Avatar (2004 film)

This article is about the 2004 film. For other films of this name, see Avatar (disambiguation).

Avatar (Chinese: 流放化身) is a 2004 English-language Singaporean science fiction action film directed by Kuo Jian Hong and written by Christopher Hatton.^[1][2][3]

Avatar
Directed by	Kuo Jian Hong
Written by	Christopher Hatton
Produced by	Kuo Jian Hong Anthony Fu Christopher Hatton
Starring	Genevieve O'Reilly Joan Chen David Warner Wang Luoyong William Sanderson
Cinematography	Philipp Timme
Edited by	Carroll Timothy O'Meara David Flores
Music by	Jonathan Price
Production company	Cinemancer Pte Ltd.
Distributed by	Force Entertainment
Release dates	15 September 2004 (2004-09-15) (Russia) 7 March 2005 (2005-03-07) (Singapore)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	Singapore
Language	English
Budget	$3.6 million

Plot

In 2019, nearly everyone is identified by an implanted microchip and connected to the cybernet. Criminals use fake chips, known as "SIMs" (Simulated Identity iMplants). Bounty hunter Dash MacKenzie is looking for a man who bought a SIM, and uncovers a game played by corporation heads to manipulate society.

Cast

• Genevieve O'Reilly as Dash MacKenzie
• Joan Chen as Madame Ong
• David Warner as Joseph Lau
• Wang Luoyong as Officer Victor Huang
• William Sanderson as Riley
• Lim Kay Siu as Julius^[4][5]
• Kumar as Zai^[4][6]
• Richard Low as Uncle Ban^[4][5]
• Michael de Mesa as Davinder Sandhu
• Gerald Chew as Edward Chan
• T. Sasitharan as Minister
• Robin Atkin Downes
• Kate Wilson as Lt. Crowley

Production

Avatar was the first English-language film produced in Singapore.^[7][8][9] Filming took place in Singapore from April to May 2001 with the working title Avatar Exile.^[10]

Release

The film was first released on Russian television on 15 September 2004 before seeing a theatrical release in Singapore on 7 March 2005.^[11][4] Under the title Matrix Hunter, Pand Co. Ltd. issued a DVD on 7 June 2005 and, as Cyber Wars, New Line Home Entertainment released the film on region 1 DVD on 11 April 2006.

Reception

The film received generally negative reviews. Cheah Ui-Hoon of The Business Times rated the film C−.^[12] Ong Sor Fern of The Straits Times gave the film a negative review.^[13]