Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence(イノセンス)

Los Angeles Times by

The dark sequel offers gorgeous images, with an updated and stylish design, but its characters' angst gets in the way of storytelling.

L.A. Weekly by David Chute

This sophomoric stuff is pure self-indulgence, a drone to accompany the admittedly eye-popping sound-and-light show. Oshii looks like yet another director who has gone off the deep end, believing too absolutely his own good reviews.

Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt

Ingeniously crafted with flashes of intelligence, if not very memorable.

Variety by Derek Elley

Talky, repetitive and largely covering the same ground with no new thoughts, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is a major let-down.

Film Threat by Eric Campos

Unfortunately, the outcome here is so over-the-top that it’s going to wind up alienating most everyone that sees it.

Village Voice by J. Hoberman

You can call me fanboy, but this is the best anime I've ever seen.

The Hollywood Reporter by Kirk Honeycutt

A downbeat story line layered with philosophical discourses will restrict the audience to fans of the animated genre.

Entertainment Weekly by Lisa Schwarzbaum

The title Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is a brain banger. But as sci-fi nomenclature goes, it's easy to read--no twistier, certainly, than "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."

Dallas Observer by Luke Y. Thompson

There's a lot of imagination at work here; too bad just a little bit of it couldn't have been channeled into the creation of a better narrative.

The A.V. Club by Tasha Robinson

At times, Innocence feels like a clip show of Oshii projects past. But the effect proves more dulling than warmly familiar.