Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Final Fantasy_720p(480P)

source: Final Fantasy

This film has so little going for it, it's a wonder I'm even rating it. With each subsequent viewing, I am becoming more and more disillusioned with Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. It is an affront to nature. The film is supposedly based on the video game series of the same title, but in truth I can see nothing which connects the two. A common thread throughout the game series (I think there are 11 games now) is that each one takes place in a completely different world with new characters, and I can therefore see no reason, apart from marketing purposes, to even call this film Final Fantasy. I'm left cold be this movie. It has no heart whatsoever. Everything is formulaic and lifeless. To be honest, I'm actually left wondering why it was even made. Actually, no I'm not; I know exactly why it was made: it's a technology demo. Well then, way to go, Square Pictures! You managed to prove that you can create semi-convincing computer animation via motion capture that looks realistic. Remind me what the point of this was when you could just have shot it in live action anyway. Seriously, why animate something when you can get the same effect, and cheaper, by doing it in live action? I'll tell you why: because, if this were a live action film, it would be condemned as complete rubbish. Sadly, because it is completely CGI, many critics have been wowed by its impressive visuals... including Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper, who felt compelled to give it their "thumbs up". When I first reviewed Final Fantasy, I gave it 6 out of 10. In retrospect, I most certainly regret that decision. As it is, I do feel that even 4 out of 10 may be a little over-generous, but there are a few moments within the film that rescue it from the depths of having no merit whatsoever. Despite the overall pedestrian nature of the film, I will admit that Sakaguchi and his cohorts managed to create some pretty atmospheric dream sequences. A nice effect is the way that, as Aki comes more and more under the control of the virus she is infected with, her dreams become more desaturated. In many respects, Final Fantasy tries very hard to be a computer-generated Akira. Shame on them for even trying. This film doesn't even come close to Katsuhiro Ôtomo's 1987 masterpiece. Many of the same themes are present (well, you can't get much broader than "end of the world"), but none of the imagination or heart. Final Fantasy is cold and sterile, and for me it is adequate proof that if you use machines to make your movie, you'll end up with a very mechanical movie. Especially after listening to the commentaries and watching the documentary, I have become aware that this is obviously an assembly-line product, not a creative endeavor. To reiterate: Pixar can do it. They are able to use their computers as tools to project heart and emotion. In my opinion, Square Pictures cannot do it. They use their computers to hide their own incompetence. The main character, Dr. Aki Ross, is voiced by the irritating Ming-Na. She gives the most bland, lifeless reading you could possibly imagine. The other voice actors are equally disappointing, projecting their lifeless voices on to lifeless CG models. Special mention must be given to Alec Baldwin, who gives a laughably poor and clichéd performance as Captain Gray (although, admittedly, he's reading a laughably poor and clichéd script). If proving that they could do lifelike CG animation was the production team's only goal, then they have succeeded. However, that means that Final Fantasy was nothing more than an experiment: a test that was most certainly not ready to be released to the public. They should have spent more time on developing a story, finding better voice actors and actually animating something rather than motion-capturing it all. It's hardly surprising that Square Pictures folded shortly after the film was released.

I just watched "Final Fantasy" on DVD. I had been pleased seeing it in the theaters last year, but I was amazed and astounded at this new venue. I was impressed this time by how good of a movie it is truly is-- not just the groundbreaking animation. I urge everyone to revisit this movie. I predict that on DVD, at home, you will appreciate it even more, and in an entirely new light [Please note: I am an academic at a university, and don't sell DVDs, nor own any stock in anything!]. In addition to rediscovered delight, "Final Fantasy" also brought some issues with the current use of CGIs in many so-called "live" photography movies to the forefront. Quite often while viewing "Fantasy" on my wide screen TV, I totally forgot that this was a cartoon. Really. I innocently found myself "believing" the images and scenes in the same cognitive mode that I have when watching any blockbuster, CGI-laden flick. Star Wars II, "Phantom Menace" is mostly cartoon, and yet we bought into it enough to have a reasonably good time watching it once in a theater. Oddly, and no disrepect to George Lucas intended, "Fantasy" appears more real on DVD, in a strange way, than "Phantom" did. "Pearl Harbor" is another example. Say what you will about the unrealistic solitary heroism, romantic overkill, or whatever, it was a decent visual ride for the 17-1/2 hours at the theater. Oh wait, only 3 hours. Anyway-- much of "Pearl" was also cartoon, especially the battle scenes. Again, "Fantasy" was at least as real as that, and in many respects more believable. It was also artistically more on target. There are many other examples, but they all point to the amazing mastery "Final Fantasy" managed to bring to the screen.

Indeed this movie does provide us an eye for the future of film-making. What it hopes to accomplish, essentially, is putting stunt-doubles out of work. That is all I can say positive about Final Fantasy. CGI is nothing new to the movie industry. George Lucas, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, among the many, have all revolutionized the art making it part of the movie experience. Final Fantasy goes in a new direction by giving us close-up animated characters instead of real actors. Bytes instead of blood. I can give points for that but to quote a cliche, nothing beats the real thing. Yes I thought it was cool too how Aki's hair bounce as she walks and the glisten of moisture from their eyes on extreme close-ups (Japan-thang). Then you see them showing some form of emotion. I won't spoil it for you. I expect good computer animation. It's a give-away. That's what hype does to you but it doesn't make a movie enjoyable. The plot is simple enough. It's a fruitbowl of subplots from all of their successful games into one plus scenes from Starship Troopers and Aliens. If you've played the video games from Square, you realize there's nothing to rave about when it comes to a storyline and Final Fantasy: TSW adds nothing new. If you've never played the games, it's your basic sci-fi movie with the beautiful genius as the centerpiece and her ragged band of gung-ho marines (love interest included) versus lots of cool aliens for the fate of the world. The villain also plays out like a predictable and overdrawn powermonger. Yawnage material. I've seen this before. The movie was mediocre in my book. I went to the theatres and found the room near half empty. I also heard it took them over $100M to make? ROFL. Ouch. And no one cared about the script.

1. A concept known as "the uncanny valley" (look it up). (the closer to photorealism a human-like creation is, the more subconscious unease people tend to experience with it when it is not a "perfect" reproduction; i.e.: "creep factor") 2. USAmerican audiences have the attention spans of children or worse. 3. USAmerican audiences are typically negative about science fiction (because there is, admittedly, lots of crap out there that is classified as science fiction and because good science fiction requires an amount of suspension of disbelief and greater than average general knowledge). 4. Hard core fans of the game series this is "spiritually" based on were totally vicious in bashing the film as it was not directly based on the very long history and details of the game series. Check out Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (out on DVD) to see where the connections are. Advent Children is a CGI film. It doesn't take the photorealism approach, going instead for the anime look more common to the game series. It looks quite beautiful. This may be what the gamers are more likely to embrace. 5. USAmerican audiences are typically less educated or more disinterested in intellectual pursuits found in films because they are looking for a mindless escape for their movie-going experience (understandable, but it is not my personal style and story-telling is meant to be richer than mind candy escapism). This film is an incredible accomplishment. i would have preferred it to be longer and more developed but it satisfied quite well for what it is. If you can get over the 5 issues above, try this film. You may find that it needs to live in your DVD collection as it does in mine. Science Fiction fans may need to add a little more suspension of disbelief here, if they are "hard science" fiction oriented; as the title suggests, this film deals with a scientific concept of actual spiritual energy. Not my thing, but done well enough that i loved the film, none the less. Last remarks: This film is truly beautiful in its concepts and visuals. If you note the rating at the top of its IMDb page, it has aged well with audiences as it has slowly been discovered by the people who know how to appreciate its beauty. Don't let pop-culture box office movie ratings turn you off. That rating system is too quick and too shallow to mean much, especially with an intellectual science fiction title.

This movie was terrible. The plot had no depth whatsoever and the characters weren't intresting in the least. The story made no sense unless you play the video games. The animation was great besides the fact that their faces were completly expressionless. And their hair seemed to move when there was no wind, but it did look realistic.

I watched this film to see the computer animation, but even thought the animation is excellent, the plot totally turned me off. I have seen some films that have a thin covering on their new age beliefs, but this was kind of "in your face" with it. "Gia"? give me a break, that name has been around for ages. I have heard it quite often in context with the new age religion. I would rather watch a movie that at least pretends to be non partial. 1 out of 10 stars (do they have a zero;)

First of all,I would like to point out,that I haven't played any of the "Final Fantasy" games,so I don't know how much this movie follows them.On it's own however the movie is very well made and it's much,much better than a lot of other video game based films like "Street Fighter" or "Super Mario Brothers". A lot of people complain that the characters are less-then-riveting.In my opinion,that is not the case.I mean,Captain Edwards' squad members were kinda flat,but the other characters were alright.Our protagonist- Aki was very well developed.At first glance General Hein seemed like a stereotypical bad guy,but we get an explanation as to why he is taking such radical measures. Again,I don't know if the plot has anything to do with the video games,but it was,in opinion,very original and well thought-out.Some may think it's your cliché "aliens have taken over the world and the survivors must fight back with what little they have" plot,but that is not the case.The movie has both fantasy elements(the "spirits")and sci- fi elements(the technology).Sure,you have seen that in other movies,like the force in "Star Wars" and so on,but the idea they went with here is completely different. "Final Fantasy:The Spirits Within" is most famous for it's animation-and I can see why.This is the first movie to actually use CGI to create genuine looking human beings.It's still good,even by today's standards.The visuals and music work together to create some very amazing and powerful scenes,especially in the ending. "Final Fantasy:The Spirits Within" is a truly amazing movie.I strongly recommend it.