Seen at Neues Off as a part of In the Mood. Not only my favourite anime, but one of my favourite science-fiction films in general. Ghost in the Shell is the best William Gibson-adaptation without even being a William Gibson-adaptation. The way the the film manages to interweave the philosophical discussions on the human implications of cybernetics and Cartesian dualism with the thriller and pulpy action elements is a lot more accomplished than I , and a cut above other anime with art house pretentions (*ahem*Perfect Blue*ahem*). Something I noticed on this watch were the scenes of quiet reflection, Kusanagi on the ferry watching ''real'' humans going about their day, to allow the viewer some respite after just being hit over the head with deep monologues on the nature of consciousness and how it relates to the physical body and which one of them ultimately makes us into a human being, and reflect on them a bit more calmly. I also feel I have to mention the iconic score here, a masterpiece. Truly a one-of-a-kind film, and massively influential on later science-fiction media of course. The Wachowskis could never.