Ghost In The Shell 2.0 (a mini review)

[Rolf Hawkins]

Just got the import BD of Ghost in the Shell 2.0, which is the curious "not a remix" and "not a remake" (so they say) of the original GITS movie from 1995. They completely remastered the entire film, cleaned it up beautifully, and added a Dolby TrueHD track with a brand new voice-over recording using all the original (Japanese) voice-actors. There's a new and improved English subtitle track, too.

The film remaster is so perfectly done and looks so fresh and gorgeous (infinitely superior to the previous BD release), that it's very puzzling to me why they bothered to replace some scenes entirely (or merely some objects) with dazzling CGI in the first place. It's doubly puzzling because the intent of the CGI insertions appears to be to make the cityscapes in GITS more closely match those in Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2, but because this supposed wish for continuity is not carried through the entire GITS film, it struck me as rather pointless. In my opinion, they should either have redone the entire film in CGI, scene for scene, or left the CGI out.

I have to say here that I read quite a few negative things about this version 2.0 on the web when it was re-released in the theaters in Japan and elsewhere. I can't say I agree with them. While I would have preferred to see all of this landmark film restored, none of the CGI scenes detract or in any way alter the story or my enjoyment of it. This is not Star Wars 2.0. This is the same GITS we know and love, just with some visual enhancements thrown in.

All that being said, for anyone who does not already own the much drabber and stereo-only GITS on BD, this is a worthy disc to have in any collection. It's still a great story and the non-CGI artwork is, mostly, flawless. My only real complaint is that the bass in both the stereo PCM and Dolby TrueHD 6.1 mixes is excessive, to say the least. Case in point, I intentionally have one of the memory settings in my receiver's room EQ set to zero bass, and the bass was still too flippin' much.

Test gear:
Pioneer Elite PRO-150FD 60" PDP
Pioneer Elite SC-07 A/V Receiver
Pioneer BDP-51FD Blu-ray Disc Player
Polk RT-2000p Front L/R Towers w/dual 8" 200Watt Subwoofers
Polk CS-350 Center
Polk LS-FX Surrounds
Ethereal A/V Cables

[Blazinty]

Im going to have to disagree with your review. Screenshots like these http://www.asianblurayguide.com/news...son_available/ make me want to gag. Its amazing how they could wreck a good thing by zooming in the picture. OAR ftw. I won't touch the new version with a 10 foot pole.

[ryoohki]

Also Japanese are now Obsessed with the need of destroying the FOCUS of their Anime. Why? all CGI projection are OOF mess (I'am talking about Handrawed Anime inside a Computer, not fully 3D that look like 2d thing) that leave almost no detail for HD. That's why i like the Cell Look. Seem they screwed up this one too on the 2.0 version..

[Mobe1969]

Holy geez, I see what you guys mean. The focus smearing and zooming in. WTF where they thinking?

[HumanMedia]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

Holy geez, I see what you guys mean. The focus smearing and zooming in. WTF where they thinking?

My thoughts exactly. Every frame is cropped showing less image and smeared with less detail. All to fix a couple of shots. Give me 1.0 anyday.

[HumanMedia]

Originally Posted by HumanMedia

My thoughts exactly. Every frame is cropped showing less image and smeared with less detail. All to fix a couple of shots. Give me 1.0 anyday.

Superimposing the AsiaBluRayGuide.com images the cropping isnt as bad as the thumbnails on their site. The viewer still loses 7% of the image. We should be getting more image if any from a remaster.

Example:
Link to Cropping overlay comparison

[Mobe1969]

Grr. You know, I'm of the school of thought that if you aren't going to do something right, don't do it at all.

I haven't done the math, but did they crop it to change it from a 1.85:1 to a 1.77777:1 (full 16:9) AR?

[coralfangs]

they messed up the first release, now they've messed up with the second release, God have mercy on their souls

[Jeff Kleist]

2.0, the exact same disc will almost certainly have a domestic release later this year, so save your $$

I wouldn't call it a mess-up. It's how Oshii wants the film to be now

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

2.0, the exact same disc will almost certainly have a domestic release later this year, so save your $$

I wouldn't call it a mess-up. It's how Oshii wants the film to be now

The domestic Bandai Blu Ray releases haven't exactly been bargains though have they. When you factor in international shipping (like I have to) they were about the same price from either US or Japan.

[GC Riot]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

2.0, the exact same disc will almost certainly have a domestic release later this year, so save your $$

I wouldn't call it a mess-up. It's how Oshii wants the film to be now

Exactly, just like Lucas changed Star Wars, in my opinion, for the better. If you don't like it, stick with the original.

[Jeff Kleist]

The domestic Bandai Blu Ray releases haven't exactly been bargains though have they. When you factor in international shipping (like I have to) they were about the same price from either US or Japan.

Manga Entertainment owns the US rights, but Bandai has done all the mastering on GiTS TV, and I see no reason why that probably won't continue

Innocense will come from Bandai Entertainment US, and not Bandai Visual

Both will bein the normal range for US releases.

[GGX]

Originally Posted by GC Riot

Exactly, just like Lucas changed Star Wars, in my opinion, for the better.

Wow. Thats not something you hear every day!