The visuals are amazing (they resemble Lars von Trier's "The Element of Crime"), the effects are seamlessly integrated and the production design is top notch. And I loved the music too. But please don't think I liked the movie - I was terribly disappointed. I admire "Ghost in the Shell" as much as the next guy, but here, director Oshii screwed up. It is a perfect example of style over substance because the substance is not existent. No, it's not "eXistenZ", no it's not "The Matrix". Virtual reality doesn't guarantee a good or clever movie if there's no story. "Avalon" has no story. It tries to lure the viewer to believe that there is one by adding fake symbolism, orchestral music and great imagery, but no, there is no story! There's only techno talk. I don't understand Polish so perhaps the translator was incompetent - but this dialogue is no better than "Battlefield Earth"'s. Just because it's foreign doesn't make it good! And it's not just the dialogue. Check out that opera: The text is ridiculous!!! "Heroes, mist, fruit gardens"? Yeah right!
And how Oshii uses the opera is the funniest thing in the movie: The film creeps along for the first 30 minutes. Aki walks, Aki eats, Aki walks, Aki feeds the dog, Aki walks. Ok, boring. But then, Oshii REPEATS all this when the opera is first heard. You'd expect a flashback to emphasize something important, something interesting. But no: walking, eating, feeding all over again. Perhaps it's a Zen-thing.
I wanted to love this movie, but visuals and effects aside, it left me bored. I cannot understand how some people defend everything that comes from outside Hollywood just because it's different. Yes, this is different from your average Hollywood-fare - but that doesn't make it better.
Rating: 4/10
And how Oshii uses the opera is the funniest thing in the movie: The film creeps along for the first 30 minutes. Aki walks, Aki eats, Aki walks, Aki feeds the dog, Aki walks. Ok, boring. But then, Oshii REPEATS all this when the opera is first heard. You'd expect a flashback to emphasize something important, something interesting. But no: walking, eating, feeding all over again. Perhaps it's a Zen-thing.
I wanted to love this movie, but visuals and effects aside, it left me bored. I cannot understand how some people defend everything that comes from outside Hollywood just because it's different. Yes, this is different from your average Hollywood-fare - but that doesn't make it better.
Rating: 4/10