Ghost in the Shell

I won't go into the main plot. But I just say that if one has not any background related to the original manga japanese animated movie perhaps one can really enjoy this film afresh and see how awsome it is. Obviously because of the powerful original history, which is tranformed into a hollywood production quite well. As a proof, just compare this film, its plot, with any other Hollywood 100-200 million production, and you will see the risk they have taken to show this sci-fi history in a non-animated fashion, with incredible special effects and not losing the original track at all, although simplified.

Intense, visually superb, faithful to the original oav.

Simplified? Yes. Stupified? No! imho a beautifully crafted cyberpunk movie that while it does not reach to the levels of complexity of the original anime, it stand it's ground and deliver a great audiovisual experience with a story that is sophisticated enough to rise above most Hollywood movies today but not that much to alienate more mainstream viewers. This is greatly underrated because it had to stand in the unfair comparison of the anime. I don't believe it is possible to replicate animes so just go and see it for what it is. A great cyberpunk Hollywood production. It is rare for Hollywood to treat it's original material with respect while trying to simplify it to reach a bigger audience.

Disclaimer: Old fart sci-fi / fantasy fan, and I don't know a thing about the original anime or anime in general. Two things i do know:

First, this is more than just first-rate eye candy and directing, it has heart and soul and that bittersweet feeling that anyone who has any of the first two will instantly understand and be drawn to.

Second, 6.5 stars (Jan 2017) is a crime against this film. Surely there is some exterior reason the haters are going after it. I predict 5 years from now, it's true quality will be more accurately reflected. I'd wager it might even make it to the top 250 list someday.

Thank you for this film. It really tries to stay true to its original elements and the visuals don't disappoint. Some take the nitpicking, whitewashing, feminism etc too far, none of which are the intention of this film. The makers of this feature film must have had been fans of the original series so as not to ruin it. If good anime are to have live action movies, then I say this is the bar, the benchmark.

And I would absolutely love a sequel!