Avalon

_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.