Ghost in the Shell SAC Complete 1st Season Collection Box Set
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Movie Reviews of Ghost in the Shell SAC Complete 1st Season Collection Box Set
Movie Review: Tachikomatic!
Summary: 5 Stars
Contrary to what the editorial review says, SAC is not an offshoot of the Oshii film but a complete reimagining from the original Shirow Masamune manga. In mid 21st century Japan and after wars which have splintered the world and the people, complete cyberization is now possible thanks to technological advances and cyberbrains and memory/sensory augmentations are commonplace.
SAC manages to be an excellent thriller/police procedural in a future that we can recognise. In a society where most people have access to cyberisation, this man-machine meld opens a wide horizon of possibilities but it also beckons hackers, intrigue, agents opposed to established power and plain old sadistic criminals. Humanity, in a word, is still humanity. This is the world cyber-crime specialists Section 9 move in daily.
For those coming from the movie, SAC is lighter on the mood but doesn't lose the philosophical and puts it all in a contect of conspiracy. It can be quite a change of pace and it took me a few episodes to adjust. The GITS movie was an exercise in mood and ambience, much like the great Kenji Kawai music it has. Most of SAC's music is a mixture of rock/electronica and its driving beats establish the mood. Fortunately for us, the music is done by the amazing Yoko Kanno who is quite frankly one of the best, most innovative artists working in Japan today. If you've ever heard the quite different soundtracks to Cowboy Bebop, The Vision of Escaflowne, Earth Girl Arjuna, Wolf's Rain or even the one-off Magnetic Rose, you'll know what I mean. It's one of my favorite anime/movie soundtracks.
Philosophizing is just now mostly done by little-girl voiced sentient spider-shaped tanks. It's AIs pondering of what makes human human. It's also humans living in machine bodies and how weird (or how natural) it can be. Very interesting stuff.
On a final note, as a woman I couldn't help but notice that the world of GITS: SAC is violently a world of men. As a rule with very few exceptions, all people in power are men, all sex objects (whether flesh and blood, machine or both) are women. Most women who appear on the series are either victims, foils for the men or are there to play second fiddle. There is only one woman in power who appears on 2nd Gig (the second season) and she's widely held to be a puppet of her hawkish party.
There is, of course, Major Motoko Kusanagi, the focus of the series, prime hetero male eyecandy and main gal whom the camera loves to watch lounging around her workplace in leotards and thigh-highs but who can pull back a helicopter with her bare hands. She could be much more but GITS can't shake its seinen roots ("geared towards males 18-30 years of age") most of the time.
Still, it's a classic whom anyone interested in the current future of science fiction should watch.
Very recommended.
Movie Review: A Must Own Series!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite series of all time. There is really nothing bad with the exception of the episode titled 'Chat, chat, chat'. The show starts with a bang and does not let up as Mokoto and team move feverishly from case to case. The three main characters are wonderfully voiced in the English dub, surprisingly the Tachikomas sound better in the English dub also.
I like the fact that the episodes are usually self contained with the exception of the Laughing Man arc. This is a cerebral, intelligent series that forces the viewer to expand their perception.
FYI: Ghost in the Shell which is based on the Latin Deus ex Machina, in this series refers to the true protagonists: the Tachikomas. In the movie it was the Puppet Master who gained a 'ghost' or soul; in this series the Tachikoma's with thier superior artificial intelligence begain to show signs of a ghost, Motoko admits as much to them towards the climax. (no spoiler really)
The only real beef with this season as opposed to 2nd Gig is the lack of a strong antagonist throughout the Laughing Man arc. There are plenty of beautifully written and protrayed secondary characters who are a delight to watch, such as Serano (of Serano Genomics) and Jameson (the fun guy in the small metal box). Many of the episodes serve to further develop the main chatacters with references to their past and/or their struggles in the present.
Motoko is a brilliantly written heroine. I do approve more of her wardrobe in the 2nd gig, not because I didn't like her unitard but because she appears too feminine in the first series. The viewer is supposed to remember she is a woman, but in the 2nd gig you find yourself more involved with her character as the leader of section 9, not a chick in skimpy clothes.
Batou is actually my finacee'f favorite character. He is technically the second most important character in the series, though I argue that Togusa steals the show later. He seems so perfect and unflappable at times that I really enjoyed seeing him in his own story arcs such as in episode 16 'chinks in the armor heart'.
Togusa is my favorite and the only section 9 member without prosthetics. He also uses an antique revolver rather than the clip fed automatic pistol that is standard issue. His story arcs are much more involved and in depth and he actually 'stars' in more of his own episodes than any other character: episodes 4,11,20. In fact Togusa is who finally cracks the Laughing Man case and nearly pays the ultimate price as a result.
The next major character is really a set of many, the Tachikomas. They are the true protagonists and the characters whom the anime is actually named for. They are childlike and curious with programming capable of expanding as they gain experience in the world. They each begin to develop singular personality traits despite their 'sharing' of all information (one always reads, one always uses a wrench as a horn...)
Yoko Kanno is simply one of the greatest modern Japanese composers and the soundtrack is among the best ever written and produced. I highly recommend the CDs (many are included with the separate special editions).
This review is rambling a bit, but let me also point out that my fiancee had never seen anime when I met her, on our third date we stayed in and she inquired about my disgustingly large anime collection. I played this and now she is an addict. So I recommend this to first time anime viewers as well as die hard addicts like myself.
Pros: Masterfully written, great characters, lovely animation, stellar backdrops and scenery, music
Cons: Only the Special Editions have the DTS sound (it is pretty amazing)
Viewing Preference: English Dub - simply stated, this is the finest american voice cast I have encountered.
Movie Review: strong female character but unresolved ending
Summary: 4 Stars
Very high quality series, the story is complex and involving, I was even able to get my mum engrossed in it. It's is a very rewarding wach because there's sctrong character development, genuine philosophical debate and amazing graphics and animation - just as in the original film.
This review won't be popular because I'm going to point out things that your typical (male teenager) anime fan is too proud to point out. I am going to point out faults that people will notice when they watch, but i want to remind that this is a four star review - these weaknesses do not override the amazing storylines and characters, they simply knock off the fifth star.
Despite the subtitles being far too wordy and moving far too fast (we had to pause-play our way through the many dialogue-heavy scenes) we got a lot out of the story. I would never watch this in English Dub (though that is the default) because I prefer seeing it the way the artist intended, but the English dubs are actually very good for a change.
Once you can get past the usual sexism and stereotypes of anime, it is actually very enjoyable to see a strong female character in the Major, making strong decisions and having her orders followed without questioning her gender all the way through the series. It is unusual for anime to have such a strong flawless female character, but part of the reasoning i suspect, is that the Major is more than human, she's not mere-female, she's a cyborg.
I can't belive noone's commenting on the ending. It's very open-ended, and anyone looking for resolution in the Laughing Man case may be disappointed, I was. I'm not usually into tying up all loose ends in such a complex series, particularly as there is another season of the show after this, but 2nd GIG focuses on a different case altogether. Just be aware that the Laughing Man arc is left open almost as if to let the character reappear at some stage in future series/films. But he is not a feature in 2nd GIG.
Movie Review: Excellent Series - Sub-par Packaging
Summary: 5 Stars
An excellent series. The first season is highly enjoyable, though it focuses more on the specific events surrounding the Laughing Man incident than broad character development or exploration of the ramifications of the highly-plausible future world the series is set in.
This series has more philosophical depth than any other I have ever seen. If you tend to get lost in the often-extensive dialogue you may not enjoy this as much.
The packaging for the first season was also sub-par. The individual DVD cases come packed in a cheap paper box which is easy to rip, bend, or smash when opening and removing DVDs.
That said, this is an excellent collection not to be purchased without the second season. Very enjoyable.
Movie Review: Great anime
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best anime on Adult Swim atm I feel. Samurai Champloo is good no doubt, but the storyline for GITS and GITS 2nd Gig are amazing. I own both box sets, all episodes and have watched both sets from start to finish. I am now re-watching the first episodes of GITS again. I cannot wait for more, buy this and you will not be dissapointed. Also GITS Solid State Society is just as good, but longer but the story rocks and it moves your through the movie. The scene with Togusa and his daughter will get your attention for sure.
I need more GITS, hurry and make more episodes!!!!