Ghost in the Shell 2017: Lean & Mean Edition

The theatrical cut was a bit bloated, partly because of the usual hubris of Hollywood hacks who think they can do a better job with a famous property than its creators, and perhaps partly because GiTS has a fairly complex lore. Making matters worse, the film was loaded with last minute introduction of a sub-plot that was meant to address some American identity politics ruckus around the casting of the main character.

I loved this version, and would recommend it highly. Smooth edit, allowing a good film to surface.

Magnificent, simply magnificent. This fanedit is so well done as it cuts out irrelevant scenes, cheesy 'on the nose' and exposition dialogue, and the mother subplot that all bog this movie down. By getting rid of the fat it made this movie far more of an engaging and entertaining movie, it's not a perfect movie but this edit makes it close to being one for me. The editing for me was seamless and the music particularly in the shelling sequence synchronized with Kenji Kawai's original soundtrack simply brilliant. In general high praise FairFriend knocked it out the park with this edit and this will be an easy replacement over the theatrical cut.

The beginning works better like this, it was a good idea to change it.

There’s a lot less dialogue in the edit, and the film improves because of it. It’s almost an introspective experience now, between the action scenes. Also, it does look closer to the anime version, which is a masterpiece in itself.

Motoko's mother is definitely not needed, I agree with that change. And good riddance to the “I give my consent" phrase said so many times in the original, just for the silly realization that it was not needed at all…

And, wow, what a great improvement in the Major and Oulet “injection” scene, this is the way it should have been done in the first time.

Everything else, in terms of AV quality and AV editing, seemed flawless to me.

This edit improves and replaces the original, for sure!
Thanks for this.