Review by Bob Ignizio
In the near-future world of GHOST IN THE SHELL, mechanical augmentation is commonplace.
However, The Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the only human to have had their
brain transplanted into a completely robotic body. At least that's what she's
been told. As she sets out to investigate a series of terrorist attacks on
executives from the leading cybernetics company, The Major learns that there
may have been earlier experiments. It also appears the story she was told about
her body being damaged in a terrorist attack, thus necessitating her present
condition, is not entirely factual.
That's the set-up for this live action adaptation of the
Japanese manga and anime film of the same name. Although there are differences
in each of the versions (not to mention the sequels and reboots the property
has spawned in its native country), all iterations share similar themes about
what it means to be human, the drive to achieve physical perfection at all
costs, the impact of technology on society, and the ramifications of
corporations having too much power.
