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Steve Davis, Richard George, William Knight, Hank Smith

In the year 2029, the world has become interconnected by a vast electronic network that permeates every aspect of life. That same network also becomes a battlefield for Tokyo's Section Nine security f... read more read more...orce, which has been charged with apprehending the master hacker known only as the Puppet Master. Spearheading the investigation is Major Motoko Kusanagi, who -- like many in her department -- is a cyborg officer, far more powerful than her human appearance would suggest. And yet as the Puppet Master, who is even capable of hacking human minds, leaves a trail of victims robbed of their memories, Kusanagi ponders the very nature of her existence: is she purely an artificial construct, or is there more? What, exactly, is the "ghost" -- her essence -- in her cybernetic "shell"? When Section Six gets involved in the case, she is forced to confront the fact that there is more here than meets the eye, and that the Puppet Master may hold some of the answers she seeks. But little does she know that he has been seeking her as well. ~ Emru Townsend, Rovi

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87% liked it

80,589 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

31 critics

R, 1 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Mamoru Oshii

Release Date: March 29, 1996

Keywords: action, anime

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DVD Release Date: November 18, 2003

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Stats: 4,856 reviews

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Major Motoko Camouflage Ghost in the Shell major Batou Motoko's cyborg Movie poster Kôkaku kidôtai Tachikoma The Puppetmaster Major and Tachikoma togusa motoko gost in the shell photo Mamoru Oshii Kouiti Yamadera Ghost in the Shell
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Flixster Reviews (4,856)

  • tolkienfan101
    January 27, 2012
    tolkienfan101
    The film that redefined the cyber-punk genre is complex, resonant and astonishingly animated. Taking the idea of artificial intelligence to a point of human reality and highlighting the emotional turmoil of existence, "Ghost in the Shell" explores what makes humans as such and wi... read moreth such a serious, atmospheric and slow-paced structure. Not only a landmark in science-fiction filmmaking, but in animation with visuals that are haunting, extraordinarily detailed and always stimulating to the eye.
  • fb100002384654145
    November 26, 2011
    fb100002384654145
    I recognize this movies influence, especially in the realms of sci-fi animes and the Matrix movies, but influential does not always make a film good. The animation is very stunning to look at. Their is good amount of visual eye candy to go around, especially shots of the citysc... read moreape. If only I can say the same thing for the actual story and characters. The story is very disjointed and at times hard to follow. This is probably the result of shrinking down the original 350 page manga into an hour and thirty minute film. The characters do not really act human, a lot of the dialogue is reduced to exposition and long pseudo-philosophy talk. This makes it really hard to find a character to attach to. The shots of the city are gorgeous, but they serve no purpose to the story. The best scene is a chase scene that takes place in the market place which is a very good action sequences, especially when a cloaked Motoko fights one of the bad guys. A lot of critics place this film beside "Akira" as one of the greatest anime movies of all time, I happen to disagree. "Akira" has quality to back up its legacy, "Ghost in the Shell" does not. However, this movie did spawn the TV show "Ghost in the Shell: A Stand Alone Complex", which I thought was miles above this movie in terms of story and characters.
  • sergioogarcia
    July 8, 2011
    sergioogarcia
    If you haven't seen Ghost in the shell, then you're not an anime fan. Great work it's hard to believe that it was completed in the 90's. Go for it . Now.
  • fb535316333
    May 29, 2011
    fb535316333
    An existential journey through a future that's not only inspiring in visual mastery but thought provoking on many levels for a SciFi fan. Although it works with themes visited by various other media, it works with them in such majesty and respect that it often feels like a classi... read morec no matter how you approach it.
  • fb100001493964409
    April 23, 2011
    fb100001493964409
    Now THIS is a good film. Ghost in the Shell manages to examine the lines between man and machine very gracefully, and all in the span of 90 minutes. Highly atmospheric and extremely clever, this is one of the best animes I have ever seen.
    *NOTE: DO NOT WATCH THE DUB. The dub is b... read moread enough that it actually detracts from the quality of the story, visuals, and atmosphere. Watch with subtitles or don't watch at all.
  • Saxia
    November 11, 2010
    Saxia
    Saw this one again! Visually stunning! In combination with the chilling music and interesting storyline an absolute joy to watch!
  • garyX
    September 9, 2010
    garyX
    In a future state where cyborgs are commonplace and everyone has computerized brain augmentations containing their psyches (or "ghosts"), a team of investigators chase a cyber-criminal who hacks the minds of others to do his bidding. One of the cornerstones of Manga and Anime, Gh... read moreost In The Shell has obviously influenced a lot of Hollywood sci-fi, and this film has in turn been influenced by them in return. Coming across as a hotch potch of ideas from The Matrix, Blade Runner and Robocop, this animated film has a lot to commend it visually, with excellent animation, inventive visual effects and the backgrounds in particular are beautifully rendered. Unfortunately the director was obviously also in awe of these creations and spends far too much time lingering on them while nothing happens on screen. The storyline is also rather too convoluted considering the comparative simplicity of the core idea of the plot and the dialogue little more than a load of existential waffle about the nature of "life". The action scenes are very well done, especially the climactic duel with the enemy tank but as a whole it feels too much like a technophile's wet dream where he gets to give his computer a hot bod, slip on some Barry White and introduce it to his own "hard drive".
  • lewiskendell
    August 24, 2010
    lewiskendell
    "And where does the newborn go from here? The net is vast and infinite."

    Science fiction can often make you feel like you're in a philosophy class, and sci-fi anime usually does that as a rule. Ghost in the Shell is no exception.

    Questions of what makes an entity a human being ... read moreand the ramifications of increasing artificial intelligence on what we define as a "person" are all woven into an action story about conspiracies in near-future Hong Kong and a world where human beings connect themselves directly to the Internet and each other. This opens people up to the danger of having their minds hacked by outside influences, and it's just such an incident that sends the cyborg Major Kusaragi and her team of government agents on the trail of a mysterious hacker known as The Puppet Master.

    It's really a simple story, but it attempts to go quite deeply into some of the areas I mentioned previously. The writing isn't quite up to the task of adequately communicating the ideas that are being presented, but if you like to think along with your sci-fi anime action, you'll be comfortably at home, here. The animation is quite good for 1995, the plot and characters are interesting, and it all moves along at a brisk clip that makes subsequent viewings anything but a chore. I still prefer the two series that were spawned by Ghost in the Shell to the original feature, but it's nice to revisit this from time to time.
  • skactopus
    May 10, 2009
    skactopus
    Mamoru Oshii brings to life an animation with much to offer in the way of science fiction and action. Ghost in the Shell is an instant anime classic.

    At just around 80 minutes, the story has a lot going for it. The futuristic setting is just the start. The only huge p

    ... read moreroblem with the story is the fact that one needs to pay close attention to keep on track with what is going on. At the same time, it also does get a bit technical, however it is unique and interesting.

    The pacing is moderate, but it is never boring. There is a decent amount of action and the choreography is fantastic. Once again, the futuristic setting is a positive for these scenes.

    Visually, the characters and settings look great. There is no holding back on the violence and nudity either.

    The voice acting is effectively chosen as the characters do have voices to match their looks and personalities. The main character of Motoko Kusanagi AKA Major, is one that is highly memorable and a hands down leader for the section 9 task force.

    Ghost in the Shell, while a bit short, has an engrossing story, great direction, and memorable characters to warrant a watch. This is a must see for science fiction anime fanatics.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    February 16, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Getting better with time.

View All Ghost in the Shell Reviews

Critic Reviews

Laura Evenson
January 1, 2000
Laura Evenson, San Francisco Chronicle

Mamoru Oshii's direction deftly merges gritty realism with a dreamlike quality. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I enjoyed its visuals, its evocative soundtrack (including a suite for percussion and heavy breathing), and its ideas. Full Review

Clark Collis
July 16, 2010
Clark Collis, Empire Magazine

This is exactly the kind of film that James Cameron would make if they ever let him through the Disney front gates. Full Review

Daniel Etherington
September 4, 2008
Daniel Etherington, Film4

Thrilling, compelling, moving and visually splendid, this isn't just a classic anime, it's a great film. Full Review

April 16, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

This cyberpunk policier doesn't make much sense on a narrative level, but the visuals are gorgeously designed and sometimes genuinely breathtaking. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Conjures up a dazzling, futuristic cityscape that, sadly, is not matched by the human landscapes at the heart of the story. Full Review

Nick Schager
May 3, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

A fairly entrancing vision of a human race overrun by evolving artificial intelligence. Full Review

Marty Mapes
January 28, 2005
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit

Surprisingly less interesting than its sequel Full Review

Pablo Villaca
July 25, 2003
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

O visual e a qualidade da animaçăo săo incríveis, e a história é bastante criativa.

Susan Tavernetti
May 20, 2003
Susan Tavernetti, Palo Alto Weekly

Adds an intriguing philosophical dimension to the cyber-thriller genre.

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    • Bateau: There's nothing sadder than a puppet without a ghost, especially the kind with red blood running through them.
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Ghost in the Shell Trivia

  • "It found a voice... now it needs a body". What animated movie is the tagline from?  Answer »
  • In the end of the movie "Ghost in the Shell" what quote from the Bible does Motoko say?  Answer »
  • Which of these movies was inspired by Ghost in the Shell?  Answer »
  • In "Ghost in the Shell", Who is The Puppet Master?  Answer »
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