002 4 The Blu-Ray of this movie is awesome , they have fixed the mistakes of the orginal DVD version , and should be rated overall five stars , the problem , Amazon , has mixed the reviews from the old dvd with the blu ray , skewing the star results and reviews , Amazon , needs to keep the review for DVDs and Blu rays seperate , even if its the same movie the format is different an offers different things , and I would like to see reviews for the blu ray not the old dvd . If you agree Let your voices be heard . .
117 4 Everything about this DVD is better . Get this one if you are even considering getting this movie !
016 4 First off , I should state that I haven't yet bought this release but plan to the day its release based on Bandai's re-release track record . This review is actually a comment on why this release should trump the 2004 DreamWorks release . I bought the 2004 release on DVD back in 2004 . It's a good movie but a horrible hack job from DreamWorks . Beyond having no English audio alternative and a so-so visual transfer , the subtitles in the DreamWorks 2004 version were screwed up . I generally prefer subs but like dubs for guests and loaners . The problem with the subs in the DreamWorks release is that they used the close captioning system . What does this mean ? The subs are gigantic ( 2 - 3 times normal size ) and higher on the screen . It's intrusive when you're trying to watch the beautiful visuals . So buy this release and don't support the previous release .
012 4 If your like me your copy of GIS 2 come with the Hearing Impair subtitles track . But , no regular subtitle track . That is a mistake DreamWorks made . It suppose to have a regular subtitle track too . What DreamWorks is doing is replacing the faulty DVD's . Just type in the link below . It will take you to the GIS 2 replacement form page . ( ) Just follow the instructions . I just mail my DVD back and got an email saying they got the DVD and the corrected DVD will be mail to me in a few weeks . I'm giving the disc 4 stars because DreamWorks dealt with the problem instead of ignoring it .
015 4 Do not purchase this DVD . It is absolute trash . The only subtitles they have are closed-captioned for the hearing impaired , so you get captions like person walking , someone singing in japanese , etc . . . . This is completely inexcuseable , and ruins the film . It is beyond annoying . I recommend staying as far away as possible from this release . Hopefully a proper version will be put out in the future , as such as terrific film definitely warrants one .
053 4 This is a marvelous film that is ruined by what appears to be a stuck Closed Caption feature . I was going to return it until I read the other reviews . I guess I have to assume that Dreamworks intended you to read [ helicopter blades rotating ] or [ light sounding footsteps ] including the brackets / brackets closed . Is this defective ? Buyer beware ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
076 4 Awesome . This is the way it was meant to be . Much cleaner and the audio in english . I never would have bought the dvd if I knew this day would come . It wasn't even this clear in the theatre . Bandai did what dreamworks didn't , not just slapping it straight to video but actually formating it properly .
090 4 I'm glad they finally made a translated version of this movie , which they should have done from the start . Graphics are great and the story will have you watching the movie again to actually understand it .
129 4 State of the art animation with deep idea behind it . It grabs you right from the start . One can find only the quality of the picture , but there is more and more . Perfecly depicted characters fited in a time wich can come true some day . I think this anime is one of the best there is . And the soundtrack is amazing . Combination between tradition and new motives , the music find you and it holds you till the end .
131 4 Great movie but the subtitles were for the hearing impaired . Which is ok but they really need subtitles for people who can hear but don't speak English . Those subtitles need to be written by people for whom English is their first language . I read in a forum that customers can send the DVD to the studio for replacement but that offer seems to be only availale for residents of America . Bad bad bad - don't they know that there are other customers who live outside that country ? ! ! ! !
151 4 This title divides fans a lot , and understandably so . When compared to the original , there is a distinct sameness present as well as a the mostly missing Major . While this detracts from many people enjoyment of this film , I still liked the characters , and plot enough to wholeheartedly recommend a viewing . Though not up to the standard of the original ( and really , not much is ) this effort forwards the tale exceptionally well .
023 4 FIrst of all , let it be known that Innocence is the latest addition to Oshii's numerous works of genius . His unique style of filmmaking , in both live-action and animation , is truly ahead of its time in every sense of the word . Innocence stands on its own as a work of art . This isn't just another action anime . Oshii has gone all-out to include as many of his philosophical ideas as possible in the film ; almost every shot contains symbollic representations of his message . This film will make you think , whether you like it or not . No doubt some may find it boring , but that is always the case with these kinds of movies . Not everybody is going to appreciate it .
Despite the greatness of this movie , though , I cannot reccomend buying the DVD . For lack of a better word , it is a piece of crap . You see , for its theatrical release , Innocence was never dubbed , and was left in its original japanese language format with english subtitles . Personally , I applaud this decision . Millenium Actress was released in the same way , another great work of animation . However , on the Innocence DVD , there is no regular english subtitle track . Instead , this track turns out to be a closed caption one , that writes all the sounds out on screen and identifies off-screen speakers for deaf people . That means you have no choice but to watch the movie with [ SOUND OF HELICOPTER APPROACHING ] and [ SOUND OF FISHTANK BUBBLING ] appearing along with the dialouge at the bottom of the screen .
Oddly enough , there is no selectable option for closed caption subtitles on the set-up menu . It is labled as the normal english subtitle track .
There is no excuse for a mistake like this . Anyone could see what was wrong by just watching the first thirty seconds of the movie . This means that NOBODY at Dreamworks watched the DVD before it was cleared for mass-production . They just sent it out without checking . Personally , I have no idea how a bizarre screw-up like this was made .
I expect Dreamworks to recall this DVD , and to provide fixed versions free of charge to all those who purchased it ( and while they're at it , providing some decent-looking cover art would also be appreciated . Why can't they use some of the original japanese artwork instead of pasting on some poorly-done fanart ? ) . If Dreamworks doesn't fix this problem soon , I'm willing to bet there will be a lot of people who will never buy another DVD from them again .
I hope they act promptly , so that I can give this movie a rating of 5 stars like it deserves .
003 4 The movie is worth the money alone , an amazing sequel from another amazing movie . definitely the best anime movie i've ever seen .
However , the dvd sucks . sucks alot .
Dreamworks put no effort at all into this . let me list the cons
- bland , boring artwork
- no real special features , simply imported from the jap . dvd release
- no english track ( how stupid can you be ? )
- the subtitle option is quite annoying , implying that the audience must all be deaf because they feel the need to subtitle every little sound you hear . . . we're not deaf we just can't understand japanese ! !
its clear that dreamworks simply wanted to put this out as fast as they possiby could to cash in on the hype . it shows simply from the fact that the japanese got their dvd in november . . now how often does an anime come out here 1 month after the japanese release ? usually it takes a year .
i bought this because i love the movie , but i wish someone else would have gotten the rights to it . if dreamworks acquires another good anime . . i will cry .
there is no doubt in my mind that within a year or two from now there will be a special version that will have REAL special features , better artwork and packaging , and OH MY GOD an english track .
Basically it will be the version that should have been from the get-go .
Screw you dreamworks , you don't know what the fans want . you're anime distrubiting ways sicken me . why couldn't you just let bandai / manga get the rights to this seeing how THEY HAVE THE REST OF THE FRANCHISE UNDER THEIR BELT . bandai would have made this the way it should have been .
005 4 ( Sound of fingers typing on keyboard CLICK . . CLACK . . . CLICK )
I am amazed by the terrible transfer ( SOUND OF MAN BREATHING IN ) this impressive film has ( SOUND OF MAN BREATHING OUT ) received . At first i thought this dvd was
a winner ; original japanese mix in 5.1 , directors commentary . This is more than most foreign films offer on dvd . ( SOUND OF MAN SHIFTING IN CHAIR ) But oh the dissapointment when I played the movie . It plays english captions not english
subtitles . The very first scene in the film starts with the caption ( HELLICOPTER APPROACHING ) . At first I figured it was my dvd player not the dvd , why would
they sell a dvd stricly for those fluent in Japanese and the english speaking hearing impaired . ( SOUND OF RAPID TYPING ) After about an hour of tampering with my dvd
player settings ( MAN COUGHS ) I realized that this dvd was in fact made to drive its viewer into a minor hysteria ( MAN SCREAMS WOOP WEEEEHAA ) . But the menu is pretty cool ( BREAKING GLASS LOUD YELLING )
018 4 Subtitles vs . Captioning
Exactly why couldn't they include English subtitles , along with the English captioning for the hearing impaired ? ( French subtitles appear to be just that , subtitles , BTW )
I do watch quite a few foreign movies , and don't mind subtitles at all , but I really do not need to be told about [ HELICOPTER APPROACHING ] or [ VOICES SINGING JAPANESE ] in order to enjoy the movie . . . it is SUCH a distraction , it gave me a headache the first time around .
The only English subtitles available on the disc are for the director's commentary .
Totally inexcusable .
Absolutely terrible DVD .
020 4 In the hope that someone from your DVD division reads these reviews , PLEASE immediately recall and put out a version of this title with NON-CLOSED CAPTION subtitles as you did for the theatrical release . The current product is inexcusable .
And if I dare press my luck , you might think about not using such substandard C-grade cover art - - what was wrong with the theatrical poster art or any of the myriad images supplied to you by Oshii's studio ?
We are grateful to you for bringing such films to Region 1 , but they deserve better treatment than this !
031 4 Excellent animation . Beautiful animation . Animation worth living for . I cannot stress enough how beautiful the scenes are . However . . . the fact that the subtitles are so big almost completely destroys the animation . add to that the fact that they tell you every little noise is a complete downfall that completely detracts from the massive home theatre system I have built . On a 9 foot wide screen that's almost a foot tall for the text . Furthermore Myself and many other people i know would have been more than happy to buy this AFTER it had an english track and / or had a proper subtitling track .
I only hope some Japaneese producers get ahold of this DVD and realize dreamworks is a company that puts nothing into their efforts . ( and they missed subtitling quite a few sound effects )
036 4 the movie is good enough to make you cry . this DVD release is bad enough to also make you cry . the subtitles + captions are annoying as all heck . and even if you don't like dubs , the lack of one here is sub-par and shows a lack of care on the part of go fish / dreamworks SKG . finally , as trivial as it is , the cover is an insult to the art and theme of the movie . the original japanese poster art wasn't good enough ?
dreamworks really put on all the stops . if this is their idea of appropriate treatment of a great piece of anime , one of the ABSOLUTE BEST films you'll see this year , they should just stop entirely .
041 4 Unless you understand Japanese well enough to enjoy this movie do not waste your money . The subtitles assault you with over the top OBVIOUS detail , it's like they mixed up the normal subtitles with the closed captioned hearing impaired ones . Every background sound / noise is presented to you in text , [ dog barking ] , [ helicopter approaching ] , [ sound of gunfire ] , and it's not something you can disable in the setup menu or your dvd player . How someone could have overlooked this obvious flaw I don't know , however I will be returning my copy and awaiting a release that is done right . While I am a fan of subtitles , you also don't have an English dub option to choose from as well if that's your thing .
035 4 I seriously loved this film and wanted to give it five stars , but alas , it was released without the advertised English subtitles . Dreamworks has admitted they goofed , and hopefully a recall will come soon . If you buy it , beware ! The English subtitles are closed-captioned , and if you watch it on a widescreen tv in anamorphic format , the subtitles will be HUGE , obscuring what is one of the most beautifaul animated films ever made . To add insult to injury , it has no English dub , which can be a problem if you simply want to admire the animation . I can't believe Dreamworks released this work of art in such terrible condition . For Shame !
102 4 Apparently Go Fish Studios isn't so good when it comes to subtitles . They decided to cram the hearing-impaired Japanese-English subtitles and the standard Japanese-English subtitles together . The movie was pretty good , but I kept getting distracted by the fact that it was putting up subtitles telling there was a chopper flying by , birds cawing , etc . I questioned their funding for this project . The film itself , though , was good , in my opinion .
144 4 Despite the fact that this dvd really doesn't include english subs just captions , i just want to add that when i received my package , the security bandage was stick to the silver side of the dvd which as you all know is the side the dvd player reads so i have to remove it carefully , i could do it without damaging the dvd but the manufacturers or dreamworks should take note of this .
049 4 I was really looking forward to this dvd , especially since there was no theatrical release in my area . I was extremely dissapointed by the presentation of this otherwise visually stunning film . The cover art is simply terrible , any screenshot from the movie would look a dozen times better . Also , while dreamworks said they didn't record an english language track to respect the original work , every modern anime includes both tracks to let the viewer decide . It just seems like lazyness to omit what has become a standard in american anime releases . Add the fact that there are NO subtitles in a traditional sense , only vastly inferior and distracting close-captioning , and you have what can only be considered a defective product .
025 4 Having seen this movie in the theatre I was stunned by the artwork and level of detail involved . The subtitles used in the theatre were the normal subtitles . The story has a few twists and turns and was very enjoyable . Then Dreamworks released the DVD with poor artwork , and closed captioning for subtitles . I have been trying to locate an email address to contact them and express my disappointment with them . I do not recommend the original version . Dreamworks has an excange program now because of the level of disappointment with their product .
163 4 Unless you are fluent in Japaneese you will spend more time reading the dialogue than whatching the stunning visuals of the film . The film has a rich engaging storyline too bad it seems more like reading a book than watching a movie . The publishing of this movie by a major label that is so poor quality is inexcusable . Especially when dubbing is readily available . . .
077 4 Like already stated by others this is a very legit DVD released by Bandai . This is a long awaited purchase , just got it yesterday , because I had the Dreamworks disrespectful release and it took away from the movie because it was only in japanese and you had to read and pay attention at the same time , and anyone who has even seen just a glimpse of any Ghost in the Shell release should know your not gonna get anything but confusion from that . With it in english you can really focus on the movie and the greatness it delevers , this is an amazing drama that cannot be missed , it's a very disturbing movie I must admit , but a good movie still . Just like any other Ghost in the Shell release im going to have to re-watch it cause I know its somethings I missed and misinterpreted the 1st time through . My only complaint is maybe since it's been a while since I had time to watch anything Ghost in the Shell , the voices took a little getting used to in this film but it didnt take long to not even notice it . This is a great film , a must see for fans of movies , fans of drama , fans of movies that make you think , fans of disturbing films and more importantly , fans of Ghost in the Shell .
011 4 This is a re-release of the Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence . If you've seen the originally released DVD , you know that it wasn't available with an English soundtrack - it was Japanese only with English subtitles . I'll buy the re-released with the hope that the English dub does justice to the dialogue , which tends to wax philosophical . In the event the English doesn't do the trick , it can still be watched in Japanese with English subtitles . If you haven't seen this amazing film I strongly suggest you do - - it's visually ! STUNNING ! The storyline is complex , yet compelling .
024 4 This DVD deserves all of the criticism it has gotten , the film however does not . I found this to be easier to understand than the first , excellent movie . Oshii's storytelling is always understated , always philosophical , and often provoking . This film has a lot to say about the nature of being human and it states its case in veery Japanese terms . You have to watch films like this a time or two to understand the deeper meanings , but the action scenes in this are really good and will certainly satisfy . And the making of helped to understand the series better , such as a reference to the the love story of Mokoto and Batou in the first film . I can't say I got THAT from Ghost 1 , but that is how subtle Oshii films can be . Remember , America is the land of the blockbuster and as film audiences we are rarely challenged by American films . Some of the most popular anime also falls into American film standards . But there are all types of anime , and this film is certainly for an older , thoughtful crowd . I even thought this one better than the first .
101 4 Ghost in the Shell 2 pushes anime to the next level . The story is awesome , not to mention the multiple use of combining animation to computer generated images . The only downfall to this is the Japanese language and English subtitles . I did some research about having the English translation version , but they were hurting on the budget so they couldn't translate it . Overall , on a scale from 1 - 10 , this one deserves a 9 because of the translation .
124 4 If you like Mamoru Ishii's Ghost in the Shell , you will like this sequel . In this sequel , Batou and Togusa investigate crimes that are related to gynoids , which are sexual androids . When I first saw Ghost in the Shell awhile back , I was very impressed with the tight CG style . In this Blu-ray edition of Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence , the CG images are nothing less than stunning . This alone is worth a visual treat . Adding to that it has a nicely written story .
148 4 I purchased this movie after seeing ghost in the shell , vol .1 : which was also a great flick . This movie has great effects and color , the storyline was great as the first one was and the sound is especially great if you have a home theater system . Ghost in the shell vol .1 and 2 are smart , action packed movies so pick up both if you have none .
083 4 Before I begin , let me be clear - I am reviewing the actual film , not the media upon which it was delivered . I have no idea which version I saw , but whatever it was , the subtitles were clear , and the visuals stunning .
Let me say that again , the visuals in this movie are the best I have ever seen in any media up to this point , period . Considering that this movie came out five years ago , it is a testament to how much effort went into creating this movie . Even modern marvels like Transformers , or Iron Man , or Final Fantasy Advent Children pale in comparison to the gorgeous , seamless , vivid , and larger-than-life panoramic views this movie contains . This movie has outdone Blade Runner , which is usually the movie of choice to cite incredible backdrops . Close ups are also not compromised - the attention to detail was definitely thorough .
Unfortunately I found this movie less than wholly satisfying - what irked me most was the minimalist dialogue . The characters were obviously in dour moods throughout the movie , and it unfortunately led to an experience that did not match the visuals . The almost total lack of the Major , while true to the plot in the original movie , probably added to the darker mood . Batou seemed quite Spartan in his other incarnations throughout the franchise , and to have a movie where he is the main character . . . well . . . there was probably much more that could have been said that wasn't . That is a shame , given what the characters are surrounded by in this movie .
The dialogue that is present is much too abstract and existentialist for a cyber-crime film . I know the franchise is a medium for the various authors of GITS to muse about the effects of technological change on various aspects of society , but the topics explored here could have either used much more explanation ( especially the replays involving Kim ) , or much fewer philosophical tautologies . It detracts from the plot .
All in all , despite my objections of the plot and dialogue , this is a solid movie , with 15 / 10 visuals that would make even the dumbest plot seem like a rich , fulfilling experience . Luckily the plot was not that dumb - this movie is watchable even the 10th time around .
006 4 First of all the guy who gave the one star review doesn't know what the heck he's talkin about . This is a re-release from Bandai Entertainment / Bandai Visual USA . Since Bandai Visual has the rights to GITS this release is as authentic as you get . The fact the disc will come with retranslated subtitles ( Subtitles , not captions for the hard of hearing ) , three Dolby 5.1 audio soundtracks ( Japanese , the English dub produced for the UK R2 DVD , and a new commissioned English dub ) and Directors commentary makes this release ten times better than the pitiful Dreamworks release .
010 4 I'm amazed that the US still has to put up with this half baked rush release , If you want the fully realised package with English sound track from the usual cast then get the region two version ISBN B000BY9ALU . OK so it'll probably cost you twice as much and you'll need a multi region player . But for something this good why put up with second best .
This is one of those films where the brain really needs to be turned on , as treating it like a popcorn movie will leave you dazed and confused . It continues the theme from GITS 1 querying the boundaries between man and machine and the dangers of ghost hacking . At times it gets a touch pretentious with Batou and Togusa swapping obscure quotations , but it is both beautiful and thought provoking .
Again a split review 5 for the film , 2 for the slipshod DVD release .
021 4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * Because Amazon won't let me review the same product twice ( even though the Blu-Ray disc is technically a different product ) I have to update my earlier review for the DVD version * * * * * * * * * * * *
Like the region 1 DVD release for this film , the Blu-Ray release seems to be a rush job . Once again the cover is uninspired and unrepresentative of what the film has to offer , but the main problem is the lack of high definition audio . Instead of making the Blue-Ray release better and offer something above the DVD version , the only audio tracks available are Dolby 5.1 and stereo . On top of that the extra features on the Blu-Ray are identical to the DVD version . Go for the Japanese version , if you can stomach spending $80 on one movie .
* * * * * * * * * * * Below is the original review for the DVD , which I should point out that Dreamworks or whoever sent out replacment discs with corrected subtitles * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
First of all , this is an excellent film with amazing artwork that deserves at least a 4 star rating . Unfortunately Dreamworks released the DVD and made it unwatchable . I was immediately dissapointed by the cover artwork ; it is plain and incredibly boring . Also the disk does not have english dub , but I don't care about that . What makes this disk receive 1 star is the fact that it has NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES , ONLY CAPTIONS . So along with engilsh subtitles you get captions for the hearing impaired such as footsteps or dog barking . I had to turn the movie off after about 2 minutes of this . I'm glad I was able to see this at the theater because I will not be watching this disk .
030 4 Just a quick warning to those after the high Definition experience with this blu-ray , while the domestic US release has an English dub , there are no high definition audio tracks on this disc at all . Just plain old Dolby Digital . The Japanese versions ( there are 2 ) have either Uncompressed PCM or Dolby True HD and DTS HD MA . If you are happy with subtitles , these are far superior versions . I have compared both Japanese versions against the US and would recommend the Japanese Absolute Edition over this US one . You can pick the Absolute Edition up from amazon.co.jp or other sellers , however it is quite a bit more expensive than this release . But if you love this film and have the sound system for HD audio , it is well worth it .
One other point for international buyers , this version and the 2 Japanese releases are region locked to Region A
Score marked down for the poor audio .
033 4 If you are expecting the same quality as the first GITS then stay away from this DVD . The move itself is incredible , but unfortunately this DVD is horrible . No english audio track and to top it all off no english subtitles , instead they give you close captioning . The whole movie is ( * rain falling * . . and * gun shot * . . , etc . ) . Please do yourself a favor and stay away from this one , try to find a Japanese version . .
037 4 I sympathise with the people here who have expressed their disappointment at having no English dub track , but the good news is that the forthcoming Region 2 version has the TV series voice actors on it , price $24.75 . Also available at the reasonable price of $53.05 is the 1st Stand Alone series but ( I am informed ) minus DTS sound . Check them out on Amazon.Co.UK
057 4 Visually this moving is everything your expect in a 2nd GITS , although a little short on action . The only thing that really stinks is that you cant enjoy the visuals becuase busy trying to read tiny subtitles and understand needlessly complex dialogue . Not to mention with the subtitles arent distracting your attention and there is a rare quiet scene in the move the close captioning kicks in , WTF ? Watching it on my 52 LCD the subtitles are impossible large as well .
But watching it a 2nd and 3rd and not turning on the subtitles this film is really visually breathtaking while staying true to the original .
As one of the other reviewers stated there is some really uneeded mental gymnastics here , which I would not even mind so much if I didnt have to read them and watch the film at the same time .
Thank goodness I checked this out on netflix first , Ill wait to buy the dubbed version .
066 4 Actually , I wish Amazon would allow for two ratings . . . one for the movie itself , and one for the DVD . Fantastic movie , horrendous DVD transfer by DreamWorks . As has been stated by everyone here , the way DreamWorks has handled this movie is shameful and beyond disappointing .
Do NOT buy this DVD . . . it simply is not worth parting with your hard earned cash . Either rent it or find a away to watch the newly released Australian or UK releases ( ~ March 2006 ) which have DD 5.1 and DTS 5.1 English voice-over tracks .
081 4 Truth be told I never used to like this movie , but after being re-exposed to it with this Blu-ray release it's become one of my favorite installments in the GITS franchise .
Maybe when I saw it before with subtitles I had trouble understanding the crazy plotline . ( GITS is hard enough to understand English ) For those of you who've seen the movie before and not liked it , you owe it to yourself to give it another chance like I did in flawless 1080p video quality and English dub .
People have been complaining that this release is a disgrace because it doesn't have lossless audio tracks and one of the 2 English tracks is completely messed up . These problems didn't bother me at all because I'm not a audiophile by any means and don't even have the hardware to utilize lossless audio . Also while it is true that the UK English dub track included on this disc is so badly off-pitch that is sounds like all the characters have Down's Syndrome , it's a moot point because they've also included a new ( and more accurate ) English dub that has absolutely no problems and really improved the viewing experience for me .
098 4 Do yourself a favor : go to amazon.co.uk and order the UK version - - if you already have an Amazon account , then you're all set . The UK DVD is only for region 2 DVD players , so do yourself a second favor and order a region-free DVD player ( if you don't already have one ) .
The film is great and if you're a GITS fan , then you'll want the English language version , since it has the cast who provided the voices for the SAC series . Also if you don't mind some minor inconsistencies - - since the film and TV versions of GITS actually exist in seperate continuities - - this film fits in nicely between the events of GITS : S.A.C . 2nd GIG and the Solid State Society OVA . I know there are some GITS fans who prefer the Oshii films and shun the TV series and vice versa - - but I see it as all fitting into the same universe ( if you don't mind the small inconsitencies ) .
Please don't waste your money on Dreamworks and their less-than-acceptable DVD - - send the money to folks who cared enough to put out a worthy version of Mamoru Oshii's film !
119 4 I loved the DVD , but it PALES in comparison to the Blu-Ray edition . The Bandai English dub track is superb . The Manga UK track , while the same voice actors , adds a different emotional feel to the story . I haven't heard the Japanese track yet since we had that in the DVD . The sound in any case is stupendous . It must be watched and listened to on a 6.1 or more system to get what I mean . Visually ? Gorgeous .
This Blu-Ray is a treat .
125 4 Really , the title of my review says it all . I already did a review on the DreamWorks DVD . Against my better judgment , I gave it a fairly high rating of four stars . This movie is so amazing , in the story department as well as graphics and music , that I hated to dock it too many stars because of DreamWorks flubs . But to be honest , I was one of the first writing nasty letters to DW and signing the on line petition to get an English dub . Some times I like watching anime in the original Japanese , sometimes I like to watch it in English . Whatever the case , not having an English dub was just plain laziness on DW's part , especially since the UK already had done it already .
But enough with the whining and complaining , because Bandai has finally been able to do what Dream Works was too lazy to do . We finally have an English dub for GitS .
As I said before , the story is great . It gets a little philosophical in some places , but that's what GitS has always done in general . The graphics are amazing , in DVD format but especially now that it's in high def Blu Ray . The music is more reminiscent of the first movie than it is S.A.C . That suits me since this is a continuation of the first movie .
The highest praise I could give this movie is that I originally gave the DW version four stars even with DW's bumbling of a release . The movie is just that good that it overpowered my anger of not having an English dub . Now that Bandai has fixed that problem , this movie is a solid five stars . Thank goodness Bandai was able to pry this movie out of Dream Work's inept hands and do what should have been done years ago !
126 4 If you're interested in getting this movie I'd suggest preordering the version coming out next month by Bandai Entertainment / Bandai Visual USA . That release will have newly translated subtitles , the original Japanese dialog in Dolby 5.1 , two English 5.1 soundtracks ( The R2 UK dub that was produced by Richard Epcar , the English voice of main character Bateau , and a newly commissioned dub adapted from Bandai's new translation ) , and Director's commentary . There is officially no reason to buy Dreamworks ' pitiful release .
136 4 The movie is worth it , and you can get your DVD fixed . Dreamworks will replace it for free with one with good subtitling , if you go to gofishpictures.com / GITS2 there is a form to fill out to replace the less desirable disc .
139 4 The central core of the story , like the sequel remains a philosophical debate over the nature of the human soul or ghost . Specifically , whether the human soul can be copied to a robot or vice-versa . It also deals with the ethical issues of creating such hybrids . In the first film , Motoko Kusanagi merged souls with an AI construct and disappeared into the internet , saving the AI's existing and enhancing her own . She appears in this film only in cameo at the end , so anyone looking for more of Motoko should check out the Stand Alone Complex series instead . This film is solely about the goggle eyed Batou . He continues the philosophical debate from the first film , using Motoko as sort of a Deity whom he places faith in . If you haven't seen the first film , hate philosophy or subtitled Japanese , you should probably look elsewhere .
Some will want to view the film simply to see some of the most impressive animation ever to hit DVD . Hand drawn people and computer generated backgrounds fit perfectly . Much of the visual style is much more faithful to Masamune Shirow's comics than the first film , using a much more varied palette and much more elaborate and beautiful settings . Gone is the starkness and bleakness that plagued the visual style of the first film .
Thematically GITS2 remains a sort of film-noir detective story revolving around several murders , homicidal cyborgs , and missing children . There are only several scenes that involve any action or violence , so I wouldn't call this an action film . Though as briefly as it shows up , there are some of the best sequences I've seen all year . Batou's brutal showdown with a houseful of Yakuza is my personal favorite .
Definitely an essential for fans of anime , sci-fi or anyone who likes a good college-level detective story .
146 4 If you like the first GHITS movie , you will love this one . Thats all I can say ! Great companion to the first one , and the series !
160 4 Being a huge fan of the first GITS film , I decided to rent this film on DVD one day . While the film is brilliant , the region 1 DVD from Dreamworks is horrible . The DVD doesn't feature an english dub , AND the subtitles are awful . They're hearing-impared , which means that when you view certain scenes , it says ' [ helicopter approching ] , or ' [ telephone ringing ] . ' The HoH subtitles are the visual equivalent of watching the movie with someone who won't shut up . Oooo , here comes a helicopter ! Did you hear that explosion ? . I will admit though that the DVD does have a great audio / video transfer of the film .
Luckily , since I've seen this , Dreamworks corrected the HoH subtitles . This can be told apart by the V4 mark on the DVD case's spine .
If you want a dubbed version of GITS2 , check out this petition :
161 4 Unfortunately , I rented one of those captioned subtitled DVDs , so the presentation - while not ruined - was subducted . But I guess Dreamworks is working on fixing the problem .
This one should've been rated R for violence , but was lacking any real foul language . I'm amazed this got by with PG - 13 , to be honest .
Any of you seen X The Feature Film ? Same chronic illness plaguing that film also plagues this film : lush , mind-blowing visuals and high entertainment value . . . centered around the exact same plot you've found recycled in numerous anime , including X . Batou and Togusa are detectives in the far Blade Runner future tracking gruesome murders , a couple of those involve seemingly suicidal cyborgs , could have a connection to an important ghost residing in The Net , they go after it . . . That's it for plot , folks .
As for droning philosophy about man's curious want - ney , NEED - to recreate himself . . . this film has that in spades . Maybe a little too much . GITS2 could've easily been trimmed 15 minutes , and lost none of the impact .
It never aspires beyond that . Good thing it doesn't matter , since Mamoru Oshii wrote this film to basically feast the visuals . And , oh , what visuals there are . CGI & 2D layering , 3D computer models , all the trick sh-t . Dimensions are continuously flexed amidst a broad earth-tone-based color scheme . There's a parade as a set-piece in here that renders you . . . for lack of a better term - hypnotized .
Action sequences are definitely manga-savvy , skewing camera angles right against the ceiling , zooming lightning fast into a cyborg's facial protuberance . These folks are getting REALLY GOOD with digital and 3D matte lighting . A couple shots to an untrained eye could pass as real .
One last thing : the sound is designed by The Incredibles Oscar-winner Randy Thom . His crew at Skywalker Sound , in conjunction with the boys from Nippon , fabricate every single auditory impulse with machine-like precision . Listen , the film has BEAUTIFUL sound in it , but you most likely won't realize it readily , because it blends into GITS2 so seamlessly . Lotsa gunshots .
All garnish , unfortunately no porterhouse . Since the garnish is of such quality , I don't grade down . It's fun . . . just grab your Thai Stick .
p.s . Watch out for the funny angle when Batou pulls on his basset hound's upper lip , stretching it to the camera .
164 4 Despite being a fan of Oshii's work ( and GITS in general ) I missed out on seeing this in the cinema . A couple months back I'd read about the oopsie-daisy close-captioned subtitle only issue but forgot about it when I bought the disk yesterday , only to be painfully reminded when I tried to watch INNOCENCE last night . Talk about a ruined experience ! I seriously didn't even get five minutes into it before I had to shut it off . And while I'm grateful ( shrug ) for the DVD replacement offer , it still sucks that I have to wait almost a whole month to get the corrected disk in the mail . Oh , and regarding the subs-vs-dubs issue , I'm kind of a purist when it comes to keeping a film in its original context , especially when it comes to foriegn language films . Poorly done overly-dramatic dubs by US / Canadian actors who don't have the slightest grasp of the thematic elements of the story don't do the production justice . If you want to marvel at the animation , just watch it once with the subs on to catch the dialogue , then watch it again with the subs off and bask in the artistry . Very simple , very easy . Hopefully the correctly subtitled version of INNOCENCE will ease the pain of this should-have-been-easily-avoided snafu .
167 4 I saw this movie in the theater - it was a glorious experience . It was nicely subtitled . It was one of the best jobs done on an anime release for North America . So I was counting the days until the DVD release .
I wish I hadn't bought it ; it includes NO SUBTITLE TRACK . Thus one may watch it in the original Japanese if one wants , but options for an English version are limited . The only option ( excluding proper French subtitles ) is for Close Captioned English which makes the movie unwatchable for most viewers . This does not seem to be a literal translation of the Japanese but a summary and includes descriptions of sounds . I quit after a few minutes of it and I won't play it again except for the raw Japanese ; obviously I can't show this to friends who don't know that language .
Don't waste your money on this .
168 4 I don't know why Dreamworks even bother to release this DVD . They have no experience with foreign anime DVD releases and no idea about the anime fans ' expectation . It almost seems like they trashed this major anime release on purpose to downplay it's glory , considering GITS is one of the most successful anime franchise in the states . Just the horrible cover design makes the purchase a hard decision . To make it worse , the sub is worse than the the fan sub I've seen , and there is no english dub . It should've done by other major anime DVD publishing studios like Geneon with their standard features - 2 sub tracks and Jap / Eng 5.1 Dolby / DTS audio .
Seriously , I rather buy a pirated copy from ebay which is more likely to be better subbed and with better cover art at a lower price and it's region free .
Dreamworks , I hate you . You've committed a crime , and it's unforgiveable . . .
114 4 I've been a long time fan of the original Ghost in the Shell movie , but I truly believe Innocence surpasses it . It's definately the most visually stunning film I've ever seen and that alone is enough to give it 5 stars . The soundtrack and score are just icing on the cake . The only flaw with this movie rest in the dialogue , in particular the constant quoting of various classical works and figures . I must warn however , this is a movie for thinkers . If you are not partial to pondering questions of the soul , then just turn off the subtiltles and watch the pretty pictures and listen to the pretty sounds .
028 4 This dvd has terrible subtitles . Everytime there is a sound like footsteps or beeping , the subtitles show it . Whoever did the subtitles must be a complete amateur or a moron . This is probably a good movie but since I don't speek japanese I refused to watch because of the subtitling . I can only blame Dreamworks since the other Ghost in the Shell DVDs not from Dreamworks seem to be quite adequate . I don't understand why they were so cheap as to not include an English dub as well .
093 4 If you have even a passing interest in Ghost in the Shell you need to add this to your collection . Picks up after the Puppet Master episode of the first movie and continues the story . That being said it has nothing to do with the Stand Alone story arcs so keep that in mind . The CG animation is amazing and while the story does have a few weak points it is an overall great movie . Cannot recommend this one enough .
138 4 First off , let me just say , I live in Japan and secondly I like animation . Having said that I was horribly disappointed with this dvd.Feeling like I had missed something , I asked a number of Anime loving Japanese do you understand this movie ? Guess what answer they gave me ! Its not surprising this film didnt do so well in Japan . Yes , Mamoru Oshi has in the past created some master works . Yes , we know he loves his dog ( his dog in the movie and ominpresent ) and that he desperately wants to let everyone know that by quoting Milton , the Bible and other notable figures in Western Literature in your movie , you can appear to be sophisticated in Western Culture.ENOUGH WITH THE QUOTATIONS !
In the end , when no one from ANY culture can understand your story , its time to rewrite the whole thing .
004 4 I do not know who at Dreamworks was responsible for this travesty of a DVD , but I would like to meet them so that I could tell them in person what a total hash they have made of the best anime ( and one of the best films PERIOD ) of the year . Never mind the imbecilic cover art ( which in no way reflects the breath-taking art in the film ) - WHAT is the rationale for HEARING IMPAIRED subtitles ? ? I always use subtitles - but as so many other people have written , I don't need to be informed of the sounds in the background . The theatrical release didn't have such intrusive subtitles - why are they here ? ! ? ! And let's face it - dubbing is not exactly a novelty on ANY foreign DVD : why not make it available here ? I can only assume that , as usual , the corporate honchos at Dreamworks didn't actually SEE this , and handed it off to some hack who got their job because of knowing someBODY , not because they were competant . I will be waiting for Dreamworks ( or maybe someone else with more intelligence ) to re-release this . In the meantime - DON'T waste your money on THIS DVD - rent it if you want to see it , but DENY Dreamworks any more dough until they get their act together and put out a quality DVD that this film so richly deserves .
INNOCENCE , the second film loosely based on the popular manga series by Shirow Masamune and written and directed by Mamoru Oshii .
But there is one thing about Mamoru Oshii's work that hasn't changed since the 1980 ' s ( from the second Urusei Yatsura 1984 film titled Beautiful Dreamer ) and now and that is unique storytelling and his keen eye for visuals . And actually , visuals are his priority and storytelling and its characters come after .
But every film that he has worked on from Beautiful Dreamer , Angel's Egg , the first two Patlabor films , Avalon and of course the GHOST IN THE SHELL films , his films are the type that I can never truly understand during the first watch . In fact , I start to realize certain details during the second , the third and fourth watch because I feel that he's a filmmaker that has certain intentions and things nicely placed that only those who really , try to analyze , you get a different and possibly a much better interpretation with repeated viewings .
I can tell you that GHOST IN THE SHELL required several viewings and I can tell you that this second film INNOCENCE required repeated viewings and after the third viewing , I was amazed how much I truly missed . I feel that during the first watch , your eyes are so focused on the visuals , the details and also the audio ( which I watched in English dubs , going back and forth with the two included English dubs ) . By the second watch , you are now following the actually storyline much more closely . The third was watching it with the director's commentary and the fourth was watching it in Japanese .
VIDEO AND AUDIO :
The video quality of GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE is just beautiful . The video is featured in 1080P High-Definition and there is so much detail in this world . From the buildings , the shops , indoors , outdoors , you name it . Also , a variety of colors .
I know that this film was not the easiest to create and even the animators talk about their challenges that they had in this film and also during the commentary , both director Mamoru Oshii and animation director Toshihiko Nishikubo discuss the challenges in creating the film .
If anything , Mamoru Oshii's films will always be expected to have awesome visuals and having anything less than that wouldn't be an Oshii film . So , GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE really has its share of breathtaking visuals that just look so vibrant on Blu-ray . From the ambers of the sunlight to the blues and blacks showing the grittiness of the streets . Overall , video quality was well done !
As for audio quality , Bandai Entertainment included a very well done English voice dub and also the Manga UK dub ( which I didn't really care for ) . Both are offered in Dolby Digital 5.1 . And there is a Japanese audio track which is also Dolby Digital 5.1 .
I am aware that the Japanese release of this film contains an uncompressed track that you would expect on a Blu-ray release . And so far , Bandai Entertainment and Bandai Visual releases tend to be top notch for its delivery on the video and audio side of their Blu-ray releases . So , I was surprised that HD audio was not included in this US release and it is quite disappointing because for Blu-ray , Bandai Entertainment has always delivered even on their DVD releases .
But with that being said , the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is still very good . There was good use of the rear channel tracks during the action and aircraft scenes and the front speaker channels brought out the dialogue and the music quite clearly . And I found that the quality of audio was much better in the newer English dub versus the Manga UK dub .
SPECIAL FEATURES :
Included on the Blu-ray disc are :
* The Making of ` GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE - Quite a bit of information on this 16 - minute featurette in regards to the making of this film . From Production I.G . aligning with Studio Ghibli , the challenges that the animators had in making this film , interviews with Oshii , the voice talent and other key staff members and leading up to the premiere at the Cannes Film Festival .
* Director's Commentary with Mamoru Oshii and animation director Toshihiko Nishikubo - Personally , any commentary that you can have Mamoru Oshii be a part of is excellent . Both men had a lot to say in terms of the animation , what they were going for , what challenges they had , the use of music and voice acting and the challenge of trying to finish the film in under three years ( most animated film takes two years ) and knowing that time was running out . So , I enjoyed the commentary . It maybe technical for some who enjoy commentary that is fun and shooting the breeze , casual conversations but this commentary is pretty much focusing on the film and the people involved in making the film happen .
* Theatrical Trailer - A 5 + minute promotional anime trailer
After watching the Blu-ray and taking in the visuals , storyline , commentary and special features , you get a good idea of the challenges that Oshii and crew had faced .
Part of the challenge in the beginning was the production budget of $20 million , so Production I.G . ' s president Mitsushia Ishikawa asked Studio Ghibli president Toshio Suzuki to work with him as a co-producer .
And once the film was underway , the film surpassed the typical two year deadline and the film was going in its third year for completion . And for an animated film to go in production that long , not only is that expensive but I can see how much stress it would put on the producers and the entire staff .
So , this film had quite an interesting storyline in itself behind-the-scenes and you learn a lot of this through the commentary and the featurette .
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE is not going to be for everyone . I've always felt that Oshii's work could be deemed cerebral and possibly to intelligent for the casual animation fan to watch .
I really enjoyed this film but I suppose a film that featured around Batou's character , especially for those who were so used to seeing Makoto in the first film , the manga series , the video games and even the television series of Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex may feel that something is quite missing without Makoto having a prominent role .
But nevertheless , I think that Oshii did a great job in showcasing that sense of sadness with Batou not having his partner but then knowing that no matter what , she will still be there for him in some sort of way .
And again , to truly grasp this film , you need to watch this film ( or any of Oshii's works ) more than once . In fact , Oshii's films deserve repeated viewings because of the detail of the visuals of his films , the layers of his storyline and really , he has this philosophy about life and his own life that he puts into the film . It's complex .
But I think that's what attracts me to his works is because it is intelligent but yet you manage to find beauty in the worlds that he creates . GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE and the original GHOST IN THE SHELL are perfect examples of that complexity and beauty of visuals and storyline . Some get it and some won't . But once you become a fan of his work , you realize that he's a master storyteller with a keen eye of what he wants to accomplish . And you know that you will need to watch his films again .
As for the Blu-ray , video quality is well done . There is so much detail incorporated that the 1080P High-Definition really makes those details come out . And really , beautiful sharp and vibrant colors . But on the flip side , there is also a bit of disappointment with no DTS-HD or TrueHD track in this US release but yet knowing that it's in the Japanese release . And that is quite surprising for a Bandai Entertainment Blu-ray release .
But the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is still very good but for audiophiles that want the best in their films on Blu-ray , I can understand why one would be upset that the uncompressed audio track ( s ) were not included in this US release .
With that being said , I did feel that this Blu-ray release was still highly enjoyable and to hear the commentary by Oshii discuss his work is always a major plus .
Overall , this is still a solid Blu-ray disc release albeit not perfect but for fans of Mamoru Oshii or GHOST IN THE SHELL , definitely give INNOCENCE a try !
007 4 This may be hard to believe , but I can think of no anime / CGI film I've seen since Ghost in the Shell that has anything like the impact of Innoncence . This is certainly one of the best of its kind . Unfortunately , lacking the sexiness and high energy of Ghost , it has gone largely unnoticed . I can only point out that the deep layering of not only the visual work , but music , dialog , and plot , demonstrate an almost infinite level of detail . In many ways , this reflexion is what Mamoru Oshii was striving for - a film that challenges not only the viewer's definition of reality , but stretches the meaning of human beyond all comfortable boundaries .
Three years have passed since Major Motoko Kusanagi entered the Net , leaving Batou , her partner , alone in a world where few have the mental cognates to understand what life as a ' ghost ' really means . A series of horrific killings spread across Tokyo . Violent , arbitrary slayings by a new series of ' dolls ' - robot toys for men . Aramaki assigns Batou and Togusa to the investigation as partners . Togusa is uncomfortable in this role because he is a full human . ' I have a daughter back at home , ' he says .
The story ranges from bloody crime scenes to a Yakuza showdown as Batou allows himself to be hunted in an effort to find the threads of the crime . Lurking in the shadows are the manufacturers of the dolls , but Togusa and Batou must visit an eerie city that resembles a Hong Kong straight out of Bladerunner and a trip to a hacker's mansion where death , rebirth , and illusion are the stock in trade . In the end it is not clear if they are searching for proof or for a deeper truth .
The artwork and animation are so brilliant , and one can miss the a level of dialog where quotations from the Bible , Milton , and Japanese philosophers are commonplace , and Batou's interrogations are essays in the real subjects of the film . The problem with dolls is not that , unlike the life they reflect , they can reach perfection . The only thing that might spoil their mechanical grace and attention is the injection of a human consciousness . Dolls , dogs , and children , director Oshii suggests , are our toys - made to imitate what we like best in ourselves .
This is a dark film . It frightens because the acts that open the layers if the case are unbound by human considerations . Even when the motivations are good . When Kusanagi's consciousness makes its appearances she can only offer Batou hope if he is willing to leave his human framework behind . Only then can she be with him .
Available only as subtitled Japanese , with a brilliant ' making of ' and a full length commentary by Oshii as extras , this is still a DVD you will want to own . Wherever you look there is more to seen , a brilliant script with interlocking references , and music that is a further refinement of what was done in Ghost in the Shell . The more you watch it , the better it gets .
008 4 As others have stated , this release doesn't have the normal subtitle track . I wonder if anyone from Dreamworks has ever been in a video store and realizes that the anime section takes up about 10% of all the shelf space , and that there isn't a single other title that only has a CC subtitle release . QED , Dreamworks messed up .
What really gets to me is that Dreamworks has addressed this issue at a popular Anime DVD website and has basically stated that they were doing us a favor by releasing the subtitles as CC . I mean , really , how insulting is that .
Everyone should return this DVD if already purchased and contact Dreamworks directly to let them know this isn't acceptable .
009 4 This has to be the saddest excuse for a DVD I've ever wasted money on . Let me get this straight right off : I LIKE subtitles ! it's far better to hear the original voices with their emotional inflections and character intact , even if you need subtitles to get the actual meaning . This disk though contains not a normal English vocal subtitle track , but one designed for the hearing impaired ( and not a very good one even at that , does a deaf person really need to be told that an aquarium with obvious air bubbles rising is making a Bubbling sound ? ) These intrusive popups of notations like footsteps or gunshots simply mar the sumptuous visuals , and became so annoying that I couldn't even bring myself to finish the whole movie . Someone at Dreamworks seriously needs to seek more productive employment in the food service industry . . . .
013 4 I've just this morning recieved this DVD ( I live in the UK and my local stockist of American DVD's got it in early ) and there is a BIG mistake with the subtitles .
It only has subtitles for the hearing impaired ! ( IE as well as the dialogue you get bracketed titles saying Helicopter Noises , Gunfire , Crashing Sound , Singing In Japanese etc ) .
Usually there would be 2 English tracks - 1 with just dialogue and another with dialogue + sound descriptions - but the only other English subtitle track on the disc is for the commentary .
Quite why this is I have no idea but I just thought I'd let everyone know this in case they were thinking of buying it .
The sound effect descriptions are VERY distracting and spoil the film completely .
Innocence is a great film but I believe fans should boycott this disc until another version with correct subtitles is released .
017 4 to quote another review the subtitle production for the film is atrocious . . . the only subtitles offered are subtitles for the hearing impaired .
it distracts from the movie so bad that it isn't worth watching !
and even the hearing impaired subs are awful , they sub a song sung in english and dont sub any of the Japinese songs . . .
when i hear a gun fire and i read a sub { gun noise } it distract from the movie . . .
the movie seemed to be great and i wish it had been done the the care and technical expertise of the first Ghost in the Shell . . .
IT SUCKS , DON'T BUY IT AND WRITE DREAMWORKS ABOUT IT . . .
022 4 This is perhaps one of the greatest animations ever - - and a DVD release with one of the WORST English subtitles in the history of home video . I'm not sure what brainless moron at DreamWorks Home Entertainment put together the release for this DVD , but DreamWorks has done a disservice to the American animation community and Ghost In the Shell's creators .
I only hope that DreamWorks will own up to their horrible mistake of mislabeling their DVD box to say it includes Closed Captioning AND English subtitles , because this is false advertising . This DVD ONLY contains the Closed Captioning which makes it impossible to watch for a hearing audience .
Purchase this DVD ( and any future DreamWorks animations ) at your own risk because they are obviously cutting corners in search of making money rather than providing the public with a quality product . Very very disappointing .
026 4 go here to send in your disk and get the newly released one .
Dreamworks fixed the subtitle problem . If your DVD spine has a
v4 printed on it , you already have it .
Overall great film 5 stars
027 4 Let me just say right off that Ghost In the Shell 2 : Innocence is a phenomenal movie , it deserves a solid 5 stars and should be held aloft as one of the greatest animes in history . The problem here is the packaging and the subtitles .
There are two gigantic problems with the subtitles : ( 1 ) Why on Earth did they subtitle EVERYTHING ? Every time a plane flies overhead or a car door slams , it appears as a subtitle . This is extremely frustrating and incredibly invasive . There are times where you just want to scream at the localization company as you will completely lose track of the storyline ( brutal as there is not a single disposable scene in this entire picture ) .
( 2 ) Like the first Ghost In the Shell , many of the characters in the film can communicate to one another via transmissions from within their heads ( think of it as a kind of electronically-assisted ESP ) . There are dozens of scenes where the subtitles will actually title the speaker for you . For example , [ Batou ] Understood , thank you . This would be terrific were it not for the fact that there are at least five or six times where the localization crew gets this completely wrong and credits another character . Again , subtitles completely yank you right out of the mood of the picture . Infuriating !
This film deserves the love and treatment granted to the original Ghost In the Shell DVD re-release . Better packaging and a total overhaul of the subtitles is an absolute must . I personally don't mind not having dubbing - I find it odd that anime fans would really complain about that . But for the love of Gods everywhere , at least get the subtitles right and don't treat your audience like they are deaf . It truly is for shame that a picture this revolutionary and this important would be given such a shoddy run .
North America also needs a soundtrack release !
029 4 Don't look at the star rating on this review thinking that I disliked this film . On the contrary I found this film to be one of the best films ( animated or otherwise ) I've ever seen . However , the DVD of the film was clearly rushed . I wouldn't watch the english dub , but for an american anime release the lack of one is strange . But the lack of english dub isn't the main issue , the subtitle production for the film is atrocious .
Unlike other anime movies ( or any other movie , foreign language or not ) the only subtitles offered are subtitles for the hearing impaired . That's it . If the movie were a movie in the english language this might be excusable however seeing as this is a Japanese movie , the lack of any other subtitle options is just a horribly lazy and stupid decision on Dreamwork's part .
And for a comical note , it seems to me it would be a bad sub for the english impaired anyway , as many of the prominant sounds are left out of the subtitles anyway .
The bottom line is , if you have any respect for the film at all , don't buy this DVD version of the film and if you're an anime nerd like me , hope that Dreamworks recieves enough hate mail that they release an alternate version of the film with proper subtitles included .
032 4 Yeah , I'm sure you've read everyone else saying that the subtitles are close-captioned , but let me just point out : A better studio would admit their mistake . In this case , Dreamworks has failed to issue a recall , and instead tried to pass off this quite glaring mistake as a feature . I can only imagine that they had not a single person testing this product , as even a casual viewing would've revealed this .
Incindentally , this might be my all-time favourite movie , but I'm still not keeping this awful DVD .
034 4 I was very upset over the subtitle problems , but I sent an e-mail to Universal , and they responded with the following :
Thank you for contacting us regarding the subtitle options on your ' The Ghost in the Shell 2 ' DVD . DreamWorks Home Entertainment will replace your DVD with a version that includes English Language subtitles .
To receive a postage-paid mailer in which to return your original ' Ghost in the Shell 2 ' disc only , please visit the ' Ghost in the Shell 2 ' website at Double click on ' The DVD , ' then double click on ' Questions About Your DVD ? ' and provide the information requested .
We appreciate your patronage and hope that you will continue to enjoy DreamWorks
releases .
Sincerely ,
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
I don't know whether Amazon is now selling the discs with V4 on the side of the boxes ( the correct subtitles ) , but I definately recommend this movie . It's incredible and beautiful !
040 4 Bought this DVD from the store , got home and put in to watch . The opening scene is a panoramic view of the city and all of a sudden the so-called subtitles come on with [ crowd noise ] which can in fact be heard on the soundtrack . Next , you can hear a helicopter and the subtitles pop back up with [ helicopter approaching ] . And guess what ? There's no way to turn this feature off . DreamWorks Entertainment , whose logo is on the DVD box , apparently thinks that a closed captioning track for deaf viewers is the same thing as English subtitles for a foreign language film . Well , I watched those first 30 seconds , tried to turn off the close captioning and realized I couldn't , and promptly popped the disc right back out of the player . It is getting returned to the store first thing tomorrow . There is simply no excuse for this kind of inept product . If you are a true fan of cinema , I think you will probably share my view that you cannot watch a movie with closed captioning distracting you during every scene .
This really makes me angry as I have been waiting anxiously to see this film . The original was incredible and we had to wait so long for a sequel . Guess us American viewers will have to keep waiting until a watchable version comes out here . Shame on you DreamWorks ! ! !
042 4 GHOST IN THE SHELL definitely made impact around the world with its release . The film was one of the first animated films to blend computer animation with cel animation perfectly . I remember purchasing every VHS release when it first came out , I remember watching it many times and just being in awe of its visuals but its cerebral storyline .
The same can be said with the second film GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE , the second film loosely based on the popular manga series by Shirow Masamune and written and directed by Mamoru Oshii .
But there is one thing about Mamoru Oshii's work that hasn't changed since the 1980 ' s ( from the second Urusei Yatsura 1984 film titled Beautiful Dreamer ) and now and that is unique storytelling and his keen eye for visuals . And actually , visuals are his priority and storytelling and its characters come after .
But every film that he has worked on from Beautiful Dreamer , Angel's Egg , the first two Patlabor films , Avalon and of course the GHOST IN THE SHELL films , his films are the type that I can never truly understand during the first watch . In fact , I start to realize certain details during the second , the third and fourth watch because I feel that he's a filmmaker that has certain intentions and things nicely placed that only those who really , try to analyze , you get a different and possibly a much better interpretation with repeated viewings .
I can tell you that GHOST IN THE SHELL required several viewings and I can tell you that this second film INNOCENCE required repeated viewings and after the third viewing , I was amazed how much I truly missed . I feel that during the first watch , your eyes are so focused on the visuals , the details and also the audio ( which I watched in English dubs , going back and forth with the two included English dubs ) . By the second watch , you are now following the actually storyline much more closely . The third was watching it with the director's commentary and the fourth was watching it in Japanese .
VIDEO AND AUDIO :
The video quality of GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE is just beautiful . The video is featured in 1080P High-Definition and there is so much detail in this world . From the buildings , the shops , indoors , outdoors , you name it . Also , a variety of colors .
I know that this film was not the easiest to create and even the animators talk about their challenges that they had in this film and also during the commentary , both director Mamoru Oshii and animation director Toshihiko Nishikubo discuss the challenges in creating the film .
If anything , Mamoru Oshii's films will always be expected to have awesome visuals and having anything less than that wouldn't be an Oshii film . So , GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE really has its share of breathtaking visuals that just look so vibrant on Blu-ray . From the ambers of the sunlight to the blues and blacks showing the grittiness of the streets . Overall , video quality was well done !
As for audio quality , Bandai Entertainment included a very well done English voice dub and also the Manga UK dub ( which I didn't really care for ) . Both are offered in Dolby Digital 5.1 . And there is a Japanese audio track which is also Dolby Digital 5.1 .
I am aware that the Japanese release of this film contains an uncompressed track that you would expect on a Blu-ray release . And so far , Bandai Entertainment and Bandai Visual releases tend to be top notch for its delivery on the video and audio side of their Blu-ray releases . So , I was surprised that HD audio was not included in this US release and it is quite disappointing because for Blu-ray , Bandai Entertainment has always delivered even on their DVD releases .
But with that being said , the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is still very good . There was good use of the rear channel tracks during the action and aircraft scenes and the front speaker channels brought out the dialogue and the music quite clearly . And I found that the quality of audio was much better in the newer English dub versus the Manga UK dub .
SPECIAL FEATURES :
Included on the Blu-ray disc are :
* The Making of ` GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE - Quite a bit of information on this 16 - minute featurette in regards to the making of this film . From Production I.G . aligning with Studio Ghibli , the challenges that the animators had in making this film , interviews with Oshii , the voice talent and other key staff members and leading up to the premiere at the Cannes Film Festival .
* Director's Commentary with Mamoru Oshii and animation director Toshihiko Nishikubo - Personally , any commentary that you can have Mamoru Oshii be a part of is excellent . Both men had a lot to say in terms of the animation , what they were going for , what challenges they had , the use of music and voice acting and the challenge of trying to finish the film in under three years ( most animated film takes two years ) and knowing that time was running out . So , I enjoyed the commentary . It maybe technical for some who enjoy commentary that is fun and shooting the breeze , casual conversations but this commentary is pretty much focusing on the film and the people involved in making the film happen .
* Theatrical Trailer - A 5 + minute promotional anime trailer
After watching the Blu-ray and taking in the visuals , storyline , commentary and special features , you get a good idea of the challenges that Oshii and crew had faced .
Part of the challenge in the beginning was the production budget of $20 million , so Production I.G . ' s president Mitsushia Ishikawa asked Studio Ghibli president Toshio Suzuki to work with him as a co-producer .
And once the film was underway , the film surpassed the typical two year deadline and the film was going in its third year for completion . And for an animated film to go in production that long , not only is that expensive but I can see how much stress it would put on the producers and the entire staff .
So , this film had quite an interesting storyline in itself behind-the-scenes and you learn a lot of this through the commentary and the featurette .
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE is not going to be for everyone . I've always felt that Oshii's work could be deemed cerebral and possibly to intelligent for the casual animation fan to watch .
I really enjoyed this film but I suppose a film that featured around Batou's character , especially for those who were so used to seeing Makoto in the first film , the manga series , the video games and even the television series of Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex may feel that something is quite missing without Makoto having a prominent role .
But nevertheless , I think that Oshii did a great job in showcasing that sense of sadness with Batou not having his partner but then knowing that no matter what , she will still be there for him in some sort of way .
And again , to truly grasp this film , you need to watch this film ( or any of Oshii's works ) more than once . In fact , Oshii's films deserve repeated viewings because of the detail of the visuals of his films , the layers of his storyline and really , he has this philosophy about life and his own life that he puts into the film . It's complex .
But I think that's what attracts me to his works is because it is intelligent but yet you manage to find beauty in the worlds that he creates . GHOST IN THE SHELL 2 : INNOCENCE and the original GHOST IN THE SHELL are perfect examples of that complexity and beauty of visuals and storyline . Some get it and some won't . But once you become a fan of his work , you realize that he's a master storyteller with a keen eye of what he wants to accomplish . And you know that you will need to watch his films again .
As for the Blu-ray , video quality is well done . There is so much detail incorporated that the 1080P High-Definition really makes those details come out . And really , beautiful sharp and vibrant colors . But on the flip side , there is also a bit of disappointment with no DTS-HD or TrueHD track in this US release but yet knowing that it's in the Japanese release . And that is quite surprising for a Bandai Entertainment Blu-ray release .
But the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is still very good but for audiophiles that want the best in their films on Blu-ray , I can understand why one would be upset that the uncompressed audio track ( s ) were not included in this US release .
With that being said , I did feel that this Blu-ray release was still highly enjoyable and to hear the commentary by Oshii discuss his work is always a major plus .
Overall , this is still a solid Blu-ray disc release albeit not perfect but for fans of Mamoru Oshii or GHOST IN THE SHELL , definitely give INNOCENCE a try !
045 4 It is a sad thing , but ` Innocence ' was not a big commercial hit in Japan where I live despite its wide theatrical release in this country and promotions involving one major convenience store company . But this may not be surprising . Oshii Mamoru's world is made of his philosophy about the cyber world that was also seen in his previous film ` Ghost in the Shell , ' and he pushed it further in this rivetting sequel of which visuals refuse to be boring , not even a second .
As the Major Kusanagi has disappeared into the vast world of cyber space , it is Batô and Togusa who play the central roles in the investigation of bizarre murder cases . To be frank with you , in spite of the fierce gun-fights with yakuza and robots , their investigation has no big mystery from the start , and director Oshii is well aware of the fact . In other words , don't follow the story . The film is not about that . It is about its breathtaking visuals and Oshii's own idea about cyborgs .
Even those who is not impressed with the film's thin story would admit the stunning visuals and mesmerizing soundtracks . The production designs are directed by Yohei Taneda , the Japanese designer who made the set of ` Aobaya ' for Tarantino in ` Kill Bill Vol .1 . ' The soundtrack by Kenji Kawai , especially the fantastic chorus part , perfectly matches the visuals to create the metropolis of the other world .
The unique but credible world of ` Innocence ' is based on Oshii's interest in dolls and marionettes in general . Batô , robot detective and Togusa family man co-exist in the same section of the police , and to solve the case they have to cross the line that divides the humans and non-humans . In Oshii's world , the line between them is very thin , or non-existent , and it is suggested that robots can claim love from another - robot or human .
The theme may sound peculiar , but in fact it is not so . ( ` Blade Runner ' is always quoted to tell you this obvious fact . ) What is unique about the film is the amount of ideas quoted from philosophy and literature . You don't usually see the characters cite the words from the Bible and Milton as if it is nothing . Even in the original language which I heard , the information given through the dialogues amount to the level that requires repeated viewings , and if you are watching it with subtitles , and think that you cannot follow perfectly what Batô and his sidekick are talking about , remember that that kind of trouble also happened to me . Of course , that doesn't mean the complaints about the subtitles heard in the previous reviews are not justified .
So keep watching it even if you don't understand some part of it . Enjoy the visuals and for those who still remember the relations between Batô and The Major Kusanagi , yes , she comes back though briefly . That brief moment is perhaps better than the long conclusion of the Matrix trilogy , though .
046 4 I didn't see the movie but I was waiting for the dvd.To my horror the subtitles destroy the film and there are no english
voices over the japan version.The artwork is great but this film is very hard to enjoy and I feel I really wasted my money .
I hope Dreamworks does recall this film.These films take a very long time to make at least give the animation fans their money's
worth .
047 4 Splendid justice , Bandai to the rescue ! Anyone more than familiar with Innocence knows about the botched Dreamworks dvd . Many have complained about them , and for good reason . They had Closed Captioning only , no dub ( if there were , it would've been less of an issue ) , and really bad cover art . Then Bandai comes in ( years later ) and gives us treasure . Everything is beautiful . When they say Special Edition , Bandai means it with total honesty .
The packaging is a nice tin box with gorgeous artwork on both sides , the front a painting from a surreal scene towards the end of the film , the back what I believe to be original art for this release . There are 2 discs : The first is a filled-to-the brim version of the film , with 2 dubs ( one of which the UK Dub , one of which the new US Dub done exclusively for this release ) . I'm glad they decided to include both , and any other anime company wouldn't of . Each Dub has their own good and bad points . They also have audio commentary from Oshii himeself ( with subs ) , a Making Of , and the Japanese theatre trailer . The second disc is the soundtrack ( a great bonus to anyone who appreciates the film itself ) .
And speaking of the film itself , lets get to that . Innocence is underrated , and I think it receives lots of unwarranted hate . I think it's a beautiful film , and not just because of the amazing animation . The atmosphere , the philosophy , the direction . . . It's all beautiful . I get shivers during several of the scenes . There's a lot of silent scenes here and the look is the closest you'll get to an independent film sensibility in an anime work . It's the perfect sequel , it doesn't try to outdo at all . The animation is done in a completely different way , and the story is simply a complement and a means of further fleshing out the universe left behind at the first film's climax .
The dubbing is well done . The UK Dub does well with the Harraway scene , the Kim scene , and any scene with motoko . The scenes with motoko in the UK Dub are mystical and I enjoy their re-writes here . Nowhere else do I , however . They turn good writing into cliche'd garbage and add in generic shouts where there was none initially . Batou is much too gruff , it's ridiculous . The US Dub has Batou perfect , much softer , much more somber . The final scene with Motoko is good for reasons other than the UK dub , the emotion put into the voicework is really involving when the two meet . The script shows little to no deviations .
Bandai swooped in like a super hero and gave the film a cared for , fitting release which it always deserved . This is a must own edition , and even if a new one comes along , I can't imagine how it could be better . There is no hesitation to buy this , especially after such a long miserable period where the only available dvd of the movie was crap . If you show an appreciation for this film at all , and wonder if you should upgrade if you own the last version : Do it . You'll enjoy the whole package .
048 4 Edit : I found the V4 version today ( 2 / 22 / 05 ) at Fry's . Best Buy still did not have the new fixed V4 copies . I am impressed that Dreamworks was fairly quick to fix the closed captioning defect . Even if you have the first issue with the closed captioning defect , Dreamworks will replace the disc for free if you go to their website . The V4 is only located on the top spine where the white sticker is .
I was very excited about this release . After reading a few pages of negative reviews , I must say thanks you , both to the countless reviewers and also to Amazon for allowing us to discuss these expensive DVD releases .
It is clear that the ball was dropped on this one . Studios like Dreamworks better start realizing that customers are savy and we demand quality products for our hard earned money . Dreamworks will survive financially , their reputation is severely damaged though , as it's clear that little money or effort was put into this DVD , yet they expect us to buy this stuff . No thanks . Recall this crap now Dreamworks , and sell the rights to Manga already . I doubt even one of the Dreamworks board members has seen this film or DVD .
You must provide both English and orginal language tracks on these types of DVDs . Take a cue from Akira , Spirited Away , Princess Mononoke etc . . .
054 4 Having not seen the first Ghost In The Shell , I can't compare this sequel to the original . With that said , this film as absolutely stunning visually . The combination of 2 - D animation with 3 - D CGI is absolutely amazing and it sucked me in right from the start . The story is of Bato , a cyborg detective for the anti-terrorist unit Public Security Section 9 and his partner's ( Togusa ) investigation of a female robot ( created only for sexual pleasure ) that slaughtered her owner .
The animation is incredible , but the story left a bit to be desired for me . The characters basically wax philosophical for most of the movie giving it a feel of falling in love with its own intelligence . The dialogue was like a game of quote poker - I'll match your psalm and raise you one Milton and two Freuds . This is not a knock on the film . I understood what it was going for with its search for a deeper meaning and symbolism . I'm just saying it could have been more balanced . Though staunch supporters of the film will say any movie that engages your brain need not make any apologies . This may be true , but I find that gratuitous intelligence can be just as bad or not entertaining as gratuitous sex or violence . This is far from a stupid movie , but those who will blindly support it just because it is a smart film shouldn't knock those who were expecting an action-packed film with deeper meaning as opposed to a philosophical film with some action .
Now onto the DVD experience itself . Not having it dubbed in English is a big faux pas , but an even bigger mistake is having only one subtitle option . It was a hearing-impaired subtitle track where things like background noise , idle chatter , and rain popped up when you could obviously hear it . Was that enough for me to totally blast the film ? No , but it did take the level of enjoyment down several notches , which makes the experience less fun . I understand the fan's passion and can relate to having nuances make a big difference , but the visuals are so lush and beautiful I simply can't totally pan the film for this blunder .
Overall , this is a great film with the real negative being the DVD presentation .
056 4 As crazy as this sounds I'm going to say that it is worth it to have owned the DreamWorks copy and now this one : I now know how important it is that a filmmaker find the right distributor for their movie . For one , the packaging of the Bandai edition is , in a word , stunning . On both the front and back the gyroid has a spot varnish that contrasts nicely with the aluminum box . There is no synopsis written on the actual box . . . just her free floating shell . The synopsis is carefully adhered with a separate removable square piece . They have even taken the time to rewrite the packaging synopsis so that it feels more like a continuation of the original movie . The packaging is its own art and is deserving of what is inside it : The Soundtrack and , of course , the Movie .
I bought the UK edition before this version was available , mostly because I wanted to watch Innocence in English . Yes , I enjoy foreign films , but Oshii has invested so much in the meticulous details of his animation that it seems criminal to miss the visuals in favor of reading the script . Unfortunately , how the voice actors were directed for the UK edition was a let down . They're voices were too sharp for a movie as subdued as this one . My ears had gotten so used to the soft and reserved tones that Oshii elicited from the original Japanese actors that I was distracted by the high pitch of the voices used in the UK edition . I could only bring myself to watch it once before resigning myself back to the original which meant having to read sub-titles and miss Oshii's amazing imagery .
And now comes this edition . The voice acting is tremendously better . Along with having the original voices from the first GITS , the delivery is much softer and warmer than the UK version and matches the mood of the film . Many of the quotes are paraphrased , perhaps to sync the voices with the animation . Or perhaps to make the delivery more feasible for the actors . Lines such as , Birds never peck at green persimmons . . . they wait until the fruit is ripe probably sound more natural in Japanese than in English . Quotes such as these are reworded to give the intended meaning a bit more context . Though I was fond of Oshii's device of using quotes in the original , I didn't mind the changes in this edition .
After five years , I now feel as if I am finally * seeing * the sequel to the first Ghost in the Shell . Better now than never , I suppose . I just hope that when Sony begins distribution of The Sky Crawlers that they have have taken a few notes on what NOT to do from DreamWorks .
058 4 The info that Amazon lists is incorrect . There are English subtitles but the dialogue is only in Japanese . I agree with the first review - I hate subtitles . If I wanted to read something , I'd be reading the manga . You will miss half of the scenes because you'll be trying to read the subtitles ( and there are a lot of philosophical discussions in this movie so plan to read a lot ) .
This is a good movie but if you actually want to watch it , instead of occasionaly glancing at the screen when you aren't reading , then wait for the dubbed version which will probably be released sometime in the future . And most dubbed videos offer the option of subtitles . All in all I have no idea why the put this out without dubbing AND subtitles . I presume to make more money with a dubbed only edition in the future .
059 4 I saw this amazing film on DVD and marveled at both the amazing visuals and truly annoying subtitle track . However , it looks like this was an accident :
Dreamworks is offering a replacement program for everyone with a disc that has the English SDH ( Subtitles for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing ) track instead of a normal one .
Now , if only , they'd replace the insert with professionally-done case graphics . . . Seriously , I'm a professional designer ( the kind schooled in the Swiss Grid , etc . ) , and this looks like it was done by a teenager in Photoshop for $20 . It's amazing that a huge company like Dreamworks could devote so little money to this release .
060 4 ghost in the shell , the sequel . batou is back , gloomier than before and twice as ugly.this time he's investigating cases of robots committing suicide - a story surprisingly taken from the first volume of shirow masamune's manga of the same name , chapter 6 , robot rondo - while motoko's ghost still roaming around .
oshii does it again and delivers another groundbreaking anime full of art , philosohy-a little too much this time - entertainment and gabriel the dog .
finally . yes , dreamworks showed no respect for this dvd , but i read on an anime news site , that the uk branch of manga entertainment is planning a dubbed version of the film . i hope it's true and i hope they make it soon .
the extras are normal.commentary with oshii and the producer , toshio suzuki-miyazaki's sidekick - , the making of and some trailers .
061 4 I totally agree with the other reviewers who posted about the poor English transfer by Dreamworks of what should have been a SUPERB DVD . At least I got to see the movie which never came to my little podunk town . But why on earth could Dreamworks not come up with an English dub ? Or at least NOT subtitle the sound effects ? How annoying is THAT ? ? ! ! ! ! !
I'm glad I only rented this . If they would come up with a decent DVD I would be glad to buy it . But I'm not wasting my money on this rubbish .
Are you listening , Dreamworks ? If you insist on licensing anime then at least have the decency to make a proper DVD : (
062 4 The movie is another masterpiece - - Batou and Togusa investigate a series of gruelsome murders being commited by gynoids - - cyborgs which have been designed for the sex trade . Condifering the current state of modern Japanese society , this film really hits home - - with all of the mindblowing technology , the people of Innocence ( and to a lesser degree , real life Japan ) have become so wrapped up in high tech gadgets , they have started to forget what it means to be human There's more to life than stressing out over school exmas , stressful days at work , lack of some time to relax
In the movie , the extent of cyber and nano technology has rendered the value of human feelings almost to a moot point.Batou's only sense of humanity is when he feeds his dog , Togusa when he goes home to his family ( as he only has some cyber brain implants ) You'll se this when Batou is more than happy to take out an entire yakuza gang with a HUGE gun , while poor Togusa comes this close to getting killed by a pair of hand grenades ( Batou saves him of course )
I love the movie , but whoever did the subtitles should be fired !
064 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell , Vol . 2 : Innocence ( Steelbook with Soundtrack CD ) ( DVD )
FINALLY - GITS2 : Innocence with English dialog ! I saw this in the theater when it was originally released and have waited and waited for it to be released with an English dub . Dreamworks really mucked things up when they released this on DVD several years back as they didn't bother to dub it into English . This is the deluxe edition with metal DVD case and additional soundtrack disc - I wish that Amazon would have noted that in the description as I would have waited for the standard version to be released as I don't really need a metal DVD case nor do I need a soundtrack disc . ( Note that the standard version has been released - for whatever reason Amazon didn't list it until closer to the release date and it wasn't available when I pre-ordered ) . While this has been dubbed into English using the same character voices as the other GITS releases ( Standalone Complex , 2nd Gig , Solid State Society , etc ) , there are some bits of Japanese language that remain and are subtitled in English .
My only gripe is with Amazon who waited 6 days after the set was released to ship it out even though I had pre-ordered it well in advance . Total time for me to receive this was 12 days after the release date . I doubt I'll pre-order with Amazon again because of this .
065 4 FINALLY - GITS2 : Innocence with English dialog ! I saw this in the theater when it was originally released and have waited and waited for it to be released with an English dub . Dreamworks really mucked things up when they released this on DVD several years back as they didn't bother to dub it into English . This is the deluxe edition with metal DVD case and additional soundtrack disc - I wish that Amazon would have noted that in the description as I would have waited for the standard version to be released as I don't really need a metal DVD case nor do I need a soundtrack disc . ( Note that the standard version has been released - for whatever reason Amazon didn't list it until closer to the release date and it wasn't available when I pre-ordered ) . While this has been dubbed into English using the same character voices as the other GITS releases ( Standalone Complex , 2nd Gig , Solid State Society , etc ) , there are some bits of Japanese language that remain and are subtitled in English .
My only gripe is with Amazon who waited 6 days after the set was released to ship it out even though I had pre-ordered it well in advance . Total time for me to receive this was 12 days after the release date . I doubt I'll pre-order with Amazon again because of this .
068 4 . . However , I was not happy about the fact that it is such a lame release . I LOVE Ghost In Th Shell , the Original , and I could not wait for this film . The artwork IS breathtaking , and it really is an amazing piece of filmwork . . . but all of the DVD features that it actually does have . . . suck . There is no English dubbing , which is nice to have when you want to follow the animation , and really enjoy the beauty of some of the screenshots .
As with many of the other reviewers , I am not going to recommend you buy this . . but you may like to own this , so that if and when ' they ' re-release it . . you can have it as a collectors item . We ARE Americans , and we do collect things , so that may be the only appeal of getting this DREAMWORKS release . Otherwise , save your cash , borrow it from a friend , and wait for the re-release .
069 4 If you look at some of the other reviews on this page , you'll see that I'm not the only one who thinks Dreamworks messed this release up pretty badly . I wonder if the Japanese crew who made it knows what the quality is like for the North American release . The cover art is not attractive ( at all ) , and looks like an independent anime release from the late eighties . The subtitles are poorly executed and almost comical . The voices are still in Japanese , which is fine , but , even when they are cheesy , dubs allow viewers to take in a lot more of the film , as well as create authenticity for the characters . Do not waste your time or money on this - wait for a rerelease by Dreamworks or a good release by someone else .
070 4 I am not rating the movie , but the product . This movie was simply amazing . It features some of the best combination of CG and Anime I have ever seen . The story is very deep and is truly a worthy sequel to the original .
The DVD is a horrible product . No English track and tiny , hard to read subtitles . I did not know this was subtitled until I got it home . I paid full price for this product and I expect way more than what I received . I am very disappointed with this release and I will definitely be very careful about making any future purchases released by this company .
Here is an idea . Get the original awesome voice actors from the original and have them do the sequel . I do hope they make a 3rd movie in this series .
071 4 Assuming that all the extras from the Japanese standard 2 - disc edition dvd will make it to the American version I would have to give the actual dvd 2 stars , but of course the film itself gets 5 stars .
The ( Japanese ) DVD :
It has a disapointing making of feature that has more interviews than actual video footage of the artists at work . The making of feature on the first film was better than this one . The audio is in Dolby Digital EX 6.1 , but I believe the American release will just be 5.1 . There is of course a commentary track , a feature that should really appear more often than it does on anime . There is also a long interview with Oshii that I believe was recorded before the film went into production . I doubt this will make it over to the american version as well as the nearly 30 minutes of trailers .
The $600 Gynoid Doll Edition had all of the real special features :
I hope the American release is this version of the making of feature :
The film :
I saw this film on DVD before it came out in theaters in America . When I finally did see it in a theater I was blown away by how much visual and audio information I was missing out on compaired to DVD . A lot of things I didn't even notice until I saw them on film ( like the viens in the feet during the skin grafting in the opening ) . I highly recommend seeing this in a theater if you ever get the chance . I don't think this is the best film or even anime ever , but I must admit that this was the best experience I had in a movie theater in years . My favorite scene is the last one . The way the final 2 cuts sum up the the film's theme is one of the best ending I have ever scene in a movie .
You do not need to see the original Ghost in the Shell to understand Innocence , but it does help as there are some refernces to the first film .
073 4 I seem to own a DVD that's not from Dreamworks / Go Fish . I forgot how I got it ( most likely from eBay ) . But the cover of the DVD I have ( see the left pic a href = > here / a > ) is significantly different than what's shown here .
For my copy , I found the subtitle confusing . So perhaps the trade-off is that the Dreamworks release has more coherent subtitles ? This movie inherently dealt with a lot of abstract topics , so confusing subtitles really made things a lot worse . With the first Ghost In The Shell , for example , I could get by with mediocre subtitles , but not this one .
So . From what I got out of it , the main story is pretty simple : a bunch of geisha robots are killing their human customers . And Section 9 , the elite group of covert ops , is asked to investigate it . These guys are like the FBI / CIA / NSA all rolled into one , I guess . Two main guys follow the investigation to an industrial city and eventually end up breaking into an underwater facility ( both physically and electronically ) where the robots are manufactured . The good / bad news is that's only about 25% of the story ; the other 75% deals with atmosphere , mind hacking , existential discussion about souls , political intrigue , and exploration of the relationships and lives of the characters , including a brief encounter with a character from a href = > the previous movie / a > that now literally live in the Net ( Internet ? ) .
I mentioned atmosphere because there are some segments that contribute nothing to the plot but are there to define the world in which this story lies . The parade of the Chinese-inspired floats and the flight sequence at the middle of the film , for example , are marginally relevant . But they were extended sequences that end up giving us an awesome depiction of a wonderous world and shows off some quite impressive CG displays .
This would be quite an interesting movie if you can figure out the dialogue despite the subtitles . One more motivation to learn Japanese , I suppose .
074 4 Sometimes when you walk into a sequel , you have to live with the fact that unless you've already seen the orinigal , you have a lot of catching up to do . This isn't the case with Ghost In The Shell 2 . Fans of the original will notice the subtle nods the characters give in the plot to the first movie , but basically you don't miss a beat if this is your first Ghost In the Shell movie . The sequel raises the bar on animation as well as philosophy . Really the main thing that you come away from this movie is the philosophy . There's just as much time spent shooting guns and knocking out robots as there is spent contemplating the human and robot intellectual condition .
If you aren't a fan of anime , take heart , neither am I , and I still found this movie to be superior to some live action films I've seen . Don't listen to the negative reviews from people who are jaded about anime , they are just being old school know it alls with a lot of bile for a genre they've exhausted . Ghost in the Shell is incredible , and thankfully not too long ( one of my usual complaints about anime ) .
082 4 By now everyone knows how terrible a job Dreamworks did with the first release of this movie . No need to beat that dead horse . Hopefully , Oshii fans who shelled out the hard earned money for the inferior DreamWorks copy won't groan too much for buying the Bandai re-release of this masterpiece . It's worth it . For one , there's an English Dub : which is both good news and bad . The good news is that you can now watch the entire movie without having to oscillate between subtitles and the amazing visuals . And the visuals are amazing . The bad news is that , like all of Oshii's movies , the original Japanese is always better than the English dub . Oshii elicits a more subdued tone from his actors than the English counter-parts . Having said that , the English re-acting is about as good as it will get . But there are some sacrifices that had to be made . A lot of the original text , specifically the quotes that Oshii employed , are paraphrased . Sometimes the re-wording works . But other times it doesn't . For instance , a great deal of the text by the forensics scientist Haraway is unnecessarily altered . Not sure why they did that , but they did .
But beggars can't be choosers , and all in all Bandai has done great justice in the re-packaging of this film . My hope is that they are the distributors in all of Oshii's future releases so that we don't have to waste time and money on US distributors butchering his work .
085 4 Like most , Ghost in the shell alongside Akira were the movies that got me interested in Anime to begin with .
I thought the original had great characters , and an interesting , yet weird , storyline . I also thought the animation was great for its time - The way they blended traditional animation with computer generated images worked great and gave it a mixed 2D / 3D feel .
9 years later , a sequal is available , but unfortunately its not quite as good .
One disappointment to me ( Being a Dub fan ) is that this DVD doesn't have one ! The DVD only has the original Japanese language with English Subtitles - And for a release this big ( The sequal to one of the most well known anime's ever made ) to not have a dub , its kind of shocking . That's simply a personal gripe though . With a movie this weird yet beautiful , I found it hard to follow the storyline while trying to keep up with the animation .
My other disappointment is that this movie simply revolves are Batou and his new partner , opposed to Batou and Motoko from the first film ( Who was my favorite character by far ) .
With those aside , its a beautiful movie . The Computer Generated work on it looks fantastic , and the traditional anime style looks amazing as well .
Fortunately , this DVD does have a few extra features , them being :
* Commentary by Director Mamoru Oshii
* The Making of Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence
* Theatrical Trailer
Not much , especially considering the great special-editions this movie has received in japan , but its better than nothing .
If you enjoyed the original Ghost in the Shell or just want to get into it , I'd recommend this movie . It's not quite as good as the original , but its a more than decent sequal .
It is also very well worth noting the subtitles on the DVD .
Apparently these arent true Subtitles , but actually Closed Captioned subtitles .
This means besides the typical lines of text , you also will see :
[ Helicopter Approaching ]
[ Battou [ offscreen ] : We've gotta get out of here ! ]
[ Music plays ]
086 4 Sadly the subtitles are so bad as to distract heavily from the movie . I really could not enjoy it at all . There is even a petition online for a version with English dubbing or better subtitles .
( . . . )
087 4 You voiced concerns about Ghost in the Shell 2 DVD to DreamWorks and they listened to your request . The studio is now offering replacements .
As you know , we have discovered that the Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence DVD was presented with English SDH ( Subtitles for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing ) closed captions instead of English subtitles on the film .
As this has now been corrected , DreamWorks Home Entertainment is offering consumers who are not satisfied with the original subtitle options the opportunity to replace the DVD with a version that includes English language subtitles .
For details on this offer , please visit
Double click on The DVD , then double click on Questions About Your DVD ?
We appreciate your understanding of this matter .
DreamWorks is probably the only studio out there who has respect for fans and viewers and simple proof of that is their response on this matter . Thank you DreamWorks . We know you will continue to satisfy your viewers and customers by making and distributing high quality films .
I hope this will you to get a good copy of Ghost in the Shell 2 .
088 4 The animation was excellent .
The story was probably great but I really don't know , I could not follow it as it was not dubbed in English .
My overall experience was that of frustration , confusion and annoyance . I could not appreciate the visuals or follow the story while reading sub titles . The lack of an English Dub for an American release is unacceptable and ignorant .
For those that may think a bad rating is unfair , understand that I am rating my overall experience of watching the film . Nothing more , nothing less .
091 4 This is the version that should have been released the first time .
The beauty of this film is more than skin deep , the story makes you reflect on several different themes . You can watch this movie without having seen the first and enjoy it , but you will miss some of the story references in this title .
Overall it's a wonderful movie that I would recommend without hesitation .
096 4 The Dreamworks release of this film is notorious for its flub on the subtitles , but that isn't the only issue I have with it . But all has been made well with this Bandai Blu-Ray . The visuals are even more staggering , the subtitles have been fixed , and for those more comfortable with an English soundtrack , it's here . Even the cover art has been changed , and is a significant improvement . Thank you , Bandai !
This is a complex film , and rewards the viewer with multiple showings . It CAN be talky at times , but I consider that a plus in a genre that too often devolves into giant robots and overly-endowed women . Watch it once for the images , and then sit back and take in the story .
097 4 * * * I think it goes without saying that the five star reviews are for the movie and that this DVD release is 1 star . * * *
Ghost in a Shell 2 ( GIAS2 ) is spectacular eye candy but sadly the subtitles on the official release don't cut it forcing people to source better versions elsewhere . If you manage to get better subtitles then you will experience the full adventure of GIAS2 .
This is a very good sequel and makes especially great use of CGI combined with hand animation . Some of the scenes are rendered lavishly . While fans of the original may say that the story should have ended with GIAS1 , GIAS2 doesn't really include much in reference to 1 except for some character backgrounds . Apart from that it's a whole new story .
GIAS2 is about cyborgs ' finding their implants being hijacked by what seems like criminal elements . Detectives investigate the crimes to uncover a conspiracy . The end twist is actually a knockout and makes it worth seeing . Some of the action sequences are mind-blowing . If you like Manga and are a GIAS1 fan , don't worry . GIAS2 far from disappoints . This is great entertainment and high calibre science-fiction through and through . It is not so often that you find the imagination so splendidly displayed on the silver screen .
099 4 Yet another great effort from Ghost In the Shell . There are so many good reviews already that I will make this short . The animation is some of the best I've seen and the story is good , although I had to watch it twice to understand it . The worst part of this is that there is no English track and the subtitle makes you feel retarded . Geez . . . explosions , cars starting , tires squealing , footsteps , etc . sound the same in every language , don't they ?
Honestly , if you don't mind reading the subtitles this is a great movie . If you can read the subtitles you might want to thank a teacher . If you like anime this is a gem .
100 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence ( DVD )
Ghost in the Shell 2 pushes anime to the next level . The story is awesome , not to mention the multiple use of combining animation to computer generated images . The only downfall to this is the Japanese language and English subtitles . I did some research about having the English translation version , but they were hurting on the budget so they couldn't translate it . Overall , on a scale from 1 - 10 , this one deserves a 9 because of the translation .
103 4 I must come clean , I am a huge fan of Mamoru Oshii's works . Since his early years directing Rumiko Takahashi's wonderful sitcom Urusei Yatsura , through his masterpiece Angel's Egg , to his work on the Patlabor franchise and Ghost in the Shell - I have been hooked . This is a director with rare gifts .
With Innocence , Oshii has created his most visually stunning work to date . The visuals are of course the star of the show , and what a show they are . Sumptuous CG work is everywhere , virtual sets springing to life in 3D and layer after layer of wonder composited over the backgrounds . Production IG , the studio behind this work , have raised the bar . The cell work is also highly accomplished , and by and large matches the CG pretty well . Innocence is without a doubt the prettiest anime movie to date .
Fortunately beneath these wondrous visuals Oshii , who wrote the story for Innocence as well as handled the directorial duties , comes up with thought provoking and intelligent tale . The essence of story - that living creatures have a ' ghost ' which defines who they are regardless of their current body - is , as with the first movie , the underlying motif . On top Oshii layers philosophy and wisdom in some hugely articulate dialogue , and of course delivers some fantastic action sequences too .
Certainly Innocence is an indulgence , for Oshii himself , for Production IG , and for Oshii fans , and so for many will be a hard work to enjoy . It lacks the immediacy of Ghost in the Shell , as this is a much deeper tale , but give it a chance , and some repeat viewings , and perceptions will change . Innocence is truly one of the finest anime movies made to date , both for it's extraordinary production values and for it's highly intelligent and well crafted storyline , which makes the poor US DVD release all the more difficult to accept .
Fortunately there is now an ' international ' Innocence DVD available in Japan , which comes complete with English sub-titles and lovely packaging . Innocence is a must watch , but just not with this shoddy and insulting US DVD .
104 4 Ghost in the shell 2 is an excelent follow up of the first movie ( ghost in the shell ) . Keeping the same characters and adding a new twist keeps you glued to the the tv . The animation is very clean and sometimes realistic . The only draw back and unfortunately ruins the veiwnig pleasure is the hearingimpared subtitles . I always watch my anime in subtitles and usualy have no problem reading it and following the movie , but this was annoying . I give the movie 5 stars and the dvd format - 5 stars .
Do not let the format stop you from buying it however , becouse the movie makes up for the the lousy format .
105 4 I saw this film at a theater when it came out , it was subtitled , but not captioned for the hearing impaired . It is a wonderful film , but NOT in this DVD release . I could only watch 10 minutes of it because every sound is labeled on the screen . It is very annoying and distracting . I wish I had read the customer reviews before I bought it !
P.S . I mailed the disc back to the company and was sent a disc with English subtitles . Now I'm happy ! This is a very artistic film , a philosophical meditation on the question , What does it mean to be a human being ?
106 4 It seems Dreamworks put their most inept intern in charge of transferring this DVD to English . Not only do they plaster the subtitles on the film itself ( not necessary for a widescreen DVD release ) , they did a listening disabled subtitle . Thus , during amazing video sequences , we have subtitles like [ helicopter noises ] and [ singing in Japanese ] thrown at us .
The movie itself is gorgeous , with a plot that is both utterly convoluted and simplistic at the same time . There actually isn't that much violence in it . Mainly the characters recite depressing and cryptic poetry at each other , although the What Is Reality / Humanity ? crisis is less apparent than GHOST IN THE SHELL . Lots of screen time is taken up by slow pans over the extraordinary CAD rendering of the sets , which is fine . But the movie is not as slow as it could have been . The music and audio is incredible ; almost its own character .
I appreciate what Mamoru Oshii is doing in these films ; the kinds of cyberpunk postmodern issues he brings out in his movies are timeless in their own way . He's really going beyond anime with his films , and I hope they inspire people to create such films , but with more creative and interesting storylines .
108 4 Some guy wrote about Dreamworks . Dreamworks had nothing to do with this film . As for relating to the original film , I understand it . I understand the plot . I have watched a lot of films in my 52 years and by far this is the best of the best and anybody who could possibly put this film below a 4 should reconsider . The audio is awesome . The graphics are breath taking . I see nothing wrong with this film at all I give nothing but praises to it .
I was entertained to the fullest . It is truly worth a Blue Ray purchase . There is always something to be said of the purpose of the film . The corporate folks want $ $ $ $ that is a given . But us the watchers , viewers , audience . We are the ones that count . When I watch a film I watch it to see if it affects me in anyway shape or form but more importantly does it affect me visually or emotionally to the fullest . This film did . I have never seen a film with more breath taking graphics in it than this film . Emotionally it did not bring me to tears but I came to know more of the feelings of Batou than before . For folks who cannot even get the company who made the film right . Time to re-read some .
109 4 Oshii said in an interview that when his budget is modest he concentrates on the story . When the budget is generous he concentrates on the visuals . As the second installment of GIS , you would think that they gave the man a blank cheque . I mean , the art in this movie is unmatched by anything I've seen before .
One problem with the DVD is that I don't speak Japaneese . Or maybe that's my problem . I dunno . I can't wait to learn an advanced language before watching this flick so trying to get my due share of the amazing artwork in this movie while reading the script was a burden , to say the least . So I watched the movie quite a few times to get the jist of the story . Now I just watch the damn graphics and translate the gibberish in my head . An interesting experience for a small mind like mine .
Anyway . . .
This movie is even better after you've read Oshii's interview about what the movie is REALLY about . I mean , a movie about a man with a body in love with a woman without a body is about one hundred years ahead of any American mainstream movie . A dog as a surrogate companion , a doll as a surrogate body , or no . . . it's humans who now have surrogate bodies . Or something like that . Eitherway , putting humans , dogs and dolls in the same philosophical line-up makes for some pretty good speculation .
Batou , the movies main character is a melancholy cyborg who just got finished looking all over the city for his dog ( see The Long Goodbye Novella ) and now wants to find a woman he loves who exists only as consciousness . The whole gyroid detective thing is either just a job or one hell of a metaphor . Oshii says he wants to make movies no one has ever seen before . Mission accomplished .
Next mission : re-release this damn thing in English ! ! !
110 4 I agree with everything stated here about the cheap-ish way in which they slapped this DVD together . What is a truly memorable and fascanating film , was relabeled , boxed ( art work - awful ) , and sold to unsuspecting people . Anyone who saw the first movie wasted no time buying the second movie .
Honestly , we should get our money back , and the DVD should be free . Riiiiiggghhhhht ! Sure , bud ! We'll get right on that . . . sucker .
In closing ,
did you remember to submit your TPS reports ? : )
111 4 I took the advice of someone else provided in Amazon reviews and ordered a used ( good as new ! ) copy off of Amazon UK : what a blast .
Disc 1 has a superbly dubbed English soundtrack with the original voice cast . Disc 2 houses the special features and the film again : this time with DTS . Total price with shipping was $16 .
# These are the Amazon UK 2 disc DVD set's features :
* Main Language : Japanese
* Available Audio Tracks : Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround , 2.0 Stereo
* Sub Titles : English
* Dubbed Language ( s ) : English
* The Making Of Featurette
* Commentary By Director And Animation Director
* Foreword By Jonathan Clements
* Manga Trailers
* Ghost In The Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig Volume 2 Sneak Peak At Episode 5
* UK Exclusive Face To Face Interview With Mamoru Oshii
* Japanese Trailer
112 4 Much has been made of the Closed Captioning subtitles . I , not being hearing impaired , find it a bit annoying that the studio didn't provide a seperate subtitle option for CC audiences , but it's really nothing big . What is big is that the translation of this film's dialogue , from Japanese to English , is almost completely off in every scene . There are even scenes where the Japanese dialogue is silenced so that they won't have to translate it ! Insane ! Detail & depth are lost in this Dreamworks release thanks to this horrid translation . The film actually seems vapid and two dimensional thanks to Dreamworks . How could they make a pile of goo out of this masterpiece ? Ugh !
I have been lucky enough to see a wonderful fansub of this film and wow , those fans made this film come alive . Do yourself a favor , leave this stinker in the bin and find a fansub , then tell Dreamworks exactly what you think of their poor handling of this wonderful title .
As of September , voice actors from Stand Alone Complex and the first GitS film are working on a proper dub . As far as I know this is just for the UK , who knows if the US will ever see this dub . If it contains the same lose execution and subtitles , then it won't be worth it . Here's to hoping , heh .
121 4 Hello ;
For those that owned the previous version of this product , good news . The Blue Ray versions is much improved , the subtitles are correct and the english version is finally here . Done by the same cast as the series . If you love Ghost in the Shell and have a Blue Ray Player you will not be disappointed in this title .
One note , for some reason the sound comes through kinda muted but its likely my system .
A good by at a good price .
128 4 This DVD has no English soundtrack . The product details are missleading .
English subtitles only . Japanese soundtrack only .
133 4 The first Ghost in the Shell DVD from Manga Video was an excellent release . But , it lacked one key component : A Japanese language , 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound track . Those of us with surround sound setups who appreciate listening to a movie in its original form were sorely disappointed with the weak stereo track provided .
And now , the GITS 2 Innocence DVD has been released by Dreamworks . And again , key components are missing . Every film released on DVD ( that features only the original language soundtrack ) in a foreign country MUST have standard , non-hearing impared , subtitling as a minimum . The amount of space consumed on a DVD by subtitling information is miniscule . They could have easily fit both standard and caption subtitles for twenty different languages if they had wished to do so . The english hearing-impared captions for this DVD are massive . On a 16x9 television the gigantic captions take up the full bottom half of the screen . A movie that supports so much visual beauty does not deserve this type of treatment . I expected Dreamworks to take better care of such a great film . They allowed a simple omission to mar a fantastic experience . I truly regret not catching this in theaters when I had the chance .
135 4 I'm keen to see this film , so rather than wait on Amazon I purchased it from the local WalMart . Fortunately for me , I browsed the Amazon reviews before I actually cracked the packaging !
I saved myself money , spared myself the disappointment and got a refund before I got to actually ' enjoy ' the subtitling debacle for myself , because that would have driven me nuts . Thanks to those who reviewed it , and gave the rest of us some advance warning . . .
137 4 I applaud Dreamworks for providing literal translations for the movie in the form of subtitles . I was pissed when i found out my Jin-Roh DVD's subtitles were designed to match perfectly with the english dubbing , which was designed to match as closely as possible the lip movements of the characters . I hate dubs - - i usually see the original version in japanese with subs , and it's fine . I get exactly what the movie producer wants me to get , even though i speak a different language . But dubs . . . they just seem to have a different voice , not as gruff , more cutesy , or whatnot , and the dubs being designed more to lip movement ( while still attempting to be true ) can quite easily ruin a good joke , or throw the kick out of a few important lines .
However , trying to cut corners and save money by combining the subs and captions is just pretty daggom stupid . How hard is it to seperate the two tracks ? I've seen worse covers , but i generally don't care . I'm buying it for my viewing pleasure , it's dreamworks job to try to sell it to the masses . I don't think it's really important to them anyway . I mean , comon , let's face it , how many Americans are really into deep , phylosophical ' cyberpunk ' movies ?
I give it a 3 , because the movie was fantastic ( I dunno where ' flat ' characters came from , or even if it's important to the film simply because of how fabulous it was ) .
The next DVD release will probably have an English Dub ( god forbid Cartoon Network does it ) , and it will , of course , be designed to match lip movement , so it looks pretty ( else it would disturb the viewer too much ) , while sacraficing the kind of power the lines carry in movies such as these . For the hearing impaired , of course , the subtitles will have to match the voice-overs ( grar ! ) . so either way , the story looses its bite , depending on how bad the dub is ( again , god forbid Cartoon Network gets this one ) .
All in all , to get what you really want , you're going to have to learn japanese , or pay a good friend to sub it for you . I doubt that anime watchers constitute a big enough minority for Dreamworks to take both sides , those wanting literal subs and those wanting flowing dubs , seriously enough to provide both on the same DVD . With a hearing impaired track too , if they want to satisfy every minority .
142 4 As a longtime fan of the GITS canon , I was eagerly awaiting the US release of Innocence . . . I wasn't disappointed in the film , it's one of the best anime I've ever seen and a worthy addition to the Ghost in the Shell universe . However , I have to say that the DVD is a huge let-down . First off is the cover art . . . Absolute crap . I found a link to the artists ' original cover art , before he sent it off to Dreamworks , and it looks ten times better . Next up is the DVD insert . Wait , there's no insert . Strike two . Finally , how on Earth does Dreamworks think they can get away with publishing such a fantastically popular film in the States without a dubbed track , and with the only English subtitle track constantly spewing crap like ,
{ rain falling } . . . { gun shot } ? ?
Ridiculous . If you're going ton include a hearing-impaired subtitle track , fine , just don't make it the - only - English subtitle track ! I can only hope that a Special Edition is in the works , to fix what should have been in the first pressing .
Film : * * * * * DVD : *
143 4 Well what can I say about this DVD that does not involve a lot of four letter words and a ban from writing another review on Amazon .
The first movie was certainly a landmark in animation . Even now as the movie eneters into its tenth anniversary it still remains as impactive and as entertaining as the first day I watched it .
Then , there is the new series . When I saw it advertised I was a little sceptical that it would be able to compete with its predecessor , but thankfully I was proven wrong . The series has the same action , incredible sound track and imaginative story lines to keep even the most die hard fan entertained .
Now we come to the second movie and this unfortunate DVD . When I first heard that they had made a sequal I quickly searched the net for adverts and any information I could find just to get a look . When I finally found the original Japanesse movie trailer I thought it looked amazing and I could not wait to see it . The animation was revolutionary and the action seemed in tempo with its predecessor and when I finally saw it for sale on Amazon I did not hesitate to place my order . My enthusiasm , however , quickly dried up when I watched the DVD .
Its funny to think that the brains at Dreamworks thought it would be a ' good ' idea to release the movie with limited subtitles and no dub for a primarily English speaking audience . After watching the movie for the second time it still remains difficult for me to comment upon the plot or the characters because unlike the residents of Japan , with their tiny trees and sparkling whale free oceans , I cannot speak a single solitary word of Japanesse . As you watch the movie you quickly grasp the idea that these subtitles are meant for a deaf audience as noises in the movie are described and you are informed that a loud bang has occurred or a gun has been fired . This kind of reminded me of the old Batman and Robin TV series and I kept expecting to see the words ' bam ' and ' ka pow ' to appear on the screen but thankfully this did not happened .
Its annoying to think this is the only version of the movie we can expect to see . Its my opinion that after this tragedy Dreamworks should not be allowed to touch another anime and that it should be left to the professionals like Manga , Pioneer , Geneon and Bandai to name but a few . The movie itself is fine , the three stars in my score are for the animation and the action , and the two blank spaces in the score are for the weak effort on the part of Dreamworks . Buy this movie for its imagination and action but do not expect perfection .
150 4 This anime is very well done in every way . It has a deep storyline that keeps you interested . All the voice actors also do a great job .
If you are in any way an anime fan look at Ghost in the Shell series .
152 4 I'll start out by saying that the movie was well animated , looked beautiful , and the sound was well done . It created a great atmosphere . The problem I had was the story was lacking . It tried to bring a little too much over from the first film . If you've never seen the first one even , then don't bother with this one .
My largest complaint was that about 50% of the dialog was just random quotes from people throughout history . The story wasn't fleshed out nearly as well as it could have been either . I just felt that there wasn't enough to support what they were trying to get at , with the rest of the movie either being holdouts from the first one , or random quotes that aren't related .
So I give it 3 stars , just average .
156 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I am a big fan of GitS and have all of it on dvd . The DVD of this film had no English Dub and only closed captions instead of subtitles . There are about 10,000 reviews complaining about it . I didn't mind the non English because I usually prefer to watch these films in Japanese . Usually , some of the tone of the movie and character personalities is distorted by the American overdubs in my opinion . I do not like having to read sound effects though like phone rings , ect . . So now we have English overdub options , and subtitles ! YAY , I've preordered a movie I already have ! This is a cyber punk classic right up there with Akira , and I think it is better than GitS 1 . Batou is a more interesting character than the Major imo . She is not in this movie much which is why I think many prefer the first movie . She has very large err . . eyes , that's why . Maybe I'm stupid but the first movie didn't make as much sense as this one , and the anime / cgi is incredible in this movie . Some scenes that stand out in my mind are the parade , and the convenience store , but pretty much the whole movie is gorgeous and I can't wait to see it in Blu-ray . The story is great and the philosophical / moral questions arising from the premise of machines becoming too human always makes for an interesting topic . It's also a great crime investigation story . This movie rocks ! Ghost in the Shell Forever !
158 4 First off , most of the one star complaints stem from the awful subtitling for the hearing impaired . This means you'll get the [ helicopters approachine ] and [ dog barks ] subtitles . This is annoying , and hopefully a subsequent release will have simple english subtitles .
* * * Spoilers * *
As for the movie itself , the artistry in this movie is incredible , with a smooth mix od 3D and 2D animation in all sorts of surreal vistas . It's alomst worth watching in and of itself . The future looks very real , with the grittiness of the streets to the almost disturbing cleanliness of the laboratories they visit .
My personal favorite scene was when Togusa and Batou were entering a hackers mansion , and get stuck in an hacked into and thrown into a virtual tangle causing them to go through the same motions in a slightly different environment every time . The shootup in the grocery store was another excellent scene , making the viewer think along with Batou that he being attacked while his brain is actually getting hacked .
There is way too much meandering talk about free will versus determinism , how one can realize whether someone is truly conscious or not , and the nature of what is a true experience . The long monologues lead to no real further understanding of the subject , were oversimplified , and destroy the entire point of fiction , which is to SHOW these dilemmas rather than TELL . The movie SHOWS very well , and doesn't need to dumb down the conversation by stating explicitly what the viewer should ponder while watching it .
Overall , not nearly as good as the classic first , but still pretty good .
162 4 The reviews that trash this DVD because of the idiotic Dreamworks production are accurate . There is no English track , and the subtitles , too high up in the screen BTW , depict every lousy sound . I almost did not buy it because the cover art suggested low quality animation , which would be plausible in a sequel . I got it anyway because I loved the first GitS .
I was not disappointed . This sequel is absolutely extraordinary . The animation is breathtaking . And as someone who is a fan-lite of animie with no in-depth knowledge of the art form , I must say I love the Japanese style of story-telling evident in this tale .
There are people out there browsing Amazon who are not animie-geeks . They deserve to be able to trust that the reviews will point them to quality films - particularly reviews from fans of this form of animation who should want people to see the good stuff .
So by all means point out the production flaws in the DVD so those who want to wait for a better disc can do so . [ But remember : anyone who refused to buy the original Star Wars VHS tapes had to wait an awfully long time for the DVDs . Personally , I would advise anyone who loves animation to see this movie , flawed DVD and all . ]
My point , however , is that the Amazon rating stars are like headlines . They shouldn't steer people away from a spectacular flick .
165 4 This is without a doubt the most amazing animated film that I have ever seen - and I don't even like Japanese Anime , neither had I seen the first installment before going to see this one ! Ghost in the Shell 2 is an intelligent mix of 3D animation with traditional 2D animation that works surprisingly well ; throughout most of this film my mouth was hanging open ! Visually it's incredible . The story too is very thought-provoking and keeps you wondering even after watching it , although almost every other sentence is a proverb of some sort . Now that's over with , I only gave this 4 stars because of the DVD problem .
The English subtitles are for hard of hearing , so you have to put up with the frequent ( dogs barking ) ( helicopter approaching ) ( crash ) but after a while you get used to it ( the French subtitles don't suffer the same fate , for any other Francophones out there ) . It is annoying , but despite what others are saying , the font DOESN'T take up a third of the screen , they're the usual subtitle size , and I and the others I showed it to didn't find the film any less enjoyable . As for there being no English dub , if it really bothers you then it's best to wait for an inevitable ' special edition ' release . I love this film and was in no way disappointed ; the DVD could have been better but it's not a complete disaster . If you've got patience wait for the next release , otherwise I think this is still a worthwhile investment .
166 4 Wait for the a href = http : / / www.madman.com.au > MadMan Entertainment / a > release . They had representatives , cameramen , journalists , and most importantly , Mamoru Oshii and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa introducing the film , at the Australia premier screening .
As an aside , Madman's release of Akira features the eighties English dub as well as the new dub . They listen to the fans , and are not subject to the same licensing limitations as the US publishing houses .
Innocence was handled the way it was . A lot of people just can't forgive Dreamworks for basically throwing this together as quickly as possible to make a quick dime from the fans of anime . And the exclusion of a dub track is what really damages this movie . There is a lot of dialogue in this movie , long moments when the characters are basically stationary and the only action is the moving of mouths . It can be frustrating having to read a movie as gorgeously animated as this one , especially for fans who don't have much of a care for foreign or subtitled tracks .
But I don't think it kills this movie , mostly because , though I generally prefer a dubbed track , I will watch a subbed track if that is all that's available . And the subs weren't bad in this , so that makes things a little better .
Plus , like the last Ghost in the Shell , Innocence has a quality story filled with plenty of side-plots and mysteries to unfold . Also like the last movie , it's great getting the feeling of accomplishment when you finally begin to put all the separate pieces together . In this one , it follows Batou , the Major's partner from the previous movie , as he investigates a series of murders done by robots . Along the way , he finds sex-bots are some of the ones responsible for these crimes , and finds himself in an interweaving world of internet hacking and tough crime fighting . And during all of this , Batou continues his search for the Major , who is still missing after the events in Ghost in the Shell .
Despite my ranking of a four , it is still difficult to recommend this . That's more a personal four than an all around four . I felt the story and the animation still hold up despite the dismal DVD release . So , if you enjoy subbed tracks over dubbed , then you will most likely find nothing wrong with this DVD in any way . Also , if you liked Tokyo Godfathers , Millennium Actress , and / or Memories because of the great stories despite them having no dubbed track , then I also think you'll find Innocence worth watching . But if you don't like foreign movies , and hate reading subtitles , then stay away from Innocence ; it will only leave a bad taste in your mouth and you'll find yourself disliking anime because of it .
001 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
The Blu-Ray of this movie is awesome , they have fixed the mistakes of the orginal DVD version , and should be rated overall five stars , the problem , Amazon , has mixed the reviews from the old dvd with the blu ray , skewing the star results and reviews , Amazon , needs to keep the review for DVDs and Blu rays seperate , even if its the same movie the format is different an offers different things , and I would like to see reviews for the blu ray not the old dvd . If you agree Let your voices be heard . .
014 4 This DVD has closed captioned subtitles only . It's very distracting and makes the film dificult to watch . This DVD has Closed Captioning even without the subtitles , so this captions only track is a mistake on their part .
I have the contact info . Dreamworks is distributing Ghost in the Shell 2 through Universal Home Video . Here's their number : 972 - 293 - 5903
Here's their e-mail :
ushe.consumerrelations @ leemarketing.com
019 4 Attention ! There is now a way to get a corrected version of this movie . As noted the subtitles for this movie are for the hearing impared only , and not a standard translation for the movie . There is now a NO COST TO THE PURCHASER way to get a correct version of this film .1 . Go to www.gofishpictures.com . 2 . Click on the Ghost In the Shell link . 3 . Where it says , for DVD features , news , and trailers . ENTER HERE , click on that link . You will come to a screen with thirteen links on it , click on THE DVD . 4 . Where it says Questions about your DVD ? Click here . Click on it . A screen will then pop up on how to receive your free mailer in the mail . Just fill in the information ( adress , e-mail , that kind of stuff ) , then they will send you the pre-postage paid mailer ( says it could be up to two weeks ) . Put the disc in the envelope and send it back to them , then they will send you a corrected subtitled copy of the movie . By the way I liked the movie !
038 4 Let us be blunt , the initial dvd release of Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence was flawed . From the subtitles that acted more like the captioning for the hearing impaired , standard sound and visual presentation . Never mind no option for listening to the film in english .
Bandai has now corrected the mistakes that were made upon the initial dvd release with a stunning blu-ray that is a must own for any anime or science fiction fan . The picture quality and detail now present is much better then ever before , the sound is incredible even on your regular speakers . The subtitles and languages are possibly though the biggest improvement . Bandai has given this release proper subtitles , including an option to even have the songs translated . They also have included the english language option which is the cast from the series and the previous movie .
Now the film itself is more philisophical than action orriented , this one continues on the themes of man , machine and the relations there in . This film is very much in the vein of Blade Runner , so if you are wanting a strong story that will actually make you think then you will enjoy . If you are expecting the non-stop action that some episodes of the series contained then you may be dissapointed .
This film is rated PG - 13 and is recommend for mature viewer , not necissary due to the violence , but more because of the complexity of story and it's themes .
Final Grade : A
039 4 It looks like our voices were heard , and thank you to those who posted them on here . You saved me from buying the much bemoaned version of this amazing movie with captions instead of subtitles .
This is what I got from DreamWorks Customer Service today :
Thank you for contacting us regarding the subtitle options on our ' The Ghost in the Shell 2 ' DVD .
DreamWorks Home Entertainment has announced a new version of the DVD that includes English language subtitles , indicated by ' V4 ' printed on the package spine . The new version will gradually reach retail stores .
If you have purchased the original version and are not satisfied with the subtitle options , please visit the ' Ghost in the Shell 2 ' website at for information on receiving a replacement .
We appreciate your patronage and hope that you will continue to enjoy Dreamworks releases .
044 4 I loved this movie , being such a huge fan of the original , as well as Masamune Shirow but they sure bungled the DVD in Amercia . No worry , simply buy the British ( Region 2 ) or Australian ( Region 4 ) DVD because they feature a full English-language dialogue track featuring the entire voice cast of the Stand Alone Complex series ! Not only that , but the artwork is the original theatrical art , not that wanky Cartoon Network looking crap they forced on us in the US . Trust me , it's worth the import prices to see this movie they way it was meant for English audiences , not spending the entire film reading the bottom of the screen , and missing half the action .
050 4 I understand how people can be upset about the closed captions . Yet I have found out that Dreamworks ( Go fishing ? ) is doing something about it . They have released a newer version of the DVD that has the proper subtitles on it ( will apparently say V4 on the spine of the DVD case ) Also for those who are unstaisfied with their copy please go to the official ghost in the shell 2 website . select the DVD and click on questions about my dvd ? this will give you all the information you need inorder to obtain a replacement DVD . I hope this is something more people will be satisfied with
052 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence ( DVD )
This is a marvelous film that is ruined by what appears to be a stuck Closed Caption feature . I was going to return it until I read the other reviews . I guess I have to assume that Dreamworks intended you to read [ helicopter blades rotating ] or [ light sounding footsteps ] including the brackets / brackets closed . Is this defective ? Buyer beware ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
063 4 I thought that Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence was an excelent follow up to the 1996 original masterpeice . The animation was just breathtaking to watch . And seeing Batou in his own movie was a nice touch for the series . Even though this is an excelent film . The poor dvd features done by none other than Dreamworks is not worthy of a film such as this . Sence they went ahead and dubbed Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex . They should have got the same people to dub the movie as well . I honestly hate reading subtitles while trying to watch a movie . It is a pain to try and read the entire scrip while keeping up with what is going on above the words . Anyways I encourage all who are fimiliar with the series to rent this movie . It is well worth the money to rent . Or you have the option to wait until Dreamworks fixes their mistakes and puts the film out for real . . . . . Bottom line great movie just don't buy it like I did . Rent it and hope that a certain studio ( DREAMWORKS ) will learn from their mistakes and fix their problem .
075 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Awesome . This is the way it was meant to be . Much cleaner and the audio in english . I never would have bought the dvd if I knew this day would come . It wasn't even this clear in the theatre . Bandai did what dreamworks didn't , not just slapping it straight to video but actually formating it properly .
078 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell , Vol . 2 : Innocence ( Steelbook with Soundtrack CD ) ( DVD )
I brought the original DVD of this item when it first came out , and was really disappointed when it didn't have an English audio dub on it just subtitles . For me it took away being able to enjoy the movie and since I have the other Ghost In The Shell movie and both series , I was used to the English dub . This was just what I wanted ! ( It even let me find out what the great music lyrics are ! ! ) Outstanding !
079 4 I brought the original DVD of this item when it first came out , and was really disappointed when it didn't have an English audio dub on it just subtitles . For me it took away being able to enjoy the movie and since I have the other Ghost In The Shell movie and both series , I was used to the English dub . This was just what I wanted ! ( It even let me find out what the great music lyrics are ! ! ) Outstanding !
080 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Truth be told I never used to like this movie , but after being re-exposed to it with this Blu-ray release it's become one of my favorite installments in the GITS franchise .
Maybe when I saw it before with subtitles I had trouble understanding the crazy plotline . ( GITS is hard enough to understand English ) For those of you who've seen the movie before and not liked it , you owe it to yourself to give it another chance like I did in flawless 1080p video quality and English dub .
People have been complaining that this release is a disgrace because it doesn't have lossless audio tracks and one of the 2 English tracks is completely messed up . These problems didn't bother me at all because I'm not a audiophile by any means and don't even have the hardware to utilize lossless audio . Also while it is true that the UK English dub track included on this disc is so badly off-pitch that is sounds like all the characters have Down's Syndrome , it's a moot point because they've also included a new ( and more accurate ) English dub that has absolutely no problems and really improved the viewing experience for me .
084 4 It's very sad , really , that Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence was handled the way it was . A lot of people just can't forgive Dreamworks for basically throwing this together as quickly as possible to make a quick dime from the fans of anime . And the exclusion of a dub track is what really damages this movie . There is a lot of dialogue in this movie , long moments when the characters are basically stationary and the only action is the moving of mouths . It can be frustrating having to read a movie as gorgeously animated as this one , especially for fans who don't have much of a care for foreign or subtitled tracks .
But I don't think it kills this movie , mostly because , though I generally prefer a dubbed track , I will watch a subbed track if that is all that's available . And the subs weren't bad in this , so that makes things a little better .
Plus , like the last Ghost in the Shell , Innocence has a quality story filled with plenty of side-plots and mysteries to unfold . Also like the last movie , it's great getting the feeling of accomplishment when you finally begin to put all the separate pieces together . In this one , it follows Batou , the Major's partner from the previous movie , as he investigates a series of murders done by robots . Along the way , he finds sex-bots are some of the ones responsible for these crimes , and finds himself in an interweaving world of internet hacking and tough crime fighting . And during all of this , Batou continues his search for the Major , who is still missing after the events in Ghost in the Shell .
Despite my ranking of a four , it is still difficult to recommend this . That's more a personal four than an all around four . I felt the story and the animation still hold up despite the dismal DVD release . So , if you enjoy subbed tracks over dubbed , then you will most likely find nothing wrong with this DVD in any way . Also , if you liked Tokyo Godfathers , Millennium Actress , and / or Memories because of the great stories despite them having no dubbed track , then I also think you'll find Innocence worth watching . But if you don't like foreign movies , and hate reading subtitles , then stay away from Innocence ; it will only leave a bad taste in your mouth and you'll find yourself disliking anime because of it .
089 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell , Vol . 2 : Innocence ( Steelbook with Soundtrack CD ) ( DVD )
I'm glad they finally made a translated version of this movie , which they should have done from the start . Graphics are great and the story will have you watching the movie again to actually understand it .
092 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell , Vol . 2 : Innocence ( Steelbook with Soundtrack CD ) ( DVD )
If you have even a passing interest in Ghost in the Shell you need to add this to your collection . Picks up after the Puppet Master episode of the first movie and continues the story . That being said it has nothing to do with the Stand Alone story arcs so keep that in mind . The CG animation is amazing and while the story does have a few weak points it is an overall great movie . Cannot recommend this one enough .
094 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell , Vol . 2 : Innocence ( Steelbook with Soundtrack CD ) ( DVD )
Everything good that has been said about this newer version release is true , anything is better then the DreamWorks version , so yeah right on
107 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Some guy wrote about Dreamworks . Dreamworks had nothing to do with this film . As for relating to the original film , I understand it . I understand the plot . I have watched a lot of films in my 52 years and by far this is the best of the best and anybody who could possibly put this film below a 4 should reconsider . The audio is awesome . The graphics are breath taking . I see nothing wrong with this film at all I give nothing but praises to it .
I was entertained to the fullest . It is truly worth a Blue Ray purchase . There is always something to be said of the purpose of the film . The corporate folks want $ $ $ $ that is a given . But us the watchers , viewers , audience . We are the ones that count . When I watch a film I watch it to see if it affects me in anyway shape or form but more importantly does it affect me visually or emotionally to the fullest . This film did . I have never seen a film with more breath taking graphics in it than this film . Emotionally it did not bring me to tears but I came to know more of the feelings of Batou than before . For folks who cannot even get the company who made the film right . Time to re-read some .
113 4 I'm a big fan of Ghost in the Shell , I own the original comic , the first movie on both the regular and special edition dvds and the TV show version up to what has been released in America so far . That said , this is a horrible DVD release of an otherwise good film . Since the TV show ( which airs on cartoon networks adult swim ) already had a great cast of voice actors dubbing it , you would think they would put an english dub on the DVD . They could've cross-advertised with the show , which has received great ratings in a block of TV that has also been getting great ratings more or less across the board . But no , there is no english dub ( an inexcusable mistake on an American Anime release ) and not even a proper subtitle track . I can look past not so great cover art and weak special features . But at least make sure someone can watch the movie and follow it easily enough . It's totally unenjoyable the way it is now and I can only hope they'll pull the dvd and get a real special edition out with English Dub and subtitles done in the proper anime format .
118 4 I had the older version of Ghost In The Shell 2 : Innocence - the one without an English dub - and I looked forward to picking up this edition with the English dub . Unfortunately , I was expecting a bit of new material .
Here , this five-year-anniversary edition fell very short . The main extra on this edition - the Making of Innocence - was the same as the original DVD , and I didn't bother to check the audio commentary by the director and producer .
They did have new trailers for other Bandai products . Whoop dee do . Nothing else new here .
On the plus side , the new English audio - - done with the same cast as the Stand Alone Complex series - - made it a LOT easier to understand what was going on . I remember watching Batou blink after the convenience store incident : Ohhh . . . THAT's Ishikawa . Ditto in the mansion later , when the mannequins stood up appearing to be Togusa and Batou - I didn't catch that until I heard the synthetic Togusa voice in the second pass .
A good film - this is how they should've done it in the first place . I get the distinct impression they sold this edition just for the English dub . Which really is a shame . I wasted my money on the previous edition .
120 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Hello ;
For those that owned the previous version of this product , good news . The Blue Ray versions is much improved , the subtitles are correct and the english version is finally here . Done by the same cast as the series . If you love Ghost in the Shell and have a Blue Ray Player you will not be disappointed in this title .
One note , for some reason the sound comes through kinda muted but its likely my system .
A good by at a good price .
122 4 The picture quality was stellar compared to the DVD and the English Dolby Digital Dub was using the same voice actors as Stand Alone Complex TV series .
123 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
If you like Mamoru Ishii's Ghost in the Shell , you will like this sequel . In this sequel , Batou and Togusa investigate crimes that are related to gynoids , which are sexual androids . When I first saw Ghost in the Shell awhile back , I was very impressed with the tight CG style . In this Blu-ray edition of Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence , the CG images are nothing less than stunning . This alone is worth a visual treat . Adding to that it has a nicely written story .
127 4 I will skip the movie review there is plenty of those , I will say if you haven't seen it your missing out the visuals are amazing and the score is terrific.No , you don't have to watch the first Ghost in the shell or the TV series to follow this one but it helps in some spots.First I want to point out to the reviewer orangekay no the film takes no longer than other bluray to load and yes you can pull the menu up while watching the film.I believe you either have a bad copy or more likely need to update your bluray player's firmware.To watch this I used a Sony 350 player with firmware up to date.I don't like to comment on other's reviews but just wanted people to know and hopefully you read this so you don't miss future features on bluray titles.Ok here's the business part the video is good I wouldn't call it something special but it is an upgrade from the past dvd release , most noticeably the colors are nice and vibrant and the picture is sharp.Now this is most important SO READ THIS PART ! ! ! I rarely if ever watch a film or anime dubbed in English but i thought I would give a shot and just be able to completely admire the incredible visuals , but as I switched to English dubbed from the original Japanese I noticed a huge drop in audio clarity from the musical score and a huge , huge difference in the surround and sub woofer or LFE.Although both are list as Japanese 5.1 and English 5.1 the difference between them are like the Japanese 5.1 is in DTS and the English dubbed is in 2.0 stereo.When and if you get this do a little back and forth checking yourself if you don't fully believe me , this is the main reason I felt I had to review this bluray.So enjoy and remember to check the the audio difference between the different tracks .
130 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence ( DVD )
Great movie but the subtitles were for the hearing impaired . Which is ok but they really need subtitles for people who can hear but don't speak English . Those subtitles need to be written by people for whom English is their first language . I read in a forum that customers can send the DVD to the studio for replacement but that offer seems to be only availale for residents of America . Bad bad bad - don't they know that there are other customers who live outside that country ? ! ! ! !
134 4 It pains me to give this DVD 3 stars , because the movie just might be the most amazing anime of all time . However , the DVD is just awful and certainly warrants the reduction in its rating . First off , there is no English dub . This is normally no huge problem for me , since I tend to watch anime in Japanese with English subtitles . However , the subtitles on this DVD , as others have pointed out in their reviews , seem to be closed captioning subtitles . They include stuff like [ Sound of gunshots ] which really distracts from the movie . I'm baffled as to why they chose to do this . It's simply ridiculous . That being said , if you're a Ghost in the Shell fan , you need to see this DVD regardless of its crap quality . The movie itself is nothing less than brilliant .
141 4 I don't think it is fair that everyone is rating this 1 star because of the subtitles . The hearing impaired subtitles do not appear as often as other reviewers make it seem .
Theres about 1 or 2 every 5 mins and they are very brief .
The animation and the story line is fantastic . Toshio Suzuki from Studio Ghibli was brought on board as producer and his effort reflects that .
This is one of the most beautiful looking anime around and we all know that anime is always better in Japanese with subtitles then English dubbed .
145 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
If you like the first GHITS movie , you will love this one . Thats all I can say ! Great companion to the first one , and the series !
147 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell , Vol . 2 : Innocence ( DVD )
I purchased this movie after seeing ghost in the shell , vol .1 : which was also a great flick . This movie has great effects and color , the storyline was great as the first one was and the sound is especially great if you have a home theater system . Ghost in the shell vol .1 and 2 are smart , action packed movies so pick up both if you have none .
149 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell , Vol . 2 : Innocence ( DVD )
This anime is very well done in every way . It has a deep storyline that keeps you interested . All the voice actors also do a great job .
If you are in any way an anime fan look at Ghost in the Shell series .
154 4 This review is from :
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Japanese animation is amazing , and in my opinion this film represents the high-water mark in animated graphics . Visually stunning !
159 4 I was just getting into the whole Ghost in a shell story line starting with Stand Alone complex and working backwards and I was so dissapointed in this DVD . The story and plot are challenging enough in english ; trying to read them at high speed was not fun . They should at least put on the cover that the DVD is only in Japanese . I feel like I was tricked into buying this . Thanks for nothing .
169 4 While Akira may have brought the art of feature-film anime to the mass audience of the United States , Ghost in the Shell has become the standard anime film that all new films are measured against here in the US . And if one stops from being a snob and takes into account that the Stand Alone Complex and 2nd Gig series are , yes , the same characters , but not the same storyline , then you will truly appreciate this movie and its predecessor .
If you are new to the GITS films and perhaps watched the series , be happily warned : these films are much darker and require a lot more thought as well . Not putting down the series at all there ; I actually think that it is the most intelligent anime series ever released .
You do not have to even be a fan of anime to appreciate these two films . If you like sci-fi that tends to dabble into philosphy , then this is for you . If you like action , guess what ? It's here too .
You can't go wrong .
