Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Introduction
"Ghost in the Shell" is a 2017 sci-fi film directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson. The movie is based upon the Japanese manga of the same title by Masamune Shirow and largely draws from the 1995 anime adjustment for its styles and visual design.

Plot Summary
The story revolves around Major Motoko Kusanagi (Scarlett Johansson), a cyborg counter-terrorist operative working for Public Security Section 9, a hidden federal government agency headed by Chief Daisuke Aramaki (Takeshi Kitano). Called the Major, her mind (or "ghost") is housed in a fully cybernetic body (or "shell") after an expected mishap destroyed her initial body as a kid. The movie narrates her battles with identity, memory, and sense of self.

Development of Events
The Major and her team find themselves up versus a mysterious hacker referred to as Kuze (Michael Pitt). Marveling at the Major's unique nature, Kuze intends to expose the fact about her past and their synthetic bodies' creators, leading them on a chilling path into the heart of Hank Robotics, the multinational corporation that produced the Major-- versus their understanding. Through her battles with Kuze, the Major recovers quelched memories and discovers the fact about her past.

Character Evolution & Revelation
The Major finds that she was not saved from a refugee boat mishap as she had actually been led to believe. Rather, she was among the kidnapped and processed runaway kids for unlawful human experiments, changing them into cybernetic soldiers. The multinational business fabricated her memories to manipulate her commitment. Understanding this, she challenges Hank Robotics's CEO, Cutter (Peter Ferdinando), leading to a climactic face-off.

Conclusion
In the end, the Major, with her squad's assistance, kills Cutter and frees the remaining test subjects. She strongly ends the endless misuse of innovation at the expense of human life and self-respect. Despite her dreadful revelations, the Major, choosing to stay as an operative for Section 9, continues to face her identity as a hybrid human-robot, accepting her double nature.

Themes
"Ghost in the Shell" delves into existential questions about identity, memory, and what it suggests to be human in an age of increasingly advanced technology. It also delves into the ethical questions around artificial intelligence and cybernetics. This is personified best in the Major's struggle to reconcile her human mind with her synthetic body.

Crucial Reception
Despite its spectacular visual effects and enthusiastic styles, "Ghost in the Shell" gathered mixed evaluations upon release. Critics noted its shallow exploration of the original source's philosophical styles, excessive stylistic focus, and lack of character advancement. The casting of Scarlett Johansson in what numerous considered need to have been a function for an Asian actress was also questionable and implicated of 'glossing over'. Yet, Johansson's efficiency and the film's sensational visuals were extensively applauded.

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