There's a lot of imagination at work here; too bad just a little bit of it couldn't have been channeled into the creation of a better narrative.
83
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
The title Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is a brain banger. But as sci-fi nomenclature goes, it's easy to read--no twistier, certainly, than "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."
The dark sequel offers gorgeous images, with an updated and stylish design, but its characters' angst gets in the way of storytelling.
50
Film ThreatEric Campos
Film ThreatEric Campos
Unfortunately, the outcome here is so over-the-top that it’s going to wind up alienating most everyone that sees it.
50
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
A downbeat story line layered with philosophical discourses will restrict the audience to fans of the animated genre.
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Ingeniously crafted with flashes of intelligence, if not very memorable.
40
VarietyDerek Elley
VarietyDerek Elley
Talky, repetitive and largely covering the same ground with no new thoughts, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is a major let-down.
40
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
At times, Innocence feels like a clip show of Oshii projects past. But the effect proves more dulling than warmly familiar.
40
L.A. WeeklyDavid Chute
L.A. WeeklyDavid Chute
This sophomoric stuff is pure self-indulgence, a drone to accompany the admittedly eye-popping sound-and-light show. Oshii looks like yet another director who has gone off the deep end, believing too absolutely his own good reviews.