Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (UMD)

Putting the Final Fantasy name on this title was probably not the best decision, even if it was made by the same team that made the FF games. For one, many fans of the Final Fantasy games will be disappointed to find no chocobos or other FF elements. For two, many non-fans of the games will be put off by the Final Fantasy title, not realizing that they're missing out on a movie that can hold its own against most of the SF movies that have appeared in recent years.

I know people who would really enjoy this movie, but would be put off by two things: it's CGI and it's Final Fantasy. The second I've already mentioned, so I won't keep harping on it. As for the first, I guess I just know too many people who think that animated = for kids (or at least means less character depth, etc.) I'm working on educating them.

So . . . Pretty

This really is a beautiful movie. I was expecting that the CG might not look as good four years after the movie was made, but it holds up very well. The characters are realistic enough to be engaging, but just cartoony enough that they're not creepy (anyone seen Polar Express? That's creepy). It could easily have been a live action film, so I wonder if the choice to go CG was a matter of showing off the technology ("look at what we can do!"). I'm not sure I like the idea of using CG just because you can, but it did look awfully nice.

Not Just Good Looks

The Spirits Within was most surprising in that it was actually a good movie. I mean a good movie. The plot and characters can easily stand up to most recent SF movies, which makes it even more of a shame that it's been so underrated. Sure, some of the plot elements are a little dodgy (including a good dose of fantasy in an otherwise science fiction tale), but these are things a viewer isn't likely to even think about until the movie is over and they're contemplating it at leisure.

My verdict: if you like SF at all, you really must see The Spirits Within.