Customer Reviews

Avalon

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Here we go again. MIRAMAX basterdizes another movie. MIRAMAX tends to buy the rights to these great movies & then changes them. I've seen the original AVALON so I can comment on what's been changed. First, the original washed out color of the film is replaced with an deep orange. This really ruins some of the original scenes.At least some colors in the original movie came out. MIRAMAX has ruined the directors vision. If you have this DVD see the extras on the cinamatography & SFX. At least there you'll see the original color that was intended by director Mamoru Oshii.The 2nd thing that's been added is the additoinal dialogue. The main chracter explains the game after her 1st victory. This has been added by MIRAMAX. And lastly at the end or character explains it all or tries to.All this was added to the movie. The directors intention is to make you guess & ponder this wonderful story. But MIRAMAX has decided for you. About the only thing I'll give them credit is the great English dub. I also enjoyed the extras. I have to give this 3 stars. If you can write a protest letter to MIRAMAX. It's so sad how a american Distributor can tamper & ruin a directors vision. I'd recommend getting a foreign version of this movie if you can.

I am writing this only to help counteract some of the idiocy in other reviews. This movie is not for everyone: no movie is. It is a beautifully shot, wonderfully sculpted, slow-paced, and thought-provoking movie. It does not hand the answers to you on a plate, and that may bother some people, particularly those lazy viewers who rely on Hollywood films to tell them what to think with no room for imagination.

It is not a rip-off of The Matrix. If anything, it's derivative of Oshii's earlier films and thought, which heavily influenced The Matrix. I also loved Ghost in the Shell for many of the same reasons that I liked Avalon. It has some of the pacing of Taste of Cherry. It allows a person to settle in, relax, and absorb all of the deliciousness of the style of the movie and to get inside Ash, the heroine.

The special features are worth seeing. The director is very clear in his interview what his thoughts and intent are in the film. This film is a piece of art, and as such it allows each person to take from it what they want. I can understand people not liking it, but it cannot be denied that this film was done with care and passion and expresses the vision of an interesting person.

There are so many movies out there that are merely eye candy, like the recent Star Wars films, that are so bad otherwise. And so many movies that rely on violence or special effects and are wholly unoriginal but satisfy the kind of viewer who laments how his girlfriend fell asleep and who calls the director, "pretentious." There are few people in the world with the creativity, passion, and artistic sense of this director.

Avalon is not the greatest movie ever made, or even in the top 100, but it is far better than most of the dreck released each week, and it is a movie that makes you think and stays with you. It is worth seeing by anyone who enjoys something a little different and has the patience and courage to use their own brain and not have a movie that's spoon-fed to them.

And then there's the wonderful basset hound.

It is unfortunate that we've been so jaded by the Hollywood version of what a film should be that we would pass up the nuances that can make an otherwise mediocre film into a great film, albeit if mainly for its cinematographic value. Some appear to have judged Avalon, and the efforts of its director (Oshii), within this context--even presuming that the film is nothing more than a bad Matrix wannabe. This is not the case, in my view.

I much prefer to be enticed by subtle details and given an opportunity to become immersed in mood than bombarded with a lot of special effects and high-flying acrobatics. This is what I found to be so refreshing about this movie.

As for providing explanations to everything, well, I don't know that that is always needed in a film in order for it to be entertaining. So is it that I find it interesting that our Western mindset cannot deal with finding deeper meanings, through our own interpretations, in most anything that we encounter. It's as if we expect to pause our brains and be entertained through mere visual stimulation. Of course, I know that this is not really what others have described. Still, this is the type of movie that I believe deserves better than what I've read in these reviews. It's funny that I say all this and it was precisely the visuals that made the film so endearing. There's nothing passe about achieving a high level of beauty in a film, and we are fortunate to have "some" directors still mindful of this growingly archaic attention to detail.

I am shocked to see the review which says that Oshiisan has copied the concept of Avalon from Matrix .The whole concept of plugging in, right down to the plug points on the neck of the characters, has been ripped off in Matrix from Oshiisans Ghost in the shell,he does not have to steal what is his,second please, Trinity is a human clone of major Kusanagi of Ghost right down to the way she fights, and the lobby shootout is clearly inspired by the
shootout in the last shootout in Ghost "bits of concrete flying everywhere" etc, and even the poses when characters land after making a leap are copied from ghost "on one knee".Avalon is for people who like Japanese Anime which over the years has inspired the likes of Matrix.And this is something the Wachowski's themselves admit.And a good movie can be in any language for one to appreciate ,I couldnt care if it was russian or polish.I think
people should refrain from tearing down something which they dont know much about.

Okay, first things first. AVALON is NOT a slam-bang shoot 'em up bullet-time orgy of destruction, so if that's what you're expecting, please skip a couple DVD's to the right and grab James Cameron's ALIENS instead. What AVALON may lack in high-testosterone thrills it more than makes up in mood, atmosphere and thought-provoking reflection which in my humble opinion makes this film (not I didn't call it a "movie") an absolute masterpiece. Don't get me wrong, I like seeing things blow up good every now and again, but AVALON doesn't strive to be a pyrotechnic wire-fu spectacle. Instead, AVALON is a successful mesh of darkly dreamlike cyberpunk aesthetic and European arthouse Noir. It's sense of style lends it an immediate and powerful legitimacy, and the ambiguous nature of the story from start to non-conclusion demands repeat viewings, none of which ever get old.

Malgorzata Foremniak is pitch perfect (and absolutely mesmerizing) as Ash, the coldly reclusive central character through who's eyes we experience a morose, near-Orwellian future where an illegal VR game called Avalon seems to be the only way to break the monotony of bleak existence, as well as rake in a modest living.

The few action sequences within the game are thrilling and imaginative, but it's the quieter moments that really grab your attention. That, coupled with the overall sense of displaced reality, is the magic of AVALON.

Much has been made of AVALON's thematic similarities to The Matrix, but it's important to remember that the Wachowski's ripped off Ghost In The Shell first, a fact which Mamoru Oshii is well aware of and puts to good use in AVALON.

Also, regarding the so-called "subtitle timing" issue following the in-game opening sequence, it's Ash's THOUGHTS that are subtitled, which is why they appear when she isn't talking. A very clever approach.

The lush orchestral score provided by Kenji Kawai (Ghost In The Shell 1 and 2) adds a further layer of respectability to AVALON, enhancing the emotions while at the same time strengthening the dreamlike nature of the narrative.

Skip the rental and make AVALON a permanent addition to your DVD library. It's as perfect as they come.

Avalon, not to be confused with a couple of unrelated though very good films with the same name, is a deeply haunting and powerful film, set in urban Poland, and directed by anime legend, director Mamoru Oshii. This is a landmark achievement in film-making, but admittedly its story and message are dated.

Avalon the film is about life centered around Avalon, a virtual reality combat game. The game parallels the MUDs and MMORPGs we know today. Sadly, one darker aspect of Avalon (addiction and the possibility of ending up comatose) reflects unfortunate realities some have faced playing MMORPGs. The central character in Avalon is Ashe, a female player of the game. Ashe is a legend in her own right, a warrior-class player and member of a legendary but fallen team, Team Wizard. She now plays Avalon Solo. After a chance encounter with a former teammate that leads to her discovery that their former team captain and friend had been "lost" while trying to reach the end of the game, Ashe becomes focused on reaching the game's highest (and most personally dangerous) levels.

Avalon is a slow paced film. Do not expect fast-paced action from start to finish. I would say that this film is even slower than the The Matrix sequals and Blade Runner. Unless you truly love cinema and are not adverse to anything other than action flicks, you will likely find this movie boring. What may stand out to viewers is the apparent connection between this film, The Matrix, and Bladerunner. The latter film influenced Avalon just as it did every feature film within the Cyperpunk subgenre. This isn't surprising. What is notable is that Avalon shares a common ancestry with The Matrix. Oshii's Ghost in the Shell served as a central influence for The Matrix. Avalon, in turn, has borrowed some of its special effects and concepts from The Matrix.

The CG work is done in a style that intentionally depicts a virtual world where things are only semi-realistic contrasting a real world that is lifeless. This is important to note as the CG used in the film might lead some viewers to erroneously compare this movie by today's CG standards. The urban Eastern European settings is perfect at depicting a miserable real-world existence, making it easy to understand why people flock in droves to the Avalon game.

Oshii, a master of anime, uses his anime roots to emphasize emotion and reveal some of Avalon's backstory through subtle details. For example, posters in the fashion of anti-drug ads line walls calling for people to stop playing Avalon. The most apparent detail will be use of color in this film. Without giving too much of the story away, the film has a constant muted half-tone color wash. Miramax's DVD release adds a heavier shade of orange over the original. This may be comfortable for some viewers. I didn't feel any eye strain myself watching this movie in the dark though. My only complaint about this movie is that, occasionally, scenes go on without advancing the plot, a typical complaint I have of Oshii's work in anime.

The extras on this DVD are worthwhile. There is a documentary discussing the story and special effects used. The picture is presented in Widescreen 1.85 format, enhanced for widescreen TVs. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in the original Polish, English, and French tracks.

Having heard numerous good things about "Avalon," from "Ghost in the Shell" director Mamoru Oshii, it has been on my essential viewing list for quite some time. With an intriguing premise and a stunning appearance, it seemed like a "can't miss" opportunity. I was so positive that it was going to be enthralling, I invited several people (who are fans of this genre) over to see it. And while we all agreed there was much to admire within the technical aspects of "Avalon"--man, were we ever glad when it ended! The pacing is so slow and the performances are so leaden, you become numb to the film's visual splendor.

Centering on an action virtual reality game called "Avalon," the picture is set in a future where gamers can take on a celebrity status. Ash (Malgorzata Foremniak) is one of those "stars." Isolated in the real world, she only comes alive in the war-torn landscape of the game. Hearing of a secret level within the game's program, she becomes increasingly obsessed with knowing more. It appears that several players who have found the entrance have mentally disappeared within the confines of the experience leaving their bodies empty shells in the real world. When one of her friends gets caught in the game, Ash decides to face her troubled past, form unlikely alliances, and pursue him into the heart of the unknown.

Adeptly combining live action with digital effects, "Avalon" does create a gorgeous environment. The scenes in the "real" world are drained of color and beautiful to look at--everything is infused in a sepia tone. The sequences within the virtual reality game are executed well with good effects. Technically, "Avalon" had the potential to be a real dazzler. The overall plot was interesting, the concept sound--it's just difficult to describe how flat the actual execution is rendered. An absolute lack of emotion, clunky dialogue, monotonous performances, and many long scenes of dragging silence really do zap any energy out of "Avalon." And it's a shame. The picture, however, did surprise with the ending--an alternate reality that's quite a shocker! But my hopes were soon dashed again as the big payoff still lacked emotional significance--and worse, it was much too literal and much too obvious.

By all means, check out "Avalon" if this type of entertainment appeals to you. Obviously, I am in the minority in my assessment of this movie. I do recognize the many noteworthy aspects of the film--but ultimately, it's the argument of style over substance. "Avalon" teases with a daring and bold world, is a challenging and methodically paced film, and then (even when you have the patience to stick with it) disappoints with an "easy" ending. A visual treat, "Avalon" ended up dulling all my other senses. About 2 1/2 stars--1 star for narrative, 4 stars for technical merit. KGHarris, 03/07.

The movie is basically in 3 parts. 1) The introduction to the game - 5 stars; 2) The setup of the mission - 3 stars; 3) The execution of the mission - 1 star.

1) Great visuals, but for a movie made after 2000 I wondered why the computer interfaces were give an 70s look and feel.

2) Didn't understand the connection between the dog disappearing and the setup of the mission. Where did it go .. how did it get out of the apartment?

3) For the final part, I got the impression that the producers ran out of ideas and money. No great visuals, just a woman walking around a city trying to find someone who is an intruder. Does she find him .. we never find out? Plus the music score from the first part is repeated and takes up a large part of the 3rd part .. nothing new here.

The subtitles were well done .. the filming and special effects good, but too many unanswered questions leave the viewer hanging at the end.

Les.

The genre is its big problem. The setting and proposition of the movie have been done so many times before that the beauty and subtlety of its work gets lost in the influence of other movies. We suppose that if a viewer were seeing this movie for the first time without ever seeing any of its ancestors it would become a lot more important to them. Sadly, because it itself is so heavily influenced, it will become merely interesting in the minds of the viewing public. And that's a shame because it's really more important than that.

WHO SHOULD WATCH:

Anyone who has watched and appreciated an animé film, particularly Ghost in a Shell, should absolutely not miss this movie. They will find it a deeply satisfying experience vindicating what they've always suspected: animé is doing some of the best and most original work and there's no reason it couldn't choose a live-action presentation if it so desired. Viewers who are interested in reality bending work like The Matrix and The Thirteenth Floor et. al. will also find a lot of satisfaction in this film. It might resonate best of all with those people who are or have been addicted to virtual gaming experiences where friends and enemies are made and personalities both assumed and real leap to the fore. On an oddly related note, people who love older mystery films in the mold of Hitchcock and To Catch a Thief may also find this film very satisfying since the pacing and characterization are very similar though with a certain Japanese minimalism.

WHO SHOULD AVOID:

The aforementioned "smash mouth" viewer who is interested in lots of action, lots of bullets, lots of marshal arts, sex, and special effects will likely be very disappointed. There is some action but its very ancillary to the movie and done so only to create the character--for it is the game that creates the character rather than their words or the settings of their homes. And don't expect the surfeit of blood and sex that came with Ghost in a Shell--it's not here. We're sort of baffled by the R-rating, actually. This movie requires that a viewer be well-versed in either gaming or science-fiction or, preferably--both. If you have no interest in these subjects then this is not a good learning experience for you. You'll be puzzled and sort of annoyed at what is really a very good movie.

READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM

Avalon, directed by Mamoru Oshii, who also directed Ghost in the Shell . . . Really beautifully done and thought provoking . . . Combined with special effects worthy of The Matrix, and boasting a great storyline that The Matrix never truly delivered. The choice of colors reminds me of both Schindler's List and .Hack//SIGN. The music score is both haunting and beautiful .If there is an antithesis to the Hollywood film industry, an antithesis that is everything a Hollywood film is often not, then this is it . . .

The new dub is quite good, though perhaps missing some of the subtleties of the original.