Computer Brilliance (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (DVD))

Member Name: Galloway

Product:	Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (DVD)
Date:	21/08/01 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stunning Visuals, Breathtaking Character Animation, Enjoyable

Disadvantages: Thin Plot, Story could be confusing

Well today I went to see ‘Final Fantasy – The Spirits Within’. I have read much about the animation quality of the movie and was eager to check it out myself.

The computer graphics in Final Fantasy are incredible, especially the heroine, Aki Ross. Unlike the smooth perfect skin textures normally associated with computer graphics rendered humans, Aki enjoys realistic skin texturing, including dimples, spots and other natural skin blemishes. Her hair looks real and moves just as realistically as are the facial animations, which are close to human realism. The other characters are equally as impressive, especially Dr. Sid.
Despite the graphical quality, these are still animated characters, and although a lot of work has been done to make them realistic, you have to look hard to tell there animated, but you can. However there is no questioning that this is a remarkable step forward in life like animation of human characters.
The Aliens or ‘Spirits’ are transparent creatures, from the small to the extremely large, which can pass through matter, and are graphically superb, with fluid movement and at times an overwhelming presence.

Its set on Earth in 2065, a meteor has crashed into the planet years earlier and released invisible aliens, known as ‘Spirits’ on to an unsuspecting world. The Spirits prey on the life energy or the spirit within all living things, so Earth has been reduced to a desolate wasteland. The few surviving humans live in Barrier Cities spread across the globe. Dr. Aki Ross (Ming-Na) and Dr. Sid (Donald Sutherland) are scientists who believe they have an answer to the alien invasion. The military have a different solution however, based more on vengeance than anything else. Captain Grey (Alec Baldwin) is Aki’s love interest and helping hand throughout.

The plot is a simple one, aliens invade earth and two sides have competing solutions
It stays inline with the Sci-Fi
genre rather than breaking the mould. But it moves always moves along at a reasonable pace. However if you are not a Sci-Fi fan, this film is not going to make you one.

This film is worth seeing just for the animation alone, but the story does unfold as the film progresses, although it may be a little complicated for some, as it’s not totally self-explanatory. If you like Japanese ‘Anime’ and understand the film ‘Akira’ then you’ll have no problem understanding this one.

This is not the film version of a specific Final Fantasy computer game, but does share a similar storyline and is clearly to be seen as part of the Final Fantasy series as its written by the same person. The Spirits Within is an enjoyable Sci-Fi movie; it’s not just a rushed budget movie to cash in on its related game versions popularity.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but do have to acknowledge its biggest selling point is the computer animation, and this is what the film will be remembered for, not the story line.

Overall, Excellent.

Can’t wait for the DVD

Summary: