Movie Review: Ghost in the Shell

The still young cinematic year of 2017 has been loaded with unlikely gems and Paramount's Ghost in the Shell very well could be the most pleasant surprise yet. A live-action adaptation of an acclaimed anime film from the director of the painfully dull Snow White and the Huntsman sounded about as intriguing as diving into a piranha tank on paper, but it ended up being one of the most enthralling and visually-striking blockbusters to come out of Hollywood over the past several years.

The non-stop advancements in technology combined with the volume of CGI-driven spectacles that hit theaters every year has made it very difficult for me to be impressed by special effects in the modern day. This marks one of only a handful of times in recent memory that I've been legitimately blown away by a film's SFX. Ghost in the Shell's blend of elaborate practical effects and computer-generated imagery gives it a vivid visual style that is breathtaking to behold. The consistently eye-popping scenery plays a pivotal role in building (and eventually sucking the viewer into) Ghost in the Shell's infinitely badass, cyborg-filled universe.

While the non-stop parade of striking visuals may give the film a stunning backdrop to work with, Scarlett Johansson's performance as part-human, part-robot special agent Major gives Ghost in the Shell its soul. Johansson plays the character with an appropriate amount of subtlety and emotional distance, which allows her journey to discover her true self to play out in a very natural, convincing fashion. It's a shame that the backlash surrounding Johansson's involvement with this project has cast such a black cloud around the entire film because she really was the perfect choice to bring this beloved character to life.

As the summer season approaches, Ghost in the Shell has set a really high standard for this year's wave of big-budget action spectacles. It possesses the memorable fight scenes, distinct visual style and abundance of entertainment value that every blockbuster strives to have, but often has difficulty pulling off. I really hope people will put be able to look past the overblown controversy that has surrounded Ghost in the Shell since Johansson was cast as Major and give this film the unbiased chance it deserves. 

4/5 Stars