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****
Dir: Rupert Sanders (15, 120 mins)
The manga cyborg/human identity epic from Masamune Shirow gets the big budget live action treatment and will hopefully be less baffling than its animated outing. Scarlet Johansson stars as the Major, a super cyborg who has been created to bring criminals and extremists to task, but along the way finds out more about her own identity. Boasting cutting edge visuals lifted from the original manga, and with Johansson in a body stocking for many action scenes – so she can be invisible apparently- this will satisfy many hardened fanboys. Director Rupert Sanders, great on visuals on Snow White and the Huntsman, if not so great on storytelling, has an action heroine with acting chops to match her ass-kicking, so Johannson should root this sci-fi epic. Strong support from Juliette Binoche and cult Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano adds class making Ghost in the Shell a Blade Runner-esque sci-fi prospect.
Opens Mar 31