Ghost in the Shell - Kansu Street Alleyway - Now and Then

Unfortunately, when I arrived at this alleyway I didn't find Scarlett Johansson but instead some old guy who decided, just at that moment, to take a piss in the nearby gutter...he's obviously not a fan of my blog. I then had to wait around, like some weirdo voyeur, for him to finish his business before I could take the photo. He must have prostate problems because it took so long I thought I might just get arrested for loitering. The things I do in pursuit of this noble art form...

Anyway, this alleyway sits between Woosung Street and Temple Street and looks directly up at Temple Street and the rear of the Alhambra Building. Unfortunately, as you can see, by the time of my visit the rather striking lights of the mahjong parlour that made it into the film were in the process of being removed or renovated.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Yee Wo Street Circular Walkway Set

In the second location that isn't a location we go to the finale where Major discovers her past and takes on the HANKA spider tank. In this scene the set is based on the very unique and instantly recognisable circular walkway that straddles Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay.

The film makers created a replica of the walkway in the studio and then proceeded to blow it to kingdom come. The main set looks like a full size replica, so people watching the film might be fooled into thinking the movie was actually shot here, but sadly no. The road is a fairly major thoroughfare for cars, buses and trams and I don't think it would've been possible the close the place down for hours at a time - even during the night - without cause *ahem* "Major" disruption.

So, for now this is my last Ghost in the Shell post, but many of the locations are easy to get to so I may venture out with a my camera at some point and try to get some replica angles.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Hong Kong Island Backdrop

I'm going to finish up on Ghost in the Shell with posts that are locations but not locations. There are several occasions where the film makers used a set with HK elements within it, but were actually filmed elsewhere (I think in the case of Ghost in the Shell, the studio sets were done in New Zealand). The first is the culmination of the chase scene involving the re-programmed sanitary worker. as in the anime movie, the chase ends up on a waterlogged area with a cityscape in the background, however, look carefully and you can see several elements from the Central waterfront.

Recognisable buildings in this pastiche include CITIC Tower, the AIA central, CCB Tower, what looks like it might be the Hong Kong Club, HSBC HQ, and to the right of the actor in the lower picture is what looks like the new Central Govt Offices (with some bits added).

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery, Tsuen Wan

The go-to cemetery in HK for all your film-based funeral needs. We've seen it a bunch of times already on this blog covering a decent spread of around 50 years (so far on this blog, the earliest use was in The Peking Medallion filmed in 1967). Here is the latest use as the Major goes back to find what happened to her original body.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Quarry Bay Street, Quarry Bay

Just a quick glimpse of Oceanic Mansion/Montane Mansion in Quarry Bay. You may recall that Michael Bay filmed Transformers: Age of Extinction here back in 2014 and was attacked by one of the shop owners demanding compensation.

Trivia: that Transformers post is currently my #1 most popular on this blog. I have no idea why.

It looks like the Ghost in the Shell film makers also used one of the podiums at the back for a brief shot looking up to the sky, a very similar aspect to the one shot at Mei King Mansions earlier but without the futuristic plane flying overhead. This shot was taken from Quarry Bay Street looking east near to the start of the Mount Parker Green Trail.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Lai Tak Estate, Tai Hang

The building where Major goes to find her past is the one of the circular buildings of the Lai Tak Estate in Tai Hang. The scene starts off with Major standing on the playground at the back of the estate (with a souped-up green screen projection for the background) and then we get some interior shots of one of the buildings.

The playground at the back of the estate

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Mei King Mansion, To Kwa Wan

Following the shootout scene when the sanitation workers are manipulated into attacking Dr Ouelet (Juliet Binoche), the surviving attacker boots up his camouflage jacket and parkours his way across various obstacles to escape. It's a scene that is an almost direct copy of one from the anime film version. A couple of the brief snippets from this scene were filmed over in To Kwa Wan at a building called Mei King Mansion and the road in front called Mei Kwong Street.

The last picture shows us looking back down towards Mei King mansion from Mei Kwong Street, with major running along the roof of Mei King Mansion.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - View over Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Although you can't really see the park in this shot, this is the view looking north across Kowloon Park area. The most obvious landmark is the B.P. International House - the hotel that sits on Austin Road along the north perimeter of the park. You can still see the Scout Association symbol on the building.

In the foreground (in front of the holographic face) is the green pyramid-shaped pinnacle on the top of a building along Canton Road called The Toy House at #100 canton Road, and to its left is the Gateway Tower 1. The tall building behind the face is the development called Victoria Towers.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Here's one that is instantly recognisable despite all the CGI makeup. It's the altered, but still very identifiable, Cultural Centre on the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront. The old KCR clocktower has been replaced by a helipad I'm sure there are a few Govt officials who would welcome that to happen...

Most of the background buildings have had only minor alterations.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Tong Shui Road Pier, North Point

The pier where Major is picked up by the HANKA seciruty guards is located in North Point at the end of Tong Shui Road. The low rise building at the back is about the only thing recognisable here (other than the road) and is the Tong Shui Road Pumping Station located in Tong Shui Road Garden.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - The Centre, Central

The exterior of the HANKA HQ was the Lippo Centre, but the foyer scene was filmed at The Centre - the same place where Batman : The Dark Knight Rises was filmed a few years ago.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Lippo Centre, Central

Another place that hasn't really had much done to it during the funking up phase of the city was the Lippo Centre along Queensway. The basic elements of the building are still there in terms of shape but it's had some CGI facade upgrading. The walkway, on the other hand, has been left untouched - obviously futuristic looking enough already..

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Des Voeux Road, Central

One of the very brief street level shots that wasn't filmed in Kowloon. I'm still trying to figure out the logic of it but can only surmise they needed a wider road. Anyway, this bit was filmed in Central where Des Voeux Road meets Jubilee Street.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Maple Street, Tai Kok Tsui

The scene when Batou and Major are driving along and Major suddenly has the flashback of the small Japanese pavilion in the middle of the road was filmed at the intersection of Maple and Boundary Streets. The camera car looks as though it was driving down Tai Nan Street to get the shot because we can see the pedestrian island in the foreground.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Kansu Street, Yau Ma Tei

Another from the general area of filming, this time it's Kansu Street and an alleyway where the Section 9 members are preparing for their foray into the illegal "Enhancement" bar was filmed. Actually, it's a real alleyway and is directly opposite the continuation of Temple Street as it passes the rear of the Alhambra Building. The lights in the background are from a real Mahjong parlour, although they've been slightly embellished to look more holographic.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Woosung Street, Yau Ma Tei

Another shot taken in the Pak Hoi Street vicinity. This time it's Woosung Street at the junction with Pak Hoi St. Although the corner building has been disguised for the film, the markings on the "give way" triangle symbol on the road match the ones that are still there. At some point I will head out with my camera and take some comparison pictures, seeing as I don't live that far from here. The CGI in the third picture is obscuring the Alhambra Building at the end of the road.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - Pak Hoi St, Yau Ma Tei

At the time of filming, the local papers were reporting that there was some taking place on Pak Hoi Street in Yau Ma Tei. The local production company tried to deflect interest by announcing the shooting would take place with doubles and, although doubles were present, lots of shots were done using the main stars.

This particular butchers stall is a real one at the junction with Reclamation Street. and other than the odd stallholder and overlayed blue writing, looks pretty much as it does in real life. This is the shop where Batou buys bones for his adopted dogs.

This scene is immediately preceded by a shot taken at the junction with Shanghai Street with Pak Hoi Street leading away (to the east) behind the actors back towards the butchers stall.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - International Finance Centre, Central

The IFC pops up as the entrance to the very first building where Dr Osmond is mind-hacked by the Geisha robot. We get a quick shot of Batou and the gang running across the walkway towards the entrance from the direction of the Four Seasons Hotel.

Ghost in the Shell - Scarlett Johansson (2017) - View over Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

The next film to look at is a recent, but controversial, one. Scarlett Johansson as Major Killian in a live action retake of the original comic/anime. We've seen digital manipulation of the Hong Kong skyline before afew times on this blog, whether it's Transformers destroying well known landmarks, or new buildings being created for Largo and Push, but the HK skyline is still recognisable. In Ghost in the Shell, the film makers have taken Hong Kong as a backdrop and then added a whole new layer of futurism to make it more like the cityscape of the comic.

The controversy, of course, was the casting of Johansson in what should've been an Asian role. There are so many great female Asian actors that could have been better in this, but there you go. The HK scenes were filmed in June 2016.

Anyway, here is the first good example of how the views have been revamped to fit the futuristic depiction. It's a view looking over Tsim Sha Tsui from the east of the Kowloon peninsula and a fair amount of the buildings here are real ones, they've just been souped up with fake holograms and funky lights. The film makers even decided to leave in the construction of the new New World Centre at the far left. You can see the cranes at the top. The only building that has avoided CGI seems to be the ICC.