ir doesn't go into too much detail and manages
to stay below the bore factor.
Ghost in the Shell may be relatively different from the manga on which
it was based, and lack the humour, but after viewing it you'll know
you have witnessed something rather special, which helps even out
the confusing plot of the original story.
9/10 - A true benchmark in anime history, a mature film that
will continue to impress audiences for decades to come.
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