Okay... I'm a fan of the original film. I saw Innocence once when it first came out. And after reading about the recommended viewing order in the other GITS thread, I've started on S.A.C. Just saw this the other night and I very much like it. I think they did a good job of capturing the essence of the original while making it more accessible for mainstream audiences, while at the same time not dumbing it down too much (I know some object to dumbing it down at all, but...). I like the incorporation of things that were not part of the original film, but likely would hav ebeen had they been thought of at that point in the creative process. Same reason I liked the Therns in John Carter -- not introduced until the third book in the series, but need for something like them in what was going on in the first two is pretty much what spurred their invention, so it works well for me to have them in an adaptation of the first book. I like the choices of the filmmakers to expand the color palette of the characters to make things truly multinational, in particular Binoche's Dr. Ouelet. I see all this as expanding on the original concept, not "screwing it up".
I also really love this comment by Mamoru Oshii, upon visiting the production: "The Major is a cyborg and her physical form is an entirely assumed one. The name 'Motoko Kusanagi' and her current body are not her original name and body, so there is no basis for saying that an Asian actress must portray her. Even if her original body (presuming such a thing existed) were a Japanese one, that would still apply ... I can only sense a political motive from the people opposing it, and I believe artistic expression must be free from politics."
Whether she chose it or had it imposed on her along with her false memories, the main character had the features of a blue-eyed Caucasian in the anime and in all the original art back in the '90s. *shrug* For those who think the character should be portrayed by an Asian, take it up with Masamune Shirow.
--Jonah