By: Michael Yagi
Review of 'Avalon'
Genre: Science Fiction
Director: Mamoru O****i
Year: 2001
Virtually living out a video game would be the next logical leap in
the evolution of gaming. Avalon plays out this dream in a picture that
is visually haunting. The general tone of the movie plays out in sepia
color and a mix of anime-like cg effects. The atmosphere and
cinematography are a force to be reckoned with and hugely imaginative.
It's not an action movie, there is no character development and just
like most people who are addicted to videogames, emotionally detached.
The story centers around the main character Ash, who lives for the
game. The game itself is called Avalon and is a virtual war game. Ash
is one of Avalon's top solo gamers. Previously, she was playing within
a team of skilled players, calling themselves "Team Wizard". After one
failed mission, the team disbands and each disappears into their own
world. As Ash progresses her game and experience, she soon overhears
the existence of a 'Ghost' that can take you to level 'Class Real'.
When you die in this level, you are left in a comatose state in real
life. The story then plays out from there and ends without any real
closure. The characters in the movie have nothing in their lives
except the game, everything else has no meaning, but the story doesn't
attempt to explain origins. The storytelling was absolute rubbish, but
the picture is nothing like I've seen before.
One thing that annoyed me concerning the direction of the story, was
that the camera tends to get stuck and fixated on uninteresting
pointless facial expressions, like staring o_o and other mundane
everyday stares and glances. It was beautiful, but unmoving. Another
thing was that the story was neither cyber punk drama nor action and
lacked anything deeper than the prettiness of what we saw on
screen. Mamoru O****i's last film, the 1996 anime Ghost in the Shell
was astounding. Avalon is brilliant but feels like an exercise of
camera technique. If director Mamoru O****i produces another movie,
I'll definitely be there. I hope next time around he'll have more
depth and emotion without losing his camera talents.
The verdict:
4.8/8- Amazing cinematography + Complete lack of depth in story and
character = Boring art
(c) 2004 Eight Trees CineMANIA
http://www3.sympatico.ca/myagi/index.htm
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X-RT-RatingText: 4.8/8
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