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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Go Fish Pictures


7.8

based on 26 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 24 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and brief language

Starring Akio Ôtsuka, Atsuko Tanaka, Kôichi Yamadera, Tamio Ôki, Yutaka Nakano, and Naoto Takenaka

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is set in 2032, when the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. Batou, a cyborg detective for the government's covert anti-terrorist unit, is investigating the case of a gynoid - a hyper-realistic female robot created specifically for sexual companionship - who malfunctions and slaughters her owner. (Go Fish Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Action \| Animation \| Drama \| Fantasy \| Foreign \| Sci-fi \| Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Mamoru Oshii Masamune Shirow (comic Koukaku-Kidoutai)
DIRECTED BY:	Mamoru Oshii
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: December 28, 2004 Theatrical: September 17, 2004
RUNNING TIME:	99 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	Japan
LANGUAGE(S):	Japanese (with English subtitles)

Nominated, Golden Palm, 2004 Cannes Film Festival

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Village Voice J. Hoberman

You can call me fanboy, but this is the best anime I've ever seen.

100

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

Innocence revisits imagery from the first film. But this time computer animation pumps everything up to epic proportions. The results are overwhelming.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

That rare sequel that surpasses the original.

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

Innocenc doesn't just reveal a wealth of visual enchantments; it restates the case that there can and should be more to feature-length animations than cheap jokes, bathos and pandering.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

The imagery is uniquely that of Oshii, who deserves a place in the pantheon of visual artists.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

The love and attention Oshii poured into animating Batou's pet basset hound proves that the human instinct dominates even in a movie dependent on technology.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

The impressive marriage of CGI backgrounds and traditional hand-drawn characters gives Oshii more tools to sculpt his vision in color and light.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The title Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is a brain banger. But as sci-fi nomenclature goes, it's easy to read--no twistier, certainly, than "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."

Los Angeles Times Kevin Crust

The dark sequel offers gorgeous images, with an updated and stylish design, but its characters' angst gets in the way of storytelling.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Innocence is possessed of a highly literate, almost classical story.

Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder

Like "Blade Runner," it's dense enough to be rewarding on multiple viewings, the hallmark of a classic.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Some advice: Don't even bother trying to figure out what's going on in Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence -- just sit back and enjoy the lush, trippy visuals.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Brims with forboding, but it pulses with candy colors and the hum of neon signs.

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub

Has plenty to satisfy fans and bring in new admirers.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Less a sequel than a variation on a haunting theme -- the nature and origins of humanity.

Time Richard Corliss

It points out what's missing in his (Oshii) approach: fluidity of character line, the subtlety of expression that brought humanity to a Warner Bros. cartoon duck or rabbit.

Empire David Hughes

The visuals are an animation student's wet dream, the dialogue an English student's nightmare - but for Japanimation fans it's a big-screen must-see.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

The effect of so much pretension and so many lovely images eventually becomes soporific.

Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

There's a lot of imagination at work here; too bad just a little bit of it couldn't have been channeled into the creation of a better narrative.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Ingeniously crafted with flashes of intelligence, if not very memorable.

Film Threat Eric Campos

Unfortunately, the outcome here is so over-the-top that it’s going to wind up alienating most everyone that sees it.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

A downbeat story line layered with philosophical discourses will restrict the audience to fans of the animated genre.

Variety Derek Elley

Talky, repetitive and largely covering the same ground with no new thoughts, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is a major let-down.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

At times, Innocence feels like a clip show of Oshii projects past. But the effect proves more dulling than warmly familiar.

LA Weekly David Chute

This sophomoric stuff is pure self-indulgence, a drone to accompany the admittedly eye-popping sound-and-light show. Oshii looks like yet another director who has gone off the deep end, believing too absolutely his own good reviews.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Ghost suffers most from a distinct lack of anything, well, cinematic.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
Like the first, a complex film that's an acquired taste, but the imagery is simply gorgeous. Still, there are momets where this film feels so fine-tailored for philosophy experts that it give me a brainache. No harn done, though, as it encourages me to analyze the film more.

Cody K. gave it an8:
A very mature movie that can be best categorized as a psychological drama. The drama overpowers the thriller aspect, in my opinion. Not only can you find great depth in the story, but the characters’ voices tell a tale… as well as the stunning visuals; not so much in the design as in the subtle and deliberate details. I also enjoyed the first Ghost in the Shell, but this one is something different. The only thing I had trouble getting past was the environment subtitles… [background chatter], [helicopter approaching], [singing in Japanese], etc. I speak English. I’m not deaf. ;-)

[Anonymous] gave it a3:
Weak.

Tim M gave it a10:
Firstly, visually jaw-dropping. besides that, the story was very layered and more psychological than the first, delving into the characters' nature of being. awesome awesome awesome i just got the dvd. the worst thing about it is the action sub-titles, but oh well i'll deal with it.

Dan F. gave it a10:
Incredibly thought provoking and beautifully comprised.

Alex C. gave it a6:
Good, but way to confusing.

God Complex gave it a7:
I can think of a lot better Anime's. Don't get me wrong, I loved the original movie, it's just not the same in the new film. The "gritty" feel isn't the same. I enjoyed this film for what it was worth. I'd recomend Ghost in the Shell; Stand Alone Complex too. There is better Anime out there though, like Samurai Champloo, Genkutsuou, Gundam Seed, Fullmetal Alchemist, hell even the original Cowboy Beebop. Watch those..they are better. +8's!

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Go Fish Pictures

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Go Fish Pictures