Ghost in the Shell (2017)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2017
	Director: Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman)
	Actors: Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, The Avengers), Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano (Zatoichi)
	Country: USA, IND, CN, J, HK, GB, NZ, CDN, AUS
	Genre: SF
	Conditions of visioning: 02.09.2017, in-flight entertainment 10" screen
Synopsis: In the near future, Major (Johansson) is the first of her kind: A human is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals.
Review: I dreaded to watch this remake since I heard about it at least a year ago. In fact the live adaptation of the revolutionary 1995 Anime Ghost in the Shell by Mamoru Oshii (that we love on JoRafCinema, and we even liked it sequel) with the trendy Scarlett Johansson in the leading role. Many things are wrong with this movie, the actress far from being the worst. What was revolutionary in 1995 may be less now more than 20 years later, and it is not that special affects only allow now to show this future in a live-action film, it could have been done ten years ago (but they are reasonably well done). So why waiting so long? Then about the adaptation work: the dialogs are more tuned to the Western sensibilities and the story is more linear and in fact providing answers instead of leaving you thinking like the original did, which makes the movie accessible for a larger audience which was the goal I guess. The music from the original movie, a character in itself and definitely acclaimed by the fans, is not re-used in this remake, but the soundtrack does try to mimic the same tones and spirit, in vain. Note the presence of Japanese legend Takeshi Kitano in the cast (as Major's boss) which brings a welcome oriental touch. In summary: a cult animated movie modernized and simplified to entertain a young audience but that will be very quickly forgotten.
Rating: 3 /10