Ghost in the Shell (1995)

 " I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it."

This is the first anime, incredibly, that I've blogged. Indeed, it's only the second anime filom I've seen- I saw Akira about twenty years ago, not that I remember much. I have to see some more; this film is superb.

Admittedly, the translated dialogue seems a bit stilted and unnatural, suggesting not so much care has been taken with the translation as would be the case for a live action film, but the film itself can't be blamed for that. The animation is quite brilliant, and the unusual soundtrack extraordinary and atmospheric. Yet what elevates the film to genius is the script.

It's a distant future Japan of 2029(!), and things look and feel very cyberpunk, with cyborgs, corporations, crime and corruption- the three c's of cyberpunk- everywhere. Our protagonists are agents of "Section Nine", rivals to "Section Six", augmented to extremes , including to their brains and memories to the point where it's debatable to what extent they retain the same "self", one of many points made by our philosophical protagonist, Major Kutanagi. Yes, there's a plot full of action and intrigue. And it's nicely done. Yet what lingers in the memory are moments like Kutanagi pointing out that she and her friend Bato would, if they were to retire or resign, have to forfeit all their augmentations- arguably tantamount to losing their sense of self. This is ironic, given the ending, but this line of thinking poses deep, existential questions on the nature of consciousness. We change, evolve and experience life. Are we, therefore, meaningfully the same consciousness as at a given point in the past? Are we sentient, or is the very notion a mere comforting illusion? Is there a self beyond memories? Equally disturbing is the man planted with false memories of a daughter for whom he feels real love, his original memories gone forever.

Yet. if Kutanagi is philosophical, her antagonist the Puppet Master is even more so. The ending is extraordinary. It wasn't what I expected, but this is an extraordinary bit of cinematic hard science fiction.