Avalon
2001, Bandai Visual et al
This curious little Japanese/Polish production is intriguing. Set in the near future, it tells a somewhat derivative tale of players immersed in an illegal virtual reality game. The effects are different and highly creative, and the visual style is striking. Also, the filmmakers got lucky when they chose to produce it in Poland: the Polish military was more than happy to lend a hand, providing tanks and personnel for an authentic vibe they'd likely not have gotten otherwise—and at virtually no cost to boot. While some aspects definitely mimic The Matrix, it has unique touches that can be seen in more recent films, such as The Avengers and Ready Player One. Although genuinely interesting at times, it is unfortunately uneven and challenging to follow—one spends entirely too much time waiting for something to happen that moves the story forward. It may not be to everyone's taste, but it's well worth a look for those who seek out non-mainstream works. Plus it has a great score by Kenji Kawai (Ghost In the Shell 1995 anime).
DKS 12/17/17
Rev 4/5/22
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
