Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19246 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-09-22
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Animated, PAL, Special Edition
• Original language: English, Japanese, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 83 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The skilful blending of drawn animation and computer-generated imagery excited anime fans when this science fiction mystery was released in 1995: many enthusiasts believe Ghost suggests what the future of anime will be, at least in the short term. The film is set in the not-too-distant future, when an unnamed government uses lifelike cyborgs or "enhanced" humans for undercover work. One of the key cyborgs is The Major, Motoko Kusanagi, who resembles a cross between The Terminator and a Playboy centrefold. She finds herself caught up in a tangled web of espionage and counterespionage as she searches for the mysterious superhacker known as "The Puppet Master."

Mamoru Oshii directs with a staccato rhythm, alternating sequences of rapid-fire action (car chases, gun battles, explosions) with static dialogue scenes that allow the characters to sort out the vaguely mystical and rather convoluted plot. Kusanagi's final quote from I Corinthians suggests that electronic evolution may compliment and eventually supplant organic evolution. The minor nudity, profanity, and considerable violence would earn Ghost in the Shell at least a PG rating. --Charles Solomon

Special Features
Region 2

Synopsis
The makers of "Akira" present another milestone Japanimation epic in this futuristic odyssey about an elite half-cyborg female agent sent out to apprehend a cyber-genius data thief who is plundering the very contents of people's minds. Contains nudity and violence. The Collector's Edition includes a special 30-minute documentary on the making of the film.

Customer Reviews

Ghost in the Shell- a true master piece
This anime is one of the most unique films around. Not only is the animation realistic, it is mindblowing. You can tell that the producers,sound directors,artists and anyone else involved in the project really took great care to make the film properly. Not rushed and well planned the way that everyone likes. The plot is gripping, especially when you yourself is trying to figure out who the hell this 'Puppet Master'is (revealed near the end of the film). That is why the film is so brilliant. It involves the audience to participate a bit. The story involves Section 9 Public security in an investigation to find the Super hacker and nail him for ghost hacking and all other sorts of crimes. But there is a twist which I will leave for you to enjoy. After watching the film you are tempted to watch it again and again and again, not because of the story but the action sequences portrayed at every 10 minutes, living up to its name of action-packed sci-fi anime.

However you will be thrown into a fog of confusion if you do not read the glossary in the special features. Having knowledge of the terms used in the film really does simplify the story a lot.e.g what'ghost'refers to etc. Once this is out of the way though start bracing yourself for non-stop,action packed scenes and phenomenal dialogue in English or Japanese. A true master piece,Mamoru Oshii has done Ghost in the Shell justice of which it rightly deserves.

The DVD, features some previews of other Manga films and an in-sight to the charactors,(charactor profile).The 'making of' Ghost in the shell is interesting but optional to understand the story. If you are into special features then I suggest getting the special edition instead but be warned you need a region 1 DVD player or Multi-regional player wtih an NTSC tv to see it. Nevertheless the special feature is sufficient to feed your hunger for the knowledge and wisdom concerning G.I.T.S.

If you were blown away like me by its powers then I suggest you get the series aswell(G.I.T.S: Stand alone complex). Check out G.I.T.S 2: Innocence too if you really want to own everything that belongs to G.I.T.S. Enjoy!

Ghost in the Shell
very clever...

definately very very clever..

A bit of Blade Runner and Matrix. A science fiction thriller, which is certainly thought provoking with many scenes in the film that are awesome and hit you like a wet plank up side the head. One of these movies I will certainly be watching a few times and taking more from each time, I think. Definately an adult animation visually and technically, the images of a futuristic world are burned into my brain like the phosphor on a cathode ray tube. I found the ending a bit sudden, but on reflection it was maybe because I was enjoying it so much. Just goes to show you that movie making dosen't have to lie in the arms of the Hollywood moguls. As with the Studio Ghibli / Hayao Miyazaki animations, and now, for me, this MANGA thriller lets me know that the art of great movie making is safe - you just got to look around for it

Ghost in the Shell is pure class.
The artistic flair, dedication and extreme level of perfection that has gone into creating this film is breathtaking. Forget that it is anime, this beauty takes on the hollywood machine and comes out of it more than standing proud. If you like the Matrix or any film that has an interesting, mature, thought provoking plot, then this is definately a film you MUST experience!
The spine tingling changes of pace, the breathtaking, meaningful visuals and the hauntingly hypnotic soundtrack will leave you simply stunned!

As regards the special edition, believe me THIS IS THE VERSION TO BUY. The original DVD release has an audio sync problem which totally ruins the whole experience.

One more thing, this film is over 7 years old, and now the plot, whilst still one of the best Sci-Fi plots in any film, is not as original as it once was.
Never forget... Ghost in the Shell is the inspiration behind
The Matrix!