It’s been a while since I watched Avalon end to end. The Miramax disc is a very clean transfer, with no cuts that I noticed. There are more details about this disc on the DVD page, but the most significant thing is that this is the first English dub of the movie. It’s not certain whether any of Neil Gaiman’s work made it into the dialogue – in an item on his site he says that he was working on improving the subtitles on the Polish language version rather than an English dub. Lip sync is generally very well done, with minimal changes to the dialogue as it appears in the subtitles on other DVD editions. There are a number of additional voice-overs by Ash which put a slightly different slant on the film – the text of those follows.
One change that was noticable is that the Arthurian references have been toned down. There’s no subtitling of the books that Ash buys, although one of them does have some English in its title. The lyrics for the climactic orchestral piece are not subtitled. Most telling of all is that the conversation where Ash is about to enter Avalon to meet the fake Nine Sisters is changed completely. On other discs it dwells on the legend of Odin, introducing the ring and the ‘crown of oblivion’. This is replaced on this disc with a more general conversation about the dangers of being solo and pursuing Class SA. ‘Seek and ye shall’ find is still mentioned. Although I’m highlighting details here, it shouldn’t be forgotten that as a whole this is a pretty good job of and English dub, and does stand on its own – although some things, like the appearance of the ring on Ash’s finger – never get explained.
Since the voiceover is unique to this edition, I’m including it in full here:-
1. 5:52 As Ash arrives in the battlefield: I am called Ash. I have been playing Avalon for a long time… I know this game as well as anyone, but I couldn’t tell you when or how it got started or who controls it… or how it’s supposed to end
2. 6:33 After the first battle: Some people think it has no end; you could play for ever and never see the last level. It seems pointless – a game without a goal – but there is a goal; to go beyond the game – to something more
3. 12:42 Walking away from the room towards reception at the terminal: It’s no wonder they encourage us to team up. A team is easier to keep track of than a solo player. Solos make them nervous. One of them could get lost in the grid or wander off behind a firewall somewhere and mess up the system. The point is I’ve been there, with Team Wizard, and how could you join any other team once you’ve been on the best that’s ever played the game
4. 14:20 Walking up the stairs towards the tram stop: Team Wizard… Murphy, Stunner and the rest. We were unbeatable. As it turned out that was our downfall. We’d gotten so tough, so invincible, that all it took was one failure to tear the team apart. Just one player panicing and calling Reset happens to other teams all the time, but for Wizard that was the end
5. 15:22 On the tram going home: No more teams for me. I prefer playing Solo. I do miss Murphy though…
6. 17:50 At home, right after checking for email: Real life… is that what it is? I suppose there must have been a time when this seemed more real to me than the game
7. 1:39:46 As Ash walks to confront the Ghost in the auditorium: Murphy was wrong about a lot of things, but there is one thing he may have been right about. Reality is what we choose to believe. As for who controls the game… I choose to believe it’s me
So… for the most part the voiceovers contribute to the story, providing exposition that’s there in the subtitles but takes more putting together or comes later in the film. The one exception is the last voiceover, which firmly takes the option that Ash is about to shoot the Ghost and end the level having convinced herself she is not in reality. While that can be debated, the dub script, including the voiceovers, have been done by people who do understand the film – which is something to be respected.