Looking to see the new Ghost in the Shell movie starring Scarlett Johansson this weekend? Reviews for the film are now online, and we’ve rounded up a group of them to help you decide if the movie is worth your time and money.
The original Ghost in the Shell was one of the key anime films to break through to a western audience in the ’90s. It was based on Masamune Shirow’s manga, and was followed by three more movies, plus a number of video games.
Johansson plays the cyborg cop, Major, who is fighting against a number of people, including the main bad guy Kuze (Michael Pitt).
For a wider look at Ghost in the Shell‘s critical reaction, head to GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
- Film: Ghost in the Shell
- Release Date: March 30
- Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, and Michael Pitt.
- Directed By: Rupert Sanders
- Rating: PG-13
- Runtime: 107 minutes
GameSpot
“Even though Ghost in the Shell does things well–its stylized take on the original’s sci-fi, its often well-choreographed action, its exciting pace–it doesn’t accomplish the main thing it intends to. The movie not only doesn’t answer or even truly explore the questions it raises, it also mishandles a story about identity by largely excluding the people it’s about. That’s a critical failure, and one that cannot be rectified by cool-looking geisha robots.” — Kallie Plagge [Full review]
IGN
“As an adaptation of an iconic and beloved source material, Ghost in the Shell understands what makes this franchise special and does a good job translating that to the big screen. It looks great and doesn’t feel like it’s just copying the anime and manga’s aesthetic, instead capturing what makes them stand apart to begin with. The story stumbles in the third act and doesn’t fully bring its talking points to a satisfying conclusion, but Ghost in the Shell‘s successes outshadow its problems.” — Terri Schwartz [Full review]
USA Today
“Despite the beautiful eye-popping world it creates, the sci-fi film Ghost in the Shell is a defective mess with lifeless characters, missed chances for thematic exploration, and a minefield of political incorrectness.” — Brian Truitt [Full review]
Variety
“Led by a resolute Scarlett Johansson, Rupert Sanders’ pulse-quickening, formally stunning live-action take on the manga classic both honors and streamlines its source.” — Guy Lodge [Full review]
The Seattle Times
“The picture re-creates a number of key scenes from the anime version but introduces a new key plot element that diverges significantly from the original. Like the Major, it suffers from an identity crisis. This Ghost doesn’t seem to quite know what it is or what it wants to be.” — Soren Andersen [Full review]