(M 15+) Low Level Violence,
Low Level Course Language
Review By Russell Hamstead
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Duration:
79 minutes
One of the classic Manga movies, this film is not for the feint hearted. It is the Year 2029, Corporate Networks Stretch Across the globe, Electrons and light flow throughout the universe, however the almost complete computerization of society has not yet wiped out nations and ethnic groups.
Humans around the world have cybernetic implants, weather they be simple replacement fingers or enormously complex brain augmentations. However this also opens up the path for hacking into peoples brains.
The Movie stars the cybernetic "Major Motoko Kusanagi" who's voice is performed by Mimi Woods in the English version and Atsuko Tanaka in the Japanese version, and a 2nd cybernetic man known only as "Bateau", who's voice is played by Richard George (English) and Akio Ôtsuka (Japanese) the story revolves around two sections of a country's security police ("Section 6" and "Section 9"), section 6 is trying to cover up an illegal plot that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been involved in, but had escalated out of control (sounds lame but its hard to say much without ruining the crunch line of the plot.
It is difficult to say very much about this movie without ruining some of the plot for those who haven't seen it, An action packed thriller, this movie, unlike most Hollywood action movies, actually has a fairly well developed plot, which develops into an explosive confrontation at the end of the movie.
Be warned, some of the violence is graphic, despite the low level rating, and some people may be offended or small children may get nightmares.
All in all this is one of the best Manga movies I have seen along with "Patlabor", and perhaps "Ninja Scroll" and anyone who like Manga or just a good action movie should give it a go.
This Movie is available in English or Japanese