... Yes, I had heard of the game Final Fantasy, which apparently has gone through nine versions during its evolution, but it had never captured my attention. This was to change.
My first shock was that fact that there are no actors within this film, what it does have is characters that are ... Read review
Inspired by the popular video game franchise, Hironobu Sakaguchi'sFinal Fantasy: The ... more
Spirits Withinis a completely computer-generated film which, unlikeToy StoryandShrek, is also a serious science fiction drama with astonishingly human digital actors. ...
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The year is 2065 AD. The Earth is infested with alien spirits and mankind faces total ... more
extinction. Led by a strange dream and guided by her mentor, Dr Sid, scientist Aki Ross struggles to collect the eight spirits in the hope of creating a force powerfu...
Inspired by the popular video game franchise, Hironobu Sakaguchi'sFinal Fantasy: The ... more
Spirits Withinis a completely computer-generated film which, unlikeToy StoryandShrek, is also a serious science fiction drama with astonishingly human digital actors. ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (who also created the best-selling series of video games ... more
that inspired the film) the groundbreaking 'Final Fantasy' which stars a startlingly lifelike cast of animated characters is the first photo-realistic computer-g...
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The year is 2065. A meteor has crashed into Earth unleashing millions of alien creatures ... more
who roam the earth, decimating field and city alike, threatening to extinguish life itself. Prepare to be spellbound by an amazing woman, the brave individuals at her side and an astounding mission to save the Earth -all in cutting-edge CG!!
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Science Fiction - Director: Hiroyuki Yamaga - Original Language: Japanese - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ayako Kawasumi, Fujiko Takimoto
...had heard of the game Final Fantasy, which apparently has gone through nine versions during its evolution, but it had never captured my attention. This was to change.
My first shock was that fact that there are no actors within this film, what it does have is characters that are computer generated. The first one we encounter being Dr Aki Ross. See her on the packaging and you see a beautiful woman, see her within the film and you will ... ...being lost. There is one final weapon, one last hope of saving mankind from extinction, a might cannon called Zeus, but if this weapon is unleashed on the Phantoms it could cause more harm than good.
There is one other slender chance of survival and that lies with Aki Ross and Doctor Sid, both scientists. Aki has been infected by one of the Phantoms and it has been retained by a membrane deep within her chest. The membrane has been ... more
The packaging attracted me. It resembles a holographic image transposed across a silver background mixed with hues of greens, purples yellows and blues. It is instantly eye catching without being over the top.
It would appear that before buying this film that I had been in some sort of limbo land. Yes, I had heard of the game Final Fantasy, which apparently has gone through nine versions during its evolution, but it had never captured my attention. This was to change.
My first shock was that fact that there are no actors within this film, what it does have is characters that are computer generated. The first one we encounter being Dr Aki Ross. See her on the packaging and you see a beautiful woman, see her within the film and you will see and understand what the power of a computer mixed with a fertile imagination can achieve. The results are outstanding a triumph of a type that I have never encountered before. I admit that when the film started I thought, I’ve bought a cartoon I’ve wasted my money, but seeing Aki convinced me that I hadn’t, it is so totally convincing.
Watch Aki move, there is no hesitation, no awkwardness, just the fluid movements of a graceful young woman. Watch her hair as it moves in the wind, as she moves her head or as it is disturbed by gravity, it is so real. Her facial expressions are so convincing, that it is easy to forget that what you are watching is not real.
Not all of the characters are quite so easy to believe in but one definitely shines through. The character of Doctor Sid is superb, so good that I at first believed that he was a real actor. I believed that the makers had included one actor perhaps as a focal point to hold the film together but I was mistaken, such is the wizardry of the films makers.
The film is set in the near future in the year 2065. Earth has been invaded by phantoms, aliens that arrived on an asteroid from deep space. A battle has been raging for many years to destroy the Phantoms, but is a battle that is slowly being lost. There is one final weapon, one last hope of saving mankind from extinction, a might cannon called Zeus, but if this weapon is unleashed on the Phantoms it could cause more harm than good.
There is one other slender chance of survival and that lies with Aki Ross and Doctor Sid, both scientists. Aki has been infected by one of the Phantoms and it has been retained by a membrane deep within her chest. The membrane has been constructed by Doctor Sid from Spirit Waves that have been discovered within a number of different life forms. There are eight spirit waves in all and when the film begins Aki is searching for the sixth one, which is found to be a single plant growing alone in the ruins of New York City. It is known that Aki’s life is increasingly threatened, as the Phantom within her grows stronger, threatening to break free from the retaining membrane.
Aki suffers reoccurring dreams. Dreams that take her to a strange hostile planet. A planet where a war is being fought, a world soon to be destroyed from where the Phantoms will leave. This dream is the key to the survival of Aki and the rest of mankind.
A beautiful unreal panoramic landscape unfolds within her dream dominated by a beautiful planet hanging low in the sky. This like many other scenes are so incredibly real, so intoxicating to the senses they have to be seen to be believed. Even images of mundane items such as computer consoles have been enhanced to unbelievable levels.
The voices of the characters are by actors with Donald Sutherland as Doctor Sid and Ming-Na as Aki Ross and Alec Baldwin also featuring as the voice of Captain Gray Edwards.
Released by Columbia Pictures, running time is 102 minutes and it is classified PG. It is possible that the Phantoms could possibly scare younger children. As usual with a DVD today, two discs are enclosed. The second disc contains documentaries on the making of the film and the usual round of interviews with the makers. I paid £14.99 from Asda for this film but as usual I’m sure if you look around that someone, somewhere will have it cheaper.
You will probably have realised by now that I like this film, in fact I have to admit to being totally mesmerised. If this is the first film using this type of animation, then the future of the film industry is assured. The actual storyline can be a little weak in places but the sheer artistry of the films makers carries this film forward. It is a film that I unreservedly recommend.
Advantages: Great film Disadvantages: Bad song at the end
Apparently the film is nothing like the games (Which I’m told are like top trumps), maybe that’s why FINALLY there has been a great film made from a computer game. OK, Mortal Kombat wasn’t bad but this… This is an incredible film. NO IAN I AM NOT BEING SARCASTIC THIS TIME.
For a start the entire film has been rendered on computer and there are times in the film where you have pinch yourself and repeat “These are not ... ...sitting in the cinema quietly swearing to myself in amazement. OK, there are a few times when you can tell – there’s the odd ministry of silly walks moment and sometimes the lip synch is noticeably out (But that didn’t hurt Crouching Tiger now did it). But, had I had my brain turned off (Or perhaps been drunk… Same thing come to think of it) I may even have fancied the female lead but that’s probably just me and my weakness ...
yhwman 24.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (DVD)
Advantages: Looks great, sounds great, plot is pretty cool too. Disadvantages: Spiritual thingies might annoy some people, too neat an ending for my liking (kill them! kill them all!!!!)
...me, I went to see Final Fantasy quite soon after it came out. It seemed to have received a mixed reception from the general public, and as is so often true with these things, it's much better to sample the goods for yourself. So off I troddled to the cinema with one of my best friends to take in the sci-fi delights and visual treat that is Final Fantasy. - What’s all the fuss about?
As with a whole batch of modern films, the fuss about Final ... ...The other thing about Final Fantasy is that it’s based around the hugely popular and success series of games of the same name. Having never played one of these games in my life, and only having read about them in magazines, I can’t proclaim to be an expert on the subject, but I’m reliably informed that the plot of the film has little to do with the games – so you won’t be missing out there. In fact, having no background ...
Excelle 21.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (DVD)
Advantages: Prepare to have your breath appropriated by the visuals Disadvantages: slight lack of originality!
And it shows! Final Fantasy is a step forward in the world of computer animation. The first in a sequence that will eventually eliminate the distinction between real and computer generated images.
I foresee many harsh reviews for this film, possible reasons are as follows. What we have here is essentially a cartoon playing at being a ‘real film’. A serious film at that, which may be hard to swallow. It can be hard to lay pretences aside ... ...it…
Like Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy is based on a popular video game. Unlike Tomb Raider however, the Final Fantasy series is not based on specific character or even specific time or space. Each instalment in the series follows the paths of new characters in new worlds. What each of the games and this film have in common however is a situation of good and evil out of alignment in opposition, a hero and villain with internal conflicts, and ...
Nadal 21.08.2001 (22.08.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (DVD)
...not all plain sailing for Final Fantasy when it finally arrived at the cinema screens. Years in the making, it was supposedly set to push the boundaries of computer generated movies into the next level. Did it achieve this ambitious goal? Was it a landmark film? Well, no, not quite but it still made an impact, albeit a smaller one than the film producers would have liked. Here's what I thought of of it, of course opinions differ! Cast/Characters(voiceovers) ... ...balance to all aspects unlike Final Fantasy which lacked in sooooo many areas! A for effort and a D for overall package I'm afraid! Another rainy day movie that you should get out on video, ONLY if you have seen all the other good films in the rack! . ...
Judgee 20.02.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (DVD)
Advantages: WOW, realistic, entertaining Disadvantages: perhaps not to everyones taste, some may prefer real actors!!
...we sat down to watch Final Fantasy. I was not sure what to expect, my experience of computer animation had been courtesy of the films we watched with the kids like Toy Story and Bugs Life!! I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised there were times when I as not sure if there had been some live sequences edited in. As the first HyperReal computer-generated feature film, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was based entirely on original designs ... ...actors. In the case of Final Fantasy. The film's producers went through great lengths to assemble the perfect cast of voice talent--sometimes relying on satellite technology to broadcast performances from across the Atlantic. Alec Baldwin led an ensemble cast including Steve Buscemi, Ving Rames, James Woods, Donald Sutherland, Peri Gilpin, and actress Ming Na,from ER, as Aki.
So to the story…
The year is 2065 and Earth is under siege. A meteor ...
debrini 23.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within (DVD)
Set in the year 2065 the Earth is under attack by a group of aliens who crashed on a meteor. Doctor Aki Ross turns to her own dreams to find an answer to the problems...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Two Feature Length Commentaries, 21 Mini Featurettes, Original Interactive Documentary, 60 Minutes of Linkouts, 82 Minutes 3D Playblast Video And Storyboard Select, Multiple Workshops Including Character Morphs And Indepth Character Files, DVD ROM
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Animated
Animated
Professional reviews
Review
"...A mesmerizing technical achievement....These computer-created characters represent a cinematic art of the future....It's a great wow..." (Entertainment Weekly, p.42, 20/07/2001)
"...The visual effects are wondrous..." (New York Times, p.E1, 11/07/2001)
"...The film exerts a hold..." (Rolling Stone, p.70, 02/08/2001)
"...Those being inducted to FINAL FANTASY through THE SPIRITS WITHIN will marvel at the technical expertise of game-producer-turned-director Hironobu Sakaguchi..." (Sight and Sound, p.42-3, 01/09/2001)
"...Sci-fi fans and programmers will find it hard to contain their glee as battleships explode in vibrant shades of orange and red....The alien phantoms, luminous and ethereal, are both beautiful and terrifying..." (Total Film, p.88-9, 01/09/2001)
"...A visual marvel....The emotional kick wouldn't be much stronger were it populated with people..." (USA Today, p.7D, 11/07/2001)
"...Visually impressive....[The] voicing is solid down the line....[The film] evinces a craftsmanlike fastidiousness throughout all levels of production..." (Variety, p.20, 09/07/2001)
DVD Description
Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (who also created the best-selling series of video games that inspired the film), the groundbreaking FINAL FANTASY, which stars a startlingly lifelike cast of animated characters, is the first photo-realistic computer-generated feature film ever made. In the year 2065, Earth has been taken over by a race of alien phantoms and transformed into a barren wasteland sprinkled with dome-enclosed barrier cities--the last remaining bastions of human civilization. Dr. Aki Ross (voiced by actress Ming-Na) has teamed up with Captain Gray Edwards (Alec Baldwin) to search for the "eighth spirit," a powerful entity dwelling in an unknown life form somewhere on the planet. It holds the key to perfecting a system of energy waves that will neutralize the phantoms. Ross's opponent is the reckless General Hein (James Woods), who is determined to put a stop to the alien invasion by firing a satellite cannon directly into a nest of phantoms located deep within the Earth, even though this could mean obliterating the planet itself and all life upon it.
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