Based on the anime of the same name, Ghost in the Shell aims to explore themes of individuality, post-humanism and to some extent, the question of consciousness. Starring Scarlett Johansson as Major; the film opens with the creation of her physical being.
I'm reluctant to say manufacture, because Major's mind, her ghost; her consciousness, her is organic. She's been involved in some sort of horrific accident; and has been built a new body. She struggles for breath, regaining consciousness after having been almost "drowned". We quickly learn that her body is a machine. She doesn't need to breathe, much like Neo in the Matrix. "Do you think that's air you're breathing right now?"
The 4K Blu-Ray of Ghost in the Shell is presented in full-frame 16:9; which means no black bars on your TV screen. Every pixel of the film is sharp and detailed. Broken shards of glass have never looked better in a film before, and there's a lot of broken glass in Ghost in the Shell. This isn't just a side effect of bullets breaking glass.
It is symbolic. Glass is silicon, and silicon is used to make electronics and computer chips. The breaking glass used throughout the action sequences in the films is used as a metaphor for Major slowly coming to terms with her being; existing as a human, but at the same time, acting as a robotic weapon of destruction for the organisation known as Section 9.
Kicking ass isn't an emotion; after all. The film disrespects the audience in parts, in particular with the head of Section 9 speaking Japanese, while everyone around him speaks English. He even responds to English in Japanese, which everyone happens to understand. Why this was included, I do not know, it detracts from the film; but at least have the respect to respond to your boss in the same language they use to speak to you with.
This doesn't ruin the film; and it still manages to weave a competent story about a human mind trapped inside a robotic body, and the concept of this isn't completely terrifying, until there is the realisation that it might all just be simulated.
Ghost in the Shell is a good science fiction film. It shows great promise in its underlying themes, however it does not fully realise these, for fear of potentially alienating its audience. Much of its visual style is inspired by Blade Runner and that is definitely not a bad thing.
The Bonus Features
The 4K HDR Blu-Ray I picked up came with a variety of extras, being three discs in total. There's also 'postcards' featuring the major cast. These aren't of the best quality, just being printed on typical card stock. The extra discs are not 4K, but feature the film in 1080p, along with a raft of extras exploring the lore and 'making of' the film.
This additional content is a step above the content typically seen on blu-ray discs; and allows for a deeper interpretation of the thematic cues of the film. The most enriching of these is Man & Machine: The Ghost Philosophy; which discusses the the lines between technology, AI and what it is to be human.
Further to that, there's the typical 'making' of, and in this it becomes apparent just how much technical and special effects went into the film.
TLDR
The film is definitely worth a watch (or two), and the 4K presentation is truly stunning. If you have the equipment, Ghost in the Shell in 4K acts as an excellent way to appreciate that investment. Technology aside, it is also a good film, focusing on topics of what it is to be human (or a robot), where this line appears, and the philosophical issues of human/machine interfaces.
