Philosophy's never looked so cool.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)
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Reviews Counted:89
Fresh:56
Rotten:33
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: The animation is lovely, but the plot is complex to the point of inscrutability, leaving Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence both original and numbing.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violence, disturbing images and brief language
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:Sep 17, 2004 Limited
Box Office: $856,451
Synopsis: Nine years ago, writer/director Mamoru Oshii's widely influential "Ghost in the Shell" burst onto the international film scene, becoming one of the most successful anime films of all time. Now,... Nine years ago, writer/director Mamoru Oshii's widely influential "Ghost in the Shell" burst onto the international film scene, becoming one of the most successful anime films of all time. Now, Oshii returns with the long-awaited sequel "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence." "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" is set in 2032, when the line between humans and machines has been blurred almost beyond distinction. Humans have virtually forgotten what it means to be entirely human in both body and spirit, and the few humans that are left coexist with cyborgs (human spirits inhabiting entirely mechanized bodies) and dolls (robots with no human elements at all). Batou is a cyborg. His body is artificial: the only remnants left of his humanity are traces of his brain…and the memories of a woman called The Major. A detective for the government's covert anti-terrorist unit, Public Security Section 9, Batou is investigating the case of a gynoid—a hyper-realistic female robot created specifically for sexual companionship—who malfunctions and slaughters her owner. As Batou delves deeper into the investigation, questions arise about humanity's need to immortalize its image in dolls. Together, Batou and his partner must take on violent Yakuza thugs, devious hackers, government bureaucrats and corporate criminals to uncover the shocking truth behind the crime. "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" is the story of a solitary cyborg who desperately wants to hold on to what's left of his humanity in a world where the worth of the human soul is fading almost into obscurity. "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" was written and directed by Mamoru Oshii based on an original story by Shirow Masamune. Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and Toshio Suzuki produced the film. It is the second anime film to be released under the banner of Go Fish Pictures, a division of DreamWorks Pictures. "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" was the first anime film ever to compete for the Cannes International Film Festival's coveted Palme d'Or. It also joined the ranks of such animated classics as "Dumbo" (1947), "Peter Pan" (1953), "Fantastic Planet" (1973), "Shrek" (2001) and "Shrek 2" (2004) to become only the sixth animated film to compete at Cannes. -- © Go Fish Pictures [More]
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Naoto Takenaka, Ruby
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Naoto Takenaka, Ruby
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Composer: Kenji Kawai
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC
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Reviews for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
Mamoru Oshii's 2004 follow-up to his 1995 anime noir is that rare sequel that surpasses the original.
'[Oshii] is a visionary. His world is unmistakably his, [and] it's a hypnotic place to be.'
the mind-blowing story and its reality-bending aesthetic form a sublime continuum, where the medium becomes part of the message...this is animation at its most acute and enthralling.
A revelation, a challenging yet enlightening journey into the depths of creativity and imagination.
Compared to many anime films, Oshii's anime style is still different, an intoxicating blend of mechanical and organic, like his characters.
A stunning work of animation artistry and a compelling metaphysical inquiry into what constitutes humanity and machine.
Extraordinarily rich visually, with a density of detail that would have impressed Breughel or Veronese.
If you're already an anime fan, this is required viewing. If not, this isn't going to convert you anytime soon.
The elegance, attention to detail, the invention and expertise all ensure that the movie’s never less than visually breathtaking.
Occasional passages of shell-cracking egghead overload aside, there's no getting past Innocence's astounding visual power.
Pure, wordless cinema, existing in a realm too deliciously mysterious to pull down.
All the elements of a drop-dead animated classic combined with the tiresome violence of ubiquitous arcade entertainment.
Its intentions aren't as clear as they should be, but it's clearly the work of a deep-thinking artist with a fearful concern for a future in which the nature of humanity is entirely uncertain.
All the philosophical chattering here starts to become wearying. But the action scenes help, and there's no denying how dazzling the animation is.
Innocence is nothing if not ambitious, and that is its best trait -- it wants to hash out ideas first and provide action second.
Never less than spectacular. It seamlessly combines sophisticated hand-drawn animation with computer-rendered backgrounds.
Latest News for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
January 22, 2007:
"Ghost" in a Live-Action "Shell"?
This falls under the 'news before the actual news' category, but according to ComingSoon.net, Variety is reporting that Kodansha, the company behind the popular "Ghost in... More...
December 07, 2004:
The Annie Awards Announce Their Nominations
More...
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