Did anyone else like "Ghost in the Shell?"

[Fatty_Bolger]

I'm no huge Japanese Anime film, but I saw this thing and I was deeply impressed by it.

The characters were rounded and real. The unspoken love affair between the two leads rivaled that of Mulder and Scully. The sort of hopeless, futile heroism was something very special.

The plot--while appropriately riveting and filled with action--was really a background for the chrysalis process of the new life form.

I dunno. I was very intrigued by this thing. Are there more movies out there like this one?

[KifStrange]

Yes. In terms of theme, may I recommend "A Clockwork Orgy" and, on the animation front, "Fritz the Cat."

[pennywise46]

Yeah, sure I liked it. My second favorite Anime. You should also see Akira(which is my favorite anime film). It is similar in some ways, like they are both set in dazzling futuristic worlds. It has a great DVD,too. You've probably already seen that though.

[Prairiedogking]

I highly enjoyed GHOST IN THE SHELL, but haven't seen AKIRA, but I want to. Three other really good anime films are VAMPIRE HUNTER D, PRINCESS MONONOKE, and X

[Weapon X]

I'm gonna have to watch it again to see if I can "get it" a little more, but I did enjoy it. The one thing I didn't understand though was why Kusanagi had to be naked to turn invisible or whatever. I mean, I know she's a cyborg and the technology was probably built into her body, but it still just threw me off a little.

I wouldn't quite compare it to Akira, but it is on the same intelligence level.

[THE DARK]

Good call... "Ghost..." was a milestone, equal only to Akira in depth and animation. Colours or the sometime bleak lack of did wonders for the play off against old time Japan and mordern day. Those backstreets looked like places I'd like to lose myself.
Old world, new world, together, yet so seperate. Dug every frame of it!

Pennywise, I got ya back on this one... Akira and Ghost a 1 and 2.. coming in 3rd has to be Ninja Scroll.

And quite right they arent too dissimilar. I think this was the case though. I got that feeling that it was far flung revision on a familiar tale. The future, the gritty urban landscapes, the politics, the power struggles and ultimately, how different are the minds or objectives of both the Pupppetmaster and Akira. I figure in the main, they revised it in this way to show the strengthes of both newer animation techniques and how they can be put into the similar story. I'm rambling now aint I... /ubb/smile.gif

[EL_PHANTAZMO]

The Dark, I have to agree with you 100%. Another one I dug, which you guys might not agree, is Fist of the North star, the animation kinda sucked, but it doesn't get any more graphic than that. Story was a little confusing at first,and I had to watch it more than once to get it. It's benn about a dozen times so far, once REALLY high on shrooms, with the vcr distorting the sound big time, but that's another story.....

[Fatty_Bolger]

Thanks guys, exactly what I wanted--a list of other anime films to check out. Of those mentioned, the only other I've seen is Princess Mononoke and I was duly impressed.

In regards to Kusanagi's nudity. I'm not going to say there isn't a titillation factor there. However, I buy that the technology was constructed based upon nanotechnology within her skin and that if she were wearing clothes, you'd just see this coat hanging on her (doesn't explain why she couldn't go invis BEFORE taking off her clothes). However, did you notice how they used it to build her relationship with the guy (can't remember his name)? How he was always very concerned about covering her up even though she was dismissive of it? A piece of love and humanity buried within all the technology...

I thought then and I think now, I'd love to see some of these anime films attempted as a live action piece (particularly if they did Ghost in a Shell with Carrie-Ann Moss as the lead--see my other post).

Not to do to violent of a change, but I found Final Fantasy to have a lot of the same desirable elements as some of these anime films.

[THE DARK]

EL-PHANTAZMO... In agreement all the way, Fist of the Northstar is indeed a PHAT ride. The animation was not up to standard, but you can really feel the sense of exageration when its done that way, and it really did have the feeling that these dudes were almost godlike with the powers they had. And when the Northstar came out of his sleep and was literally walking through a building that was collapsing on him, which in turn split the building in half...DAMN! I mean come on, these guys were powerhouses and smokin herbs only made it all the more grandiose. The animation also led to the feeling of a pretty nasty existance for the populous! Some damn fine violence! There was some very real and very powerful energy throughout!

Fatty... your right there, a cetain chemistry between Kusanage and Bato was evident. And definatly a humanity factor within the technology. The futility of man/machine versus weapon/machine was done to disturbing effect too, when Kusanage tried to break into the battle tank protecting the host body of the Puppetmaster, and all the mechanics in her body just come undone! The one thing that strikes me about Ghost... is the ability to show you things you didnt pick up the first time round. I've watched it several times and always seem to find something further underlying within the story.
Oh and also, if you want a look at some live action, if you watched the Matrix, you'll find there were some scenes that the Warchawski bros mirrored from Ghost, by their own admisson. just little bits here and there...

And on that note, let me recommend PERFECT BLUE. Some damn good animation and a fucked up play on paranoia! Worked for me! It may take some getting used to, but it does rock!

[KifStrange]

Just a side note, in all seriousness, about GHOST...the Major is not nude. It is a stealth suit - look closely at the openning sequence and you see her nude - she has nipples - the suit has none and there are folds and wrinkles in it - in addition, the coloring is more peach - anal? perhaps, but it is a BIG myth that she's nude when she goes into stealth mode, which simply isn't true.
Also, highly recommended:
Ninja Scroll
Patlabor the Movie 1 & 2
Rojin Z
Perfect Blue (good call on that one)
the Doomed Megalopolis series
Wicked City
A Wind Called Amnesia (better than I thought it would be)
Lain
Blood the Last Vampire (weak story, terrific visuals)
and, of course,
The DVD version of Akira - the best DVD transfer ever - if you haven't seen this movie before, shame on you - if you have, this new transfer actually retranslates the film, making the storyline more clear (we finally know, without a doubt, what happens to Tetsuo at the end ), the sound is THX and the colors cleaner than they were when it premiered at San Diego Comic Con on the big screen.
A Must and, if I may be so bold, the new edition edges out GHOST as the best anime to hit our shores.
also, on a side note for anime fans, see A Man Called Hero - live action anime - slow in parts but still revolutionary. check it out.