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Ghost in the Shell (2017) reviews from people you don't follow

Rickey A. Mossow Jr. (689 KP) rated
Aug 5, 2019
Even in 3D and starring Scarlet Johansson, this is a convoluted mess.
I was hopeful about this one. Even took the time to make sure to watch it in 3D. I love Scarlet Johansson. Figured I had made everything possible to enjoy this film I had read many terrible reviews of. Now, 2 hours later, I just sit here empty. Sure, the movie is visually stunning. The CGI and action is well done. But all that doesn't matter without a story. Story here is convoluted and messy to say the least. There were several times when I just found myself bored and didn't care about the characters or what was happening. It's a shame something with so much potential turned into such an empty shell. Or maybe how fitting...
Great SFX, little elsewhere
The Ghost in the Shell refers to the emerging technology of being able to put a human brain/soul (the ghost) inside an artificial body (the shell). In a world where everyone is getting cybernetic enhancements added to their bodies, Scarlett Johansson plays Major, the first such fully artificial creation, as she awakes to find herself inside a body she is unfamiliar with. From there her career as a soldier begins, looking to root out the growing threat of brain hacking in the city.
I feel like the plot has been done so many times before that as soon as the phrase "the first of her kind" was uttered I knew most of what was to follow. While the SFX were quite special, as with Ready Player One, I felt they were a little overdone and possibly just thrown in to distract from the clichéd plot and sparse action scenes.
I feel like the plot has been done so many times before that as soon as the phrase "the first of her kind" was uttered I knew most of what was to follow. While the SFX were quite special, as with Ready Player One, I felt they were a little overdone and possibly just thrown in to distract from the clichéd plot and sparse action scenes.

Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated
Sep 2, 2020 (Updated Sep 2, 2020)
Ghost in the Shell (this movie) got a ton of vile response when it was announced and released. While the source material differs from this film VERY much, as a standalone movie, Ghost in the Shell is actually quite good.
I'm a big fan and advocate of letting a movie based on anything else (comic book, novel, whatever the case might be) stand as its own entity. Conveniently, this allows me to enjoy a ton of movies that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to. This is a classic example of this mentality in action.
Scarlett Johansson does a fine job in her role, regardless of whether people think she should have ever been cast in what is traditionally an Asian role. She doesn't deserve a lot of the hate that she received. She is doing a job that she is being paid to do. Simple as that, the same way that you and I go to work every day and do things we might not be in love with.
Anyway, if you can get over the disconnection from the source material, Ghost in the Shell is an enjoyable experience. The only way to know is to watch for yourself.
I'm a big fan and advocate of letting a movie based on anything else (comic book, novel, whatever the case might be) stand as its own entity. Conveniently, this allows me to enjoy a ton of movies that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to. This is a classic example of this mentality in action.
Scarlett Johansson does a fine job in her role, regardless of whether people think she should have ever been cast in what is traditionally an Asian role. She doesn't deserve a lot of the hate that she received. She is doing a job that she is being paid to do. Simple as that, the same way that you and I go to work every day and do things we might not be in love with.
Anyway, if you can get over the disconnection from the source material, Ghost in the Shell is an enjoyable experience. The only way to know is to watch for yourself.

Jeremy King (346 KP) rated
Jun 10, 2019
Ok i am just going to say right from the beginning i thought that casting was an issue in this film. Dont get me wrong but it was good casting but not great.
I found there was a lot of good ideas in this movie but it was dialled back. The villan should have more depth. The fx were great. I feel that they focused on making it to much like the 1995 anime and not try to make it it's own thing.
So if the expanded on some characters and dove more in to the story lines. It would have been better if they explored the different story lines that they would have needed to set it up as a two movies.
I found there was a lot of good ideas in this movie but it was dialled back. The villan should have more depth. The fx were great. I feel that they focused on making it to much like the 1995 anime and not try to make it it's own thing.
So if the expanded on some characters and dove more in to the story lines. It would have been better if they explored the different story lines that they would have needed to set it up as a two movies.
Ghost in the Shell (2017) reviews from people you don't follow

Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated
Jun 10, 2019
Forgettable
I’ve never seen the original anime, so I went into this with a fairly open mind but sadly the film just didn’t deliver.
The trailer made it look like a very slick futuristic thriller almost, and although the sfx are fantastic and really well done, the rest of the film is a letdown. The initial idea of her being a human brain inside a cyborg is a good one, but it’s sadly ruined by the unoriginal and predictable discovering her origins story. And I’m sorry, but I really don’t rate Scarlett Johansson. She isn’t bad, but she isn’t particularly great either and lately she always seems to be playing a similar sort of character. Pilou Asbæk is the only one who really excels in this and he’s the only truly likeable character. However I did spend the entire film trying to figure out where I knew him and his name from, and it’s only now I’ve realised he’s Euron Greyjoy, gah. To be honest I was pretty bored watching this and great sfx can’t make up for a very dull plot.
The trailer made it look like a very slick futuristic thriller almost, and although the sfx are fantastic and really well done, the rest of the film is a letdown. The initial idea of her being a human brain inside a cyborg is a good one, but it’s sadly ruined by the unoriginal and predictable discovering her origins story. And I’m sorry, but I really don’t rate Scarlett Johansson. She isn’t bad, but she isn’t particularly great either and lately she always seems to be playing a similar sort of character. Pilou Asbæk is the only one who really excels in this and he’s the only truly likeable character. However I did spend the entire film trying to figure out where I knew him and his name from, and it’s only now I’ve realised he’s Euron Greyjoy, gah. To be honest I was pretty bored watching this and great sfx can’t make up for a very dull plot.

Kevin Phillipson (10072 KP) rated
Jun 26, 2023
Watched again remember watching in the cinema and thinking that it looked good back then now I've rewatched now not as good as i remember there are some good stuff in there the visuals the city and decent action but for me it feels like I've seen done before but better