Ghost In The Shell Review: 8 Ups & 4 Downs

3. The Existential Aspect Is Toned Down

One of the best things about the original 1995 anime is that, between the various gorgeous set-pieces, there are some fantastically thoughtful dialogues about the nature of being, what it means to be human and so on.

These conversations and monologues often go on for minutes at a time, and while the live-action version certainly engages with these concepts, it's in a far more pared-down, piecemeal fashion, likely in order to avoid losing more casual audiences.

A little of the emotion and philosophical curiosity therefore feels lacking in the new film, even if it would be unfair to call it an empty vessel or thematically malnourished.