After several intriguing teasers, the first full trailer for the much anticipated – and highly controversial – live-action remake of Ghost in the Shell has finally arrived, and thankfully, it looks pretty awesome.
In case you don’t know, 1995’s Ghost in the Shell – based on the manga series from Masamune Shirow – is considered one of the best examples of the cyberpunk science fiction sub-genre and one of the greatest anime movies of all-time. Since it was announced that the Hollywood version (from Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders) would star Scarlett Johansson, it’s been met with widespread hostility amidst claims of whitewashing – and understandably so.
Now that we’re starting to see footage from the film though, it’s hoped that people will judge it on its own merits and not the media storm that’s grown around it. Certainly, the trailer suggests a stylish sci-fi action flick with both a brain and a taste for 80’s pop, if the inclusion of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” is anything to go by.
What can we glean about the new Ghost in the Shell from this first proper look though? It may be light on the nitty-gritty plot details, but it does give us a good feel for the visual aesthetic of the film, its mood and tone and the connections to the anime. And so, after giving it a few watches, here are the 6 most important things we’ve learned.