Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie is an anime film, which serves as a prequel to the previous Ghost in the Shell movies and the well known TV series. In the world of anime, that is. The setting is the future, in a post World War III world (without nuclear weapons, fortunately). Many people have cybernetic implants and body prosthesis to enhance their bodies, as well as communication skills. Some even have full body replacement. The ‘Ghost’ essentially refers to someone’s mind, spirit, or soul, if you will, and the Shell implies the artificial body that a Ghost will occupy. There’s a significant amount of hacking done in the background, where the right people can hack into peoples’ brains, if there is a need. The series and movies have taken place in Japan.

The film starts with a hostage situation. The government is intent on disbanding the military, and focusing instead on privatizing that function. The hostage takers are from the 501st division, and they do not want this to happen. The film starts with the prime minister authorizing the funding of a special antiterrorist unit to take care of the situation. This team is led by Major Motoko Kusanangi (dubbed by Elizabeth Maxwell), who has hand-picked her team. As they go on the offensive, the Public Security Section 9, let by Aramaki (voiced by John Swasey) sits by, guarding the facility for any external action. He wants the major’s team to work with him, but they eye him as a rival competing for funding. The major’s team is mostly successful, capturing all but one of the soldiers alive. The other one gets away. Before they can be questioned, someone hacks into some of the hostages’ minds, who are then coerced into killing the soldiers. After the fight is over, the prime minister is assassinated with a bomb while meeting with advisors. Spurred on by the prime minister’s son, the Major and her team try to find out who’s behind it all.

I’ve read that the series has undergone a reboot in recent years called Ghost in the Shell: Arise. I was not aware of that until after I’d some research before I started composing this review. This movie is a continuation of that effort, and is essentially retconning what has come before. In my opinion, it falls very flat. It’s an ‘origin story’ of a sorts, replacing what had been covered in the series. It retells a bit of the original concept, but not in an interesting way.

I was fairly disappointed by this movie. The original movie, the multiple sequels, and the TV series were all very innovative for what they were doing. The first movie went into a discussion of what it means to be a person, and the animation behind it was unbelievably photorealistic at times. The followup films were interesting, as well, and exceptionally stunning for their beauty. The seasons of the TV series delved into filling out the world, and presented some eclectic and appealing music. These stories from the franchise’s universe were unlike anything I’d seen before, and kept me wondering where it would go. However, in this film, the visuals are pedestrian, the music is a bit dull and completely forgettable, and the story is a little confusing. Perhaps this is due to my lack of awareness of the reboot beforehand. Even the film’s title is boring and nondescript. Perhaps now I will go back to the rebooted movies in this franchise, and it may change my opinion of this film, but I doubt it.

I also found it irritating that some of the franchise’s original American voice cast have been replaced. I found it disconcerting that the original voice actress for the Major, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, was is doing a different character in this film. I guess that’s the way it will be for this franchise, now.