VIDEO

First Trailer of 'Ghost in the Shell' Is a Visual Treat

By Freddy / 14 Nov 2016 (Monday)

Image credit: United International Pictures Singapore

Ghost in the Shell is based on a well-known sci-fi manga which has been adapted into various anime series and films since it was first published in 1989. This Hollywood adaptation would be its first live-action feature. Unfortunately, most of the conversation surrounding it has been about the whitewashing of the main character, Major, played by Scarlett Johansson.

The film follows Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.

Putting the debate of a cyborg’s race aside, this trailer reminds us there is no doubt that Johansson is a perfectly capable actress of the role. It is not very far from her previous femme fatale roles as Black Widow in Marvel movies and as the titular character in Lucy.

Image credit: United International Pictures Singapore

The futuristic universe the film is set in looks Blade Runner-ish. Hardly original, but I don’t find much problem with that.

Image credit: United International Pictures Singapore

The plot seems to differ from previous adaptations of the source material. The trailer hints that the we would follow Major’s journey to find out about her past and the truth about the company who housed her mind in the cyborg shell.

We get to see a lot of visually impressive, over-the-top action sequences, and even the thermo-optical camouflage that fans of Ghost in the Shell would immediately recognise.

Image credit: United International Pictures Singapore

Let’s give this film a chance, shall we?

Ghost in the Shell opens in theatres 30 March 2017.

Ghost in the Shell Scarlett Johansson Takeshi Kitano Rupert Sanders

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First Trailer of 'Ghost in the Shell' Is a Visual Treat