What exactly is the definition of human in a society where a mind can be copied and the body replaced with a fully synthetic body? Where is the boundary between human and machine when the differences between the two become more philosophical than physical? Ultimately how do we define what it is to be human?
I’m not going to try and answer this today but these are the philosophical questions that form the basis of the futuristic manga and anime series ‘Ghost in the Shell‘ created by Masamune Shirow (first published in 1989). Whilst being nearly 30 years old the franchise is still alive and well with three movies, a TV series, game and trilogy of novels being spawned from it along with many aspects having slowly percolated into popular culture (it heavily inspired The Matrix).
With such a strong pedigree it’s rather worrying that Production I.G has sold the rights for a live-action movie to DreamWorks under the direction of none other than Steven Spielberg. For fans this is a pretty worrying development. Whist there is no denying Spielberg’s talent it’s an altogether different proposition when applying it to something like this, the main fear being that it will be severely dumbed down for a Hollywood audience.
If they can respect and stay faithful to the original maybe this has a chance but then again the likelihood of that is pretty low - the precedent is already pretty well established for ruining Asian cult classics.
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I'm feeling the pain, already.
I'm a huge fan of “Ghost in The Shell”, in all its forms, and knowing that something so sacred to me will end up in the hands of Spielberg, is like being stabbed.
*sigh*
Yeah, I can respect Spielberg's work for what it is, but remaking something like this as a live action film for a predominantly western audience is nothing but bad news.
Speilberg's work tends to be, generally, pretty light. I'm afraid he may not be able to convey the complicated philosophical ideas of Ghost in the Shell. Aside from that the violence level is sure to go down and just can't imaging that it will be very good.
fans should lobby dreamworks to allow spielberg to produce but let someone else direct:
Snyder
Cameron
Del Toro
Jackson
Singer
Fuqua
Raimi
Nolan
Candice, I think you put it perfectly. Personally I'd rather it not be made unless it was done with Japanese actors in Hong Kong (where the manga was set) without being tonned down for western audiences.
I've been watching Ghost in the Shell for a long time, and I'm meeting this with some trepidation. It is right that Spielberg might not be able to include the deep philosophy juxtaposed in a rebellious and dangerous futuristic Japan. That, and it seems, when an anime or manga turns live action — something is lost. The voices we've always heard our characters with, the phrasing of their sentences, their attitude, and how we have always seen them changes. An actor can try, but they will never be that character.
I guess, you didn't see AI or Saving Private Ryan? Speiberg is quite adept at both philosophy and violence.
Who the hell said Snyder could do this? Are you joking? I’m fine with him doing Watchmen, but as far as I’m concerned, GitS is waaaaay out of his league. Del Toro seems to only be good at fantasy, if you haven’t noticed. Cameron, I could accept, because he’s brillant at just about everything.
Speilberg is an excellent director, and his realistic take on scifi could be just what this series needs. I can’t even fathom why you all are bashing on the man who has made more successful movies than almost anyone else in history. Seriously, STFU.