Couldn't care for the characters
All the characters were horrid caricatures. After a while I felt like mocking them, they were such directorial mishaps.
The dog was cute, though.
I agree, the characters were boring as hell, the film too. I can't believe it's rated 6.7 out of 6000 votes, I think it should be well below 5. It was slow-paced, pointless, the acting and directing could hardly be blander. And the ending sums it up well: Oshii spent ten minutes shooting the Philharmonic orchestra performing Avalon, he just didn't have anything better to do.
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Last watched: http://imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=7838626
Well said.
And the orchestra is just a small part of the numerous minutes that were spend on needless screentime. The story and its message are small, and a mere stack-up of clichés, but without the honesty to admit it; thus lengthening every detail while this only adds to boredom and emptiness, which they try to cover up with a dull and repetetive soundtrack.
They didn't even get the action right. It was not outdated, it was flawed. No suspense, a lot of the action looked silly, especially the standoff at the end.
I like cyberpunk, 80's b-movies, intriguing concepts whether they are original or stolen. But I did not like this movie, not at all.
I met Oshii in Kyoto a couple of years ago. He is a very interesting and talented artist. Many of the issues you are all bringing up are indeed problems ... for a Hollywood film. Oshii makes films for himself, about what interests him. It's a common attribute for Japanese film makers. He filmed Avalon the way he did because that's what the canvas needed, for him. It wasn't done without skill or artistry, but it wasn't done with a particular aesthetic sensibility either. I enjoyed this film on repeated viewings because, it's conceptually and visually/tonally engaging, and because it interests me to wonder about Oshii's various artistic choices.
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