Avatar (UK 2003. 9minutes)
Directed by Nicolai Amter

What is an avatar? Simply put it’s a graphic representation of an individual in cyberspace. So already we have an inking of what might be in store for us.

Avatar follows two Virtual Reality Virus Exterminators who come up against a tricky customer infecting London’s flight control computers and jeopardising the landing of a number of planes. John (John Kay Steel) enters the virtual world to hunt the virus while his tech Jack (Anthony Renshaw) remains in the real world to direct him. John wins through and finally confronts the Avatar virus, destroying it. Then it’s beers all round to toast the success. It couldn’t be that simple, could it?

From the opening titles of this 9-minute short there is a definite sense of quality. This is again highlighted when we witness John using his VR interface, a floating multi-display which he access’s by touch from within the virtual world. For me the film faltered a little towards the end when it really should have picked up pace. The fight between John and the Avatar is a bit disjointed and slows things down.

‘Hang on a minute’ you say. ‘Kung Fu fighting in a virtual world with VR displays? Sounds a bit familiar!’ The important thing to note here is that this film was in the can before The Matrix or Minority Report came out and in actual fact has been in post-production for the last few years. And on that subject I have to say that, for a nine minute short, I’d rather have seen more time spent on the filming than on the fiddling around afterward. While the effects look great the narrative is a bit messy. Having said that the actors all do a good job and there’s a nice payoff at the end which made me grin.

Avatar is an impressive short and certainly one of the better looking ones I’ve seen. While the story isn’t necessarily the most original it works pretty well and shows that impressive effects are not just the realm of the Hollywood blockbuster.

cormac donnelly