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Title:
 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG vol 6

UK Distributor:  Manga Entertainment

BBFC Certificate:  15

Suggested Retail Price (SRP):  £19.99

Episodes:  21-23 (of 26)

Audio Options:  English & Japanese 5.1 DTS, 5.1 & 2.0

Subtitles:  English

Reviewer:  Rich (Webmaster)

 

Click here to visit the Official Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG site!

The excellent Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG reaches its penultimate volume, and things are really hotting up.

Section 9's mission to prevent the terrorist Kuze taking plutonium to the refugee stronghold of Dejima has been disastrous, and now the only thing between Kuze and his destination is a lone Section 9 agent and the Japanese Coast Guard.  Twisted agent Gohda has played the tune and everyone else has danced to it, now Section 9 have to regroup and face not only Kuze, but also Gohda, the seriously deteriorating refugee situation and sinister political machinations that have cornered Prime Minister Kayabuki.  Someone wants a war, and unless Section 9 can sort out the mess, they're going to get one.  Meanwhile, Batou is getting concerned about Major Kusanagi, she is showing signs of getting too intrigued by Kuze and it's starting to affect her decision making.  With this weighing on their mind and Gohda always one step ahead, do they stand a chance of preventing the first shot from being fired?

Things really got interesting in the last volume and they continue to be so in this one.  For once Section 9 aren't on top, and with this volume starting with the end of their costly failed mission to capture Kuze, things are worse than they've ever been.  In the past there was always a sense that there was some hidden way to save the day lying around the corner, but not this time.  Section 9 are not only losing the military battle but also the mental one, every clever scheme and action they take has been anticipated by Gohda.  In the midst of all this pressure Kusanagi is starting to get tied up in the mind games and there's the sudden problem of a terrorist bomb planted in the city of Fukuoka.  If that wasn't bad enough the bomb is nuclear, and even though it can be defused it's enough to put the county in the grip of martial law.  This volume really cranks up the tension and moreover it's hard to see a way out for our heroes.

The volume starts with a lot of action, including a superb hand-to-hand fight between Kuze and Batou.  However, from about midway though episode 21 to halfway through episode 23 dialogue really takes centre stage.  Now in my opinion it's necessary with such an intricate story to explain what's going on, and strangely these episodes never actually get boring.  But at the end of the day the fact that nearly the whole of episode 22 focuses on a conversation between Gohda and Batou, a conversation that requires quite a bit of concentration to keep up with, won't appeal to everyone.

On the other hand though, it does make you think and the action at the start and end of the volume is awesome.  You really end up drawn into the story and there is yet another great cliffhanger at the end of the volume.  As always the animation and music is great, particularly the electronica-tinged military tracks that accompany the military build around Nagasaki and Dejima.  But for me what makes this volume, and would with anything with this much dialogue, is the voice acting.  The actors really bring their roles to life in both English and Japanese, and it's great to see more minor members of Section 9 given bigger roles.  2nd GIG has done well to flesh out the likes of Saito and Borma, who were little more than extras in the first series, and it really adds a new dimension to the story. 

This volume is building up to the big conclusion, there's a lot of talk, but it's necessary.  The action is great, the story is great, the visuals are great, the music is great and the acting is great.  Yes, it will require some concentration to keep up with the plot (and anyone who says that they understand everything in it is probably fibbing), but it's a thought provoking and intelligent sci-fi series that will keep you gripped from start to finish.  Everything is building up to a superb and surprising conclusion, and you'd be hard pressed to see where it is going to go.  Great stuff!

Extras

Interviews again, director Kenji Kamiyama once again leads the way and this time he is joined by Osamu Saka, who plays Aramaki, and Yoshiko Sakakibara, who plays Prime Minister Kayabuki.  The interviews are as informative and interesting as ever, and there is a bonus collection of clips from the 'round table' creative discussions that were omitted from previous volumes.  As always the second disc carries DTS audio tracks in Japanese and English and Manga trailers.

Ratings

Feature:   Extras:
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