Ghost in the Shell

Name: Ghost in the Shell
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller, Animation
Released: March 29, 1996
Duration: 83 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi

1996

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 207 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 207 Ratings

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Ghost In The Shell

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Movie Details & Credits

Palm Pictures | Release Date: March 29, 1996 | TV-MA

Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi

Summary: In the year 2029, cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master”—a mysterious and threatening computer virus is capable of infiltrating human hosts. Working closely with her fellow agents from Section 9, the Major embarks on a high-tech race againstIn the year 2029, cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master”—a mysterious and threatening computer virus is capable of infiltrating human hosts. Working closely with her fellow agents from Section 9, the Major embarks on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity.… Expand

Director: Mamoru Oshii

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller, Animation

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 83 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

There are gripping chases and balletic combat scenes, painstakingly realised by Oshii’s animators, but the mood is mostly cold and melancholic, as Kusanagi broods over the fleshly implications of living in a world of data Read full review

Richard Harrington

Technically, Ghost in the Shell is astonishing, not only for its smooth meld of cell animation and state-of-the-art computer animation, but also for its imaginative storytelling and mood-setting (thanks to an eerie, non-thumping score by Kenji Kawai). Read full review

Jay Carr

It's not the mega-tech or the shootouts that make Ghost in the Shell memorable, but the ghostliness of it, its ability to convince us that Kusangai - no less than Rutger Hauer's strangely noble android in "Blade Runner" - has a human's ability to conceptualize her own mortality. Nor does arid intellectual speculation make Ghost in the Shell what it is. [1 Mar 1996, p.29]

Empire Clark Collis

From its baddie-eviscerating opening sequence through innumerable car chases, shoot outs and tongue-in-cheek dialogue exchanges, this is exactly the kind of film that James Cameron would make if they ever let him through the Disney front gates. Read full review

Jamie Graham

Most alluring are the crumbling neon cityscapes, real world/cyberspace fusion and the musings on identity. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The ghost of anime can be seen here trying to dive into the shell of the movie mainstream. But this particular film is too complex and murky to reach a large audience, I suspect; it's not until the second hour that the story begins to reveal its meaning. But I enjoyed its visuals, its evocative soundtrack (including a suite for percussion and heavy breathing), and its ideas. Read full review

Joey O'Bryan

Ghost in the Shell is a slick but plodding recycling of tired cyberpunk clichés that adds nothing new to the genre. Read full review

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User Reviews

A0-0

Apr 2, 2017

Прекрасное визуальное повествование, описывающие то будущее, которое вполне может ждать нас уже завтра, и задающие важные вопросы, не только для "завтра", но уже и для сегодняшнего дня. Меньше говорить, больше показывать, вот характер всей картины, и показывает она то, что сказатьПрекрасное визуальное повествование, описывающие то будущее, которое вполне может ждать нас уже завтра, и задающие важные вопросы, не только для "завтра", но уже и для сегодняшнего дня. Меньше говорить, больше показывать, вот характер всей картины, и показывает она то, что сказать невозможно!… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

Faxthtax

Oct 16, 2022

This is a brilliant work of art. I do not throw 10´s around easily.
I bought it on VHS in 1996 (i think) with english voiceover, but i must since then have seen it so many times i could recite it by heart.
It has a stunning atmosphere and visuals. Much of it partly inspired by Bladerunner atThis is a brilliant work of art. I do not throw 10´s around easily.
I bought it on VHS in 1996 (i think) with english voiceover, but i must since then have seen it so many times i could recite it by heart.
It has a stunning atmosphere and visuals. Much of it partly inspired by Bladerunner at times (though never documented)
The soundtrack is a huge key factor to set the movie to the timeless era of the 90s in a cluster of great anime´s.
Masterpiece and essential..
My only gripe is it is too short. But… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kaneturner

Nov 3, 2018

To me this film is beautiful. It has a sense of calmness and serenity to it that I just adore, and the score adds to this.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Colebrax

Dec 18, 2020

Check out my latest podcast with Benjamin Hinz where we discuss an excellent double feature of animation by the great Mamoru Oshii: http://bit.ly/2Wwkjsu

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dengus

Apr 2, 2017

Ghost in the Shell is a beautiful, unique, atmospheric animated film. But why is it just now showing up on metacritic? Is it because the ratings for the live action version is tanking? It seems dishonest to add the highly regarded original to the front page and potentially misleading peopleGhost in the Shell is a beautiful, unique, atmospheric animated film. But why is it just now showing up on metacritic? Is it because the ratings for the live action version is tanking? It seems dishonest to add the highly regarded original to the front page and potentially misleading people from how terrible the remake is.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Broyax

May 18, 2017

Une adaptation fidèle à l'histoire du célèbre manga de Masamune Shirow mais qui propose sa propre interprétation, sa propre vision de son personnage principal : ainsi, on est passé d'une cyborg aux cheveux violets et aux yeux rouges à une cyborg brune aux yeux bleus... ça peut paraîtreUne adaptation fidèle à l'histoire du célèbre manga de Masamune Shirow mais qui propose sa propre interprétation, sa propre vision de son personnage principal : ainsi, on est passé d'une cyborg aux cheveux violets et aux yeux rouges à une cyborg brune aux yeux bleus... ça peut paraître trivial mais ça en dit long sur la réprésentation de l'héroïne par le réalisateur Mamoru Oshii.

Le reste est à l'avenant avec une Kusanagi qui reste Kusanagi bien sûr, mais dont la personnalité est sensiblement différente. Elle se pose ici bien des questions et n'est jamais à l'abri du doute à propos de sa condition, ce qui la rend beaucoup plus "humaine" que dans le manga ou dans les séries Stand Alone Complex, en raison même de son interrogation ontologique.

Oshii imprime également son style sur cette adaptation souvent introspective ; il multiplie les plans contemplatifs sur la musique splendide de Kenji Kawaï sans mettre de côté l'action pour autant quand il le faut... et lorsqu'on compare la somme des dialogues, bien qu'assez nombreux ici, à ceux des Stand Alone Complex et dérivés, on s'étonne de leur sobriété et de leur clarté dans le film !

Le film est certes court mais d'une belle densité et l'intrigue est bien déroulée, finalement davantage existentielle que politique, centrée entièrement sur notre super donzelle cybernétique.

Bref,on est ici dans une approche plus émotionnelle, plus proche des considérations d'un "ghost" et de ce qui fait un "ghost" (une âme...) ou non. Voilà qui est fascinant et en même temps la grande force de ce GITS qui n'a pas pris une ride.

Pour son âge, l'animation est très correcte voire même supérieure à ce qu'on pouvait voir à l'époque ; le film est resté assez joli également avec cette ville qui fait penser immanquablement à Hongkong.

Comme jadis, seul un détail me chiffonne toujours, à savoir le comportement du Major au dessus du tank... c'était bien plus cohérent dans le manga. Mais ça reste un "détail" qui ne doit pas faire oublier les immenses qualités de ce chef-d'oeuvre cyberpunk très personnel.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Zerpnos

Apr 1, 2017

1995 yapımı olan Ghost in the Shell, güzel konulara değinerek, gelecekte neler olacağıyla ilgili bir şeyler hissettirme uğraşında. Kişiliklerini ve yaşamlarını kaybetmiş, kişiler arasında benliğini bulmak isteyen bir karakterin hikayesi, güzel olmuş. Fakat filmin kısa süresi ve Japonca1995 yapımı olan Ghost in the Shell, güzel konulara değinerek, gelecekte neler olacağıyla ilgili bir şeyler hissettirme uğraşında. Kişiliklerini ve yaşamlarını kaybetmiş, kişiler arasında benliğini bulmak isteyen bir karakterin hikayesi, güzel olmuş. Fakat filmin kısa süresi ve Japonca yüzünden, pek anlaşılamayan altyazısı ile birlikte, konu havada kalmış gibi duruyor. Dizi olarak olsa ve ağırdan alıp konuyu tamamlasalar cidden daha güzel olabilirmiş. 80 dakikalık sürede, nereden giriş yapıp, nerede bitireceklerini bilememişler. Bu yüzden kısa süresi, güzel bir hikaye anlatımını düşürerek, paldır kültür gidilmesini sağlamış. Bunların yanında müzik olarak da, güzel yerlerde kullanılmış ve hikaye yapısına uygun seçilmiş. 2017 yılında, çekilecek film öncesi, bilgi sahibi olmak adına izlemiştim fakat fazla da bir şey anladığımı söylemeyeceğim. Yine de izlemekten zarar gelmez, güzel filmdi.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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25	#25 Best Movie of 1996
21	#21 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
6	#6 Most Shared Movie of 1996