The elegance, attention to detail, the invention and expertise all ensure that the movie’s never less than visually breathtaking.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)
Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] violence, disturbing images, and brief language
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Theatrical Release: 28-10-2005
Synopsis: Nine years ago, writer/director Mamoru Oshii's widely influential "Ghost in the Shell" burst onto the international film scene, becoming one of the most successful anime films of all time. Now, Oshii returns with the long-awaited sequel "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence." "Ghost in the... Nine years ago, writer/director Mamoru Oshii's widely influential "Ghost in the Shell" burst onto the international film scene, becoming one of the most successful anime films of all time. Now, Oshii returns with the long-awaited sequel "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence." "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" is set in 2032, when the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. Humans have virtually forgotten what it means to be entirely human in both body and spirit, and the few humans that are left coexist with cyborgs (human spirits inhabiting entirely mechanized bodies) and dolls (robots with no human elements at all). Batou is a cyborg. His body is artificial: the only remnants left of his humanity are traces of his brain…and the memories of a woman called The Major. A detective for the government's covert anti-terrorist unit, Public Security Section 9, Batou is investigating the case of a gynoid—a hyper-realistic female robot created specifically for sexual companionship—who malfunctions and slaughters her owner. As Batou delves deeper into the investigation, questions arise about humanity's need to immortalize its image in dolls. Together, Batou and his partner must take on violent Yakuza thugs, devious hackers, government bureaucrats and corporate criminals to uncover the shocking truth behind the crime. "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" is the story of a solitary cyborg who desperately wants to hold on to what's left of his humanity in a world where the worth of the human soul is fading almost into obscurity. "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" was written and directed by Mamoru Oshii based on an original story by Shirow Masamune. Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and Toshio Suzuki produced the film. It is the second anime film to be released under the banner of Go Fish Pictures, a division of DreamWorks Pictures. "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" was the first anime film ever to compete for the Cannes International Film Festival's coveted Palme d'Or. It also joined the ranks of such animated classics as "Dumbo" (1947), "Peter Pan" (1953), "Fantastic Planet" (1973), "Shrek" (2001) and "Shrek 2" (2004) to become only the sixth animated film to compete at Cannes. -- © Go Fish Pictures [More]
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Naoto Takenaka, Ruby
DVD Info
Release:
Apr 12, 2006
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Snap Case
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - Japanese
Additional Release Material:
- Trailers
- Interviews
Text/Photo Galleries:
- Storyboards
- Animatics
Reviews
Muddled up with philosophising about the relationship between mind and the material world.
The staggering beauty of Oshii's animation more than makes up for the fact that his plot is completely impenetrable.
Much like Akira in the 1980s, this is the film that sets the standard by which all others of its kind are judged - and usually found wanting.
the mind-blowing story and its reality-bending aesthetic form a sublime continuum, where the medium becomes part of the message...this is animation at its most acute and enthralling.
Mamoru Oshii's 2004 follow-up to his 1995 anime noir is that rare sequel that surpasses the original.
Too talky and philosophical for kids, and dabbling in lavish imagery that lacks enough narrative coherence to hook adults, this is an animated feature that, well, needed to get a little more animated.
One long, tedious rumination on the blurring distinction between man and machines.
If you're already an anime fan, this is required viewing. If not, this isn't going to convert you anytime soon.
Japanese animated film which explores the nature of post-modern existence and consciousness is a mixed bag in terms of both narrative and images.
While one can’t accuse Innocence of being dim, it is certainly long winded and cliché.
Oshii allows the plot to be overwhelmed by a slew of cockamamie musings on the nature of existence that wouldn't float in a late-night dorm room smokeout.
With this beautiful, thought-provoking, adrenaline-fuelled film, Oshii heralds a truly post-human era in which all forms of 'life' deserve our respect.
Pure, wordless cinema, existing in a realm too deliciously mysterious to pull down.
In this anime it's a basset hound that brings the only bits of warmth.
Occasional passages of shell-cracking egghead overload aside, there's no getting past Innocence's astounding visual power.
Compared to many anime films, Oshii's anime style is still different, an intoxicating blend of mechanical and organic, like his characters.
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News
posted by Jeff Giles January 22, 2007
This falls under the 'news before the actual news' category, but according to ComingSoon.net, Variety is reporting...
Around the Network
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence at IGN
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence at AskMen


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