The original Ghost in the Shell film is a masterpiece. It’s an incredibly beautiful film that explores ideas of technology, identity and memory. The director Mamoru Oshii elevates the source manga by Masamune Shirow into one of the best anime films of all time. When news of a live-action version directed by Rupert Sanders hit, hardcore fans of the original were doubtful that it could be effectively translated to the big screen. The casting of Scarlett Johansson in the lead role justifiably raised accusations of white-washing. After watching the film last night I can assert that that the doubters were correct; the film does not live up to the high expectations established by the original two films or even the later Stand Alone Complex TV series.
