I'M BAAAACK!!! Back online and back reviewing movies so here we go.
Final Fantasy is arguably one of the greatest RPGs ever made in my opinion. Considered to be the "final" game created by Square in attempt to get a mega hit from the game and they did. But unfortunately we still live in a world where great video games are turned into sold gold shit stain films by both stupid filmmakers and the piss-poor decisions by gaming companies. However, there have been a few video game based films that survive through the idiocy. With Final Fantasy The Spirits Within premiered in July 2001; will it do the same?
Well... The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic future of 2065...and it already sounds less of a Final Fantasy film. Anyway the earth is overrun by "Phantoms" (alien life forms that instantly killing living beings via physical contact). We're introduced to one of lead characters Aki (voiced by Ming-Na) searching through the ruins of New York City for a plant that possess a "spirit" inside. Upon finding the plant she immediately surrounded by Phantoms until being rescued by a group of soldiers led by Gray (voiced by Alec Baldwin). Aki and the soldiers managed to escape from the Phantoms and retreat to a barrier city. There Aki and Dr. Sid (voiced by Donald Sutherland) propose to the council a way of defeating the Phantoms by gathering eight spirit signatures which will negate the energy signature of the Phantoms. However, General Hein (voiced by James Woods) believes that using the Zeus Cannon (orbiting high power space laser cannon) will completely destroy the Phantoms without complications. Arguments flare until Aki reveals to the council that she has been infected by a Phantom but is kept in check with the collected spirit signatures. This somehow convinces the council to delay using the Zeus Cannon but Hein is not all convince and he thinks that Aki could be a conspiring with the Phantoms. It's later revealed that due to having a Phantom inside her; Aki's been having dreams of the phantoms and has been recording these dreams ever since. Later Aki and Gray's group head out to find the seventh spirit somewhere in a Phantom infested wasteland. They managed to find the seventh spirit in an energy pack of a dead soldier. Soon after they're being attacked by flying Phantoms; they escaped and return to the barrier city.
Upon returning they're immediately detained by orders of General Hein. Hein takes unwise measures to convince the council to use the Zeus Cannon by lowering parts of the barrier shield protecting the city letting in a few Phantoms. Unfortunately this plan backfires and dozens of Phantoms invaded the entire city. While this is going on Aki explains to Sid, Gray, and his men that Phantoms are not really the enemy but wandering spirits of the dead brought to Earth on a fragment of their destroyed planet. The laser bars of their cells shutdown and they made their escape to Aki's spaceship. But upon reaching her ship three of Gray's men fell victim to the Phantoms before Aki, Gray, and Sid made their escape. Hein who is the sole survivor escapes the doomed city via escape pod and proceeds to the Zeus Cannon to fire at the Phantom Crater. Aki and the others arrived at the Phantom Crater where the eighth spirit and Gaia (the earth's spirit)is located . Upon acquiring the eighth spirit Hein fires the Zeus Cannon while Aki and Gray are directly inside the crater. Repeating fires at the crater causes the cannon to overheat then eventually explodes along with Hein. While back at the crater their only means of transferring the eight spirits to the "Phantom Gaia" was damaged by the fallout of the Zeus Cannon. Gray decides to sacrifices himself to physically transmit the eight spirits into the Phantom Gaia. The film ends with the Phantoms ascend into space bringing peace back to earth.
My Further Thoughts on Final Fantasy The Spirits Within: At first I liked this film when I saw it but after playing a few FF games over the years and then looking back at this film. It's not all that impressive story-telling wise. Animation-wise it looks beautiful but that's all this film offers. Outside of great animation there's hardly a story about the setting, the characters, the antagonist (or the lack there of). The characters in-question hardly has any development or chemistry of any kind. The antagonist (the Phantoms) show limited amount of threat to the lead characters and lack of interest from the audience; basically their just a lazy plot-device to get the film going. The Phantoms are no Kefka or Sephiroth. It's like the people of Square were too proud of the animation yet they fail to input a interesting story to back it up. Oh yes Square formed a film studio to make this film and due to the film bombed in theaters Square no longer makes movies. I can't even call this film Final Fantasy honestly it's more of a Halo film. Seriously you can rewrite the script, change all the characters' names, redesign the characters and BAM there's your flipping Halo film.
My Final Verdict: This film lacks of what made Final Fantasy Final Fantasy. Outside of great animation; Spirits Within offers absolutely nothing else to keep the audience interested. The Animation alone just doesn't make this film that entire great if the story had any Final Fantasy familiarity I would still like it. This film is not for the die hard FF fans however, if you wish to watch it watch it for the animation. Don't expect to be entertained by the story.
So that's my first review of 2012 and more reviews for 2012 are still to come. For now stay tuned next week as I review a Reb Brown film classic Space Mutiny. Also get ready for a few new segments here on The Film Vindicator.
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