Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society'
UK Premiere
Written & Directed by: Kenji Kamiyama
Written by: Yoshiki Sakurai
Chronologically this fits in after Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Gig 2. However it is pretty self contained if you're not all up to date with the series.
Plot Outline
The story takes place in the year 2034, two years after the events in Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C 2nd GIG. Major Motoko Kusanagi has left Public Security Section 9, an elite counter-terrorist and anti-crime unit specialising in cyber warfare, which has expanded to a team of 20 field operatives with Togusa acting as the field lead.
Section 9 is confronted by the mysterious suicides of thirteen operatives of the disbanded Siak Republic, remnants of which found asylum in Japan. They manage to catch up to Ka Gae-Ru, a former Siak Colonel who has taken a hostage in the hope of gaining safe passage out of the country. Gae-Ru says fearfully that "Kugutsu Mawashi" is coming before killing himself.
The investigation begins..
Overall Impressions:
Sound like quite a mouthful to follow? Well it's not all that bad. I'm pretty behind myself with the whole Stan Alone Complex scene, I've seen some episodes from the 1st Gig but I don't remember them, so it can't have done me all that much good. That said, it definitely is a thinker.
I must admit I was quite impressed, particularly with the fact that it was firstly self-contained which came as a pleasant surprise and secondly had a clear undertone of deep and meaningful thought which you only realise as the plot itself unravelled.
A smart film. I understood it and it did get me thinking, however it is probably worth looking at in more detail to get the full benefit of it. I get the feeling it's quite heavily layered. It has certainly caught my attention enough to now try & get my hands on the series.
Highly watchable as it's an animated action thriller, with a mystery. (6.5 out of 10)
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