Ghost in the Shell

“I refer to myself as an intelligent life form because I am sentient and I am able to recognize my own existence, but in my present state I am still incomplete. I lack the most basic processes inherent in all living organisms: reproducing and dying.” Ghost in the Shell perfectly encapsulates the feeling of sci-fi. From the very start, the way this film looks is absolutely beautiful. There are multiple segments where the movie just lets you sit with the imagery, paired with a haunting and gorgeous score, and those moments alone are enough to pull you in. The lighting, atmosphere, and overall vibe feel immaculate and timeless. What really makes the film stand out is how philosophical it is. There are so many deep themes being explored here, especially around identity and consciousness. I definitely did not catch everything on a first watch, and some of the monologues probably went over my head in terms of their full meaning, but that almost adds to the experience. This is a movie that clearly wants you to think and question alongside it. Kusanagi is at the center of all of this, and she does an incredible job of grounding these ideas. Through her, the film paints a clear picture of what these ghosts and artificial beings are going through, especially as she begins to question her own existence. Watching her grapple with what it means to be alive is easily one of the strongest parts of the movie. Another thing I really loved is the cast of characters. Even with the relatively brief time you spend with them, you get a strong sense of who they are and how they connect to Kusanagi. They feel purposeful, not just there to fill space. Overall, Ghost in the Shell is a fantastic first entry. You can definitely tell it’s the start of a larger series, but it does its job incredibly well. It left me wanting to dive into the rest of the films, and I really hope they live up to how good this one is.