*Shrug* Wasn't as impressed as I was with GITS.
The story was moderately interesting, and the notion of "Kildren" (those who never grow up and only die in battle) was sort of neat, and it seemed like the filmmakers were toying with the psychology of being one of these kildren, never really felt resolved or even deep. The character's glass of selfishness and with a lemon-squeeze of crazy was more than anything - boring.
However! The one bit I thoroughly enjoyed in this movie was the silence, and I think this is Oshii's strength. There was more story told in the silence between the characters than there was in their dialogue, and this hard to do in normal acting, let alone in animation, and I think Oshii really nailed the emotion in this movie using nothing by ambient noises through what seemed like most of the film. It's the only reason why I'd re-watch this movie.
The air sequences were entertaining, but short. As an action junkie, this was severely disappointing, but in arguing for the movie, it wasn't the point. The real message of the film had to do with the kildren, and whether or not maturing should be an option for some one who never ages.
It's worth a sit down, simply because it's Oshii, but don't expect Ghost in the Shell quality.
