As is often the case with every new Ghost in the Shell movie or series, comparisons between Netflix's Ghost in the Sell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War and the original 1995 anime are inevitable. Despite originating from a manga, Ghost in the Shell left its mark on pop culture, especially thanks to the first animated film by Mamoru Oshii. The cultural impact of the original Ghost in the Shell (1995), however, did not stop many other films, shows, novels, and games from trying to replicate at least some of what made the first film so special.
While Ghost in the Shell (1995) only got one proper sequel, Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence (2004), the saga continued into a couple of other Ghost in the Shell continuities. One of those is the "SAC universe", in which Netflix's Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War - as the name suggests - belongs. The film, however, is not exactly an original piece of Ghost in the Shell content, but rather a recut of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 season 1.
Considering that Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War exists mainly to recap SAC_2045 season 1 for those who have already seen it or present a quicker watch for those who have not before season 2 drops, there is not much that can be asked of the Netflix anime film. The Sustainable War is one of the most interesting concepts within the Ghost in the Shell universe, but that alone is not enough to make a show or movie work. That said, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War does succeed in its mission, as it offers a good enough recap of SAC_2045. However, when compared to the show, the 2022 Netflix animated movie does leave a lot to be desired. The pacing is much faster than that of the show and yet does not quite match a movie pacing, some important moments and characters' backgrounds are left behind, and a lot of scenes are mashed together with rather abrupt transitions and the use of voiceovers. What is common to both the series and the anime, though, is that neither of them is as good as the 1995 Ghost in the Shell film.
In a way, it seems that Netflix's Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 Sustainable War tried to both emulate and deviate from the original anime. It tries to recreate some of the aesthetics and the personalities of the main Ghost in the Shell characters like Major, but at the same time, it focuses on a more action-packed approach than on discussing possible philosophical questions such as the implications of the Sustainable War happening around the world. The original Ghost in the Shell manga did lean too much into philosophical questions, granted, but the 1995 movie incorporated that element to the story in such a great way that it is now hard to dissociate it from Ghost in the Shell.
Despite some important parts of the story getting lost in the transition, especially regarding the post-humans background, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War is a good recap of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 season 1. Neither the film nor the show, however, bring anything too special to the Ghost in the Shell saga. Twenty-seven years later, the original Ghost in the Shell remains the best entry in the franchise.