Ghost in the Shell

The man theme of this movie revolves around the - aliveness -  of non biological intelligences. The "Ghost" refers to the essence, the human personality that exists in the cyborg brain of the characters. The "shell" Is their physical body, the machine in which they exist in the physical world.

This duality is akin to the perceived difference between the "body" and the "soul" in religion and 20th century thinking.

Only now do I understand the metaphorical meaning of the Ghost in the Shell when it comes to art. The Ghost denotes the meaning while the shell is the form. Many advertisements are empty because they lack meaning, they are comprised of only the form. Similarly, Ann Lee in "No Ghost Just A Shell" is just a vessel, a body through which foreign meanings are communicated; Ann Lee herself has no Ghost, no meaning, she is a Doll.

The movie itself is magnificent. Visually astounding, it pauses often to show stills of the environment, it has clear and fluid animation. The music score also deserves praise. The characters are smart and well fleshed out, the plot and setting is compelling and imaginative. Finally, the movie touches on philosophy, the science of evolution and politics in a manner that is both fully immersive and yet does not detract from the other points of the movie. Perhaps it is undeserving of a 5 star review; for my part, it comes pretty damn close.

The opening and subject matter of this anime feature film resurface as an inspiration to the Matrix. GITS was released 3 years prior, I believe. An excellent anime feature film, one of the best, and a huge hit in the West.