Ghost In The Shell

Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence
$19.99
This title divides fans a lot, and understandably so. When compared to the original, there is a distinct sameness present as well as a the mostly missing Major. While this detracts from many people enjoyment of this film, I still liked the characters, and plot enough to wholeheartedly recommend a viewing. Though not up to the standard of the original (and really, not much is) this effort forwards the tale exceptionally well.

Ghost in the Shell (Special Edition)
$24.97
The DVD extras: making of, in japanese with subtitles, loads and loads of text information on various topics related to the feature, the feature trailer, and a rather caffeinated preview of other products from Manga-video.

The DVD has two languages: Japanese with subs being default, but the subs can be removed, or the film played with the english dub.

The film:

The protagonist is a cybernetic denizen of the uncanny valley who is working for the government looking for hackers. These are not the sort of hackers that invade company home-pages and replace them with random images, and turn out to be overweight 14 year old kids when they are caught. These have a much cooler evil scheme.

The story goes about in the future, which happens to be rusty and used up, but unlike so many live action cyberpunk films the sun does shine in this one. Which is how we can see the rust. Then the sun goes down sowe can see the neon. Can't have cyberpunk without neon. Or at the very least a creepy guy called Neo.

Creepy things happen, stuff blows up, there is spectacle.

In the oriental style, the film states its message and ends. That makes the film feel cut off at the end, but it actually said what it came to say, and didn't bother going into fireworks or other showmanship to do it. It is more of an idea movie than an action movie - on the bright side it is an amusing idea you may have considered yourself or seen it on Star Trek. In which case this can add something new, or just a different point of view. Afterwards you could watch the series. They are good, if different in many ways.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence [Blu-ray]
$39.98
This title divides fans a lot, and understandably so. When compared to the original, there is a distinct sameness present as well as a the mostly missing Major. While this detracts from many people enjoyment of this film, I still liked the characters, and plot enough to wholeheartedly recommend a viewing. Though not up to the standard of the original (and really, not much is) this effort forwards the tale exceptionally well.

Ghost in the Shell: Season 1 (Anime Legends)
$49.97
When I first saw Ghost In The Shell movie back on 1996 on HBO. (Yes, HBO), I instantly fell in love with the storyline and tha animation (the animation for God's sake), never had seen such great animation for that time. Well, following the item above, I think the series are well done, this first season is filled with some heavy philosophical script (as all GITS universe is) and the plot in my opinion is very interesting it self. The sound is avalaible in both english and japanese audio in dolby 5.1 or 2.0, you choose. In this set you get a well variaty of extras that includes some interviews with the director and production staff as well as the seiyus from the japanese audio. Also you fine the wierd but funny Tachikomatic Days shorts, where these little fellas try to understand the meaning of self thinking and morality and other stuff.

Great work from Bandai, as always.