GHOST IN THE SHELL has been around for 27 years and it has been over 20 years since the first animated movie.  The new GHOST IN THE SHELL animated movie is the conclusion to the ARISE OVA which shows how the Major Motoko Kusanagi and her elite team of operatives joined Section 9 that starts with the assassination of the Japanes Prime Minister.  This movie has a solid story more in line with the ARISE and STAND ALONE COMPLEX series.  It has character development, action, and even homage to the original GHOST IN THE SHELL movie.  You could say it links to the original movie in some ways and act as a prequel to the STAND ALONE COMPLEX anime series.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The DVD only has trailers for other Funinmation titles: EDEN OF THE EAST, TOKYO ESP, TERROR IN RESONANCE, NOEIN anime series, BLACK BUTLER: BOOK OF CIRCUS, and PSYCHO-PASS 2 (which plays before the main menu on the DVD and blu-ray)

 

The Blu-ray includes the following additional features:

INSIDE THE WORLD OF GHOST IN THE SHELL PART 2- The US voice cast talk about the new movie and the issues addressed in the movie

SPECIAL: ARISE EXPLAINED IN 25 MINUTES (Extended Director’s Cut- approx 27 minutes)- the voice actress for Motoko, the writer of ARISE, and the director of the new movie talk about the new movie and the ARISE OVA which also gives a four minute recap of the four OVA along with talk about the new ARISE OVA.

SPECIAL: 25 YEARS REVIEWED IN 25 MINUTES (Extended Director’s Cut which is almost 45 minutes)- a look at the history of GHOST IN THE SHELL from the magna to the first movie to the INNONCE movie to the STAND ALONE COMPLEX anime series to the ARISE OVA and the new movie.  It features clips from the various incarnations of GITS along with interviews with various directors and writers.

 

Theatrical trailer, theatrical teaser and US trailer are also included on the blu-ray along with the above mentioned trailers also on the DVD.

 

A code to download and/or stream a Digital HD copy of the movie

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  GHOST IN THE SHELL: THE NEW MOVIE has an awkward title, but it does provide a satisfying conclusion to the ARISE OVA while providing links to the original GOTS movie and the STAND ALONE COMPLEX anime.  The blu-ray has great extras- now hopefully Funimation can put the whole ARISE OVA in a set at a more affordable price point.

 

This review is ©5-3-2016 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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