Ghost in the Shell

UK Release Date: 30 March 2017

Certification: 12A

Director: Rupert Sanders

Cast: Pilou Asbæk, Juliette Binoche, Chin Han, Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt

Rating: 32%

I wish I had watched Ex Machina instead. 

Review:

I haven't read the manga from which this movie is based on or watched the original Ghost in the Shell but this movie feels like another failed and disrespectful attempt to adapt a beloved manga series by Hollywood.

The acting in Ghost in the Shell is just bad. Scarlett Johansson is a terrific actress but she's emotionless - and I understand her character is a 'robot' - but that's simply uninspiring storytelling. Because her character had zero personality, I didn't care at all for what happened to her during the film. Also she does a weird walk throughout that kind of looked like she was constipated. Pilou Asbæk is the stereotypical side kick with no charisma and no character development. And I have no idea why he had coins for eyes. Kuze played by Michael Pitt is a ludicrous villain, that is part of a predictable twist which makes absolutely every single thing he does feel out of this world, a dystopian future, displaying how ridiculous he is. But my biggest flaw with the cast is Chin Han. He's grossly under-utilised. In brief appearances in both The Dark Knight and Captain America: The Winter Soldier he's excellent so I really wanted to see more of him in this movie.  

Ghost in the Shell is essentially a sci-fi action movie and it had a budget of $110 million so I'm not entirely sure what the studio actually ended up spending it on because there isn't anywhere near enough action and when there is it's so lacklustre. There are so many cuts which makes the footage choppy and quite jarring to be honest. 

However, saying all that the movie is beautiful. Ghost in the Shell favours style over substance. Every scene is picturesque, scenic and absolutely gorgeous to look at. Jess Hall's cinematography is by far the best part of the movie and is the only real thing that kept me even slightly remotely interest in Ghost in the Shell.