Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | | Cast : | Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi | | Director : | Hironobu Sakaguchi, Moto Sakakibara | | Studio : | Columbia Tri-Star | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | July 11, 2001 | | DVD Released Date : | October 23, 2001 | | Language : | French (Dubbed), English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 29, 2005 | | Summary | I See Dead Planets... | Content
 | This film is an immeasurably stunning technical achievement. Unfortunately, it's sense of story cannot be salvaged no matter how many hair follicles can individually be seen blowing in the wind. So, most people stayed away. If you can't stay away any longer, here are some thoughts...
FINAL FANTASY is somehow based on a video game series, but the film carries more exposition and character thrust then any game structured around combat and spell casting. But, that might have helped! The storyline follows a beautiful scientist in search of spirits that will help provide a cure. That antidote can save the planet Earth from the phantoms that indiscriminately truncate the human race. But, a bad guy earthling gets his ego caught in the door and his actions expedite the planets potential destruction...
Don't worry if you can't follow it, this film is about the computer generated reality and can excite you with its possibilities. What will soon be accomplished using computer-generated filmmaking if this is what today's film can look like...
The DVD has a great video transfer, allowing for the heroines skin imperfections to be visible in close-up and the musical score by Elliot Goldenthal is well transferred. The disc also offers audio commentaries that I could not get through.
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| Rating | | | Date | June 21, 2005 | | Summary | Like Watching Computer-Animated Paint Dry | Content
| I know absolutely nothing about the games of which this movie is based off of, and maybe that's why I dislike it so much, but I'm betting not. I've seen numerous movies based off of games I have never played and I have either liked them or at least understood them. I rented this movie with an open mind and I was hoping the phenomenal special effects and animation would sustain my interest. Sadly, they did not.
When you base a movie off of a video game or anything that has a core audience, you want to stay true to the source, which apparently this did (I wouldn't know), but you also have to create a story that will appeal to those unfamiliar with the original material. This is where this fails miserably. While the animation is utterly spectacular and creates almost life-like human characters, the actual story and character development and overall enjoyment is suspiciously missing.
If you're someone who knows nothing of these games and are looking for a sci-fi spectacle, look elsewhere. This is not a movie that you will enjoy if you haven't played the games. For those unfamiliar, this is overly long and excruciatingly boring. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 17, 2005 | | Summary | who me, couldn't be, not possibly, yeah it's me | Content
| i bought the two disc one because first off it's a final fantasy and second i wanted to see more than just the movie. well i did love it and all it's just, it made no sense. this should have been a sequel. characters come from random places and the story line is like you already know it, i mean come on. it is very beautifully designed and has great voice overs and other things are very cool about it too, it's just, they should have explained things a little more in the movie than in the second disc. even though that's said, i'd still recommend people to watch it. this is a fantabulous movie with great actors and locations. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 10, 2005 | | Summary | Still impressive after all these years | Content
| I watched this movie again after several years, and still found it delightful, even awesome, despite animation having moved on as far as the recent The Incredibles.
The plot is surprisingly intricate at the character and emotional level, as well as the sci-fi level.
The heroes need to save the world, and seek to do so non-violently through "science" that identifies "spirits" and gaia. In contrast, the villain, consumed by hate, can only focus on violence.
The story is sombre (given the subject matter, of earth at risk of destruction), yet never depressing--you would call this serious sci-fi.
There is probably less than 3% of scenes or dialogue that you won't like, which is a very good result compared to most movies.
Some of the sci-fi aspects aren't entirely logical (but then neither is Star Wars), but if you can avoid letting that bother you, you'll be able to enjoy the overall feeling better.
Still today, the artistic and technical achievements of this film are a joy to watch. You keep staring in amazement at the main characters, impressed at how "human" (lifelike) they are.
This film didn't do well at the box office, so there may not be another like it for quite some time. Perhaps it was too complex, too different, too "fantastic" (some non-logical aspects), or too Japanese for the mass market that would prefer to see Hollywood blockbusters. None of that bothered me. I liked it then, and still do now. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 08, 2005 | | Summary | It Rocks! | Content
| I really liked this movie. Of course it could be better if there was some familiar characters in it but nothing's perfect. the graphics are really good and it is an interesting storyline. I advise you to watch this movie.
By Holly Hudson
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