T5W#66-Top 5 Ghost in the Shell Teaser Trailer Moments

This was a long time coming.  Id actually dreaded this a little bit.  I mean how often are American adaptations of Anime ever good? (Pacific Rim sort of counts I guess)  Well on Sunday, the very first official trailer for Ghost in the Shell was unveiled…and it was…F***ING AWESOME!!!  I know I covered a lot when I looked over those 5 mini teasers a few weeks back.  However, this is a big deal and the trailer showed a lot more than I thought it would.  So, overlooking what ive already covered, im counting down my Top 5 favorite moments from the first trailer for Ghost in the Shell, due out next March.

 

#5-Making of a Cyborg

Much like the 1995 Oshii film, we see a couple shots of Motoko’s body being assembled.  To cheat a little bit on this one, footage was shown in a separate vid of (what I assume is all of) this entire sequence, scored to Kenji Kawaii doing a live performance of the original theme of the film (though I think it was a combination of Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell 2 Innocence).  The movie looks like it will stand on it’s own in many respects.  However, doing an omage to such a memorable sequence in all of GitS shows that these filmmakers actually care about the source material and want to show the fans they’re not just going to crap on the fandom but embrace it. 

 

#4-The Thermoptic Suit

The confirmed a while back that the Majors favorite Predator tech would be featured in the new movie.  Of course, there’s the possible issue of flack cause…well in the 1995 Film it looks like she’s flat out naked.  For the trailer, the suit looks less suggestive but still looks fitting to what we might see in the GitS universe.  Plus, we get to see the suit, along with Motoko, in action in two different scenes.  The first, probably the films opening, where Motoko deals with a terrorist attack (cause you cant start Ghost in the Shell without Motoko diving off a building into action) and one that looks directly inspired by Motoko taking on that thug in the river way in the original movie, right down to his slow mow flip around.  “Whoa” was all I could say before I started grinning and getting really excited.

 

#3-Kuze

When doing an adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, the easiest route to go for the antagonist would be The Puppet Master from the Oshii Film.  Heck even Stand Alone Complex eventually went that route with the Solid State Society Movie.  The filmmakers have apparently opted not to have that beloved character as the films villain.  While it’s not entirely clear, apparently it might be Kuze, though whether or not this is the same one from Stand Alone Complex 2^nd Gig is anyones guess.  Still, seeing, who I assume is Kuze, pop up at the end is exciting.  I also think it’s definitely him because of what he’s saying to Motoko (again it could be someone else talking, im just spitballing).  In SAC, Motoko and Kuze were both plane crash survivors who underwent cyberization at the same time and became good friends…possibly more.  If anyone was going to jab Motoko about her origins, it would be him.  “They didn’t save your life, they stole it,” he says.  Someones clearly trying to turn The Major to the dark side…will he succeed? Also, he looks like something out of Tetsuo: The Iron Man...Google it, it's a pretty twisted flick and the make up will haunt you forever.

 

#2-The Frak is Going on Here?

I couldn’t help but think a bit of Man of Steel when I saw this.  It’s the scene where Zod lays out his plans for Earth to Superman in a dream state.  Superman finds himself standing in a field of human skulls and is pulled under, helpless to stop Zod.  I highly doubt the sewers of Newport City are filled with extras from The Walking Dead, so Im going to assume Motoko is trapped in a Barrier Maze (something she’s had to deal with several times in the Anime).  Anyone else would be scared right out of their mind.  But Motoko’s trying to get out with determination.  And she’s reaching for someone (Batou maybe?)  Either way, pray for the poor soul who put her here…unless she’s having a nightmare but who knows.  Still, an ass kicking is coming when she escapes this hell.

 

#1-BATOU!!!

It wouldn’t be Ghost in the Shell without Motoko’s bad ass, gun totting partner with the sweet eyes.  And when Batou first popped up on screen, I was definitely hooked and ready.  Im equally curious about the brief scene where we see natural eyes still embedded in Batou’s skull.  I don’t think we’ve seen much of an origin for him in any version of the Anime.  We know he was with the Section 4 Rangers and they all have matching, augmented eyes.  So maybe we’ll see the origins of Motoko’s loyal would be protector (does she really need protecting?).  He looks great, very much in line with his characters design from the 95 movie and GitS Arise.  I also like that they seem to be keeping his relationship with Motoko intact.  Even if it’s one small bit of dialogue, Batou clearly cares about Motoko and wants her to know that she can trust him.  Will there be more between them here?  Probably not but not looking for romance.  I just want to see Batou wielding his “standard issue big gun”.

Should also make a note about that AMAZING cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” that plays throughout the entirety of the trailer.  It’s been a long time since ive heard a trailer mixed so perfectly to such a bad ass track.

March 31, 2017 cannot get here fast enough.  And that just so happens to be the THIRD ANNIVERSARY of the Anime Corner…hmmm I wonder what I’ll do for the Special Annual Review (not sure I’ll see the movie right as it comes out, that’s a ways away.  But I know what I can do instead and I think you all can guess too).