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Finally got around to watching this flick last night after renting it last week on DVD.   GITS was the second anime film I had ever seen (right after Vampire Hunter D) and it still holds a special place in my heart.  I was hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed by this newest version.

And I wasn't.

GITS 2 is the most beatiful animated film I've ever seen.  Ever.  No contest.

The film blends in computer generated 3D backgrounds with the traditional 2D animation of the characters.  It's an amazing site to see a 2D character, walking through a 3D alley or convience store.  It's extremely surreal, and mind blowingly stunning.

The film follows Batou from the original GITS.  He's mainly a cyborg now with only his ghost left in the body.  He works for an antiterrorism group, just as in the original.  He is sent out to discover why some of the pleasure bots built by Locus Solus are killing humans seemingly at random.

The film takes heavily from other SF films from the past.  The main one is Blade Runner.  Batou is basically emotionless as Ford was in Blade Runner and has few ties to his original human self.  The film also plays itself as a bit of a Passive Progressive Noir.  Sure it's in the future, but everything is reminicent of the 30s-40s complete with Noir lighting.

I really can stress enough how impressed I was with the film.  I really expected it to be a disappointment but it is even a bit better than the original.  

Check it out if you're into Anime or just science fiction in general.  It is truly a masterpiece.

Yeah Skaboi I saw in theathers. I loved it. It lives up to the original in every way. this what you call a cyberpunk classic. I am glad you enjoyed it. Ive been trying to post more anime movie viewings myself. Its also very philosophy heavy if you listen close to to what batou and togusa say they quote different philosophers. Locus Solus for example is a books written before WW1 and means place of solitude. If you look it up, alot of whats in the movie, you will understand it even more.

 You can’t give it, you can’t even buy it, and you just don’t get it!-Aeon Flux



Post Edited (01-18-05 12:43)

The story was just as engrossing as the original.  But, for me, the absolute best thing was the animation.  I really can't get over just how good it was.  The desgins for many of the locations and vehicles blew me away aswell.  The "bird" plane was breathtaking and the "dolphin" submarine was phenomenal.  

I'm really glad that the local Blockbuster carries it on DVD.  I'm considering picking it up along with the original on DVD at tax time.

If your in into animation Skaboi check out my review of the anime Appleseed. I posted a review of it on the board and it still pretty new.

 You can’t give it, you can’t even buy it, and you just don’t get it!-Aeon Flux



Post Edited (01-18-05 12:50)

I'll definently do that Rich.  I just read a review of it on Nytimes.com today.

GITS2 was far superior to the original film, which I didn't like because it stripped down the philosophical and technological issues raised in the manga down to the bare bones, resulting in a sort of "Cliff's Notes" version of Ghost in the Shell. The sequel is vaguely inspired by a side-story in the manga, but it's considerably longer than the original film, so it has more time to cover sufficient philosophical ground. It really is gorgeous to watch. I was surprised at how obvious some of the Blade Runner references were - but then again, you can't make a movie about a detective trying to stop a bunch of killer androids and NOT reference Blade Runner.