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I saw a bit of both seasons. Never was able to follow the plot due to my inability to schedule away time to watch television (especially during the night when there are living, breathing, 3-dimensional humans to interact with).
I'll admit though, I really liked the first season's theme song, and would sometimes watch the opening credits only then turn it off and go do something.
I have the special edition of the original Ghost in the Shell DVD that I got when I was still fairly heavy into anime and I think SAC is pretty decent from what I've seen but it's a really complex police/political drama so once you miss a few episodes it's tough to keep track. That plus I have that bad habit of always catching the same damn episode over and over, as it always goes with [adult swim].
I know some people (ViolentChem, etc) preferred it, I thought the 2nd GIG was less interesting but in no way bad, it was still better than almost anything else out there (like most GiTS).
Dreamerdown on
Not all vampires suck blood.
Not all of them die for love.
I actually just watched Solid State Society yesterday and it was basically a really long episode. That's not a bad thing though, it was very excellent.
[realspoiler:2b754c1e5b]Togusa shooting himself had me convinced there for a second.[/realspoiler:2b754c1e5b]
GITS SAC is a series that I can revisit over and over again. Admittedly the 2nd gig can't hold a light to the 1st, but that's only because the 1st gig was just that good.
The Opening Songs are good on both, as they both get regular play on my mp3 player.
I haven't seen Solid State Society, but I have seen some fansubs floating around. I also haven't seen GITS 2: Innocence mainly because I've heard bad things and didn't want to tarnish my opinion.
Anyone have anything good to say about the 2nd movie?
The only embarassing thing about GiTS is when Motoko dresses like a porn star while on duty. Thankfully they dropped that after the first few episodes of S.A.C.
SAC storyline toward the end: [spoiler:f9423ee16a]everything is falling apart, agents are being individually hunted down and imprisoned or outright killed. Game over man, game over.[/spoiler:f9423ee16a]
SAC final episode: [spoiler:f9423ee16a]oh, actually, everyone is okay. We won't explain why or how, but all the bad things you saw happening to them? Dirty lies, they're fine. Haha, group laugh everyone.[/spoiler:f9423ee16a]
I'd need to rewatch it to be name and action specific, but the last episode of SAC was just one bit deus ex machina.
[edit] Manners, manners...
Yeah, I got a bit of that feeling as well. Frankly, the series end was OK, but it would have worked SOOOO much better if they had just one more episode to tie in between episodes 25 and 26. Either that or they should have just cut out episode 25 and changed the ending of 24 a little, seguing directly into the last episode. Either way would have been fine.
Ah well, in any case, I still loved the series, and I was still happy with the ending regardless.
subedii on
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DynagripBreak me a million heartsHoustonRegistered User, ClubPAregular
edited November 2006
I haven't seen Innocence yet. I loved SAC 1st Gig. The 2nd Gig didn't do nearly as much for me, but I only caught it here and there on Cartoon Network. The animation seemed slightly improved, but the storyline was not nearly as interesting to me.
The more serious response, she dresses in a manner that she finds attractive, and apparently isn't the least bit embarassed about it, and can kick the living shit out of anyone who comments on her wardrobe choices. I personally prefer when she wears full-length pants, but then I think leather jeans are pretty hot.
I picked up Vol. 7 of 2nd Gig a few days after it came out at Best Buy. It came in a collectors tin with room for all of the other 6 volumes. It also came with the third soundtrack to the series, which i've been listening to since then.
Oh shits, I was wondering when that was coming out! The third soundtrack, that is. I still haven't watched Vol 5 of 2nd Gig, and I certainly haven't gotten the other two volumes yet.
SAC storyline toward the end: [spoiler:e6d32bc62b]everything is falling apart, agents are being individually hunted down and imprisoned or outright killed. Game over man, game over.[/spoiler:e6d32bc62b]
SAC final episode: [spoiler:e6d32bc62b]oh, actually, everyone is okay. We won't explain why or how, but all the bad things you saw happening to them? Dirty lies, they're fine. Haha, group laugh everyone.[/spoiler:e6d32bc62b]
I'd need to rewatch it to be name and action specific, but the last episode of SAC was just one bit deus ex machina.
[edit] Manners, manners...
Yeah, I got a bit of that feeling as well. Frankly, the series end was OK, but it would have worked SOOOO much better if they had just one more episode to tie in between episodes 25 and 26. Either that or they should have just cut out episode 25 and changed the ending of 24 a little, seguing directly into the last episode. Either way would have been fine.
Ah well, in any case, I still loved the series, and I was still happy with the ending regardless.
[spoiler:e6d32bc62b] When the Secretary General (the actual "bad guy" of SAC) releases the story that Section 9 is trying to kill the Prime Minister, Section 9 is no longer an organization that "does not exist." So in order to regain the ability to be a covert, offensive counter-terrorist unit, they have to play the role of a unit gone rogue. They have to fight back against the Special Forces unit sent against them and evade capture for as long as possible. Once they're captured, its simply a matter of moving and disappearing the correct paper work to make it appear as all the members of Section 9 had gone to prison. [/spoiler:e6d32bc62b]
Related 2nd GiG spoiler:
[spoiler:e6d32bc62b] Thats why in season 2, at the beginning of the series the Home Affairs Minister (the fat balding frakker) won't let them take care of the hostage situation. And in the court case where Togusa shot the crazy prosthetics user, the defense attourney threatens to expose Section 9 and reveal classified information about the Individual Eleven. Section 9 does not officially exist, and having to explain to the public why a unit, forcibly disbanded by the government, STILL exists might not go over well with the public. [/spoiler:e6d32bc62b]
SAC storyline toward the end: [spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]everything is falling apart, agents are being individually hunted down and imprisoned or outright killed. Game over man, game over.[/spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]
SAC final episode: [spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]oh, actually, everyone is okay. We won't explain why or how, but all the bad things you saw happening to them? Dirty lies, they're fine. Haha, group laugh everyone.[/spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]
I'd need to rewatch it to be name and action specific, but the last episode of SAC was just one bit deus ex machina.
[edit] Manners, manners...
Yeah, I got a bit of that feeling as well. Frankly, the series end was OK, but it would have worked SOOOO much better if they had just one more episode to tie in between episodes 25 and 26. Either that or they should have just cut out episode 25 and changed the ending of 24 a little, seguing directly into the last episode. Either way would have been fine.
Ah well, in any case, I still loved the series, and I was still happy with the ending regardless.
[spoiler:cd3dec6ea2] When the Secretary General (the actual "bad guy" of SAC) releases the story that Section 9 is trying to kill the Prime Minister, Section 9 is no longer an organization that "does not exist." So in order to regain the ability to be a covert, offensive counter-terrorist unit, they have to play the role of a unit gone rogue. They have to fight back against the Special Forces unit sent against them and evade capture for as long as possible. Once they're captured, its simply a matter of moving and disappearing the correct paper work to make it appear as all the members of Section 9 had gone to prison. [/spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]
I understand all that.
[spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]I just felt they deliberately left things at a cliff hanger in episode 25 which they didn't need to do, considering that episode 26 pretty much automatically resolved it with little fanfare and it ended up seeming like a bit of a Deus Ex Machina as a result. Like I said, I felt the ending was good, but it could have been made better by what was leading up to it. They set it up for a different type of climactic ending and then do a sudden turn-around in the first 10 seconds of the last episode. The ending would have worked better without episode 25 I felt, or with an extra episode in between 25 and 26 which gives a rough implementation of the 3 months prior to episode 26. What they end up doing is jumping to '3 months later' in episode 26 and then spelling out everything that happened as a short conversation. To me that ended up feeling rushed as a result.[/spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]
I'm sorry but that just smacks of over the top fanservice, and it makes it hard to take it seriously.
that thing really does not want to load at all for me
I got the top inch of it or whatever after about half an hour of waiting. I couldn't figure out why he labelled it NSFW, though. I recongnized one of the two images of her, the one on the left in his image, where she's sitting with her gun and whatnot. If that's NSFW, my sig is NSFW. And my sig is not NSFW.
I loved the first movie, liked the second, and enjoyed the first 5 episodes of S.A.C., which were the only ones I've seen. I didn't like Motoko's outfit in the TV series, though.
That said, will I be able to enjoy Solid State Society without seeing the rest of Stand Alone Complex?
Zodiac Brave on
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DynagripBreak me a million heartsHoustonRegistered User, ClubPAregular
edited November 2006
Let's be honest here. The Major (d'oh) dresses like that because Masamune Shirow really likes drawing lady ass. I don't think it's supposed to be some complex commentary on near nudity being liberating and empowering.
Let's be honest here. The Colonel dresses like that because Masamune Shirow really likes drawing lady ass. I don't think it's supposed to be some complex commentary on near nudity being liberating and empowering.
Major. But Masamune Shirow didn't draw SAC. SAC was drawn from what was known about pre-existing characters. And what's known about the pre-existing character Major Motoko Kusanagi is that she doesn't hide her top-of-the-line cyborg body.
ViolentChemistry on
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DynagripBreak me a million heartsHoustonRegistered User, ClubPAregular
edited November 2006
Yeah...Shirow likes to draw ass, he's said as much. I've seen his artbooks and the comments in them. Those characters are based off of Shirow's drawings. There's a target audience here. Let's not get carried away about the Major's motives for dressing like a street walker.
For me it did take away from the show. It seemed silly for someone to be dressed in a French cut bathing suit when on duty.
Still loved the series though, but the fanservice was an annoyance.
Lingerie. And I didn't say Shirow doesn't like to draw ass. I said that Shirow didn't draw SAC. I think if the Major suddenly started wearing baggy 3-piece suits all the time people would have had a hard time buying that it's the same character.
Besides, at least she's covered up instead of running around in a nude-suit all the time.
I'm just glad she found a pair of pants half way through season 1. She looked a lot cooler when she was actually WEARING something.
I think leather pants are much hotter than pink thigh-high socks and a teddy. But that doesn't really support the arguments of the people here complaining about her not wearing enough as a form of fanservice. Since the pants were more fanservicey, for me.
I love GiTS, but one thing that cracks me up about it is all the Japanese Nationalism. There's all the none too subtle implication that both the USA and China are now heavily dependent on mighty Japan.
I sometimes wonder if GiTS is the Japanese analogue to Tom Clancy, wish fulfillment and whatnot.
Also, when are they gonna give Pazu his day in the limelight?
And all you guys complaining about Motoko's outfits should just be glad they don't put her in a sailor uniform.
And all you guys complaining about Motoko's outfits should just be glad they don't put her in a sailor uniform.
It's times like these I wish I knew how to draw. Instead of this post, there would be an awesome scan and she'd have that anti-tank rifle. And I would laugh at my own joke and maybe two other people would, and that would make it worth it.
ViolentChemistry on
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Der Waffle MousBlame this on the misfortune of your birth.New Yark, New Yark.Registered Userregular
I love GiTS, but one thing that cracks me up about it is all the Japanese Nationalism. There's all the none too subtle implication that both the USA and China are now heavily dependent on mighty Japan.
The interesting thing is, though, is that they got in that position by being completely isolationist and staying out of most of the wars and whatnot.
I really loved the first GitS movie, and I liked the second more than most people did.
Still haven't watched 2nd gig. For some reason, the Batou boxing episode has always been one of my favorite SACs... maybe it's just because he's by far my favorite character, and the episode was all about him.
I love GiTS, but one thing that cracks me up about it is all the Japanese Nationalism. There's all the none too subtle implication that both the USA and China are now heavily dependent on mighty Japan.
The interesting thing is, though, is that they got in that position by being completely isolationist and staying out of most of the wars and whatnot.
Even more interesting is that the "Autonomous Regions" of Japan are always viewed as enemies, because they're isolationists within Japan.
Edit: Also, I still say the Stand Alone Complex game on the PS2 is not a bad shooter at all. One of the only ones I can tolerate anymore, even (largely because I've always been better at dodging than aiming).
I love GiTS, but one thing that cracks me up about it is all the Japanese Nationalism. There's all the none too subtle implication that both the USA and China are now heavily dependent on mighty Japan.
The interesting thing is, though, is that they got in that position by being completely isolationist and staying out of most of the wars and whatnot.
Even more interesting is that the "Autonomous Regions" of Japan are always viewed as enemies, because they're isolationists within Japan.
Ryukyu still gets treated like a bunch of hillbilly aliens.
I love GiTS, but one thing that cracks me up about it is all the Japanese Nationalism. There's all the none too subtle implication that both the USA and China are now heavily dependent on mighty Japan.
The interesting thing is, though, is that they got in that position by being completely isolationist and staying out of most of the wars and whatnot.
Along those lines, does anyone know of a timeline or history for the GiTS setting(s)? I'm sure the politics of the series would make a whole lot more sense if I knew more about the history.
I love GiTS, but one thing that cracks me up about it is all the Japanese Nationalism. There's all the none too subtle implication that both the USA and China are now heavily dependent on mighty Japan.
The interesting thing is, though, is that they got in that position by being completely isolationist and staying out of most of the wars and whatnot.
Along those lines, does anyone know of a timeline or history for the GiTS setting(s)? I'm sure the politics of the series would make a whole lot more sense if I knew more about the history.
There's an essay about it at the beginning of one of the episodes. I forget which, though. The one dealing with ¥€$ currency-type.
Motoko dresses like she does because she often feels insecure about her sexuality. She switched to a fully prosthetic body when she was really young, probably before puberty, meaning she grew up in essentially an assigned gender. So she dresses often like a whore to remind herself that she's female. That's the Manga's reason. Also because Shirow Masamune is a dirty man.
I feel like I'm the only person who liked 2nd Gig more than the 1st. I thought it was far more even and stable overall, and the 6 or so episode arc at the end where [spoiler:854324edc4]the JSSD are seiging Dejima[/spoiler:854324edc4] was, in my mind, incredible. To say nothing of the added character backing to minors like Siato and even the Major herself. Plus, it had an ending that, at the very least, wasn't a complete drop off from the episode before. And I liked Kuze more than the Laughing Man, if only because he didn't come off like a pretentious punk to me.
My only complaint is that 2nd Gig sort of breaks off halfway through and ignores a lot of the story established in the first part of the series. By the time the story shifts definitively to Kuze, the Individual Eleven story is pretty much gone.
Also: That kid was a retard. You know the one I mean.
Along those lines, does anyone know of a timeline or history for the GiTS setting(s)? I'm sure the politics of the series would make a whole lot more sense if I knew more about the history.
I love GiTS, but one thing that cracks me up about it is all the Japanese Nationalism. There's all the none too subtle implication that both the USA and China are now heavily dependent on mighty Japan.
The interesting thing is, though, is that they got in that position by being completely isolationist and staying out of most of the wars and whatnot.
Even more interesting is that the "Autonomous Regions" of Japan are always viewed as enemies, because they're isolationists within Japan.
Edit: Also, I still say the Stand Alone Complex game on the PS2 is not a bad shooter at all. One of the only ones I can tolerate anymore, even (largely because I've always been better at dodging than aiming).
That game is hardcore awesome. I picked up a used copy for ten bucks, and without a doubt, the best god damn ten bucks I've ever spent in my life.
Posts
I'll admit though, I really liked the first season's theme song, and would sometimes watch the opening credits only then turn it off and go do something.
I have the special edition of the original Ghost in the Shell DVD that I got when I was still fairly heavy into anime and I think SAC is pretty decent from what I've seen but it's a really complex police/political drama so once you miss a few episodes it's tough to keep track. That plus I have that bad habit of always catching the same damn episode over and over, as it always goes with [adult swim].
Not all vampires suck blood.
Not all of them die for love.
[realspoiler:2b754c1e5b]Togusa shooting himself had me convinced there for a second.[/realspoiler:2b754c1e5b]
The Opening Songs are good on both, as they both get regular play on my mp3 player.
I haven't seen Solid State Society, but I have seen some fansubs floating around. I also haven't seen GITS 2: Innocence mainly because I've heard bad things and didn't want to tarnish my opinion.
Anyone have anything good to say about the 2nd movie?
I'd bet money Japan will be the first to come out with interactive computerized hooker dolls.
Yeah, I got a bit of that feeling as well. Frankly, the series end was OK, but it would have worked SOOOO much better if they had just one more episode to tie in between episodes 25 and 26. Either that or they should have just cut out episode 25 and changed the ending of 24 a little, seguing directly into the last episode. Either way would have been fine.
Ah well, in any case, I still loved the series, and I was still happy with the ending regardless.
I like the second movie for different reasons for the first, but it didn't blow me away nearly as much in 2004 as GiTS did in 1995.
Not all vampires suck blood.
Not all of them die for love.
2nd Gig does a better job of giving screen time to the other characters in Section 9 so it has that going for it.
Oh fuck yeah. I'm going to buy 1st gig just to see that episode.
[realspoiler:a6dff133d0] "WHAM BAM, THANK YA MA'AM." *BOOM* WHA... *BOOM* I SURRENDER! *BOOM* PILOT DIES. YAY! [/realspoiler:a6dff133d0]
When is Solid State Society going to be released?
Oh shits, I was wondering when that was coming out! The third soundtrack, that is. I still haven't watched Vol 5 of 2nd Gig, and I certainly haven't gotten the other two volumes yet.
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
that thing really does not want to load at all for me
[spoiler:e6d32bc62b] When the Secretary General (the actual "bad guy" of SAC) releases the story that Section 9 is trying to kill the Prime Minister, Section 9 is no longer an organization that "does not exist." So in order to regain the ability to be a covert, offensive counter-terrorist unit, they have to play the role of a unit gone rogue. They have to fight back against the Special Forces unit sent against them and evade capture for as long as possible. Once they're captured, its simply a matter of moving and disappearing the correct paper work to make it appear as all the members of Section 9 had gone to prison. [/spoiler:e6d32bc62b]
Related 2nd GiG spoiler:
[spoiler:e6d32bc62b] Thats why in season 2, at the beginning of the series the Home Affairs Minister (the fat balding frakker) won't let them take care of the hostage situation. And in the court case where Togusa shot the crazy prosthetics user, the defense attourney threatens to expose Section 9 and reveal classified information about the Individual Eleven. Section 9 does not officially exist, and having to explain to the public why a unit, forcibly disbanded by the government, STILL exists might not go over well with the public. [/spoiler:e6d32bc62b]
I understand all that.
[spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]I just felt they deliberately left things at a cliff hanger in episode 25 which they didn't need to do, considering that episode 26 pretty much automatically resolved it with little fanfare and it ended up seeming like a bit of a Deus Ex Machina as a result. Like I said, I felt the ending was good, but it could have been made better by what was leading up to it. They set it up for a different type of climactic ending and then do a sudden turn-around in the first 10 seconds of the last episode. The ending would have worked better without episode 25 I felt, or with an extra episode in between 25 and 26 which gives a rough implementation of the 3 months prior to episode 26. What they end up doing is jumping to '3 months later' in episode 26 and then spelling out everything that happened as a short conversation. To me that ended up feeling rushed as a result.[/spoiler:cd3dec6ea2]
This is truth. Also, I like how Solid State Society introduced a few newbs.
Not all vampires suck blood.
Not all of them die for love.
That said, will I be able to enjoy Solid State Society without seeing the rest of Stand Alone Complex?
For me it did take away from the show. It seemed silly for someone to be dressed in a French cut bathing suit when on duty.
Still loved the series though, but the fanservice was an annoyance.
Besides, at least she's covered up instead of running around in a nude-suit all the time.
I sometimes wonder if GiTS is the Japanese analogue to Tom Clancy, wish fulfillment and whatnot.
Also, when are they gonna give Pazu his day in the limelight?
And all you guys complaining about Motoko's outfits should just be glad they don't put her in a sailor uniform.
Still haven't watched 2nd gig. For some reason, the Batou boxing episode has always been one of my favorite SACs... maybe it's just because he's by far my favorite character, and the episode was all about him.
Edit: Also, I still say the Stand Alone Complex game on the PS2 is not a bad shooter at all. One of the only ones I can tolerate anymore, even (largely because I've always been better at dodging than aiming).
Ryukyu still gets treated like a bunch of hillbilly aliens.
Along those lines, does anyone know of a timeline or history for the GiTS setting(s)? I'm sure the politics of the series would make a whole lot more sense if I knew more about the history.
I feel like I'm the only person who liked 2nd Gig more than the 1st. I thought it was far more even and stable overall, and the 6 or so episode arc at the end where [spoiler:854324edc4]the JSSD are seiging Dejima[/spoiler:854324edc4] was, in my mind, incredible. To say nothing of the added character backing to minors like Siato and even the Major herself. Plus, it had an ending that, at the very least, wasn't a complete drop off from the episode before. And I liked Kuze more than the Laughing Man, if only because he didn't come off like a pretentious punk to me.
My only complaint is that 2nd Gig sort of breaks off halfway through and ignores a lot of the story established in the first part of the series. By the time the story shifts definitively to Kuze, the Individual Eleven story is pretty much gone.
Also: That kid was a retard. You know the one I mean.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_SAC_2nd_GIG
That game is hardcore awesome. I picked up a used copy for ten bucks, and without a doubt, the best god damn ten bucks I've ever spent in my life.