Ghost In The Shell
2.0 (Manga/Anchor Bay Blu-ray)
Picture:
A- Sound: A- Extras: B Film: A
In the
future, the difference between man and machine is a paper thin margin. With
increasing technologies mankind has is made up of humans, cyborgs, and computer
AI. Crimes are no longer just physical
crimes, but cyber crimes of illegal data, tech, and brain hacking or known as
'ghost hacking'... However, what stands
in their way is Major Motoko Kusanagi and her crack TAC team from Section 9. Section 9 is an elite but
unofficial strike team to combat those who exploit the human/machine
interface to reprogram the human mind to commit crimes. But when the cyber trail finally leads to them
to the greatest hacker of all time the "Puppet Master", there is more
going on than just hacking. What is the
truth behind this Puppet Master? As the
Major gets closer to the truth, so does the danger and the truth might change
everything, including the answer to the Major's question, "Do cyborgs
still souls or just a programmed machine?"
One of the earlier cyberpunk animes, this is an awesome movie. With futuristic art, ideas, and tech it makes
the viewers really believe it might be possible one day. Not only is it creative, but it challenges the
ideas of the human soul, that if humans become cyborgs can they be considered
still human? Can something not born of
human have a ghost? The film also
recreates a beautiful vista of a futuristic Hong Kong-like cyber-city, in Version
2.0 not only is it beautiful to watch, but the action is mind-blowing and
realistic.
The 1080p
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image can show cel dust from the original
animation, then you get the new CG animation, which is cleaner but sometimes
not as interesting. The DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) lossless 6.1 mix has its moments, gut the audio also shows its
age.
The Ghost in the Shell manga released in
1989, the original animation was release in 1995, now comes back in Blu-ray.
Usually I would consider redos not as
great as the original, but this Version 2.0 not only done with digital
clarity but with redone 3-D CGI scenes of both the city and the Major, new
voice recordings from the original cast and a brand new score as well. Definitely an up-grade in every sense of
the word (pun intended), this film is an anime milestone in the animation
world. Special features include the
remaking of Version 2.0, commentary from the director and face to face
interviews. I definitely recommend this
for anyone who liked the original Ghost
in the Shell, robots, or just cyberpunk, a great addition to a great
series.
For more
Anime on Blu-ray, try these links:
Akira
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9078/Akira+(1988/Japan/Animated/Honneam
Paprika
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6305/Paprika+(2006/Blu-ray/Anim%E9+feat
Tekkonkinkreet
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6054/Tekkonkinkreet+(Blu-ray)
- Ricky Chiang
