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movie review - Ghost in the Shell

the journal of Michael Werneburg

Toronto, 2018.05.26

This is a retelling of an animated movie from several years ago, but the story lines deviate considerably. In this version, a detective occupies a synthetic body that allows great feats of acrobatics, strength, etc. She's investigating a major crime in which androids were remotely controlled to carry out several gang-land murders. As the investigation goes forward, political pressures begin to emerge and her entire unit comes under fire (metaphorically and actually). I quite enjoyed this main story and the not-unrelated second story in which her memories from her prior meat-space life start crowding in.

There are a number of scenes in this that haunt me, such as when the detective's partner is blinded and returns to service with cyborg eyes that radically change his appearance.

Recommended.