Ghost in the Shell 2.0 Blu-ray

Ghost in the Shell 2.0

 (1995)

Action | Anime | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller



Set in the year 2029 and following World Wars III and IV, a Japanese-led Asian block dominates world affairs. The alliance maintains its international supremacy through its elite security force whose cybernetically enhanced operatives tackle an array of hi-tech terrorists and other threats to international security. These augmented agents can "ghost hack" (i.e., download their consciousness) via the now omnipresent internet into other machines and human/machine cross breeds. Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetically augmented female agent, has been tracking a virtual entity known as the Puppet Master with her crack squad of security agents. The shape-shifting Puppet Master, a rogue creation of a rival agency of the security apparatus, has concluded that it is a life form in its own right, "born in sea of information," and requested political asylum and true physical existence in defiance of its creators.

Kôkaku kidôtai receives a major visual and sound update. The 2.0 edition of the movie features new CG/SFX for a number of scenes and also a 6.1 surround sound recording. The original soundtrack has been overseen by Academy Award-winning sound enginner Randy Thom.

For more details about Ghost in the Shell 2.0 on Blu-ray, see the Ghost in the Shell 2.0 Blu-ray Review

Starring: Akio Ôtsuka, Atsuko Tanaka, Kouichi Yamadera
Director: Mamoru Oshii

Ghost in the Shell 2.0 Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


This Blu-ray release of Ghost in the Shell 2.0 delivers a solid 1080p, 1.78:1 high definition experience. Though the transfer features occasional banding, it's otherwise a solid all-around effort. The animation style lends to the image a slightly pale appearance, and some scenes have something of a glowing aura about them. Still, colors are generally strong; while not the most abundantly colorful film -- animated or otherwise -- on Blu-ray, the various shades are all presented as strongly as one might expect, particularly considering the aforementioned tone that slightly washes out many hues. Fine detail, too, impresses. Many images border on the photorealistic, and computer graphics in particular appear sharp as a tack and beautifully rendered. Likewise, many backgrounds -- particularly at street level -- are presented at a level that blurs the line between animation and reality, with emphasis on those seen in darker shots. Such shots -- and others -- are supported by strong blacks that rarely fade from a true, inky appearance. The animation style itself is not mistaken; it's somewhat choppy and lacks natural fluidity, but the Blu-ray renders it nicely, with sharp lines and no apparent issues -- save for the aforementioned banding -- to hinder the presentation.

Ghost in the Shell 2.0 Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Though the packaging and menu screen both claim the disc features DTS-ES 6.1 Japanese and English language soundtracks, Ghost in the Shell 2.0 in fact comes with a pair of lossless DTS-HD MA 6.1 soundtracks. Also included are two uncompressed mixes in both English and Japanese -- PCM 2.0 offerings -- as well as two PCM 2.0 soundtracks accompanying the original version of the film. With all of that out of the way, listeners cannot go wrong with either the PCM of the DTS soundtracks, and while the PCM track delivers a rich, clear, and room-filling sonic experience, the lossless DTS track bests it in every regard. The DTS track, as one would expect, delivers substantially more bass, a fuller experience, and an aggressive back channel presentation. Said rear-channel exploits come to define the track; there are plenty of distinct effects as sound is precisely placed here and there, and it also flows with an ease from side to side or front to back that's about as seamless as any other track currently available. Cars zoom through the listening area; explosions send chunks of shrapnel around the soundstage, clanking off surfaces in every corner; and busy streets come alive with the sounds of chatty pedestrians, barking dogs, flowing traffic, music, and any other of a number of sounds of the city. Ghost in the Shell also features gunshots aplenty throughout; they are loud, distinct, and sonically ravage the soundstage, all accompanied by a healthy low end that never relents in the action-oriented scenes. Also featuring strong dialogue reproduction, this lossless soundtrack is reason enough to purchase this disc.

Ghost in the Shell 2.0 Blu-ray, News and Updates

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