Avalon (2001)

In a dystopian future, a top gamer seeks a mythical game level, risking her grip on reality. For sci-fi and thriller fans.

Genres: Action, Science Fiction

Cast

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Your Status

Avalon(2001)

Movie1h 47mPolishAction, Science Fiction
6.6
User Score
75%
Critic Score
IMDb
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writer: Kazunori Ito

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Overview

In a bleak future, an illegal virtual battle game becomes an all-consuming escape for many young players, with real risks for those who go too far. A top solo competitor hears rumors of a hidden, higher level and joins a small team to search for it, unsure what “winning” might cost in the real world.

Insights

Review Summary

Pros: striking sepia visuals; haunting music; thought-provoking premise | Cons: very slow pace; vague, cryptic story; repetitive game sequences

Will You Like This?

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a moody, philosophical virtual-reality story with sparse explanations and a slow build, in the vein of Ghost in the Shell or eXistenZ; Not for you if you need fast action and clear answers.

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Featured Comments/Tips

Playing Avalon in this film.

Overlooked movie, even though it's short it explains the premise and story quite well. I love how colors were used to amaze the audience. Soundtrack is amazing and should be the standard for movies in my opinion. Just don't expect "the matrix" level of quality, it's definitely worth watching.

_Avalon_ is like looking in a crystal ball but not knowing enough about the future to understand what you see. This Polish / Japanese film (and that right there could explain a lot of the movie''s vibe -- who''s ever heard of sausage sushi?) is very prescient in that it foresaw the advent of MMOs (World of Warcraft would be released 3 years after Avalon) and gaming channels (Avalon predates PewDiePie by 11 years). That makes the ambitious sci-fi / fantasy film a novelty, but the sheer scope of the film and intricate design make it a worthy watch. Still, and you won''t hear me say this often, perhaps the most alluring aspect of the film is the soundtrack. Kenji Kawai''s haunting music elevates the film to lofty levels, and the gorgeous, operatic '"Voyage to Avalon'" is on par with Gorecki''s _Sorrowful Songs Symphony No. 3_. Every time they played it in the movie, my heart stopped beating so I could listen more closely.

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Avalon Poster

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Avalon Poster

Available in 6 Countries

🇦🇹

Austria

🇮🇹

Italy

🇯🇵

Japan

🇨🇭

Switzerland

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