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Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (Special Edition)

Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (Special Edition)

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $26.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Fantastic looking dross.
Review: It's so unfortunate that the highly accomplished computer graphics have been complimented with a story totally bereft of any attempt at originality or interest.

I've never seen the Final Fantasy games so there's no issue with any failings with respect to them, but considering how much this film must have cost and the obvious care and attention lavished on the visuals, better writing should have been factored in.

Overall, a Saturday morning animation would rate as highly.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: final fantasy.x-2 and final fantasy x11
Review: Hello,I have played all final fantasy games and I think the last two were a big disappointed because the main character Tidus was not in these games.His character was what made final fantasy great.This last game should not be called final fantasy because there are no orignal characters.I hope they will come out with a new final fantasy with Tidus and Yuna.My favorite final fantasy game is ten. Missy

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Huge Surprise: An Intelligent and Magnificent Work of Art
Review: I resisted seeing this film because I am not a fan of "blood and gore" video games and figured the movie would just be another "rock and roll" blood fest. However, I after seeing about 10 minutes of this film on HBO one night and decided I had to purchase the DVD. Tonight I viewed this film and was blown away by the intelligent and sensitive story, the incredible set design, and the sheer art of the animators. This film could have been a sell out to video gamers who just wanted to see loads of violence and monsters... instead, its primary feature is to take the digital animation and make the story as "human" and "humanlike" as possible... and it succeeds magnificently. The music is orchestral and grand, with a superb score by Eliot Goldenthal, the characters are fully-developed... far more than in many action films (The Punisher is a good example of "live action" with NO character development) and the story centers around the "soul" and the "earth's gaia or spirit".... not "lightweight" subjects, even for sophisticated film makers to tackle.

There is a fundamental problem with the film.... the plot and story will be too sophisticated for the average teenager who may be attracted to animation, videogames or comic books... and the more sophisticated film lover my resist it because it may appear to be for those with limited attention spans. This film is awesome and will challenge those who can think.

The film makers chose the high road with story, score and character, it will eventually become the classic it deserves to be..... it certainly stands among great science fiction films in my book already. Bravo!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The End of the RPG Universe As We Know It!
Review: Three words, WORST FILM EVER! It doesn't take a moron to make a louisy film but it takes a special one to make one like this. The worst part is that the setting is in NEW YORK! Where's Spira or Midgar? It may sound weird but the animation pushes it so far that it almost looks real and without any true special effects. Yet another thing, every character is original and American. I want to see Sephiroth and Cloud go all-out on each other! The fights are boring, realistic shooting battles against pyrefly (FFX) rip-offs that feed on people's souls. I couldn't stand this movie and after just 20 minutes of viewing, I stopped watching it. Don't bother wasting money on this movie. Instead, buy something that has even just the least bit to do with Final Fantasy!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Idiots
Review: Idiots made this film. The FF games were all very exciting and if they ever came 2 the big screen it'd be like mixing the Matrix with Lord of the Rings. .....The Idiots who made this film however decided 2 base the story on something other than the games. Theres no fighting in the movie. They shoot, but its useless shooting. I guess u'd have 2 watch it to see what I mean. It looks great, and after a while into it u'll almost forget that you're watching computer animations. But that doesn't save the movie... not at all. Quite frankly, if you've never played or seen someone play the games, then u MIGHT be able to bear through it. Any fans of the games will HATE it. The creators lost alot of money on this film. But they brought it on themselves.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This is not final fantasy
Review: To Be perfectly honest this not Final Fantasy it is something that final Fantasy would never do and would have done unless the director was being a complete moron. This movie was nothing like the games that have been made. Making movies based on games are like making Movies on books because Games are as long as books and should be told longer and they should put everything in without leaving anything out. Aliens were never in final fantasy and Robots were but guns were rarely in final fantasy but Swords are the things that are a part of final Fantasy. This movie had no swords or sword battles. This movie had a script but the script made no sense and the storyline was pretty boring. The Acting was average but could have been better. If the Director reads this review of mine then I want him to know that if he going to make a movie based on Final Fantasy 2 through 10 then he should make it into a live action film because at least that will be exciting if you want to that is. If you do what I say Please do not leave any part of the storyline out or else I will give the movie an F again.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Pretty to look at but don't forget there is a plot...
Review: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is a movie that could be either a Final Fantasy fans dream...or worst nightmare. For me it's a little bit of both. It's an impressive movie to watch because it looks incredible! But as I mentioned...there is a plot and that actually brings the movie down.

Aki is a scientists who must run around and collect spirits for professer Cid to study before the evil ghosts come and take over the world of Gaia. This doesn't sound so bad but it's rather amateurish when you compare this story to that of the games like FFVII or FFVI.

But I shouldn't compare it to the game. Overall the plot is weak no matter how you look at it. The villian is no villian and the movie isn't as much "Fantasy" as it "Sci-fi" which seems to have a selective audience of its own.

The characters also lack developement. Aki is stale and emotionless and because the movie is computer animated you don't feel for these characters the same way you would others when they lack that emotion.

The Final Fantasy games have great moments that this movie doesn't shine in as well. The characters aren't memorable and the story doesn't have the Final Fantasy feel. Where are the plot twists that blow you away? Where are the characters love for one another when they realize they're in it together? These things the game works so well on aren't as visible in the movie.

But as I said, the movie is pretty to look at. The characters are so detailed they almost look real! This in itself more than makes up for the mediocre story. The humor in the movie is fantastic as well.

So as I said. The movie is great to look at but when you see a movie you've also got to pay attention to the storyline as well. That is what Final Fantasy the Spirits within lacks at. In short, fans of the FF series will either enjoy it because it has the name "Final Fantasy" or hate it because it ruins the name "Final Fantasy" for them. If you haven't played the games because you're not a gamer or RPGer then you might find the movie intriguiing. I know for a fact that the story in the movie could've been more up to par with the "Final Fantasy" name. But it is better than most other videogame adaptations.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "...And Worlds End"
Review: As a feature for cutting-edge animation this film is a great success. I often gaped at the amazing visual textures and dazzling color mixed with inventive sci-fi scenery. However, the film is extremely cold with regards to emotional connection with the characters. While the creatures and ships and battle-gear were all pristinely drawn, the expressions and walk of the human characters are stiff and mostly emotionless. This makes for more of a cerebral experience along the lines of hard sci-fi rather than sci-fi fantasy. The overall feel of the film is icy and soulless, but the animation is truly exceptional. What saves this film from being completely frozen is one of the most underrated scores of the year composed by Elliot Goldenthal. I own the CD to the soundtrack and I often play it while reading something creepy. It enhances the movie with subtlety and provides much-needed lift to many of the otherwise spiritless sequences. The song "The Dream Within" sung by Lara Fabian was also written by Elliot Goldenthal and is remarkable, especially with Lara Fabian's glorious voice soaring over the music. But the real star of this film is the animation, which is certainly extraordinary. There were many moments during the film that I forgot it was animated, the human characters look so life-like. In summation: superb animation with a cerebral sci-fi yarn, but ultimately hollow and cold.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Thought-Provoking
Review: I found this movie to be a very thought-inspiring feature.
What surprised me most about it was that the CGI characters in it were surprisingly realistic and believable, and while they interact with each other and the creatures, they end up pulling a few heartstrings.
The concept and ideas of this film may be strange for us Western viewers to grasp (and rightly so), but even with Japanese ideals, this film left me thinking about it for days. It exudes a very dreamy feel- as long as you accept the fiction its assumptions are based upon. Its ending is definitely a different and memorable ending, even if you didn't like it. As I said earlier, this film sticks with you.
In a good yet creepy kind of way.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good movie...better is on the way!!!
Review: This was a good movie! The CGI folk looked very real and sometimes I too forgot it was animated! Anyhoo...a lot of people don't understand why this is named "Final Fantasy!" But, they're stupid! Because, the real question would be...Why is FF2 named "FF2" when it has nothing to do with FF1!" OR any other number...like 4..5..6-10...none of them have anything to do with each other, so just think of this as another game...same name...different people and story...and quit whining! And...X-2 is a sequel (And, it is NOT named "12") so that one deserves a number! Anyhoo...your prayers have been answered! The best game (FF7) is having a sequel (a movie) out in July! I suggest everyone purchase the game(15$) for PSone(50$) and get to playing before July rolls around! Subtitle is "Advent Children" Will be several times better than this movie!


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