Great graphics! (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (DVD))

Member Name: macutmore

Product:	Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (DVD)
Date:	11/08/01 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cutting edge, technological imagery

Disadvantages: Lack of emotionally moving impact, No humour or wit

I wouldn't call this movie an animated feature! It's certainly not a Cartoon. It is however a heavily Computer generated feature, almost an art form, really. The first few moments are visually strange since you have to get used to the effect, not knowing whether the character's have substance or not.

The mind seems to adapt eventually to the visual wonder of this film though, accepting the graphics within their own heavily synthetic guise.

Set in the year 2065 (which doesn't seem that far ahead does it really)? If you like your Sci-Fi (as I do) and fancy something visually interesting, this one is probably worth a look.

It's the Alien invasion theme yet again, threatening human existence (if you can call the characters human). Even the disguise of presentation though cannot distract from the fact that inspiration may have been provided by other films of the past in these themes. (The alien phantoms bear a remote resemblance to previously viewed aliens seen elsewhere perhaps)?

Even the most stunning of visually generated effects though, cannot make up for a shear lack of humour and wit from the depicted characters which surely could have been generated even more glamorously with the fantasy factor theme in mind.

I was hoping for a revolution here. Something perhaps that may have been a first, such as the likes of Tron or even Watership down. Yes we have seen these conceptual style movies before and this one won't be treated any differently. Much seems to have been 'borrowed' unfortunately like the effects that seem so similar to your Jurasic park come Mummy returns technical styles. Perhaps all these newer films have been made on the same state of the art computers?

I'm not convinced this one will go down like the classics I'm thinking of though. I believe this visual style will be used yet again. Perhaps it would have been better suited for the first Tomb Raider movie rathe
r than this kind of stuff?

What are really lacking are more emotionally moving and musical content, humour, wit and perhaps a philosophical triumph over evil rather than the brute strength aspect depicted so heavily in today's entertainment. At least though, a girl power element is present which is good.

I was hoping for an ending that would slowly merge into a real world scene using conventional imagery as I thought it would have added a nice finishing touch- almost like the Wizard of Oz's transition to colour perhaps?

As the voice I overheard in the background on my theatrical exit commented 'It wasn’t that bad, really'!!

I liked the sharp artwork and portrayal given to the characters generation though. Good vs. evil yet again. Somehow the style and fashion of the scheming general in the film (including the expression and clothing) looked so familiar to that of some disliked individuals or morons that may be around us in power or status today!

Summary: