Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
In a future world, young people are increasingly becoming addicted to an illegal (and potentially deadly) battle simulation game called Avalon. When Ash, a star player, hears of rumors that a more advanced level of the game exists somewhere, she gives up her loner ways and joins a gang of explorers. Even if she finds the gateway to the next level, will she ever be able to come back to reality?
Mamoru Oshii's live-action Polish-shot cyberpunk film is visually extraordinary — its desaturated sepia palette punctuated by bursts of color is genuinely distinctive and haunting. The cinematography (Grzegorz Kędzia) is a true standout, earning a 4. Novelty is high: this is an unmistakably singular work blending anime sensibility, European art-house pacing, and video-game mythology in a way no other film quite replicates. The plot is intriguing in concept but deliberately elliptical to the point of frustration, landing above average but not exceptional. Acting is functional at best — the sparse, affectless performances suit the tone intentionally but limit emotional engagement. The ending offers a striking image and thematic resonance but leaves too much unresolved even for its ambiguous aims.