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REVIEW: Ghost in the Shell: Arise Blu-Ray 1-2

Just a heads up. Apparently it is a flimsy paper box as opposed to Funimation's typical thick-ish LE boxes.

The only substantial effect of this, however, is that it gives her and Batou an opportunity to initially be at odds and even fight each other on a couple of occasions.

Wait, wait, wait. The paragraph of "changes" is a whole mess of messes, not just for the franchise but for logic.

Kusanagi has now been in a "cyborg" body now since birth but is aging accordingly {changing body and appearances because... this is depressing. She's aping humanity she never had to begin with, which of course makes her more human that her other versions because... the people doing it are not familiar with, well, Ghost in the Shell?} and doesn't have the same strength as those arms that tore apart a tank? You know, those robotic arms that went with a robot body, head, legs and everything else but some brain cells?

This plot aspect is such a problem thematically, cutting the division between a philosophical development of the human soul and psyche, creating itself out of accomplishment and failures, not to forget hormones like estrogen and testosterone, and the question of how it would differ from AI like it was some Gordian Knot that was in the way... of itself, that I can't even see this as Ghost in the Shell... GiTS Babies maybe?

I'm a firm believer in the idea of Major Kusanagi being male in the previous life, AKA "living" but willing to listen to the fanboys who can't see past the boobs and butt. But I also hate Stand Alone Complex like it was death itself, a boogey man for all life loving AIs developing in Spider Bots...

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The only substantial effect of this, however, is that it gives her and Batou an opportunity to initially be at odds and even fight each other on a couple of occasions.

Because changing the premise for that is all they could get out of it? Really? Did they even try or was it not in the budget?

I like both seasons of SAC equally.

The only real flaw with Arise is that it's essentially "more of the same" without really doing anything different with the premises or characters. And since it's not quite in the SAC universe, you'd expect a little more than just "It's the Major, but she's younger." They should have just made it a prequel and showed the Major and Batou fighting in the war.

But that said, it is still pretty good. I'm looking forward to hearing the quality of the English dub.

Oh, and for the record, I rated 2nd Gig as my #2 title of the 2000s. Definitely not one of my favorites, and I have to agree with criticisms that label it as cold and impersonal, but it's such a wonderful technical and storytelling achievement.

Am I the only one who loved the hell out of 2nd Gig? :/

I like both seasons of SAC equally

Kusanagi has now been in a "cyborg" body now since birth but is aging accordingly {changing body and appearances because... this is depressing. She's aping humanity she never had to begin with,

I'm a firm believer in the idea of Major Kusanagi being male in the previous life, AKA "living" but willing to listen to the fanboys who can't see past the boobs and butt. But I also hate Stand Alone Complex like it was death itself,

And as I mentioned in the review, I don't find the lack of philosophizing in Arise to be a big problem (though I will agree that it changes the identity of the work somewhat). For me, the franchise's deepest ongoing flaw was its propensity to get so self-absorbed in its philosophical underpinnings that it sometimes forgot to be entertaining, too. (See Innocence.)

Personally, I don't mind "cold and impersonal" in a cyberized world or character. I have always liked Kusanagi's temperament. It seemed necessary and believable. Her personality was harmonious to the story and just fit. In fact, I'm a little worried I may find the new (younger) Kusanagi a bit.... annoying.

I have watched everything else, so there is no way I'm going to skip "Arise".