Mamoru Oshii's AVALON review

Though I'm set to leave for CANNES in just over 24 Hours, there are already some Cannes films that I have already seen. How? Through magical and mysterious powers? Could be, but... the man behind this curtain doesn't tell about the performing of magic, but gives out testimonials and warnings of danger.

With AVALON, it is a testimonial. Mamoru Oshii's GHOST IN THE SHELL is my second favorite (by a hair) work of anime that I've ever seen... So when I first brought you word about his journey into creating his debut LIVE ACTION film.... Well, there was no doubt about it... I took the opportunity. After all, AICN has been tracking AVALON since its debut at the TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL back on November 9th when we first heard James Cameron's quote: "the most artistic, beautiful and stylish [film] in Science Fiction history"!

Since that moment I have fought to bring reviews and trailers and pictures, now that I've seen it... I'm completely ecstatic that I spent the energy necessary to find this film.

To start with, how accurate is Cameron's quote? Well, I still consider both BLADE RUNNER and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY to be the most in those three categories, but AVALON is a different type of film completely.

This is Science Fiction in the William Gibson style variety... The film has a very eastern and Japanese elegance to it.... a poetry to the motion and the story that is missing from the raw visceral thrills of a MATRIX.

In terms of art, it is superior to BLADE RUNNER, in terms of cool narrative... it is sluggish to most westerner thoughts. You know the problems that those that don't like GHOST IN THE SHELL had? Well, the same alleged problems are here.

The film is methodically paced, deliberately repetative and there are no answers at the end of the film, just questions. This is a film that you are supposed to carry in your mind after you see it. Discuss with friends and associates. The peeling of reality, the disappearance of self, the distancing of emotional resonance... The film questions all of this and more.

As for the cool action in the trailers... The trailers are actually quite deceptive.... there is a perception that the film is all action and violence. This is not the case. AVALON is a story about a game so popular and so addictive that people disappear into the game. They simply become more obsessed with the game than with life.... But in this future if you become good enough, not only is your habit paid for, but you can make a pretty profit playing the games for a large audience to get drunk and learn... watch... enjoy.

The effects have an elegance to them simply missing from most visual effects films. In MUMMY RETURNS, every thing is just hurled right at you.... But here.... here things move quite fast. Quite naturally, but the game continues, and she becomes intrigued by a ghost... a glitch that she has seemingly found that could lead her into an entire new level of existence. It isn't as cornball as that sounds... But I tell you what, when I saw this on the big screen, the films comes alive.... Making you want to enter into the film. To play these deadly games in fantastical settings.... even if sometimes those settings were from a period long long ago.

The decision to shoot the film in POLISH was completely dead on perfect, as a result it feels like something forbidden and opressive.

At my screening there were many left scratching their heads... but none have forgotten it. I look forward to see how the reviews from Cannes come in.