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Ghost In The Shell

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Distributor: Bandai, Manga Video
Original Story: Masamune Shirow
Volumes: N/A
Rating: N/R
Anime Code: G

It is the future.  Cybernetics are the latest rage and the world is on an information binge.  Motoko Kusanagi is an officer in the secret organization known only as Section 9.  Sent to track a criminal hacker known only as "The Puppet Master," Kusanagi discovers that her destiny is intertwined with his.  Kusanagi uncovers a web of political intrigue and pays the ultimate price for it.

Review: This is not for the faint of heart.  This is a deep anime thriller where nothing is what it seems.  You would definitely need to view it a second and maybe even a third time to fully understand the deep and rich storyline that questions who is alive and who is not, and what it means to be human.  The characters may act like black and white at times, but their actions and their characterization more than make up for it.  I personally enjoyed the mixture of traditional cel animation and CG. 

Action Level: 4/5
Most of the action in this movie takes place between cyborgs who can do incredible things.  Rest assure, there's a little chance that a child will not try to do things that are shown on the movie (unless the child can find a huge bazooka and have wires coming out of his/her head).

Romance Level: 2/5
This is a deep, almost dark anime with no room for the lovey-dovey stuff you might want to expect.  But if you look, you might be able to see a kinship develop.  But you really have to look.

Comedy Level: 1/5
No slapstick, but there are a couple of wise cracks made by some of the characters.  That's fine by me.

Adult Level: 4/5
It's your basic full-frontal nudity, bodies exploding, robots being ripped apart like newspapers, and graphic violence that makes Celebrity Deathmatch look like Pokemon (I kid you not).

Drama Level: 5/5
Perfect, simply perfect.  Kusanagi's struggle with herself is (in my opinion) the highlight of the movie.  Does she accept her fate at the end of the movie?  I guess you'll have to wait for the sequel... oh wait, maybe you won't.

Overall Level: 4/5
A brilliantly played masterpiece.  Ghost In The Shell blends intense action with gripping drama.  While I only saw the VHS version, it's got me hooked on the series.