Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within [Blu-ray] Reviews

• Simple Values - Spectacular Production

  
  By A1M4NJYP0WNL8Q on 2002-08-10
  'Final Fantasy' is a computer game that has gone through countless versions and editions. Taken as a whole, this mythos is probably one of the best know games in its genre. It is clear from the beginning of this film that Sony and Hironbu Sakaguchi (producer, director, and writer) were intent on topping an already brilliant history of graphic accomplishments. In a sense, 'The Spirits Within' represents a piece of history in the making. It is the first film that presents a startling approximation of life using only automation.

  The plot is simple. An asteroid falling to earth carries within it a host of phantom creatures that seem hell bent on destroying earthly life. Civilization has been reduced to living in shielded enclaves, and it is only a matter of time before the planet becomes a haunted wasteland. Aki Ross and her mentor, Dr. Sid, are working on the creation of a neutralizing 'wave' based on the eight basic phantom life forms. General Hein does not trust Dr. Sid's theories about a Gaia, or planetary spirit, and wants to use a huge orbital laser cannon to destroy the original meteor, possible destroying the earth in the process. The conflict between these points of view and their shattering effects on the planet are the meat of the film.

  Captain Gray Edwards, once Aki's lover, crystallizes this struggle between the material world of violent reaction and the spiritual world of growth and synthesis. The film plays a bit like an evolved 'Starship Troopers.' In many ways, it presents the same visual image, and deals with the same issues. The problem for the director and the viewer is to get past the magnificent graphic work to experience the abiding spiritual faith that is its meaning. Ironically, the film itself is a metaphor for the issues it expresses.

  It is almost futile to discuss the film's animation and design. They are so far above what we are used to that the required superlatives sound trite. In essence, the animation staff set out to create something that is even more real than life, and to a great extent, they have succeeded. This hyperrealism, combined with an almost ballet like feeling of choreography create a sense of moment that makes this seem far more than an action film. The overall animation is carefully balanced so as to keep the focus on the characters. Even so, this film has such a sensory effect that the viewer is tempted to forget the plot and simply observe the screen.

  The primary DVD provides the film and a whole set of commentaries (directing crew, animation and staging, composer, and production staff), plus the usual trailers, etc. In the special edition, a second disk adds an extensive 'Making of...' segment, the entire screenplay and some analysis of character, vehicle, and prop design. Technically, this is an important film, despite its simplistic plot and characters. For the first time, the definition of what is acting and what is animation is being challenged in a thought provoking fashion.
  
  

• An under-appreciated, and totally underrated movie

  
  By A1HO9J4DCQDGP9 on 2004-08-01
  One of the best computer generated films I have ever seen. Final Fantasy - the Spirits Within was a joy to watch.
  
  It was exciting, funny, poignant, exciting, romantic, joyful, future hopeful and totally mesmerising from start to finish.
  
  With great actors voicing the animated heroes, we are treated to a state of the art adventure in which earth has been decimated by alien phantoms and the only hope for the survival of the human race are eight earth bound energy-spirits that can stop what only be described as Armageddon.
  
  The exquisite Dr Aki Ross along with cynical but mostly good hearted Captain Edwards and his band of disparate marines set out to find these spirits before the megalomaniac General Hein can ruin any chance Earth has for survival.
  
  The graphics are absolutely stunning, the animated characters look so life like you find yourself doing a double take all the time. Aki Ross is especially life like and Captain Edwards positively smoulders on screen but then his character is voiced over by the sexy Alec Baldwin who can still make any red blood female go weak at the knees!
  
  The ending is superb as well as being heart breaking; no one can forget the scene when Captain Edwards lays down his life for the woman he loves and not just to save the world. Romance at its best in my opinion, animated or not!
  
  I also just love the combining of philosophy, nature, science and technology together and the musical score gets a ten out of ten too.
  
  I wish I could have seen this film on the big screen but I only got to see it when it came out on DVD.
  
  A much underrated, under appreciated film that is yet again far too intelligent for your average moronic movie goer.
  
  
  
  

• Why Final Fantasy = Fantastic Failure...

  
  By AW3FWYXS1SNUL on 2001-10-23
  In the promotional posters and commercials for this film, it's one liner was "Fantasy becomes reality on Jully 11, 2001." That's where the problems started. I personaly believe that fantasy should never be mistaken for reality and that the two should never cross over or meet. That basic principle is what has made the Final Fantasy video games (yes, all ten of them) such a tremendous succes. The video games all had different stories with different characters and different worlds, but one thing always stayed the same... the stories and setting were always pure fantasy. Magic, dragons, and wizards were common place in each new Fianl Fantasy world that came with every new game. But you see, Square (the makers of the games and the movie) assumed that in order to get the general public (or anyone who's never played a Final Fantasy game) into the theaters to see this movie that they had to ground this new story in a level of reality that all people could easily come to accept and understand. So they placed thier story on Earth. Instead of main characters runing around with tails (F.F.9) we have main characters who work for the United States Military and who live in the city of New York. Instead of characters casting lighting spells to dispose of enemys (as in almost all F.F. games) we have people firing guns, cannons, and other assorted weaponry. This angle could have worked if the story could have stayed within the boundries of it's set reality, but instead it ends up going places that it really has no right to go. The story takes a mystical if not magical approach to the human spirit, the earth on which we live, what happens after we die, and the real reason we're even alive. Square has been writing stories about these themes ever sence Final Fantasy 1 on the Nintendo Entertianment System but has never tried to place such a story right in the middle of the reality in which you and I both live and exsist. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within ended up costing Square over 150 million dollars to make. The film only made about 30 million in the U.S. and only made a little better than 25 million over seas. The technology of photo-realistic computer-generated people and settings was not enough to tempt people into the theaters to see this movie. Sure, all the Final Fantasy fans and fanatics were there opening day and opening weekend but after that it was pretty much over. People who did go to see it for the computer graphics accomplishments didn't like or couldn't understand the story and message the film was trying to communicate to the audiance. The game fans got the message because they have experianced this kind of story many times before in the many Final Fantasy video games, but no one else understood what was happening... all they could do was sit back and watch the computer-generated magic on the screen and say, "Wow." You see, I'm a Final Fantasy fanatic and have played the games for a very long time. I loved the movie. In fact, I personally think it's the greatest film achivement ever accomplished (other that Citizen Kane). That still doesn't change the fact that the movie was a failure and that it caused the end of Square's dream of becoming a major movie making studio. Square Pictures was already planing a second Final Fantasy film along with a computer-generated film about the Transformers (you remeber them... the vehicals that changed into robots to save the world), but those projects won't happen now. I suppose you could say that the world of Final Fantasy is better represented by video games than it is by movies (at least, that's what I think). In early 2002, Square will realese Final Fantasy 10 for the PlayStation 2. That will get Square back on it's feet and back to doing what it does best... creating fantastic fantasy video games. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a dream that Square had... it's sad to say that it will be the final Final Fantasy we'll ever see on the silver screen. It is a true shame because Final Fantasy is truely the greatest movie ever made. Don't beleive me? Well, I guess you'll just have to cheack it out yourself. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on this movie and I look forward to reading your thoughts about this film in this consumer review section. God bless.
  
  

• So much potential, but wasted...

  
  By A2XS3R67FT3X1B on 2001-10-10
  There have been many reviews about this movie that have ranged from excellent to shoddy, but mine will fall in the middle for a couple of reasons I will get to. I'll tell you what I found cool and what I found to be lacking. First off, I saw this movie in a digital projection theater. The colors were mind-blowing to say the least. I was constantly losing track of the story because I couldn't take my focus off the spectacular animation. The animation is so rich and textured...let's just say that you have never seen anything like it-real or fabricated. It truly is amazing. The voice casting is perfect. No slackers anywhere. The idea for the story is very innovative, not just some traditional sci-fi retread. But (and there always is a but), the actual dialogue and character development are lacking. Baldwin sometimes seems like a romantic distraction for Ming Na. Is Woods' character supposed to be a sympathetic bad guy because he talks about his family before he commits his bad deeds? Come on, I know 13-year-olds who don't fall for that. The question I was left with was: "Why invest all this money in voice talent, if you give them nothing to work with?" It's a testament to the actors that they were able to pull so much out of the dialogue considering what they had to work with. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, so I won't say anything else about it. ...I enjoyed all the characters for the most part, but I wish there was more to enjoy. I know sometimes that character development is lost because the studios want to get to the next big action event, but when people don't have anything invested in the characters, it just becomes a lot noise. It's too bad because, like I said, there was plenty of sources to draw upon.

  Bottom line: The best animation to date, but sorely lacking character and plot development.
  
  

• Absolutley amazing!

  
  By A326NKPHJHCZMP on 2001-08-28
  This was one of the best films I have seen in along time. The computer animation is breathtaking, and shows you that it can only get better. The story is a wonderful combination of eastern and western philosophies. This movie never dragged and had a great soundtrack.
  
  
• Too intelligent for most American audiences
  By A329U9CDUPKXAC on 2002-09-14
  The reason this movie bombed is because Americans generally don't know what a good movie is. Time after time I'll see a movie, which is a masterpiece, get trampled over by some brain dead teen horror or comedy (ie. The Scorpion King). The so-called fans of the 'Final Fantasy' games fail to understand that each game is completely different from the other. So what if this movie is set on earth? It's never been done before in a FF game. So what if there's nobody carrying a giant sword? Stop nit-picking and take this movie for what it is and that is a great movie with a very original plot. When's the last time you've seen a movie where aliens destroyed their own planet and crashed landed on earth and their angry spirits haunt all the life on this planet? Never. The animation is wonderful. It's never been done before in a movie and yet NO Academy Award nomination. Where is the justice????
  
  
• An underrate gem and soon-to-be seminal classic
  By on 2002-07-13
  Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is a visual masterpiece. The story is told heavily through imagery and very little by dialogue. Along with 2001: A Space Odyssey and Days of Heaven, it is visual storytelling at its best.

  The story is rich, and those who choose to peel it off layer by layer, will reach the core, the Gaia, of the movie. On its surface, it is merely a sci-fi, action flick: a story about a team of soldiers who have to prevent a deadly invasion of aliens. Peeling off this layer, it becomes a subtle story about love and friendship. In the next layer, it can be seen as a reflection on peace and violence. And in the kernel, the story is ultimately about life and death. Not since Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal has a movie stared at death like Final Fantasy. It invites the viewer to contemplate about death: How does one deal with the death of a loved one? What happens after death? Is it the end?

  The movie is a hybrid of the Eastern and Western worlds. The crew mainly consisted of Americans and Japanese whose sensibilites are seen in the product. The characters have an American look with the supressed emotions and facial expressions of the Japanese. The futuristic settings are similar to those seen in movies such as Blade Runner and Aliens, but they are combined with the nature and spirituality elements that the Japanese seem to endear. The camera work resembles the late 70's American cinematography, yet contains the composition of Anime. The score utilizes instruments and styles from both places. And the story contains the philosophies of these two cultures. However, it presents a world in which every living thing can coexist, one where, utlimately, we are all one and the same. In reality, can't we all coexist despite our differences? We derived from the Big Bang according to science, could it be that everyone is still part of a whole, and how each of us lives our life affects one another in the end?

  "Free the dream within
  The stars are crying
  A tear... a sigh
  Escapes from Heaven
  ...And worlds end.

  Breathe the dream within
  The mystifying
  ...We tremble and spin
  Suspended within...

  Look beyond
  Where hearts can see
  Dream in peace
  Trust love... believe
  ...We tremble and spin
  Suspended within...

  Free the dream within
  The voices calling
  A song... a prayer
  From deep inside you
  ...To guide you.

  Be the dream within
  The light is shining
  A flame on the wind
  Salvation begins...

  Look beyond
  Where hearts can see
  Dream in peace
  Trust love... believe
  ...We tremble and spin
  Suspended within...

  Free the dream within
  The stars are crying
  A tear... a sigh
  Escapes from Heaven
  ...And worlds end."

  --"The Dream Within," Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
  
  

• Terrific, thought-provoking film
  By on 2001-08-18
  This movie incorporates elements of mystery-solving, presents a theory of the cycle of life and death, and shows the admirable traits (self-sacrifice, teamwork) and not-so-admirable traits (hasty solutions, hatred, betrayal) of human beings struggling for survival. Your presumption of black & white, good vs. evil in the beginning is transformed over the course of the film as well.

  Too many people have been conditioned to expect nice, happy, "Disney-fied" clean endings in movies. Sorry to say this, but in real life, major events end in messy ambiguity more often than not. But what you have left is hope for the future, influenced by the memories of the people in your life. So it is with the ending of this movie, where the cycle of nature (spirits) has been restored, the immediate danger has passed, and the nurturing of new life begins inside Aki Ross and in the world. I don't feel cheated by the way this film ends; on the contrary, it renews respect and appreciation for the noble sacrifices that people make for their loved ones--and for the future.

  This state-of-the-art *animation* has been unfairly compared to the best of live action. Of course, people will always want to see live actors giving the full range of human expression. This film just opens the way for a complementary genre, by presenting fantasy situations in near-realistic ways that may be impossible to do in live action. So what if the characters appear not-quite-100%-realistic? That's not the point. It's the wonder of the imaginary world before you that counts.

  Sure, this film could be improved in any number of ways. The filmmakers are to be applauded for giving us a movie experience that invites involvement on the part of the viewer. Too many movies are of the couch-potato variety that you throw away soon after you've seen it. Discovery is ultimately more rewarding than having everything handed to you on a platter, and the film makers give plenty of visual and spoken clues in this movie.
  
  

• This movie is awesome. Way beyond awesome.
  By on 2003-05-25
  I'm going to start by getting a few things straight. First of all, those of you who came to see this movie thinking it would be like the game have got it all wrong. This isn't a video game just put on the big screen, this is a REAL MOVIE. If you were expecting a game, you'll be sadly disappointed. Now, I'm sure all you FF fans out there are scratching your heads and thinking, "Then why in the world is it called Final Fantasy?" Why? Well, because it's got the same basic elements that everyone finds in the FF games. It's got mind-blowing graphics, and a story that is out of this world. The story's a lot like anime. It asks deep questions, questions you would never think to ask yourself; it has that feeling of reality when you know that there's no way this story could be true; it gives you characters who you can really cheer for, not just a bunch of cardboard cut-outs. These are characters who stand out and seem like real people. They make you feel like you really know who they are and just what they're dealing with. When I saw this movie at Blockbuster, I didn't rent it for the game factor. I rented it because I knew that it would turn out to have the story elements FF fans thrive on: Action, adventure, mystery, romance, comic relief, morals, answers to questions, 3D characters, suspense. . . you get the picture. Aaaaaanyway, I'd better get on to reviewing the movie, although anyone who doesn't have an empty flower pot for a head should've realized by now that I really liked it(no offense intended towards any empty flowerpots). Brief summary-The setting is in 2065 AD on planet Earth. A meteor crash-landed 34 years ago, loosing a scourge of alien creatures upon humanity. These creatures, or Phantoms, suck the life force out of humans simply by touching them. The human survivors dwell in barrier cities built to keep out the aliens and are now comtemplating how to best destroy the invaders. Army commander General Hein believes the best route lies in destroying the meteor using a mega-cannon called the Zeus cannon. But, it has the oh-so-unfortunate possible side affect of destroying Earth in the process. Oops. Sorry about that. A group of scientists believe that by collecting eight unique spirits of plants and animals from around the world they can create an energy wave capable of destroying the aliens without harming the Earth. The main character, Dr. Aki Ross, is one of those scientists, and her mentor, Dr. Sid, is the founder of the group. In a struggle to save not only humanity but also herself, Aki fights both the devious general and an alien infection that threatens to kill her. Aki is aided by the valiant Deep Eyes squadron, which is led by Captain Gray Edwards, who Aki takes a liking to. This is a must see for Sci-fi fans anywhere. The graphics are . . .wow. Just wow. Sometimes they make you forget that the movie is a computer animation, and you think that there are real people being filmed. There is an incredible attention to detail as well. The storyline, as before mentioned, is fantastic. Soundtrack is pretty good as well, and all-in-all, this movie leaves you asking yourself a lot of questions while you can't help the grin that is spreading across your face from seeing such a terrific movie. The Special Edition DVD has loads of neat features including the original opening sequence, a hilarious reel of bloopers, and character files that make the characters seem all the more real. My faves have to be Aki and Neil, a member of the Deep Eyes squadron. Aki, because she's a rebel willing to risk it all, and Neil simply because he provides a sometimes much needed comic relief. Two thumbs way up for this film. I'd give it about 10 stars out of 5 if I could, but Amazon hasn't installed that little feature yet. Hope this has been helpful!
  
  
• Very underrated.
  By A29RZ88ME47XEK on 2001-10-09
  A spectacular, underrated film that gambled on the sophistication of North American audiences and lost. The story, the visuals, the music, the voice acting: it all works here. Earning special kudos are of course the CGI work and overall visual effects, which are simply mind-blowing. And if there's one tiny negative in the whole thing, it's that Ming-Na's voice acting for the lead character is the weakest in an ensemble of incredible voice actors. But that's it.

  Bottom line: this breakthrough film, giving us an incredible glimpse at an exciting future in visual arts and entertainment, belongs in your DVD collection, period.

  Thank you, Square, for the corporate courage to put major bucks on the line and offer something truly different and creative and wonderful in an industry that, disappointingly, seems to specialize in cookie-cutter, imitative filmmaking more every day.
  
  

• When will Hollywood learn?
  By AV0OBG2SS1I1R on 2002-02-24
  Enough of these terrible film addaptions, already! First Tomb Raider now this...

  "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" is my pick for the worst video game addapted for the big screen ever. Where's the Fantasy, exactly (and I quote "It is not Fantasy, it is true")? It takes place in New York, there's no use of magic at all, no guardians (or aeons, as they're now called), and none of the FF series's trademark cinematography (eg. the contrast between sunny and dark atmospheres). The characters are boring and flat, it's far too long, and it's plot is needlessly complicated. And (this is the last of my complaining, I promise) there is absolutely no comedy in it, exept for how terrible it is, and even then, it's really more of a sad thing...
  
  

• A considerable achievement
  By A34OWPDKG8Q82H on 2007-07-24
  This movie is a shape of things to come. Contrary to what the previous reviewer says, I believe the story is much more engaging then most sci-fi/action flicks out there today. And visually, it delivers 10 out of 10.
  
  This movie never claimed to be a pinnacle in story telling. It is not Clockwork Orange or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It is ment to show the future of movies. In as short a time period as 10 years, digitized actors will play a huge part in movies, even more then they are today.
  
  I'm not talking about CG robots or T-Rexes.. You'll be able to enjoy a new Marilyn Monroe or Dean Martin film released 50 years after they have passed away and you will not be able to tell the difference.
  
  Being quite sure that the bluray version will deliver all the goods %100, I give this movie 5 stars and would highly recommend it. (I'll update my review once I have it)
  
  
  
  
• If you like Japanese story lines...
  By on 2001-10-25
  I'm not going to ramble like some of the other reviewers here so let me just say this: "Mind-blowing animation" but the story failed to hold my attention. I found myself watching just to see the imagery. I've always found that the Japanese have trouble editing their stories. They seem to want to put in everything but the kitchen sink whether it contributes to the telling of the story or not. In this film one can notice it's been edited for an American audience, but still, the story is very esoteric and not very believable, I don't care how spiritual you are. What a shame. Worth a rental not a purchase.
  
  
• Best super-real of its time
  By AUTBHG6070SL4 on 2004-09-09
  Final Fantasy is a landmark achievement in comptuer graphics. When it appeared it was unique as a feature-length movie. It demonstrated natural motion, not just walking and standing, hair, fabric, explosions, rich backgrounds, and naturalistic physics in an incredible tour de force.
  
  If I must pick few nits, the animators didn't quite capture skin's subtlety. Skin interacts with light in layers, not just at the surface, and these characters tended towards a waxy look. Also, despite the characters' rich ranges of motion, a few things are conspicuous by their absence. Running, jumping more than a foot or two, fighting or embracing, and all extremes are just missing. They're too hard. Body masses change shape under muscle tension, when bouncing, and when in forceful contact - if the animators could not do these complex jobs properly, they chose not to do them at all. I respect that decision, and look forward to more complex body models in the future. Cloth, too, was a weak point. Dr. Sid's tunic, General Hein's trenchcoat, and (in the extras) Aki's skirt all have the same drape, and not a very interesting one at that. Well, cloth is hard to model, and I look forward to better cloth models, too.
  
  That's about it, though. The plot is worn, and the 'scientific' premise never quite hangs together for me. The characters tend to be one-dimensional. It's an interesting comparison to "Tokyo Godfathers." That presents realistic characters, but revels in its nonrealistic imagery.
  
  This movie is all about its imagery and technical achievement. Those are wonderful. They define the industry's state of the art as of the movie's debut, and even now, a few years later. Technology moves forward, though. A movie needs more to have lasting value, but this doesn't offer a lot more.
  
  //wiredweird
  
  
• One of the Best CG Movies Ever Comes to HD
  By A26O4ZLM3H7B3H on 2007-08-13
  It has been six years since thhis movie's release and it still stands as the benchmark for human CG animation. People hate on this movie, but I think it is a work of art, directed by a true genius (Hironobu Sakaguchi) one of the greatest game designers ever. It is sad this film bankrupted Square Pictures, but they did rise from the ashes to produce Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children so all was not lost. Besides the amazing animation, I love the story and characters, and the space sequences (especially the opening scene) are stunning in hi-def. Who knows when this movie will be topped technically, although Beowulf looks like it might give FF a run for its money.
  
  
• Most underrated movie of the NEW millennium...
  By AKTTDLLM4KOKD on 2007-09-10
  I'll keep this short. Have you ever cried because a movie you loved was hated or ignored by everyone else? And that movie was obviously a work of art that took teams of artists years to create?
  
  Well, that's how I felt when "Final Fantasy TSW" came out and died within a couple of weeks. I went to the premiere of this fine film. The theater was half-empty. I went again two weeks later, just before the movie disappeared from cineplexes. Would you believe I was THE ONLY person in the room?! When the eagle at the end soared away over the mountain range, I had to choke back angry tears. (The beautiful ending itself had caused the first upswell of tears.) Why was nobody else enjoying the show with me? And what a show it was! Great "acting" by the digitally created cast, especially the leads, restrained but believable dialogue, breath-taking visuals, and tight editing of a logical storyline that is so perfectly steamlined and simple it should never cause confusion. So why this tragedy of an empty theater after just two weeks?
  
  First, many critics panned it, complained of wooden acting and a convoluted plot. They claimed the story was unoriginal; well, what other movie does it plagiarize? Apart from the stereotyped way the marines sometimes talk, what is unoriginal here? Second, the trailer was misleading; this is a moving love story, set against the spooky, solemn backdrop of a last-ditch attempt to repel an alien invasion and restore the Earth to humanity. The love is between Aki and Gray, who ultimately must love their planet enough to sacrifice their lives to save it. There is also credible caring between Dr. Sid and Aki, and Gray and his Deep-Eyes. But the trailer presented "Final Fantasy TSW" as a kind of juiced-up videogame. A rollercoaster thrill ride, which it is at times, but the human quality of the story is paramount. It's the only reason I would have seen this movie so many times, bought TWO copies on DVD, and now proudly own TWO copies of the Blu-ray release. It's definitely worth it.
  
  Unfortunately, that will not bring back Square Pictures (closed up shop after the movie flopped) or reunite the gifted animators who brought the characters to life so memorably. I'm just doing my part to support one of my favourite movies, while thumbing my nose at certain small-minded critics and at the moviegoers who left me all alone in the theater (not that I really minded having the whole place to myself).
  
  Lovers of this movie, UNITE! (And if you haven't seen it yet, by all means DO!)
  
  
  
  
• Not what I was expecting but...
  By A169I83JL8QJGN on 2001-08-22
  I was expecting quite a bit more from this film, perhaps because I've been with the game series since it's earliest incarnations here in the US. I've seen these themes before, yes, generic, maybe, a bad movie? Not really. Look, this movie could have been a lot better. We all know it. We all have our complaints. My biggest complaint was that someone other the Uematsu composed the score for this movie. Uematsu, of course, has done the music for all ten games thus far. I rather enjoyed the story, although I could see 'inspiration' from Aliens and Starship Troopers, the dialougue fit the film, though when Aki would cry and no tears came out of her eyes I found that disturbing. The facial expressions were all dead on, but no tears? Did anyone else find this puzzling? The movie was too short and had an ending that you have to be very into anime to understand or be able to cope with. Over all the movie was enjoyable for anime fans like myself, but those who do not follow Final Fantasy as a game series, or Japanese animation may be baffled by the movie's plot, or may find the movie's story sterile and unenjoyable. More that it's plot the visual presentation has got to win some technical awards at the Academy Awards (Oscars) this year, since this is singlehandedly the most visually impressive film since The Phantom Menace, the images were so close! Imagine what it will be like when video games look this good!
  
  
• Masterful
  By A1AVG246ZJMXRD on 2001-09-20
  If you think this movie looks intersting, but you are skeptical, let me clear it up for you. Final Fantasy is one of the most thought-provoking, imaginative, beautiful and groundbreaking films EVER.

  I am glad to see that people around here are reviewing it well, but there are several comments even in positive reviews that need clearing up. There are not plot holes unless *you* don't piece together the puzzle. That is one of the many high points of the film. Much of what you see tells a story and evokes emotion. It may not be the most surprising or "Hollywood-ified" movies out there, but I grinned through the whole movie. The emotion and awe I felt was unbelievable. During the closing moments of the film an awed silence fell over everyone, it was peaceful...

  And who can forget the animation. So many people say that it looks so real that they should have used real actors - this would not work. Walt Disney was faced with the same questions when he created Snow White. CG is simply a better way of telling this tale. It is amazing to watch - you can get so much enjoyment just from watching. But do more than that - try to notice the subtle hints and hidden character developement - notice the stunning originality of Final Fantasy.

  And don't forget the features of the DVD. Two discs packed with tons of cool stuff, lke extra footage, outakes and a documentary. There is also scene by scene commentary. One of the most exciting features is that in the last scene, you can manipulate the camera and such then record and play back your new scene in the movie. Look at the description for full details - there's too much on the DVD to describe here.

  Oh! And do yourselves a favor. When you buy this movie (and you WILL!) try to experience it on a large screen with loud sound, it really helps and contributes to the "feeling". Not that it won't be great anywhere you see it!
  
  

• Why great technology does not equal great film.
  By A9PQP0WQ6BZ0E on 2001-10-20
  Being an avid film viewer, I have seen many a movie. I own 150+ plus DVD's and go to the theaters as much as possible. When I went to this highly anticipated film (at least by me and my brother), I was suprised to find it not so great (to say the least). Sure the CG is fantastic and the production values are spectacular, but does that make up for a confused cliched script and emotionally hollow voice acting? I think not. If you wish to see great CG and a great movie, watch Toy Story or The Abyss. When watching those movies in a theater or on a 8 inch black and white TV, they will still make great film.

  When reading other reviews on this site, keep in mind that the people giving 5 stars to movies like these are essentially claiming that this film is as good as other _truly deserving_ 5 star films. Is "The Spirits Within" as good of a film as Star Wars or The Matrix? Ponder this when you watch this movie.
  
  

• Though not without flaws, it's still a good film.
  By A1AR8HYZ17T5H7 on 2001-12-12
  "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" is the kind of movie that people with either love or hate. It is also considered as a testament to the idea that some films only belong on DVD and not in movie theaters. But while opinions are very mixed about this film, I really enjoyed it, despite its obvious flaws.

  The most noticable aspect of "Spirits Within" would undoubtedly be its graphics, and it's probably what this film will be remembered for. The visuals are amazing and stunning, and the characters are absolutely gorgeous, although they do sometimes move a little unnaturally. It was reported that the designers created Aki last so they could use all their experience on her, and it really shows. As Dash of TechTV said, "she's worth every megabyte."

  Speaking of characters, "Final Fantasy" game veterans might notice that some of the characters resemble characters from the games. Aki somewhat resembles Rinoa from "FFVIII", General Hein looks eerily like Seifer from "FFVIII", and the black soldier could be a double for Barret from "FFVII". But that's just me...

  The story is where the trouble starts. Many have complained that the plot is cliched, stale, and unoriginal, but that's not how I feel about it. While I must admit the story isn't terribly original, it's still an interesting story. It is a little confusing at first, especially at the end, but if you pay attention you will understand it. Some people have also complained that the movie has nothing to do with the games, but I disagree. The movie isn't based upon a particular "FF" game, but it does contain a key element: the Gaia. One of the binding links between all the "FF" games is a unifying force or power that holds the world together, and it's this element that makes sure "Spirits Within" isn't using the "FF" name as a crutch.

  The voice acting is another trouble spot. I will admit that Ming-na (Aki) sometimes faltered into a bland and forced mode of acting, as did Donald Sutherland (Doctor Sid), which made me cringe occasionally. But I will also say that James Woods gave an almost solid performance as General Heim and made him my favorite character of the movie. The rest of the voice actors were so-so, alternating between good and not-so-good. All in all, the voice-acting wasn't terrible, but they definately could've improved it. One minor note: occasionally, the voices did speak out of synch with the lips. It doesn't degrade the movie at all, but you can't help but notice it.

  To put it simply, "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" isn't for everyone. Some people love simplistic and occasionally cliched sci-fi storylines, while others loathe them and want something original. While this movie does break new ground for computer graphics, it unfortunately falls short in terms of execution. I can't reccommend it to anyone because the appeal of this movie is very difficult to pin down; you will just have to see it for yourself.
  
  

• Quatro
  By A18BD98SU49UB7 on 2001-11-03
  On release, Final Fantasy remained in the top spot for two days. On it's third day it was overtaken by Legally Blonde and The Score, placing it in third place within the box office scene. On it's 12th day, Fantasy was buried under a pile led by Jurassic Park 3 and America's Sweetheart's that were competing to rake in the cash. Also at the time in full throttle: Shrek, Tomb Raider, Scary Movie 2, Dr Doolitle 2, Cat's and Dog's, and even A.I. Soon after Planet of the Apes appeared, and Final Fantasy was no more.
  In short, Final Fantasy has become Hollywood's newest victim to bad timing.

  Many things have been said lightly, and thrown harshly at Final Fantasy: the spirit's within, but when something is done so well, there is no room for bashing. Computer Rendering has never been so breathtaking and rarely am I this pleased with how much work was put into a film, nor appreciated it more.
  The story, I must admit, does have "the" good versus evil story line that is used in most every film...including Star Wars. Here's a blow, take a look at the highest grossing and most loved films and you will see that they all have that story line. It's in our religeon's, it's in our history, it's in our movies, it's in our blood: Go figure. Also there is complaint of the dialogue between character's being to simple and "everyday". Who would of thought that people speak in simple, every day term's. Heaven forbid we say, "Will I save the Earth before it's too late? I don't know how much time I have left."
  Aki is driven by her dreams and a rapidly growing, cancer-like, phantom host that lives within her. As I do not personally believe in the religeon used in the film (i.e. Fantasy), I compared it to my own belief's and was astounded with the similarities. How refreshing to see something that has belief in itself.
  Also, another thing I liked is how (even though people complain about the rest of the film) the ending retreat's from Hollywood's simple minded closures. There is no happy ending here my friends, rather a hope for something better.
  This is the best looking dvd in my growing collection. The sound is wonderful and alive, though I would have liked a dts track. No complaint's mainly because the 5.1 digital track does everything it is supposed to. Final fantasy is flat out reference material.
  When you have your friend's or family over and have just finished your no-bake cheese cake, your going to want to whip out the old dvd remote and show off your system. (That's the way I am, I don't know about you). Usually for sound you would pop in Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, or The Matrix to show your speakers off. For picture you would get out Unbreakable, again the Matrix, or even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. No more my friend, because now you have a 2 disc'er that will do more than tickle their senses.
  As far as extra's, you can't...Can Not!...get much better. At least to date. Though Snow White is close and Ep. 1 a tie, you will be entertained by Final Fantasy's storage of fact's and fiction's. If your an average film nut like me, your knowledge will be tripled and your respect for the film maker's will be beyond word's.
  Some advice, do not check out the features before watching the film. The extra's take you nearly frame by frame in the creative process, and could spoil the fun!
  Very imaginative and extremely fine tuned film (dvd) that I and my family truly enjoyed. Don't let a victim of bad timing stay at rest. ~S.A.O.S.~
  
  

• One of the few examples of what Sci-Fi movies can be.
  By A3K0TF08U21P36 on 2002-05-23
  No comments about the plot.
  No comments about the actors.
  No comments about how "real" it looks.

  If you are the kind of person who can appreciate what this movie really has going for it...The following is for you.

  I have read, collected, re-read, loved, appreciated...and gone out to buy more Science Fiction novels than I have book shelf space to hold over the last 20+ years.
  Hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of great works of sci-fi live in my spare bedroom.

  And while I was enjoying these great written works...I grew up.
  I started to realize how things worked.

  And I realized pretty quickly that two things were going to be real stumbling blocks between the idea of taking a really good science fiction novel/story/idea/concept and ever seeing the realization of a good movie translation of said novel/story/idea/concept.

  First is being able to "show" visually all of the things, that with a written piece of work, you only have to describe it with words.

  This movie is damn good evidence that we are very soon going to be able to scratch item one off of our list of things to worry about.

  The second problem with getting a good "book" to "movie" translation hinges on the whole concept behind having to do a translation in the first place.

  Too often the process of adapting/translating a book into a movie seems to be mostly about dragging the "understandability" level of the movie down to the lowest common denominator.

  So by the time you have reworked a good written story into a movie that everyone who is apt to sleep or talk thru half of it can still understand and follow with only the slightest amount of attention wasted...you have no longer got yourself a good story.

  This movie does a pretty good job of not even realizing that as movie makers they were supposed to be doing that.
  Much like the *COUGH* good *COUGH* version of a certain Ridley Scott film; if you actually pay attention, you can follow the story. They just aren't going to bring their spoon this time.
  
  

• Snooze Alarm...
  By AZ1G82APEYM3Z on 2001-08-17
  Well, with such a good cast of voice characters, I decided to give this "cartoon" a go. Big mistake. Considering I like sci-fi, the story is the worst boring hokey pokey ever. It also reeks of religious overtones. Yuck! It's like a slow death. I found myself begging for it to end. Extremely painful. But if you want a quality cartoon, go see Toy Story and you'll have more fun.
  
  
• One of the best sci-fi movies ever made
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2001-12-05
  In what is surely to go down in history as the pinnacle of computer animation, "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" has a deep storyline and characters you end up caring about, just like in the Final Fantasy video games. But the similarities between the movie and the video games end there, the story of "The Spirits Within" revolves around a race of alien spirits called the Phantoms who have crashed on Earth and have the ability to take a person's spirit, causing the planet to become a wasteland and sending humanity on the brink of extinction. The voice acting is excellent, as is the real star of the film, the animation, with Ming-Na, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, James Woods, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Peri Gilpen, and Keith David (who was the voice of Spawn in the animated HBO Spawn series) lending their voices to some unforgetable characters. James Woods is exceptional as General Hein, a hell-bent for revenge soldier willing to go to any cost to destroy the Phantoms. The animation is undescribable, Aki (voiced by Ming-Na), and Dr. Sid (voiced by Donald Sutherland), look so real they could almost pass for real actors. The second disc features hours of extras like the Final Fantasy Thriller video that will leave you laughing your head off, and profiles on the characters and the actors who voice them. Truly a movie that should not be missed, I recommend this movie to any sci-fi or animation fan, or a fan of the video game series. This well may be the best movie of 2001.
  
  
• Very underrated
  By on 2001-12-09
  When I heard when Final Fantasy was released, I wanted to go see it; the animation looked awesome. However, hearing how bad it did at the box office and the scathing critical reviews made me reluctant to spend a lot of money on it, so I decided to wait until I could rent it. Well, after seeing it I can say that it is worth buying.

  First off, the animation IS awesome; there's none better. I never quite believed that I wasn't seeing a CGI character, but there were several occasions (mostly involving Dr. Sid) that I came very close. I also feel that, with respect to the story, the animation works because it's somewhere between that level of realism and fantasy; realistic enough to make you feel, but fantastic enough to give a surreality.

  Now, for the story. I was impressed, and very glad that the creators decided to stray from the games because if they had tried to cram a story that takes 40 hours to complete into a two hour movie, it would have been a train wreck. The mix of sci-fi and spirituality was a nice touch, and shows the film's origins in the East. And yes, a lot of the elements of the plot were clichéd, but so what? I thought that the way everything was put together worked nicely, so I don't find a problem with that. The story is a little slow going, but not overly so; there are enough action sequences to entertain the audience, if the CGI becomes boring (which won't happen), and it is easily followed it the viewer wishes to think a little. Personally, I found it refreshing to have a story that was more sympathetic with the aliens being lost souls; it may not be entirely original, but much preferred over mindless shooting over a two-hour period. The only part of the story that I found to be disappointing was the ending, which left a few things unexplained and unclear, but this may actually fit with the personality of the film by letting the viewer decide for themselves what has occurred.

  Overall, it is a very good movie with a few small flaws. The imagery is incredible and the story is well done. If you're looking for a movie that actually has a plot and you like to think, then give Final Fantasy a try.
  
  

• Stunning, Mythic Storyline Delivers in Final Fantasy Style
  By A23VGBG17K5NJ3 on 2003-04-16
  For most critics, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a technical success but little else. As these same critics have had neither the degree of exposure to the epic storylines of anime nor the Final Fantasy series of games that the indended audience did, their reaction was somewhat to be expected but entirely off the mark.

  Set in a near future on our own earth, the dystopian world of Final Fantasy is the result of an asteroid impact--but entirely unlike the scenarios of films like Armageddon or Deep Impact. Instead, said asteroid carried with it invisible alien entities called "Phantoms" whose very touch is lethal to all life.

  The last holdouts of humanity must find a way to defeat the Phantoms without sacrificing the earth itself. This is where the film likely lost most critics unfamiliar with the Gaia concept of a living earth, though most fans of the game series should be well inured to the idea. For those familiar with the plots of anime and Japanese mythic video games, the film is quite fulfilling and entertaining.

  The film's visuals are indeed stunning, featuring ultra-realistic computer animation that makes every other CG film look like poorly-drawn cartoons. The voice cast, too, is of superior caliber, from Donald Sutherland to Alec Baldwin. Steve Buschemi's acting may leave some audience members groaning--but that certainly didn't seem to affect fans of any of his other films!

  The DVD includes a number of outstanding special features, from a series of additional audio tracks that range from an isolated score and commentary by the composer to directors' and even Japanese production staff. Various proofing tests of the ultra-realistic animation are included, from a music video set to Michael Jackson's Thriller to models and wireframes. The DVD-ROM includes the screenplay and much more as well. This is one of the few DVD's that I have actually explored every single special feature--and the makers of the discs certainly don't think "menus" and "scene selection" are special features like so many DVD authors today.

  One could only ask that Nobuo Uematsu had done the score--yet Elliot Goldenthal delivers with a superb soundtrack accentuated by vocal tracks by Laura Fabian and Japanese pop group L'Arc en Ciel.

  Overall, I am exceptionally pleased by the result of this film and its DVD transfer. Give the movie a try if you enjoy Final Fantasy games, anime, or simply want to experience the most realistic computer animation ever made as a full-length picture.
  
  

• Highly Under-Appreciated
  By A3N6GAJTEOF4MO on 2008-02-13
  The Story: A female scientist known as Aki Ross engages in a race against time to gather together spirit entities which would help her defeat invading Alien spirits threatening Human existence. Along the way she is joined by the prestigious Deep Eyes squadron who's Captain is an old friend of Dr. Ross. Dr. Cid is in a struggle to convince a critical government that these spirits or Phantoms can easily be defeated by collecting these entities rather than using firepower which Cid knows is making the spirit situation worse.
  
  The Review: Since first seeing this film in 2001 I have always been a big supporter and defender of this film. The storytelling is simply superb as it introduces us one by one to each character and makes us feel sympathetic towards these characters and their fight to solve the problem that is plaguing the Earth.
  
  The animation even when compared to todays standards is truly spectacular and was evidently ahead of its time. The animation of this film is comparable to many of the cut scenes from this generation of video gaming, showing us that the level of realism achieved in this film is easily doable now and it makes me think the animators should make a new film to show us what they can achieve with todays technology.
  The suspense and drama of some scenes is something that I don't feel can be matched by a lot of todays films. For example the scene when the spirits invade a human habitat which originally protected them, the chase scenes and the general emotion is placed within you through your belief in the characters.
  
  The primary criticism that people have of this film is the slow pacing. Many American or UK movie goers wouldn't be familiar with this style as it's a very Japanese style of storytelling, traditionally known for its slow pace to allow for better character development. Over the years many Asian movies have become cult favourites amongst American and UK audiences. Movies such as Lady Vengeance and Oldboy are prime examples of how the Western audiences have begun to embrace this style of storytelling, which I believe if Final Fantasy were to be released in the Cinemas today it would gain a much better reception than it did when it was first released.
  
  The voice casting is spectacular with a truly stellar cast of names such as Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi to name but a few and they genuinely do not disappoint.
  
  A very, very good movie and a must for all those Sci-Fi, Drama and animation fans.
  
  
• Final Fantasy ... Hopefully!
  By on 2001-08-19
  This was terrible ... where do I start ... would it be with the terrible voice acting, or the stupid storyline. It has one of those "the world is gonna be destroyed" storylines. Hmmm I wonder how they could ever think of that. Its not like its been used a thousand times before. Good animation is the only thing that this movie does right.
  
  
• Why Square? Why did you have to be so stupid.
  By on 2001-09-22
  Okay this is one of the most amazing looking movies I have ever seen. It's worth watching just to watch the CG. The story is mush. And that's very surprising considering Square's penchant for spectacular stories. I will say this once. IF SQUARE USED THE CHARACTERS AND PLOT OF FINAL FANTASY 7, THEY WOULD HAVE MADE ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME. RANKING RIGHT UP THERE WITH CITIZEN KANE, THE GODFATHER, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, AND SCHINDLER'S LIST. As it stands though, it is merely an alright movie with breathtaking visuals.
  
  
• Terrific
  By on 2001-09-27
  One of the best sci-fi films ever. Just watching the animation is a wonder to behold. But it extends far above just looking nice. A great story line that never falls back on simple 'good guy vs. bad guy' setup. A wonderful balance of romance, drama, action and suspense. A must for everyone.
  
  

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