Writer: Mamoru Oshii (Screenplay) Masamune Shirow (Comic)
Starring: (voice Talents) Akio Otsuka, Astuko Tanaka, Koichi Yamadera, Tamio Oki, Yutaka Nakano, Naoto Takenaka
Plot: In the year 2032, Batô, a cyborg detective for the anti-terrorist unit Public Security Section 9, investigates the case of a female robot–one created solely for sexual pleasure–who slaughtered her owner.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Slightly Easier to Follow
Story: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence starts with Bato and Togusa investigating sex robots that have been starting to kill their owners before killing themselves. With former partner Major Motoko Kusanagi still missing in action the new pair have to learn their own strengths and weaknesses as they look to uncover what is causing this problem.
Going underground the pair discover there is a change in the underground crime rings who are looking to make a play to change who is the head of the mobs. The answers to their questions will take them in a direction where they have to work with an old enemy Kim to learn the truth.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence brings us a more intense story dealing with robots killing owners, this shouldn’t be happening due to the programming and with a new partnership we have to see them work out the crime. I do feel we needed to see a lot more from the Motoko character as she is almost not in the film and in the end it is just two cops trying to solve a crime nothing more. The film doesn’t give you enough to wonder what is happening either.
Character Review
Bato: Bato is the cyborg leading the investigating the new case involving the sex robots killing their owners, he is still dealing with the loss of Major Kusanagi but is happy to be with the new partner Togusa. He is happy to shoot first and leave what might be for a later time. Bato is very similar to his previous outing but this time he becomes the leading man of the saga.
Major Motoko Kusanagi: Motoko only turns up in the final act of the film even though we have our main character talk about her the whole film. Motoko gets wasted in this outing of the film because she was the kick ass character from the first film.
Togusa: Togusa is the human police officers who now has to team up with Bato after Motoko disappearance, he is happy but still unsure how to act around Bato more aggressive tactics when it goes about solving the crimes. He is all about his family and gets worried when things are putting his own life in danger. Togusa deals with more problems with what is going on in the world and feels like the reluctant partner this time.
Kim: Kim is the brilliant creator that has been living alone away from the world but has been using his skills as both a cyborg and hacker to change the world where he asks the questions about what is real anymore. Kim ends up being the crazy computer system which works for what is going on.
Support Characters: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence has the same supporting characters which might as well just be the ones we have seen before.
Director Review: Mamoru Oshii – Mamoru gives us an interesting mystery but not enough suspects in the mystery.
Animation: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence has great looking animations being used throughout the film.
Sci-Fi: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence once again brings us into the future world with cyborgs being part of everyday life.
Thriller: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence doesn’t keep you guessing as much as it could.
Settings: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence creates wonderful looking settings through the investigation.
Suggestion: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is one of the anime fans only really. (Anime Fans)
Best Part: The walk across the bridge looks stunning.
Worst Part: Motoko not involved enough.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: Yes
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Tagline: Innocence is Life
Overall: You know the world not lets just make it a cop drama
Rating