Video: Ghost in the Shell
Movies: Phenomenon

Philosophy, physiognomy and some really big fights

Our pick:
1 2 34 5

• Ghost in the Shell
• Not rated
• Manga Entertainment
• Dubbed $19.95/Subtitled $29.95
• Contains nudity and violence

f science can improve significantly on the basic design of the human body, is there any advantage in being human? Does a streamlined, superpowered cyborg have any use for something as invisible and intangible as a soul?

For Motoko Kusanagi, the grimly beautiful star of the animated Japanese mini-epic Ghost in the Shell, these aren't just abstract philosophical questions. As a mechanized, super-efficient government agent with only a fistful of brain cells remaining from her original body, she's brilliant, fast and deadly. But she's haunted by the dual question of whether she's still human and whether it really matters if she is.

Her insecurities solidify into concrete relevance as she and her strike team battle a plague of increasingly mysterious internal governmental problems. From the defection of a prominent computer programmer to the plotting of a mind-wiped terrorist, each new case is another piece in an emerging pattern. The missing link between all of Kusanagi's recent troubles appears to be the top-secret "Project 2501" -- a computerized super-spy dubbed the Puppetmaster.

When the Puppetmaster's machinations produce a wholly synthetic body that nonetheless claims to have a "ghost," or soul, Kusanagi's worldview is permanently shaken. If there really is an artificial soul locked in the Puppetmaster's cybernetic shell, it may hold all the answers to Kusanagi's questions about her true nature. On the other hand, it may be a trap designed specifically with her needs in mind.

Ghost's thoughtful, adult nature has generated unprecedented attention from the mainstream press, but overall, the stunning visuals are far more interesting than the plot details. Ghost follows in the footsteps of the all-time anime classic Akira with its towering, expansive urban landscapes, evocative soundtrack, fluid sense of motion and staccato pacing. The rich colors and amazing artistic detail are spectacular, and the entire movie begs for a large-screen viewing.

By contrast, the storyline is dry and slightly choppy. The direction is excellent, combining intense action and chase sequences with languid, wordless images of Kusanagi's synthetic "birth" and her subsequent attempts to return to the artificial "womb." But the actual plot is occasionally hard to follow, and sometimes hard to believe, as Kusanagi and company stagger through seemingly unconnected battles and rushed revelations.

The anime version of Ghost does prove much easier to follow than the original 400-page graphic novel by renowned manga artist Masamune Shirow (Appleseed, Dominion). Still, the highly-abridged 82-minute video adaptation leaves a few things to be desired. The new ending in particular is abrupt enough to give viewers whiplash.

Ghost in the Shell is a must-see for anime fans, but it's also unquestionably the product of intensely dedicated marketing that overshadows the film itself. As beautiful as Ghost is, audiences may be disappointed if they get caught up too thoroughly in the hype.

Visually very impressive, but it doesn't bear up under repeated viewing as much as I'd like. The graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics actually costs more than the dubbed video version, but there's about three times as much plot to work with. -- Tasha

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John Travolta proves it's not easy being smart in Phenomenon

Our pick:
1 2 3 4 5

• Phenomenon
• PG
• Starring John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick
• 117 minutes

eorge Malley (Travolta) is a nice average guy in a nice little town. While he's no genius, he tries to improve himself by learning Spanish, tries to outwit a pesky rabbit that's fond of his garden and tries to get a date with a pretty single mother, Lace Pennamin (Sedgwick). While he's not very successful at any of these endeavors, he has a good life with good friends, and he knows it.

But after celebrating his 37th birthday at a local bar with his friends, George sees something in the sky and gets knocked to the ground by a strange white light. No one else saw the light, so at first he shrugs it off. But almost immediately people begin to notice that something's different about George. He suddenly beats the local doctor (Robert Duvall) at chess. He can't sleep, he reads several books a day and all of the sudden he speaks Spanish perfectly. When he begins to predict earthquakes, learns Portuguese in 20 minutes and cracks a radio signal coded by the government, people begin to get nervous and the government begins to get interested. George's life isn't so simple anymore...

Phenomenon could have been a terrific feel good movie, but instead director Jon Turteltaub and the film's producers chose to take the standard, boring and predictable path. Phenomenon paints intelligence as a curse and the government as the bad guy (what an unusual concept). This film takes an interesting, if not unique, premise and pounds the square peg into the round hole until it fits the typical Hollywood movie formula. After all, what kind of an important movie would it be if there weren't bad guys, ignorant townsfolk and a love story to cause lots of conflict. Far from feel good, Phenomenon in fact ends up being darker than it has a right to be.

The one thing that makes Phenomenon worth seeing, though, is yet another outstanding performance by Travolta, this time as the sweet and gentle George. He plays George with the same grace, whether it's as the common man or as the genius.

Providing good support are Forest Whitaker, who plays George's best friend Nate, and Duvall as the Doc. Sedgwick as Lace comes off as well as she can in the icy role of the love interest. It's only because Sedgwick and Travolta are such good actors that their love story has any touching moments at all. Science fiction fans will enjoy a cameo by Brent Spiner as a psychologist (however he has a lot more fun in Independence Day).

The only thing phenomenal about Phenomenon is John Travolta. -- Kathie

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