Amph Ghost in the Shell

I'm sure you won't need to know any of that before you see the film.

 

That's a good point actually. But like many I have seen bits of this universe and not all of it so a basic summary of it history is enlightening.

 

ScarJo, all she knows it that it starts filming in 2016.

 

And here is your storyline

the live action feature will be based on the Laughing Man storyline of the popular Stand Alone Complex television spinoff series which, in my opinion, is by far the strongest storyline in the GiTS universe outside of Oshii Mamoru's original film and one which is extremely topical given its underpinnings of radical extremism.

 

Well, that's interesting...

 

Your first look

 

Finally, the story of Asian geopolitics featuring an over-whelmingly Asian cast can be told to the lens of inexplicably white woman.

 

Here's the first teaser.

 

Oops. There's tons more.

 

Why not Zhang Ziyi? Yeah, she's Chineese, but at least she's Asian.

 

Because then the movie can't feature white people.

 

Looking better and better

I think they get it.

 

I'm going to state a seemingly unpopular opinion and that I'm happy ScarJo has been cast as the lead for Ghost in the Shell. Why? Because she bring her star power and a certain level of box office success. I hope the film is a box office success as it will open the door for other anime to be adapted into live action films, much like comic book genre.

And I am liking what I'm seeing. It looks like a faithful adaptation of the anime.

Yes, I would prefer an Asian actress take the lead role, but since they didn't go that route, I think ScarJo is the perfect choice to take that role.

 

And straight out of the anime movie comes this scene.

 

The director of the original GitS stops by.

 

白痴外國人.
她是中國人。她不是日本人。

 

Some movies make great anime but bad live action. I remain unconvinced with this.

 

There's reason to be skeptical. Again, that's why I thought it was a pretty smart move to cast a pretty bankable star in ScarJo to play the lead role.

A live action Ghost in the Shell has the potential to be this generation's Blade Runner.

 

True. I just don't see how this can be as clever and inventive as the original anime or manga. It would be different if the live action came first and then the manga/anime followed. This just looks kinda blah by comparison. But you are right that you have to put someone who is bankable in the film to ensure some potential financial success.

 

I see where you're coming from. There's an inherent challenge just to adapt any foreign film into the US market and anime film all the more complicated. However, I think with recent films and TV shows (i.e. Ex Machina, Westworld) telling and exploring wonderful intelligent stories about A.I., there's a sense of optimism by me that they can pull off such a task with this film.

 

The first full trailer.