Ghost in the Shell
Directed by Mamoru Oshii7.995%89%
In the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as 'The Puppetmaster' begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster.
Cast of Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell Ratings & Reviews
- NonPlayableContentJune 10, 2025Great on your first watch and the following 100 watches.
- angelm30May 21, 2025A thrilling and narratively complex anime film about the troubles that come with technological advancement, and the potential harm of melding the body with cybernetics. A cautionary tale that in no uncertain terms makes it clear that privacy no longer exists in a technologically advanced society.
- Lorenz J.15h agoA haunting, cerebral masterpiece I’ve watched more times than I can count. Every frame is soaked in atmosphere, every silence says something. If you watch it in Italian, make sure it’s the original 1996 dub. The new one may be “accurate,” but it’s soulless. The old one feels. One of my all-time favorites. Always will be. 10/10.
- RichyE2d agoSet in the cyberpunk future of 2029, Ghost in the Shell follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetically enhanced agent of Section 9, as she investigates a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. As the line between human and machine blurs, the film dives deep into themes of identity, consciousness, and the soul in a digitized world. ✅ Pros Philosophical Depth: The film explores profound questions about self-awareness, memory, and what it means to be human in a world dominated by technology. Atmospheric World-Building: Neo-Tokyo is rendered with haunting beauty—neon-lit, rain-soaked, and eerily quiet. It’s a masterclass in mood and tone. Stunning Animation: The hand-drawn visuals are meticulously detailed, with fluid motion and cinematic framing that still impress decades later. Iconic Score: Kenji Kawai’s haunting choral soundtrack adds emotional gravity and a sense of mysticism to the narrative. Influential Legacy: Ghost in the Shell inspired countless works, including The Matrix, Ex Machina, and Westworld. ❌ Cons Dense Dialogue: The film leans heavily on philosophical monologues and techno-babble, which can feel overwhelming or slow-paced to some viewers. Minimalist Characterization: Motoko is intentionally enigmatic, but this can make emotional engagement difficult for first-time viewers. Male Gaze Elements: Some scenes have been criticized for unnecessary nudity and objectification, which may detract from the film’s deeper themes. Not for Everyone: Its cerebral tone and abstract storytelling may alienate viewers expecting a more conventional action film. ⭐ Star Rating Ghost in the Shell is a visually stunning, intellectually ambitious anime that helped define the cyberpunk genre. While its pacing and philosophical depth may challenge some viewers, its influence and artistry make it essential viewing for fans of sci-fi and animation.
- sgdjfMay 7, 2025Good movie and psychological thriller. This version was always better than the live version.
- Denis ÇerriFebruary 23, 2025This is where anime movies peaked in my opinion. This movie has influenced so many blockbusters like The Matrix, Inception. Everyone should watch this movie and ponder upon its message. Good story, Good action, Good animation.
- MarthaJuly 17, 2025Filled me with dread and confusion.
- Andre BautzFebruary 19, 2025A very good mix of fantasy and sci-fi. It shows a dystopian, Cyberpunk future. It is visually stunning, fast-paced, but also has quiet moments to linger and enjoy. The story is difficult to follow very quickly in place, but I think that the fact that we are following a special unit also makes it realistic. The picture and sound are still very, very good after all this time.
- Oliver ReznikMay 26, 2025Gorgeous animation. Stylish action. Wonderful atmosphere and sci-fi world building overall. At first the dialogue sounded like an afterthought, just there to string together cool action scenes. But I was confused why it was all so extensive. It just kept going to the point where it felt like it was trying soooo hard to sound deep. Honestly some of the ideas are pretty interesting, but the extensive babbling really robbed of the movie of the intrigue that could’ve been there. Also a lot of these concepts are kind of dead horses in the age of real AI. Also I watched with an english dub and the performances were insanely bad. Idk how much better the original audio is. Ghost in the Shell does have some legs as a mood piece. Though I’m not entirely sure what to make of the prominent male-gaze pandering aspects. The contrast with the dilapidated, cold, neon environment was interesting. If only there was less focus on the substance (dialogue) and more on the style. Also, pretty sure those super fast typing fingers would never be built compared to just some usb input interface. Looked cool though.
- Jacob ThompsonApril 13, 2025An interesting Sci-fi world that has now been superseded by game plots like Cyberpunk 2077 (Also can't wait to see this all happen four years from now).
- Movie_NerdFebruary 16, 2025Got nothing to say then, ???!!
- RyezooFebruary 15, 2025Watching in preparation for the Scarlett Johansson version! So I'm in the middle of the road on this film. The animation can be gorgeous and the action scenes super badass. The technology is cool and enjoyed the main score. My flaws are this film has WAY to much techno babel. Scenes just dragged on explaining things and it really slowed down the pace. It would of helped if it was interesting, but I could care less about section 6 and section 9 or whatever. The main seemed to tap up fairly quickly as well. All this being said I'm still really looking forward to the adaption.
