Customer Reviews

Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2

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4 star:		(1)
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I recently caught an exclusive showing of "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" at my local art house theater. I hadn't seen the original "Ghost in the Shell" movie. I saw the sequel after seeing the trailer for it and the incredible manga animation made me want to see it. I immediately loved "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence". I bought the dvd of the first film which I loved. To be honest I thought the animation in the sequel was even better. The film was confusing at times but I pretty understood what was happening overall. Very engaging film to watch. I especially loved the music, namely the Japanese vocal tracks which just sent chills down my spine while I watched the film. I also enjoyed the pop standards that were sung in english "River of Crystals" and especially "Follow Me" which closes out the movie. Kimiko Itoh who sings on both songs has a lovely voice. She almost reminded me of Diana Krall on "River of Crystals". "The Dollhouse I" and "II" were riveting. Just listening to the songs takes me back to the movie when Batou and his new partner were investigating the source of the murders by various cyborgs created as sexual play toys. My only issue with the cd is that it isn't released here in the stateside and I had to pay and arm and a leg for the cd but in the end, it was worth the money. The music is just as incredible as the film was.

Dark, ethereal, and evolutionary, Kenji Kawai serves up a signature aural landscape for the sequel to Ghost in the Shell (GITS). For "Innocence" he reassembles many of the elements that made his original GITS soundtrack so unique: taiko percussion, female Japanese chorus, brooding electronica, while adding two original western Jazz-oriented tracks sung in English: "River of Crystals" and "Follow Me."

With a nod to twentieth century classical music, "Follow Me" takes its motif from the second movement of Joaquin Rodrigro's "Concierto de Aranjuez" for guitar and orchestra. Usually, this sort of practice is disastrous but Kawai's arrangement and Kimiko Itoh's lush vocals make it work here.

In a departure from the original GITS soundtrack, Kawai includes several high-energy tracks which make use of percussion and electronic riffs ("Attack the Wakabayashi") along with more dark, familiar brooding tracks such as "Etorofu."

However it is on track #9, "Ballad of Puppets: The Ghost Waits in the World Beyond" that Kawai masterfully blends all his signature elements: female chorus, high energy taiko percussion, smart electronic riffs. During the movie, this track plays while Section 9 Operative Batou assaults the Gynoid Factory Ship. Kawai culminates the track by weaving in a choral theme from the original GITS Soundtrack associated with Major Motoko Kusanagi -- Batou's long lost partner. Highly recommended!

Track two of this soundtrack is what grabbed me in the movie. I've searched for the cd in the states for a long time now and finally found it online. This soundtrack rocks. The music is very dark, wondefully composed and engages you with powerful peace and momentum. Both the english and japanese soundtracks are amazing and even the cd cover is just wonderfully designed. I'm very happy to finally have this cd in my posession. Kenji Kawai just did an absolutely great job on this soundtrack.

This soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece - it successfully built upon the original eerie yet ethereal theme in the first movie, and the result is a well crafted, flawless and moving melodic evolution that matches and strengthens the theme of the second film. The 2 jazz pieces are soulful and expressive, and despite belonging to a completely different genre from the rest of the grand symphonic tracks, still perfectly reaffirm the existential philosophical themes of the movie. Who can find fault with the Dollhouse tunes? Recorded in an open air museum of paleogeology in Japan - the resonating echos are beautifully haunting. The other tracks for the 2 fight scenes (with the Yakuza and when Batou and the Major are on board the Hadaly manufacturing sheep) both feature fabulous drum beats to keep up with the intensity and energy of the battle scenes involved. My only gripe is that the lovely short tune playing in the background during the scene in Batou's apartment, showcasing the interesting whirring metallic basset hound model labelled Gabriel, is not included in this soundtrack. I was really hoping to be able to listen to that unique music box melody again. Other than this - a fabulous, all time classic of a soundtrack that you won't regret buying. And if you are actually a fan of Ghost in the Shell, you won't ever forgive yourself for not buying it.

I was as caught up in the music as I was the film. Track 5, River of Crystals is a very Blues sounding track as track 12, Follow me.

The mixiture of Japanese and English tracks (only 2) make the Cd a perfect match for the action on the screen. It so fits the brooding feel of the film - I think there could have been a better musical pair between film and music.

If you're a fan of Innocent, you really should have this Cd.

Ghost In The Shell Innocence is another Kenji Kawai masterpiece. It's exceedingly beautiful, ethereally haunting and endlessly listenable.
Like Avalon, Ghost In The Shell, Sky Crawlers and the Patlabor series this is compositional and sonic excellence of the highest order.
It perfectly the film, enhancing the over all excellence of the viewing experience.

I saw "Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2" at my local independent movie theatre a couple of years ago. What a treat that was to see an anime film on the big screen. I absolutely loved the vividly colorful film. The animation was absolutely some of the best I have ever seen. What made this film so engrossing for me was the film score by Kenji Kawai. The music. "The Ballad of the Puppets" is my favorite song with the layered vocals and thunderous percussion. Another great track is track #3 with its deep, foreboding electronic beats. I love the jazz-influenced tracks "River of Crystals" and "Follow Me". I thought they were an interesting addition to a soundtrack that is a far cry from the sensuous jazz melodies. Kimiko Itoh has a beautiful voice that could rival any American artist. When I bought "Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2" two years ago, I bought it as an import and it was not cheap but it was well worth the price I paid for it. This cd remains to be one of my favorite soundtracks in the past five years.

I love this music. It is refined to the point of being an acquired taste. Finding rare anime soundtracks like this is very hard. I am very pleased with my purchase.

If you like music that will take you to another level then this is a CD for your collection. The pride of the CD is cut number ten that is labled Parade. It is about ten minutes in length and is totally engrossing. You will love it!!