is Scarlett the right choice?!

Scarlett Johansson will star in the live-action Ghost in the Shell movie

It's not a rarity for film-goers these day's to go to the cinema and see a film that is adapted from either your favourite book or television series. Even though once in a while, you'll find and watch a film that is 100% genuine and original that is very pleasing to see, it can't be helped that the majority of these film-makers/film companies and industries rely upon sources that have already been successful or at least talked about a lot. Take for example the Fifty Shades of Grey book, I know I Haven't read the book and to be honest, I don't plan on reading it in the near future, but regardless of me not reading the book, it's still a source that got heavily noticed and talked about in different media mediums due to  it having this erotic romance theme which for me makes no sense because aren't there other books that comment on Erotic Romance?! Anyhow, I speak for some people when I say that, it was always obvious once Fifty Shades of Grey got this sudden attention, it was inevitably going to be turned into a film adaptation and goes with my point on how these directors and film executives nothing but leech at these opportunities and make films out of popular book titles and popular T.V. series. However, if there is one art medium that we don't often see be turned into an adaptation or live-action film, it would be of the Japanese Anime/Manga's. Japanese Anime/Manga is a genre that let's be honest, is something that divulges towards the 'geek' demographic, but is something that over recent years has become rather popular; the film of Akira (1988) established this as the Japanese animation was crossing over to Western audiences and now we not only see Anime for the 'geek' audience, but films done by Hayao Miyazaki  A.K.A. the Japanese Disney, that do appeal to the children audience group. Now there are a different variety of Anime films that can be visually appealing and have interesting story points such as Akira, Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films that he's made, Makoto Shinkai with his breathtaking animation and interesting stories that comment on what it means to be alive. However, if we were to nail down 10 Anime films that have made an impact on the film-viewing experience, one film for sure that would make this top 10 would be Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell (1995).

Based in this cyber-punk/technological-noire world, Ghost in the Shell to briefly summarise it focuses around a female cyborg cop Motoko Kusanagi who will the help of her partner Batou hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker that goes by the name of the Puppet Master. While it does also centre around ideas of sexuality and gender identity, one of the stand out features that Ghost In The Shell remarkably did was how it influenced a number of prominent film-makers. The obvious example that it had an impact on was the Wachowskis The Matrix films since it took several concepts from Ghost in the Shell such as the Matrix digital rain we see at the start of the film and how people can access the Matrix through holes in the back of their necks. Now we can mention that there are other films that have been influence by Ghost in the Shell such as James Cameron's Avatar and Steven Spielberg's AI: Artificial Intelligence, but the important thing to take away from this is that, yes, Ghost in the Shell is obviously a film that has left a legacy for certain film-makers as mentioned which does undoubtedly correspond it to be an important film in terms of Anime's progression due to the fact it has spawned on film sequels and a T.V. series as well.

While it may have been nice at first to see this film become so popular having these spin-offs and being an influence for film and Anime, for me now, I think the fact that Dreamworks have finally got the green-light to make this Anime epic into a live-action film, I think the original films meaning and visuals will be tarnished thanks to Dreamworks persistence. For me, I am a bit topsy-turvy over whether I should be pleased or disappointed over this live-action adaptation. On one hand I am thinking that if they get the visual properties right and they don't take too much from the original film and come up with something that look very original and new, then I think it'll work. But on the other hand, they could very well easily screw it all up which I don't want to see due to the fact that Ghost in the Shell as mentioned, has a good reputation in terms of all Anime films that have been made. They could very well just copy and paste the cool scenes from the Anime film, into the live-action version which will be disappointing to see. For me as well, it just shows 2 things. 1 is that for me Anime/Manga content should just stay put and not be made into a live-action film due to the fact that some Anime's similar to Ghost in the Shell were already successful and have good reputations, if that's the case, then there shouldn't be a live-action adaptation in my opinion. I remember a few years back there were hushed whispers that Cowboy Bebop was going to be made into a live-action film which if they did do that, I think a lot of people would of been very upset due to the fact that Cowboy Bebop once again, is a piece of cult work that doesn't need to be made into a live-action flick. Number 2 - this whole live-action film thing with Ghost in the Shell in some way proves my point on how there aren't many innovative film-makers out there anymore, just for once I would like to see something that is original and excited rather than seeing film-makers do over franchises that were already successful and didn't need remaking.

Digressing from my own thoughts on the live-action adaptation, the biggest news to come from this project is the introduction Scarlett Johansson who is set to play the main role of Motoko Kusanagi. Previously there were big suggestions that Margot Robbie famous for her role in Wolf of Wall Street, was set to be cast as the main lead, but evidently this was not to be the case as Scarlett Johansson got the role which like the whole idea of making one of the greatest Anime films into a live-action film, I am a bit topsy-turvy when it comes to Scarlett Johansson being the main lead.

Scarlett's stardom and beauty will for sure benefit this upcoming project

On one hand I am liking the fact Johansson is the main lead due to the fact that not only will she attract the consumer with her beauty and stardom which could benefit the films release, but it's a role that over the recent years in film like Lucy, The Avengers and Captain America: Winter Soldier where she had to stunts and fight sequences, all those similar experiences again could help be something we see again with this upcoming film. Usually as well, Hollywood have a tendency of making pathetic action films with female leads; it's encouraging for woman actors I guess now that Scarlett Johansson has indeed made this untrue with her performances that I have mentioned and has become this 'Super-woman'. While those things I have said look encouraging, it still nags me that it's not a different person. While Johansson is a very good actress, I would of like to of seen someone who was young, different and had the potential to become someone like Johansson. One or two suggestions that I would like to make would be Kate Mara who some people would know from House of Cards who is in fact playing the invisible woman in the new Fantastic 4 remake, I thought her experience when making that film could of been something she transposed well in a film like Ghost in the Shell. Another name that in my opinion would of been great would be Alicia Vikander who recently stared in Alex Garlands Directorial debut of Ex Machina. I am going to review Ex Machina and what I got from Alicia's performance in that film where she effectively plays an A.I is very convincing and believable and it made me think that it would of been cool if that performance could be in this Live-action adaptation.

That about wraps up my thoughts on not only Johansson playing the main lead in this Ghost in the Shell Live-action adaptation but also overall greenlight for Dreamworks to make this whole thing possible. Tell me what you guys think, do you think this Live-action adaptation is a good idea? or do you think that Johansson was the right choice for this upcoming work? Feel free to share your opinions guys and once again, thanks for reading :)

Alex Rabbitte.