‘Ghost In The Shell’ a visual stunner with a human message

Hollywood film adaptations of Japanese anime and manga works are pretty tricky to execute, but there are some movies that respect the source material while adding its own unique identity to the movie.

Rupert Sanders’ "Ghost in the Shell" is a good example of the latter. While it is filled with an international (and controversial) cast led by Scarlett Johansson, the movie pays homage to the seminal manga by Masamune Shirow that has grown into a media franchise that includes the 1995 anime film.

Johansson plays the Major, a female cyborg working with the counter cyber-terrorist group Section 9 to thwart attacks by hackers and criminals. Containing stunning visuals and state-of-the-art CGI, the film goes on a philosophical journey beyond the action scenes.

The Major and her team go up against a cyber-terrorist hunting corporate figures, but there’s also a very human message and “Blade Runner”-style theme that explores the question whether a soul or “ghost” can exist inside the body of a machine.

Bottom line: if you enjoy films like “The Matrix,” “The Fifth Element,” “Robocop,” and “Blade Runner,” “Ghost In The Shell” is another sci-fi ride that doesn’t disappoint and will take you on a wild futuristic ride.

“Ghost In The Shell” is now showing in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D theaters. — BM, GMA News