Ghost In The Shell Review: 8 Ups & 4 Downs

4. The Stellar Supporting Cast

Ghost In The Shell Takeshi Kitano
Paramount

Who ever expected a live-action anime adaptation to get a cast this freaking good? Aside from Scarlett Johansson, there are three especially stand-out performances in the movie: Juliette Binoche as the caring Dr. Ouélet, Pilou Asbæk as Batou, and Michael Pitt as Kuze.

Batou in particular is hugely evocative of the anime version, while Kuze is an interesting stand-in for the Puppet Master, and Pitt's eccentric performance does a great job teasing out his ambiguity.

Takeshi Kitano is also fun, if underutilised, as Chief Aramaki, getting one memorable action beat but spending most of the movie sat down talking (he is 70 years old, so it's understandable).

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Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.