A Few Flicks From My Anime Collection

Here's why you should watch the original anime version of 'Ghost In The Shell'

Why you should watch the anime version of 'Ghost in the Shell' before watching the live action version of the film starring Scarlett Johansson.

Honestly, special effects have surpassed anime which is why anime cooled down considerably around 2005. I'm not too excited about seeing the upcoming live-action Ghost In The Shell because, more than likely, the 'Japan' DNA of it will be removed. I believe Johansson will be great, but the level of sophistication and intelligence the anime is known for was never meant to appeal to mass audiences. American films come fully-assembled meaning they don't require any participation from the viewer at all because they're dumbed down to the level of your average 6 year old. The original GITS and those following it require that you have a basic knowledge of religion, politics, philosophy, and science. This is what has made anime stand apart from western animation and live action films. If you watch the original GITS they could almost be considered boring in that there isn't nowhere near the amount of action you're accustomed to seeing in American films where something's got to be blowing up every 5 minutes or some other attention-grabbing element has to be employed to keep our dumbed-down film audiences from nodding off such as gratuitous sex or comedy relief. So no, I'm not all that excited about seeing the GITS live action film although I probably will if the reviews aren't too bad.

Will The New 'Ghost In The Shell' Film Live Up To The Anime?

Being that this will be a "Europeanized" interpretation of GITS  and that most of the people seeing this film will not be familiar with the story's Japanime pedigree, I look for this film to stray from a lot of the deep philosophical and political themes the anime is known for. I, personally, have no problem whatsoever with Scarlett in the title role. She is at the very forefront of female action stars right now BAR NONE  with Lucy, The Avengers, Captain America, and Under The Skin most recently. However, being that this film is adapted from a story set in Hong Kong and the lead being recast from a Japanese woman to a white woman, I would have something to say about this if I were Japanese. But if they have no problem with this then why should I, right? Another factor that may affect this film's success is its long delay in being made and the director (Rupert Sanders) who's a virtual unknown. As anyone who's followed this film from Mamoru Oshii's original (based on the manga by Masamune Shirow) to the recent 'Arise' prequels knows, GITS, which itself is influenced by the film 'Blade Runner,' has been cannibalized by so many films from the Matrix on, that it may come across like a copycat of the films that copied it. I do believe that a director like Nolan, Greengrass, or even the Wachowski's could have at least guaranteed this film an intelligence close to that in the anime. I will see this film but I will go in the theater with realistic expectations of seeing nothing more than a dumbed down westernized live-action anime adaptation with loads of action and cool gadgets programmed to make as much money as possible.