Ghost in the Shell (2017) - Discussion

[Marin]

Got to see the movie a few days ago and I must say, while it wasn't anything special it was the first decent anime adaptation. It didn't really hit the philosophical tones of the original and it dumbed down the story a bit, but as a thing of it's own, it works well enough to be ok entertainment. My score would be a solid 7/10 cuz it was Ghost in the Shell in terms of world and characters (the esthetics were done really well) but it didn't really capture it's soul, or should I say ghost?

Curious, what you think of the movie? Has anyone here watched it? Is anyone planning to watch it?

PS: I loved Scarlet as Major, the role fits her well.

 

[Nagi]

It was terrible. They even tried to justify the whitewashing. But it was better than that Dragon ball Z and that one avatar movie!

It felt like it was based off the Ghost in the Shell: arise anime more than the first movie.

 

[Xēnovia.]

I'm planing on seeing it today later at night actually. Let's see how it iz.

 

[Marin]

It was terrible. They even tried to justify the whitewashing. But it was better than that Dragon ball Z and that one avatar movie!

It felt like it was based off the Ghost in the Shell: arise anime more than the first movie.

Ok.. why do you think it's terrible?

And it's not whitewashing, they even had japanese actors in there throughout the film.

I'm planing on seeing it today later at night actually. Let's see how it iz.

Hope you have a good time!

 

[Nagi]

Ok.. why do you think it's terrible?

And it's not whitewashing, they even had japanese actors in there throughout the film.



Hope you have a good time!

It is whitewashed with a major plot hole. They have major real body Japanese. Her android body is white. She never once questioned why they did that. It makes sense to do that because somebody would recognize her as Motoko, then investgate. But then when she went to visit her mother the first time, the mother just let her in. Also old Japanese women do not hug at all. It is their culture.

There is a Japanese writer that commented on this. No way in hell, an old Japanese lady would just invite some random person into her home.

Kuze. Man, one of the best character of Ghost in the shell. They destroyed his character. He is hailed as one of the best revolutionary leaders in anime! But they got him making people doing dumb stuff.

Again, this movie is better than most live action anime movies, but it is terrible.

 

[Marin]

It is whitewashed with a major plot hole. They have major real body Japanese. Her android body is white. She never once questioned why they did that. It makes sense to do that because somebody would recognize her as Motoko, then investgate. But then when she went to visit her mother the first time, the mother just let her in. Also old Japanese women do not hug at all. It is their culture.

Whitewashing is making characters that are supposed to be a certain race into white people in order to pamper the white supremacists, but we didn't have that here. We had japanese folks everywhere and major was never said to be asian, nor was the race ever important for her character as she got a random body anyway.

I have no idea about hugging in japanese folks but as far as I know that old woman had serious issues (did you see how she acted?). Plus she just got her daughter back, everyone would hug and cry at this point - whether it's a traditional custom or not. Be that as it may though, that's not really whitewashing, it's just messing up one custom (which isn't even important).

I also failed to see the plot hole you mention? What plot hole is there in the movie? I found it pretty straight-forward.

There is a Japanese writer that commented on this. No way in hell, an old Japanese lady would just invite some random person into her home.

Why not? She was an emotionally messed up old lady who was craving someone's attention. She even asked Major if she'll come visit again as she was about to leave. Again, I don't think customs mean anything here as she wanted company anyway.

Kuze. Man, one of the best character of Ghost in the shell. They destroyed his character. He is hailed as one of the best revolutionary leaders in anime! But they got him making people doing dumb stuff.

Again, this movie is better than most live action anime movies, but it is terrible.

I am not very familiar with the source material so I can't comment on destroyed characters and what not but aren't you oversimplifying it when you say "they got him making people doing dumb stuff"? He manipulated people, killed them, stole data, hacked stuff etc. Usual villain gig, what did he do in the anime that made him so far and above this?

You know, I could just concede all these things but I really don't see how they make the movie terrible. Disappointing? Yea, but downright terrible? Nah, as I said, they captured the world and look of Ghost in the Shell and presented a plot that waas dumbed down but overall an ok story viewed on its own. Sadly, the movie failed to capture the deeper aspect of the original which actually made it stand out so it ended up kinda bland, but I don't think it's anything worse than just ok.

 

[Kanino]

The movie is doing pretty well in Japan and the series author gave it praised.

I was never able to get in to the anime or was even interested in it but this movie looks good and awesome, imma gonsee it when my wife comes back.

Another hit like Edge of tomorrow

 

[Erotic L]

I haven't seen it yet, but seeing as the main character isn't what I expected, I can't say I'll enjoy it, but whatever, as long as they capture all the important stuff, it can't be unwatchable.

 

[Bad Touch Yakushi]

It's very faithful to the original and the visuals are GORGEOUS. Worth admission alone, just rather more simplified and slimmed-down.

It's a very quiet and subtle film like the original that oddly doesn't take advantage of the Hollywood factors in moments where you'd expect it to actually improve on the original (e.g. the final spider tank battle is much shorter now)

It was fine, glad I saw it. Don't care about cries of white-washing since it's explained in-plot, just Johannson never sells me on being strong and imposing. She hangs in shot awkwardly rather than being tough or menacing.

 

[Nagi]

It's very faithful to the original and the visuals are GORGEOUS. Worth admission alone, just rather more simplified and slimmed-down.

It's a very quiet and subtle film like the original that oddly doesn't take advantage of the Hollywood factors in moments where you'd expect it to actually improve on the original (e.g. the final spider tank battle is much shorter now)

It was fine, glad I saw it. Don't care about cries of white-washing since it's explained in-plot, just Johannson never sells me on being strong and imposing. She hangs in shot awkwardly rather than being tough or menacing.

No it ain't! Shit lack the philosophical concepts(which made Ghost in the shell Ghost in the Shell).

Again, I feel like this movie was based off the Ghost in the shell: arise anime more than the first movie.

The visuals are lovely indeed.

But the shit just wasn't Ghost in the shell. They would've been better off making it into another cyberpunk movie influenced by Ghost in the shell.

 

[Bad Touch Yakushi]

No it ain't! Shit lack the philosophical concepts(which made Ghost in the shell Ghost in the Shell).

Again, I feel like this movie was based off the Ghost in the shell: arise anime more than the first movie.

In tone, visuals and overall message it's definitely faithful. As I said, it's just a much more streamlined and simplified one. You gotta read the whole post and not just cherrypick man.

 

[Nagi]

In tone, visuals and overall message it's definitely faithful. As I said, it's just a much more streamlined and simplified one. You gotta read the whole post and not just cherrypick man.

XD maybe, you should read my whole post! XD

edit: or at least wait a few seconds and hit the refresh button

 

[Marin]

It's very faithful to the original and the visuals are GORGEOUS. Worth admission alone, just rather more simplified and slimmed-down.

It's a very quiet and subtle film like the original that oddly doesn't take advantage of the Hollywood factors in moments where you'd expect it to actually improve on the original (e.g. the final spider tank battle is much shorter now)

It was fine, glad I saw it. Don't care about cries of white-washing since it's explained in-plot, just Johannson never sells me on being strong and imposing. She hangs in shot awkwardly rather than being tough or menacing.

Yeah, I felt like that too. I'm not really aware of what would make a woman soldier seem menacing and strong so I won't comment but I found Scarlet's performance enjoyable.

 

[Bad Touch Yakushi]

XD maybe, you should read my whole post! XD

edit: or at least wait a few seconds and hit the refresh button

Can't. 2Fast.

Yeah, I felt like that too. I'm not really aware of what would make a woman soldier seem menacing and strong so I won't comment but I found Scarlet's performance enjoyable.

It's just little things, an android with a small frame is fine but like the interrogation scene? She just follows him non-threateningly when she should be pressuring him. Mikoto could've had aggressive body language whilst maintaining the robotic performance she needs to have.

 

[Goetia]

Spoiler

"Oshii said that because the main protagonist – Major Motoko Kusanagi – is a cyborg, the question of race and whitewashing is a moot point. “What issue could there possibly be with casting her?” Oshii said. “The major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one.”

“The name ‘Motoko Kusanagi’ and her current body are not her original name and body, so there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her. Even if her original body (presuming such a thing existed) were a Japanese one, that would still apply.”

Oshii added that he thought Johansson was the best possible person to play Kusanagi in the Rupert Sanders-helmed remake, which is out next weekend in the US. He also argued that actors of different backgrounds from the characters they are portraying is part and parcel of the film-making world.

“In the movies, John Wayne can play Genghis Khan, and Omar Sharif, an Arab, can play Doctor Zhivago, a Slav. It’s all just cinematic conventions,” he explained.

“If that’s not allowed, then Darth Vader probably shouldn’t speak English, either. I believe having Scarlett play Motoko was the best possible casting for this movie. I can only sense a political motive from the people opposing it, and I believe artistic expression must be free from politics.”

For all the whitewashing retards.

That being said, good movie.

 

[Kushina89]

as expected it was meh at best
it failed horrible at trying to be what gits stands for and even the parts were they went a different way from the original source fellt flat

sj wasn't too bad though

 

[Marin]

It's just little things, an android with a small frame is fine but like the interrogation scene? She just follows him non-threateningly when she should be pressuring him. Mikoto could've had aggressive body language whilst maintaining the robotic performance she needs to have.

Oh, I definitely see what you mean. Yeah, those parts were unconvincing.