Ghost's thoughtful, adult nature has generated unprecedented attention from the mainstream press, but overall, the stunning visuals are far more interesting than the plot details. Ghost follows in the footsteps of the all-time anime classic Akira with its towering, expansive urban landscapes, evocative soundtrack, fluid sense of motion and staccato pacing. The rich colors and amazing artistic detail are spectacular, and the entire movie begs for a large-screen viewing.

By contrast, the storyline is dry and slightly choppy. The direction is excellent, combining intense action and chase sequences with languid, wordless images of Kusanagi's synthetic "birth" and her subsequent attempts to return to the artificial "womb." But the actual plot is occasionally hard to follow, and sometimes hard to believe, as Kusanagi and company stagger through seemingly unconnected battles and rushed revelations.

The anime version of Ghost does prove much easier to follow than the original 400-page graphic novel by renowned manga artist Masamune Shirow (Appleseed, Dominion). Still, the highly-abridged 82-minute video adaptation leaves a few things to be desired. The new ending in particular is abrupt enough to give viewers whiplash.

Ghost in the Shell is a must-see for anime fans, but it's also unquestionably the product of intensely dedicated marketing that overshadows the film itself. As beautiful as Ghost is, audiences may be disappointed if they get caught up too thoroughly in the hype.