I’ve been dying to see this movie ever since it first aired in Japan on September 1st of this year, and I finally got to see it thanks to the fansubbers. Even before the movie was aired, Bandai gave a warning to fansubbers stating that they would be carefully monitoring the market for the creation and/or distribution of illegal fansubs of the movie. Now, even though I saw the fansub version, I still will purchase the DVD when it comes out to the states.

Premise:
“A.D. 2034. It has been two years since Motoko Kusanagi left Section 9. Togusa is now the new leader of the team, that has considerably increased its appointed personnel. The expanded new Section 9 confronts a rash of complicated incidents, and investigations reveal that an ultra-wizard hacker named the Puppeteer is behind the entire series of events.

In the midst of all, Batou, who was stalking the case on a separate track, encounters Motoko. She goes away after saying, “Stay away from the Solid State Society.” Batou is left with a doubt in his mind. Could Motoko be the the Puppeteer?

The series of intriguing incidents that Section 9 faces gradually link together almost artistically. Who is the Puppeteer? What will happen to Batou’s relationship with Motoko? What is the full truth behind this carefully planned perfect crime? And what will the outcome be? Mysteries surround the Solid State Society…”

So how good was it? I enjoyed it alot, but I like the TV format more. But thats not to say the storyline in a movie format was bad, it was well done actually. I just prefer the TV series because it offers more time to develop back stories and twists, so you get more emotionally involved. I would recommend this movie to most of my friends.