The scenes that impressed me the most in Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell were the quiet scenes bereft of action where the film meditated on the scenery and the atmosphere that embodied the Japan of the future: Motoko Kusanagi's silent trek through the immigrant sector of Tokyo, Motoko scuba diving in the bay, the glassy eyes of female secretaries who pour through untold amounts of information thanks to cybernetic enhancements like mechanical hands. To me, these echoes of a possible future are the most captivating part of the film. The central story about a brainwashing hacker/A.I. was fascinating. And the frequent philosophical discussions about the nature of reality and what it means to be human were engrossing despite the fact that they would have ruined the pacing of any other film. But in my opinion, Ghost in the Shell is best appreciated and enjoyed as an experience that lulls you into a fantasy equal parts daydream and nightmare.
9/10
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In March 2017 I got to review a new Blu-ray release of the film. I downgraded the film from a 9 to an 8. The storytelling problems really got my goat this time around. Here's my article:
http://www.audienceseverywhere.net/movie-reviews-ghost-in-the-shell-march-14-2017/
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