My Cultural Diet

At least a decade has passed since I last watched Ghost in the Shell in its entirety, and given that it turned 30 this year, now seemed like a good time to reacquaint myself with Mamoru Oshii’s cyberpunk masterpiece. Based on Masamune Shirow’s manga, Oshii’s film ranks up there with the likes of Blade Runner in terms of influence. (Case in point, the Wachowskis’ goal with The Matrix was to basically make a live-action Ghost in the Shell.) In the year 2029, cybernetic enhancement is extremely common, effectively blurring the lines between man and machine. Major Motoko Kusanagi is a heavily cyberized government agent tasked with capturing a dangerous hacker known only as the Puppet Master. But as the Puppet Master’s plan slowly unfolds, it’s increasingly clear that he’s not at all what he seems. While I do think that 1993’s Patlabor 2 is a slightly better film, there’s absolutely no denying Ghost in the Shell’s style and execution, as Oshii balances ultra-bloody violence with long, contemplative passages during which Kusanagi et al. wax existential about the nature of the soul and the definition of life. In a lesser film, that would be pretentious as all get-out, but Oshii’s direction, combined with Kenji Kawai’s haunting score and some incredible design and art direction, ensure that Ghost in the Shell remains compelling from start to finish.

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