Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

[rclark1114]

Is it even worth a rental?

[AdamComic2]

For sure.

[shnikey]

I think so. It was very impressive animation (although over shadowed by some movies that followed, Nemo), and I liked the story.

-Shnikey

[Monterey Jack]

It's worth a rental only just to admire it's technically polished animation, but you may as well just keep the Elliot Goldenthal isolated score track running, and avoid the film's horribly flat vocal characterizations and groan-inducing war movie cliches.

Aki is hot, though.

[videoworx]

It's a great science fiction movie, with some fantastic animation. It's not a kids film (which turned off many soccer-moms who took their kids to see it, thinking it was toy story 8, simply because it was computer animated). It does require you to suspend whatever beliefs you have in life, death, and all that - but if you're a fan of anime, then you'll be ready for it. Lastly, it has nothing to do with the games...

[optimalautobot]

i didnt really like the movie at all.

ultimately, it didnt matter how great the animation was, i was pretty bored by the story.

[Sycowulf]

I think me and my friend who went to see it opening day are the only people in the damn world who loved this movie... That being said I own the 2disc of this, and would not ever think of trading it for anything. It really doesnt have a whole lot in common with final fantasy (besides for the gaia theme and things like that) but I think it stands on its own as being a damn cool sci fi movie.

Just my two cents though

[reapersaurus]

I thought it was different, and it took me a while to warm to its ethereal, spiritual approach to sci-fi, but I've come to respect the film.

[C Roberts]

I liked it and own the 2-disc set. It has top notch animation that nobody has done better than yet (except Flight of the Osiris which was the same people). Yeah it didn't have the best characterizations, but its not the first movie guilty of that. I've certainly seen the same or worse elsewhere (i.e. half the marines in Aliens, every character in Star Wars Episode I, etc.)

[orf]

As long as you mute it, it's worth a rental.
You could always buy it from me for like $5 if you want!

[BubbleGumUK]

While the movie's story was cack, the animation was frankly astounding in parts.

Some of it didn't work, but every now and then there were the most amazing things on screen. Definitely worth a rental, and try and get the 2-disc, as the extras are quite good if you like the technical side of things.

Still amoung the most realistic CG put on screen, but they can't seem to do those foreheads right yet (see also Polar Express).

Mind you - Aki is hot - but not really in the movie.

[3klipse]

Originally Posted by Sycowulf

I think me and my friend who went to see it opening day are the only people in the damn world who loved this movie... That being said I own the 2disc of this, and would not ever think of trading it for anything. It really doesnt have a whole lot in common with final fantasy (besides for the gaia theme and things like that) but I think it stands on its own as being a damn cool sci fi movie.

Just my two cents though

You're not alone. I loved the movie too. The 2-Disc DVD is one of my favorite in my entire collection.

[Velvet G]

I loved it too and I'm glad I bought it. I thought the movie had some amazing visuals and sound effects and the easter eggs, especially thriller, were funny as hell.

I think people are very hard on this movie but I have the two disc and love demoing it for people when they come by.

[limacharliewhiskey]

I loved the animation style in it, but did find the story to be odd and perplexing. If you're a fan of CGI animation, it's definitely worth a rental. If not, then stick to live action movies.

[incubus0]

Loved the flick, watched it about 7 or 8 times now.

I'm not really sure what is so perplexing about the story, if you like anime type stuff then this should be really easy to follow.

Animation was great.
Voice acting was great.
Story was great.

Yes, it was slow compared to some Sci-Fi flicks, but it's very anime-like, so if you could stick with Akira or Spirited Away, then this should be right up your alley.

And, yes, it has absolutely nothing to do with the games.

As far as suspending any personal beliefs you have in religion or whatever, yes you probably will, but you probably would for any anime flick so there really isn't any difference here.

Plus the DTS sound and picture quality is B-E-A-UTIFUL!

[Sycowulf]

Originally Posted by incubus0

Loved the flick, watched it about 7 or 8 times now.

I'm not really sure what is so perplexing about the story, if you like anime type stuff then this should be really easy to follow.

Animation was great.
Voice acting was great.
Story was great.

Yes, it was slow compared to some Sci-Fi flicks, but it's very anime-like, so if you could stick with Akira or Spirited Away, then this should be right up your alley.

And, yes, it has absolutely nothing to do with the games.

As far as suspending any personal beliefs you have in religion or whatever, yes you probably will, but you probably would for any anime flick so there really isn't any difference here.

Plus the DTS sound and picture quality is B-E-A-UTIFUL!

Perfectly said.

[smurdleman2000]

I enjoyed the animation and the story so much that i'm willing to forgive the fact that it DID have some pretty bland voice acting (and that consisted of dull "boilerplate" material half the time. The other half of it was fine.)

It's very close to being an completely original work, plotwise. That alone merits a viewing.

I just wish the actors had been given better direction in their voice acting.

[rclark1114]

I watched the movie and it was fairly enjoyable. The animation and sound were outstanding. I didn't see a dts track. The story wasn't hard to follow but it was a little boring. Overall a descent movie but not worth a "backup".

[incubus0]

Originally Posted by rclark1114

...I didn't see a dts track...

Sorry, my bad, must have been thinking about Titan A.E. There is no DTS track on Final Fantasy, the sound is still very good though.

[SephirothClone]

It's a rental overall.

If you like anime- oui.
If you like computer animation- oui.
If you like Aki Ross- oui.
If you like the Final Fantasy games- non.
If you like strong dialogue and characterization- non.
If you like tits and hardcore sex- non.

You decide.

[MJZ]

I enjoyed this when I saw it at the cinema and eventually bought the (UK) DVD when it I saw it in an offer this year.

I have watched it once since and liked it just as much as the first time, I liked the story and the action sequences, and it is visually impressive.

The extras are good too and some are quite humourous.

If you're not sure about the film it's at least worth renting IMO.

[C Roberts]

I just want to add that I liked this movie a lot better the second time I saw it when I knew what to expect. Some movies are like that for me.

[Scourge]

This is a horrible movie.

[panhead4life]

fuck yea it's worth a rental, very good movie, especially on my big ass HDTV

[Phreak]

Originally Posted by SephirothClone

It's a rental overall.

If you like anime- oui.
If you like computer animation- oui.
If you like Aki Ross- oui.
If you like the Final Fantasy games- non.
If you like strong dialogue and characterization- non.
If you like tits and hardcore sex- non.

You decide.

Seriously, who doesn't like tits and hardcore sex?

[Damitol]

When someone says a movie sucks or is a piece of shit, I really wish they would give examples of similar films they really like so we have a point of reference.

I never played the Final Fantasy games and have only had a minor interest in anime (Cowboy Bebop), so the amazing animation is what initially caught my interest with this one. There are some shortcomings (as with any movie), but the good stuff far outweighs it. A little editing may have tightened up the story, and yes there are some questionable vocal acting/dialog decisions here and there, but overall its a solid movie that I really enjoyed. Plus as others have said, the animation is unbelievably gorgeous.

It alternates between a western "blow shit up" side and an eastern "respect the earth spirit" philosophy, and I'm guessing that is where most hard core "blow shit up" fans got lost ("The chick is hot and monsters are wicked awesome, but then they start talking and stuff so it sucked."). If you like sci-fi and can go into it knowing but not caring that there are some streches without a body count, I highly recommend it.

[downhuman]

This is one of my demo discs (I have the 2-disc edition). And while it does have it's share of poor characteriation and stilted dialogue, it does still serve as a fairly well-executed sci-fi actioner worth repeat viewings. I also have to admit that while Aki appears very attractive in stills like the one above, she doesn't come off very attractive on the screen. They did a much better job with Juet in Final Flight of the Osiris (more skin probably helped)

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by Damitol

When someone says a movie sucks or is a piece of shit, I really wish they would give examples of similar films they really like so we have a point of reference.

Okay then, check out Aliens and Starship Troopers, both of which leave this soggy sci-fi effort in the dust.

It alternates between a western "blow shit up" side and an eastern "respect the earth spirit" philosophy, and I'm guessing that is where most hard core "blow shit up" fans got lost ("The chick is hot and monsters are wicked awesome, but then they start talking and stuff so it sucked.").

Gee, and I just thought it was mediocre because the dialogue was flat, the voice characterization severely lacking (Christ, even James Woods came across as dull!), and the "respect the earth" stuff coming across as watered-down Princess Mononoke (which had it's own flaws...). I don't hate this movie (I'd give it a B-), but, visuals aside, I can hardly rememeber anything about it, save for the bad moments.

Oh, and Aki looks pretty damn attractive throughout the movie, not just in the promotional stills (one of which has her in a bikini!). She's got bitchin' hair...

[sub780lime]

Yeah, its worth a rental, the two disc is great and it worth seeing it just to check out the beautiful CGI work