Ghost in the Shell | March 31, 2017 | Scarlett Johansson | Paramount | New Trailer on page 43!!!

[MrMarosa]

19 hours ago, antovolk said:

 

Except for Major not talking in this clip version (and not breaking some of his limbs), it’a pretty much a shot-by-shot copy of the anime. Which can only mean one thing: GITS will be a box office smash. Being a soulless-yet-slavish replica of a classic animated narrative did not hurt BATB's box office one bit.

[JB33]

3 minutes ago, MrMarosa said:

Except for Major not talking in this clip version (and not breaking some of his limbs), it’a pretty much a shot-by-shot copy of the anime. Which can only mean one thing: GITS will be a box office smash. Being a soulless-yet-slavish replica of a classic animated narrative did not hurt BATB's box office one bit.

 

How can someone watch a movie like BatB and call it "soulless"? Talk about irony....

 

You can stop with the ridiculous hyperbole man. We get the message.

[MrMarosa]

26 minutes ago, JB33 said:

 

How can someone watch a movie like BatB and call it "soulless"? 

 

I agree: 1991’s Beauty and the Beast was gloriously soulful.

 

I am looking forward to GITS, but these clips make it look like an utterly mediocre carbon copy. :-(  Sure, a great-looking, well-crafted copy, but soulless indeed. 

Edited March 21, 2017 by MrMarosa

[KevinPr]

38 minutes ago, MrMarosa said:

Except for Major not talking in this clip version (and not breaking some of his limbs), it’a pretty much a shot-by-shot copy of the anime. Which can only mean one thing: GITS will be a box office smash. Being a soulless-yet-slavish replica of a classic animated narrative did not hurt BATB's box office one bit.

Yeah I agree that GiTS will be a box office smash. I predict that the movie will reach $220m+ WW. What do you think??

[The Futurist]

Long review From someone who was at the Paris Premiere that just ended :

 

Spoiler

I knew almost nothing of the material, so it was interesting to discover this world, but other than that, it's pretty mediocre. Not a disaster, I can't say I was totally bored, but it does feel like there is potential and it's just wasted.

On the positives, the special effects and the score are really great. The first hour has some interesting ideas and themes, that feels like there are set up well and will lead to something worthwile, but then, it kinda goes to shit.

The problem is really that Sanders and the writers tried to make something deep, something more than just a blockbuster but all the themes, about humanity and especially about technology aren't fully explored and it's very shallow, resulting in a movie that is sometimes quite dull. It also abandons these ideas in the second half, it becomes about Major and her searching for her past, but they don't spend enough time on it and her whole psychology is also superficial. The ending (and everything involving Michael Pitt) feels so stupid, and like Sanders decided "hey, maybe I should make a blockbuster". I reallt find Major and Kuze's "relationship" to be problematic, or at least, the way it's handled. 

ScarJo is fine in the role, but she really doesn't pop off the screen like in so many other films, she doesn't own that role, and her walk was just plain awkward. However, her relationship with Batou, who's MVP for me, is a great aspect. I like Binoche too. The rest of the cast doesn't register, tbh. I hated the production design, which looked fake and unoriginal, and the action sequences are mostly bad and unengaging, due to an overdose of slow-mo.

I didn't have much hope for this film, so I was surprised that it wasn't a disaster, but it's mostly potential, nothing actually done is great. Also, the whitewashing seems even worse when you get the character's backstory. 

6.5

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by The Futurist

[RedX]

http://m.ign.com/articles/2017/03/21/original-ghost-in-the-shell-director-mamoru-oshii-has-no-problem-with-live-action-remake

 

"What issue could there possibly be with casting her?" Oshii told IGN by e-mail. "The Major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one. The name 'Motoko Kusanagi' and her current body are not her original name and body, so there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her. Even if her original body (presuming such a thing existed) were a Japanese one, that would still apply."

 

 "In the movies, John Wayne can play Genghis Khan, and Omar Sharif, an Arab, can play Doctor Zhivago, a Slav. It's all just cinematic conventions," he explained. "If that's not allowed, then Darth Vader probably shouldn’t speak English, either. I believe having Scarlett play Motoko was the best possible casting for this movie. I can only sense a political motive from the people opposing it, and I believe artistic expression must be free from politics."

 

 

[dashrendar44]

2 hours ago, RedX said:

http://m.ign.com/articles/2017/03/21/original-ghost-in-the-shell-director-mamoru-oshii-has-no-problem-with-live-action-remake

 

"What issue could there possibly be with casting her?" Oshii told IGN by e-mail. "The Major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one. The name 'Motoko Kusanagi' and her current body are not her original name and body, so there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her. Even if her original body (presuming such a thing existed) were a Japanese one, that would still apply."

 

 "In the movies, John Wayne can play Genghis Khan, and Omar Sharif, an Arab, can play Doctor Zhivago, a Slav. It's all just cinematic conventions," he explained. "If that's not allowed, then Darth Vader probably shouldn’t speak English, either. I believe having Scarlett play Motoko was the best possible casting for this movie. I can only sense a political motive from the people opposing it, and I believe artistic expression must be free from politics."

 

 

Yeah, because japanese people don't care about racial politics, skinwashing and politics. So that's why they totally busted a nut when chinese actresses played geishas in a Hollywood movie. Remember Memories Of A Geisha.

 

The real reason is that sweet Hollywood royalties paycheck feels so good so Oshii could care less about political ramifications about the resulting "art" (because there are no matter what art you put out there, whether you admit it or not. Art is political. Period) whoever was cast as lead whether it be Rinko Kinkuchi, Johannsson or Megan Fox. Yeah, Motoko Kusanagi, a japanese cop in a japanese city would choose to look like Scarlett Johannsson without consequences on her daily interactions (And be rest assured, being japanese in a caucasian body is not adressed at all in this movie because that's not the point of the original anime, amarite?). Why is Aramaki played by japanese Takeshi Kitano then if it doesn't matter at all?

 

(And I won't go into how the movie cast white actors as cyborgs übermenschs transcending the realms of life and conscience while the merely petty mortals are all asian)

 

The dark and politically incorrect answer, Oshii won't admit is that japanese people secretly envy white people, put them on a pedestal and feel acknowledged when their properties are whitewashed like some badge of coolness pretending they don't care about race while asian american people seeing through that bullshit because they fall prey to that bullshit call Hollywood out on it. Memories Of A Geisha outrage proves that japanese people perfectly care about politics and ethnicity when their culture is being mangled by Hollywood casting execs.

 

 

Edited March 22, 2017 by dashrendar44

[RedX]

9 minutes ago, dashrendar44 said:

Yeah, because japanese people don't care about racial politics, skinwashing and politics. So that's why they totally busted a nut when chinese actresses played geishas in a Hollywood movie. Remember Memories Of A Geisha.

 

The real reason is that sweet Hollywood royalities paycheck feels so good so Oshii could care less about political ramifications about the resulting "art" (because there are no matter what art you put out there, whether you admit it or not. Art is political. Period) whoever was cast as lead whether it be Rinko Kinkuchi, Johannsson or Megan Fox. Yeah, Motoko Kusanagi, a japanese cop in a japanese city would choose to look like Scarlett Johannsson without consequences on her daily interactions (And be rest assured, being japanese in a caucasian body is not adressed at all in this movie because that's not the point of the original anime, amarite?). Why is Aramaki played by japanese Takeshi Kitano then if it doesn't matter at all?

 

(And I won't go into how the movie cast white actors as cyborgs übermenschs transcending the realms of life and conscience while the merely petty mortals are all asian)

 

The dark and politically incorrect answer, Oshii won't admit is that japanese people secretly envy white people, put them on a pedestal and feel acknowledged when their properties are whitewashed like some badge of coolness pretending they don't care about race while asian american people seeing through that bullshit because they fall prey to that bullshit call on it. Memories Of Geisha outrage proves that japanese people perfectly care about politics and ethnicity when their culture is being mangled by Hollywood casting execs.

 

 

There's some element of truth to what you say about Japanese culture. It's an extremely nuanced issue, especially in regards to their real history and not something they consider Otaku or childish. Some of what you say, however, is a wee too presumptious, including specific details in the film. 

 

 Oshii has no qualms being blunt. He's directed animations with heavy political themes in the Patlabor series, and he has credibility and authority on this particular issue. 

 

 

[Nova]

1 hour ago, RedX said:

http://m.ign.com/articles/2017/03/21/original-ghost-in-the-shell-director-mamoru-oshii-has-no-problem-with-live-action-remake

 

"What issue could there possibly be with casting her?" Oshii told IGN by e-mail. "The Major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one. The name 'Motoko Kusanagi' and her current body are not her original name and body, so there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her. Even if her original body (presuming such a thing existed) were a Japanese one, that would still apply."

 

 "In the movies, John Wayne can play Genghis Khan, and Omar Sharif, an Arab, can play Doctor Zhivago, a Slav. It's all just cinematic conventions," he explained. "If that's not allowed, then Darth Vader probably shouldn’t speak English, either. I believe having Scarlett play Motoko was the best possible casting for this movie. I can only sense a political motive from the people opposing it, and I believe artistic expression must be free from politics."

 

 

I don't know who it was who said it but someone who has a connection to the movie said it best: they cast Scarjo because they felt that was the best bet to get this film mass exposure i.e. make a shit ton of movie. I wish they'd just stick with because that's 99.9% of why she was cast and stop with the other nonsense....or maybe try to understand why folks were upset. I have stayed out of the discussion of Scarjo's casting for the most part but I think the biggest thing folks were missing is that it's not how the folks over in Japan are feeling about this but rather how do the Japanese Americans feel about this because that's where the majority of the backlash has come from. For Japanese Americans, this was an opportunity to get one of them to be a lead in a major blockbuster. Of course people in Japan aren't going to care. They're represented in their own films over there. 

 

However, this is industry is a business and I understand the reason why Scarjo was cast. However I also wish that these folks would also understand WHY the backlash started. Because this whole "art must be separated from politics" BS is a joke....and I find it ironic that Oshii would bring up politics and what not when Scarjo herself said she took the role because she felt it was important to her as a feminist to be a lead in a major film that's led by a female. 

 

Regardless, it's very hard to separate art from politics. They virtually go hand in hand. You can study a piece of art and know which political time period it came from. A lot of artists actually use art to express their ideas on certain political topics. It's okay if Oshii doesn't want to do that but to act like the arts and politics are separated or were separated is laughable to me. 

 

I dont want to go on with this subject though. I get why Scarjo was cast and I also get why folks were upset. 

 

Edited March 22, 2017 by Nova

[Mulder]

Nova and Dash summed up most of what I'd say but it's funny that he brings up the Genghis Khan casting like it hasn't been mocked relentlessly.

[RedX]

3 hours ago, Nova said:

I don't know who it was who said it but someone who has a connection to the movie said it best: they cast Scarjo because they felt that was the best bet to get this film mass exposure i.e. make a shit ton of movie. I wish they'd just stick with because that's 99.9% of why she was cast and stop with the other nonsense....or maybe try to understand why folks were upset. I have stayed out of the discussion of Scarjo's casting for the most part but I think the biggest thing folks were missing is that it's not how the folks over in Japan are feeling about this but rather how do the Japanese Americans feel about this because that's where the majority of the backlash has come from. For Japanese Americans, this was an opportunity to get one of them to be a lead in a major blockbuster. Of course people in Japan aren't going to care. They're represented in their own films over there. 

 

However, this is industry is a business and I understand the reason why Scarjo was cast. However I also wish that these folks would also understand WHY the backlash started. Because this whole "art must be separated from politics" BS is a joke....and I find it ironic that Oshii would bring up politics and what not when Scarjo herself said she took the role because she felt it was important to her as a feminist to be a lead in a major film that's led by a female. 

 

Regardless, it's very hard to separate art from politics. They virtually go hand in hand. You can study a piece of art and know which political time period it came from. A lot of artists actually use art to express their ideas on certain political topics. It's okay if Oshii doesn't want to do that but to act like the arts and politics are separated or were separated is laughable to me. 

 

I dont want to go on with this subject though. I get why Scarjo was cast and I also get why folks were upset. 

 

I think Oshii means to highlight the problem of overindulging so much in the act of politicization that we lose sight of artistic expression; he's not saying that art cannot have political themes, he's shown that time again in his own work, which he would probably understand more than a Japanese-American or any American who is more than unlikely to expound as much on Ghost in the Shell as he can. It baffles him as well because of his vision for the property as an auteur and creator. I can see why he feels people are missing the point. It's strictly his own rebuke of the protest over the reimagining of his work. There's no expectation of him acquiescing, despite him knowing why. 

[Mulder]

Oshii's not the creator. Hell in my personal opinion, I wouldn't even say his version is the best. He's entitled to it but he's not infallible nor would he be the #1 person to talk about issues that affect Asian Americans. 

[dashrendar44]

21 minutes ago, Mulder said:

Oshii's not the creator. Hell in my personal opinion, I wouldn't even say his version is the best. He's entitled to it but he's not infallible nor would he be the #1 person to talk about issues that affect Asian Americans. 

 

Exactly, Mamoru Oshii's movies were an interpretation of Shirow's works so I don't know why he acts like the sole moral authority on the material he adapted.

Edited March 22, 2017 by dashrendar44

[RedX]

He directed the classic film and made it his own, he definitely has authority to speak. I agree he would have insufficient knowledge to speak on the life of Asian-Americans, but I can see his frustration with people invoking his work as just a political gavel, like the role belongs to them. 

[RedX]

I'm hoping this movie can aid in improving representation of Asians in film with its diverse cast 

[kitik]

Ghost in the Shell needs votes.

 

Head over to the Most Anticipated Movies thread and vote for your top 10 movies coming out over the next 365 days.

 

http://forums.boxofficetheory.com/topic/667-box-office-theorys-most-anticipated-films/?page=300

[antovolk]

Not the first 5 mins but the 5 mins after that. Fuckers also cut Beat Takeshi.

Edited March 22, 2017 by antovolk

[Arlborn]

Well, I watched it and I have to say that, as someone who hasn't watched the original anime, I'm pretty damn impressed by what I've just seen. Great visuals and it seems to me like it should be worth a ticket to watch it on a big screen. I'll be there.

 

@antovolk Is Beat Takeshi a character? You mean they cut him out from the clip or the movie itself?

 

Edited March 22, 2017 by Arlborn

[Mulder]

Visuals are good though I can't comment much beyond on that so far. Much better then the awkwardly done knock-off water fight. Still not huge on them making the geishas look robotic when they're meant to be attractive sex-androids more or less.

[Klingo]

3 hours ago, antovolk said:

Not the first 5 mins but the 5 mins after that. Fuckers also cut Beat Takeshi.

Yeah not sure why they cut him out in this scene.  Unless it shows something in the actual movie.