We all have gaps in our cinematic knowledge. One of mine happens to be anime. While I have managed to see a few over the years, I am still very much a novice when it comes to the subject. I am aware of a lot of the classic properties, but I have not yet seen most of them. One of the big guns I remain unfamiliar with is Ghost in the Shell.
The downside to knowing next to nothing about the original Ghost in the Shell anime (and manga) is that I cannot come at it from an adaptation standpoint. The upside is that I can judge the upcoming Scarlett Johansson film entirely on its own merits. Thus far, the various trailers, clips, and TV spots have shown off a mysterious and enticing world. Whitewashing controversy aside, I am very much looking forward to seeing what Rupert Sanders’ film has to offer.
The previous previews have settled more on showcasing the mood and style of the piece, as opposed to its story. The latest trailer, which dropped earlier today, finally goes into the narrative. The basic structure appears to be this: android female cop sets out to take down a known terrorist, but finds herself within some sort of conspiracy as her investigation goes on. That’s standard cop stuff, which is entirely fine. It also appears to bear at least a passing resemblance to the story of RoboCop.
Based on what is shown (and spoken) in this new preview, the creation of The Major (Johansson) does not appear to be entirely wholesome. Not only that, but it’s clear that those in charge of her have no desire for her to gain knowledge about her past. Again, very RoboCop. That’s not a knock, mind you. If anything, it’s just another example of the versatility of such tales. While the 1987 Paul Verhoeven masterpiece predates the existence of Ghost in the Shell by a few years, both appear to draw inspiration from classic science fiction and comic book tropes.
In an age where remakes are often pale imitations of their predecessors, I often find myself appreciating riffs a whole lot more. For instance, the remake of Poltergeist was rather awful, but the very Poltergeist-esque Insidious was a winner. The RoboCop remake was largely forgettable, but I was (one of the few who was) delighted by Neil Blomkamp’s very Verhoeven-esque Chappie. If Ghost in the Shell gives me a great riff on ideas and themes similar to RoboCop, while twisting them in new and interesting ways, I’m all for it. And if not, no worries. I actually love the fact that I know almost nothing about this film or its source material.
Basically, I’m all in on this one.
