Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Movie Review:


The staggering beauty of Oshii's animation more than makes up for the fact that his plot is completely impenetrable. But this film is so inventive and visually spectacular that it leaves us wondering what we ever saw in The Matrix.

Set in 2032, when the line between humans and machines has been completely blurred, the seasoned cyborg (robot body, human mind) detective Batou (Otsuka) is investigating a murder committed by a gynoid (super-realistic robot) that seems to have developed a soul, or a ghost. With his rookie partner Togusa (Yamadera), Batou follows the trail through Yakuza thugs, government conspiracies and computer hackers until he gets to the corporate boss (Takenaka) who may be responsible for this shift in robotics.

The essence of this film is an examination of how people are becoming more machinelike, while machines are becoming more human--and both are clinging to the faintest hints of humanity. There are only a couple of organic creatures in the film; the most notable is Batou's faithful Bassett hound. Everyone in the story seems to be searching for signs of real life--moral choices, pain, affection and belonging. And what they find isn't very hopeful, because creating more lifelike robots will cause actual humans to slip further into obscurity.

These fascinating ideas are embedded within a plot that's almost impossible to follow. Extensive sequences seem to repeat on a loop or drift off into dazzling tangents. But it looks so astonishing that we don't mind. This is far and away the most intricate, detailed, imaginative animation ever put on screen--several sequences literally take the breath away as the animators blend the ancient, modern and futuristic with wit and ingenuity. And it's not empty spectacle, as the story's rich themes are echoed in characters who are full of attitude and emotion. It's also packed with literary references, philosophical mumblings and provocative existentialism. The central investigation is just strong enough to keep us intrigued, but it's the extreme gorgeousness that lingers in the memory even more than the emotive conclusion. Pathologically enigmatic, but amazing.


Rich Cline

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