Ghost in the Shell, based on a long-running Japanese comic book, tells the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi (Scarlett Johansson), a state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind, cutting-edge, overly hyphenated cyborg assassin.

In the film version, the character is called merely The Major because producers thought American audiences might be confused if Scarlett Johansson played a character with such an unquestionably Japanese name as Motoko Kusanagi.

They did briefly consider changing it to Myrtle Krebsbach.

“Ghost in the Shell” has been described in a Paramount Pictures press release as an “internationally acclaimed sci-fi property” and nothing stirs excitement in the true movie aficionado quite like the word “property.”

In the film, the Major leads a cybercrime task force called Section 9 against hackers, cyber-spies and those Facebook friends who say they have a big announcement to make on Facebook Live and then try to sell you bogus dietary supplements.

The Major is hot on the trail of a ruthless criminal kingpin who calls himself The Puppet Master, even though this was also the nickname of Shari Lewis.

At regular intervals, the Major’s body is replaced with a newer, more limber and more vigorous body, just as her husbands are regularly replaced with a newer, more limber and more vigorous husbands.

The Major can choose any body she wants but she repeatedly chooses the Scarlett Johansson model. Asked to explain why, she replies that the Scarlett Johansson model suits her needs. Also, the Kevin James model looks really disturbing in the spandex.

The Major’s form-fitting thermoptic suit is based on the original one worn by Slim Goodbody.

The film has stirred some controversy for casting Caucasian actors in what originally were Japanese roles.

Paramount has countered that they’re just copying the strategy for success followed by such Anglicized hits as “Dragonball: Evolution,” “Speed Racer,” and “The Conqueror,” starring John Wayne as Genghis Kahn.

The original comic book came out 28 years ago and Paramount believes the story is as durable as other things that were popular in 1989: things like Andrew Dice Clay, Richard Marx and “The Slater Dance.”

Ghost in the Shell opens today.