Ghost In The Shell - Solid State Society (Limited Edition)
Starring: Michael McCarty (III), Dean Wein, Yutaka Nakano, Takashi Onozuka, Joshua SethDirector: Kenji Kamiyama
Studio: Manga Video
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, Limited Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 109 minutes
DVD Release: July 3rd 2007
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DVD Review
The television movie Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (2006) continues the adventures of the cast of Stand Alone Complex, the TV series based on Mamoru Oshii's watershed feature. It's been two years since Major Kusanagi left Public Security Section 9 and struck out on her own. Batou pursues only investigations that interest him. Togusa is in charge of the Section, largely by default. All three characters, plus Chief Aramaki and the Tachikoma robots, join in the investigation of a string of suicides by agents of a foreign general. The trail leads them to a terrorist plot involving micro-machines created to release a deadly virus, and to the master-hacker known as the Puppeteer. The depiction of a corrupt politician using resources earmarked for the care of an aging population for his own ends reflects recent scandals in Japan. But Solid State Society feels derivative. The plot borrows heavily from the "Laughing Man" storyline, and the general lack of inspiration is evident in the failure to resolve the mystery satisfactorily.
The Limited Edition includes a music CD and a second DVD of extras, among them notes on designing the futuristic vehicles in the film, and an interview with Mitsuhisa Ishikawa of Production I.G., all packaged in a metal box. (Rated 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon
User Reviews
Top notch! - Rating: 5/5
I have always been a fan of Ghost in a shell since the very first movie. Solid State Society is an awesome movie, I think one of the best so far. The writing is good, follows the series very well. I loved the music. And if you get the limited edition version you get the sound track on CD, and an extras DVD, plus the main movie DVD. If you are a fan of the series this is a must have. I keep watching it over and over.
This is not a movie for young childern. It is violent, dramatic, and fast paced.
I think all anime fans would like it. As a fan I personally recomened it!
New Season perhaps....??? - Rating: 4/5
For any "Ghost in the Shell" fan, this is a must see, period. It really is pretty good. I don't like people giving things away so I won't either. Now I know it has a movie time frame already but I thought they could have gone longer even still... Not to say the ending seemed rushed but it downgraded the movie for me from 5 stars to 4. It Certainly wasn't the last "Ghost in the Shell: 2nd Gig" DVD(s). Those had more of a "Lord of the Rings" type of time frame/feel since the episodes were all interconnected. Also it seemed depressing to think, this was or could be the last Ghost in the Shell to come out... Hopefully not. They did set it up for another season/movie if they want to but no word from Japan as of yet that I know of... The DVD extras explain how they made the movie and how for the first time ever a major automobile manufacturer (Nissan/Infiniti) allowed prototypes to be put into an anime. That in turn created a large buzz in Japan when the movie came out so Nissan could show off the cars in real life. Being the Nissan Sport Concept & Infiniti Kuraza (2006).
a real Stand Alone Complex - Rating: 4/5
This is the 3rd movie in the popular Japanese Anime serries, but it is far more like the 2 seasons of TV shows than the more artistic movies that came first, and that actually works. While not as artistically amazing as the movies, it's more down to earth and the plot is more comprehensible than the movies.
This is set in the mid 2030's when cyberware is commonly installed in people-imagine having your cell phone and i-pod built into you, and serious hard cases can replace limbs or even entire bodies. The heros are an elite counter terrorism squad, Public Security, Section 9.
Set 2 years after the end of the 2nd season of the TV show, Major Motoko Kusanagi has left the team and since Batou is in a funk, command falls to Togasa. The one time rookie is now the team's field commander and doing a credible job but as he starts to investigate a serries of professional hard cases committing suicide he starts to feel out of his depth.
The Major is floating around on the periphery of the case and suspicion starts to point in her direction. This forces the team to wonder is their trusted, one time leader, now on the other side?
The social commentary and resolution is particularly Japanese but still highly enjoyable. If you love the TV Shows, Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex, this is well worth the cost. If you like good anime but haven't had a chance to see GitS, then this is a great place to start. Sure it's set after the stuff already out there but it's a complete story and the serries don't over lap, so this truly is a STAND ALONE COMPLEX.
If you love the G.I.T. mangas and animes, or good animated sci-fi, this is for you... - Rating: 4/5
Ghost in The Shell - Solid State Society, is the latest production based on the "Ghost in the Shell" franchise, created by Masamune Shirow originally published as a manga by Kodansha (in Japan) and Dark Horse Comics in the U.S. It is available in two editions, the standard one and the "Limited Edition", targeted at collectiors and fans of the series.
For those of you that are not familiar with the franchise, it is set on a not-so-far future where mankind has embraced technologies to enhance the human beings in body and mind. Taking some characteristics from the "cyberpunk" genre of sci-fi, the series deal with the social repercursions of an "information era", the status-quo of prosthetics and other physical enhancements and, in esence, with the concepts and philosophies of existence, self-awareness, and the true meaning of the "human being" concept in a context where the so called cyborgs, normally cybernitically enhanced human brains in artificial bodies exist too. These are one of the many reasons of why the Ghost in the Shell series are considered one of the most influential works for the sci-fi genre and the anime/manga context.
However, each incarnation of the Ghost in the Shell franchise, has it's own story arch and approach. For example, the manga works are interesting but messy. The characters sometimes are deep, or sometimes are really light-hearted. Understanding them requires having some background of the cyberpunk theme (William Gibson, Bruce Sterling), some knowledge of the manga-as-a-comic-book concept (so you don't get lost within the strips), reading the many footnotes the author includes on them, and backreading. Solid State Society for instance, continues the plot and concepts showed in the anime series (more about it in a moment).
The anime feature movies (Ghost in the shell, Ghost in the shell II: Innocence) are based on the manga, however, they treat the themes on the manga in a totally cinematic and deep way, developing the characters far beyond the manga in some aspects and presenting the viewer with a full overview of the concept and main philosophy.
For instance, the anime series, Ghost in The Shell Stand Alone Complex, take some aspects from the manga, but it's main focus is to deal with how the characters interact with their world, and the existential and social problems this future has for humanity. In this case, Solid State Society, continues the concept and plot established by this series, having little to do with the movies or manga. Consider it as an "long-play special episode" that fits after the end of the second season of Stand Alone Complex.
So, for those new to the series, I recommend you to get a glimpse of the other options to enter the world of Ghost in The Shell and its many differences, before buying it. Or get the Stand Alone Complex Season 1 and Season 2 for the matter. Otherwise, come on in!
Solid State Society, is a solid, complex, movie that doesn't waste its 120 minutes of running length. The plot is well constructed and the twists that compose it, far beyond of making it boring or difficult to understand, guide the viewer easily from start to finish. It flwalessly continues the events in Stand Alone Complex season 2, and also opens a new saga in the series. Character visual design and overall graphic presentation are quite polished, mixing CG 2D and 3D images flwalessly and in a natural way for the viewer. Full 16:9 aspect ratio makes Solid State Society a nice visual experience on SD televisions and displays and also on HD with the use of a DVD Player or A/V Receiver with an integrated upscaler. The use witihin the movie of "virtual" lens, and depth-of-view also make for a nice real-life approach to express something in animation instead of live-action. Voice dubbing in japanese and english is quite well done, in fact, I really suggest having a first view in english (if you're somewhat new to the series) then watching it in japanese with subtitles. 5.1 surround (Dolby) sound is supported on both languages and overall sound mixing is of high quality, considering the problems that lip-syncing usually has. The musical score, made by Yoko Kano, a famous japanese musician and composer, deepens the dark enviroment of the movie itself and enhances the plot and characters. Synthethisers, beats and woman-sung chorus, mixed with powerful sound effects also provide a great sound experience. Overall it's a great production worth of watching not just once, but many times.
The Limited Edition contains the movie disc, an extras disc with interviews, designs, and other bonus content, and a original soundtrack CD by Yoko Kano, all in a metal-like jewel box. However, I've rated it 4 stars since the soundtrack does not contains a printed playlist nor any additional info. Also it doesn't come with other value-adding bonus (like postcards, some kind of book, plastic figures...) aside from the noted above. For the hardcore fans and collectors I suggest you to wait for a re-edition or similar of it.
Overall, the movie itself is a must for the fans of the series. It is also a must for sci-fi lovers or anime lovers, but make sure you get Stand Alone Complex (S1 and S2) at least first (also I suggest that to those who have just watched the two first movies or read the manga only).
Awesome movie. - Rating: 5/5
Aside from some quirks in the translation, this is a very well done package. Tasteful, a whole DVD with bonus stuff you may never get around to watching, and to top it off, the soundtrack.
For those who've come to expect great things of the GiTS SAC franchise, you will not be disappointed with this flick. It's a non-stop roller coaster ride that will have you on the edge of your seat.
In my book, a must-have. Having Yoko Kanno do the score doesn't hurt either! -_^ b
