Chin Han Waxes Philosophical About Ghost in the Shell

“What does the rapid expansion of technology mean for mankind?” It was a rhetorical question, asked by Chin Han, one of the stars of Ghost in the Shell, in theatres across North America on Friday. The question was interesting; and not just because the interviewee was the one asking the questions.

Han says the movie treads heady ground, asking not only what technology means for humankind, but also “what is human identity, and how is it linked to the physical body? Really, where is the soul?” These aren’t the types of questions one expects to be asked while watching a summer is almost here blockbuster film; but Ghost in the Shell is no ordinary blockbuster. Based on the manga of the same name, and created by Masamune Shirow, follows the exploits of section 9, a special operations team of counter terrorist specialists and former military operatives as they protect mid-21st century Japan.

The film received some negative press before even a single frame rolled, with accusations that the producers “white-washed” the source material by casting Scarlett Johansson in the lead role. When asked about this, Han deftly avoided getting caught up in the controversy, preferring instead to focus on the evolving nature of art. “I started in the theatre,” he said. “I was introduced to Shakespeare and Moliére;  great works endure. Art lends itself to adaptation, with changes natural and inevitable. All of the Ghost in the Shell adaptations are different already, so our film won’t be the last word.”

Han believes that that “the push toward diversity is a healthy conversation to have, both in front and behind the camera. I’ve gotten roles [because of my ethnicity] and I’ve lost out on roles. Regardless, my role as an actor is to be as authentic as possible and continue to push the envelope.”

Image Courtesy Marco Polo Wiki.net

One of the challenges of adapting a beloved, and long lived, property that was born more than thirty years ago is contemporizing the source material; the material that fans know, and love, without losing the soul of what made the original story great in the first place.

Some success in updating 1980’s properties has been achieved to various degrees, Transformers, GI Joe, just to name two. Will Ghost in the Shell duplicate their level of middling critical and fan acclaim? Or will it separate itself and become something more?

“The beauty of the manga,” Han said, “is that it was so prescient. We’re not that far away, a lot of it is happening now: how interconnected we are, not the cybernetic enhancements of course, but it’s hard to live without gadgets in every aspect of our lives. It’s taken this long for film technology to catch up to this vision.”

Han plays Togusa, the only fully human member of Section 9. He was recruited from the anti-terror unit of the police department, which further sets him apart as the rest of the team is drawn from military backgrounds. He approaches the world differently because he is fully human and can’t rely on the tech enhancements that his teammates can.

“He needs to be smarter, because he’s more fragile,” Han said about his character. “He is the human voice of the group,” and perhaps represents the audience in a group enhanced humans.

Ghost in the Shell promises to be an explosive thrill ride that continues a slate of massive March openings at the box office. “The 3D visual effects, the production design, and set pieces all look fantastic in 3D,” Han said, but then added, “you’ll come for the visuals, but you’ll stay for the more thoughtful and philosophical story elements.”

Like what does the rapid expansion of technology mean for the future of mankind?

———————-

Chin Han stars in Ghost in the Shell, opening in North America this Friday, March 31st, in 3D and Imax

Featured Image Courtesy Forbes.com