Currently watching SAC, I'm almost halfway through 2nd GIG. The setting is loaded with Fridge Logic (as per cyberpunk in general) but I like the writing, the combination of a police procedural with an espionage thriller is pretty cool, and while the background character designs can be a bit bland, the animation and art are generally stunning. The only episodes that really me was the finale of 1st GIG, like the IJBM page says, What the Hell, Hero? barely covers it.

I've been avoiding the movies on the premise that I should see them in HD, though I hear the BR release only has the new cut in HD, and the original is just a blowup rather than a 35mm transfer. How do the moves compare to SAC, visually?

What the Hell, Hero? referring to them killing the cops who were after them? That bugged me too, but honestly if guys in giant robots attacked me at my house with every intention of killing me, I don't think their lives would be my first priority either.

They repeatedly told them to drop their weapons and surrender though, I thought probably the most troublesome specific part was Batou executing the guy he'd eyehacked, his one-liner about payback was especially confusing, payback for what?

The movies are quite different from the series, for one. This is why a lot of people only like one of them.

That said, I recommend anyone who liked the movies to read After the Long Goodbye, it's a pretty good novel and the reason why Batou is a better protagonist than the Major.

How is Section 9 supposed to know that the big bad giant mechas after them were peaceful? What if the ring-leader behind them decides to execute Section 9 after capturing them? That is the logical thing to do if I was the Big Bad.

Though yes, the eyehack execution was troublesome if not completely unexpected for a Cyberpunk show.

edited 27th Apr '11 1:04:42 PM by revolution11

I enjoy Ghost in the Shell, quite a bit really - I own the first season/collection/whatever you want to call it of Stand Alone Complex as well as the movies. In the case of the first movie, I own the 2.0 version, remastered by director Mamoru Oshii himself. Love it.

All the original animation was reproduced with updated digital film and animation tech and blended with 3D-CGI, the original cast did new voice recording, and a brand new score was recorded as well. It looks and sounds like having sex with the soul. To me at least.

However, as much as I loved that, the second movie Innocence really held me overall; not sure how many times I've watched it. And with Stand Alone Complex, the thing that got me with the first series were the Tachikomatic Days shorts at the end of each episode. Tachikoma are adorable~ - then I found out they brought it back for 2nd Gig and I was just as surprised as the Tachikoma seemed to be in the first short for that season. I love how the first season of SAC had its moments of feeling like a cop show, and the dub voice work was great, imo. Mary Elizabeth Mc Glynn, Richard Epcar and Crispin Freeman in one show? Yes, please!

^Oh yes, the SAC dub is probably one of the greatest ever recorded.

So Let Me Get This Straight concerning the ending plot of number 2.

The dolls went mad because the original supplier of the ghosts told the ghosts how to override their programming, and in response the dolls decided to kill everything in a rage?

Even if I got that right... can someone explain to me why every doll knew martial arts and moved like something from the Exorcist.

Sorry to just ask for explanation, but I have only seen the movies. I liked the first one also becaue the first chase scene which ended on the roof. That was an awesome series of events. There was also the final part, with the Major going up against a tank.

Just saw the first movie again, since one of the series' chief animators is a guest at Anime Next. Is it just me, or does Daisuke Aramaki, a.k.a the chief of Section 9, look younger in the first Ghost in the Shell movie than he does in Stand Alone Complex? Could it be a change in character design, or was there a timeskip between Movie 1 and Stand Alone Complex?

I remember thinking he looked younger too, but I don't think the movie and SAC are in the same continuity.

They're not.

Probably a character design change, like with the rest of Section 9.

BTW, has anyone heard any news on the live action adaptation that's supposedly (according to IMDB) scheduled for 2011? IMO there's something about animation that can't be captured or replicated with live actors, so if they follow through with it and make the movie my expectations won't be very high. I'm still curious though.

A live-action movie will be really hard to do properly without the execs dumbing it down for the masses. So I am very sceptical.

edited 29th Jun '11 11:19:51 AM by revolution11

Visually speaking, The Matrix looked pretty awesome, and it was a giant ripoff. So far as writing is concerned, the entire thing has been feature-length (even SAC, via the Compilation Movies, though the pacing was a little tight on those.) I see no reason a real live-action GitS couldn't be made of win if everyone involved is on the ball.

I found standalone complex to be extremely confusing. Stuff is only explained once, and in a summarized way. Some of the plots are very referential to the point of Whole-Plot Reference... to films I either haven't watched or couldn't think of linking to the story until they were pointed out.

The characters are bland. They're shown angsting, but we rarely get to see what goes on in their heads. It felt distant, and cold.

Even the Tachikoma... I had trouble thinking of them as actual AI, rather than Ridiculously Human Robot who happen to have an hexapode frame. Still found them adorable.

Basically I dislike it for the same reasons I dislike Cowboy Bebop. The characters didn't touch me, and I didn't care about them or their understated ambiguities.

These kinds of shows are polarizing like that. Some people (fans) love them for their deep, complex, interesting, etc, etc stories and characters. Others never warm up to this and find them tedious, pretentious, etc, etc.

The key point is that you should never force yourself to enjoy a work. Some people like Ghost in the Shell, some like Naruto. Both are valid forms of enjoyment.

[/flamebait]

I think Standalone Complex is brilliantly made. I've always been a fan of the series. It has alot of thoughtful episodes, dialogue, an excellent score by Yoko Kanno, and of course thrilling action scenes, but it can be a little confusing at times too. Hard to follow the details if you even look away for one second - I'm not sure whether that's a sign of marvellous detail or clumsy narration. And there is pretty weak characterisation - though there are a few 2nd gig episodes which attempt to flesh out characters' back stories.

edited 1st Jul '11 2:55:35 PM by Shichibukai

Considering what they do in-series, it's not at all surprising that the stories are so loaded with details and side info that you have to pay constant attention or you'll miss something important.

I always preferred 2nd Gi G for its more epic plot and better characterization. Standalone Complex was better in obtuse philosophical questions and reasoning the Ghost In The Shell franchise is famous for.

...what.

Exactly....

I look forward to the sporking/review of this movie, I hope Sf Debris or That Guy With The Glasses gets their hands on it...

In Other News, Keanu Reeves' Cowboy Bebop adaptation is finally getting made as well!

How come Manga.Ghost In The Shell and Anime.Ghost In The Shell lack character sheets, where as Anime.Ghost In The Shell Stand Alone Complex and Anime.Ghost In The Shell Arise have them?

Hell if I know. Arise's character sheets don't even any content other than the names and voice actors.