Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Border 2: Ghost Whispers [Blu-ray]

Part two of this prequel series continues to show the Section 9 Special Ops team come together, coalescing around Major Kusanagi. You don't technically need to watch any more of these than episode 1 and 2 to jump ahead to the rest of the Ghost In The Shell series... but why not watch them all and enjoy watching the human machine come together? Part of what makes GITS a stand-out series is the effort put into developing the inter-character relationships and motivations, so the more detail you get, the bigger and brighter the overall picture becomes. And the more enjoyable your viewing experience gets. Episode 2 contains a lot more whizzbang action that will remind you a lot of the best parts of "The Matrix". The motorbikes reminded me of "Akira". This episode has less of the thoughtful, lyrical montage interludes that punctuate much of GITS with artful mood-setting, but there's a lot of exposition to get through here. Overall, quite a satisfactory continuation, well worth a watch.

Ok I admit that I was very skeptical of the newest reboot of the franchise, so it took me up to this point to watch. So far I'm intrigued, I love that I can still identify with each of the main character's similarities of the beloved before series (SAC, Sec GiG, and SoildStateSoceity) but with a hole different"feel" to it.I would say to any true fan of any one of the Ghost and the Shell animated series, to seriously give it watch. On to Border 2.

This Blu Ray is Japanese version of US version combo 1 & 2, just Arise Border 2 only. If you own the combo, do not waste your time

I just watched Border 1 and 2 Back to Back and my only regret is that I don't speak Japanese because I kept having to look away from the animation to read the subtitles. Excellent story, feels very true to the rest of the rest of the franchise, excellent animation and a very good story. I recommend this to any GitS fans. The only thing that keeps me from rating this 5 stars is that while all of the other characters look the same they made to many changes to the way the Major looks. In the original anime she was an adult woman. In this they've almost made her into a teenager.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews about this new OVA. I've really been enjoying this series. They tie in small character quirks that people who have seen SAC or 2ndGIG will understand but still they have a completely new story line. Some of the story contradicts the story of SAC or 2ndGIG but that's not a reason to discredit the excellence of Arise. The story is compelling and so are the action scenes and the music.

Ordered thinking this was the dubbed version, audio says English and it is not. I have gone into the setting and it says English, something wrong. I ordered several of these and some are correct some are not very unhappy!

I was dubious but hopeful when I found out about this. But I found the story compelling and well told, bringing yet another original and terrifying wrinkle to the definition of what parts of ourselves really make us 'human'.

It says it is in English and it is not. I want my money back or have the Dubbed in English version.