Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within: Review By Jakn

This movie 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' is based on one of the most popular and famous video-game series of all time 'Final Fantasy'. This is the first CGI movie based off of the series, but this movie is not from SquareEnix the company creator of 'Final Fantasy', but even though it's not from SquareEnix (or back then Squaresoft) I did like this movie very much, not just because it's based off of the game series, but because of the breathtaking animation it has, though I was a tiny bit disappointed with this film. Why?

Most of the 'Final Fantasy' games that I've played and completed had brilliantly luxurious stories, fascinatingly achieving storytelling, knowingly unforgettable characters, and overly excellent-written scripts. For example, 'Final Fantasy VII' has the most glorious and magnificent story out of its franchise, (possibly one of the greatest stories ever told) it had superlative storytelling in the story, and bravura and beautifully written script, and stunning characters. That is what most of the 'Final Fantasy' games have, but 'Final Fantasy VII' is the greatest 'Final Fantasy' game out of the whole franchise. It's simply amazing how superlative SquareEnix is with these games. If you're still thinking why I had some disappointments with this film it's because this movie didn't have any of the things that I just pointed out here.

There is no magnificent story, there isn't a beautifully written script, and there aren't any stunning characters. It's the total opposite of those things! The story is unimpressive and very weird alone with its storytelling; the script is flawed making the characters sometimes silly and sometimes dense. There is one question that must be asked and must be answered. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!!??

I can't believe out of most of the 'Final Fantasy' games stories that they ever had this one had to be possibly one of the dullest in the franchise. The story and script should have gotten the help and support it needed from the bright storytelling minds of SquareEnix. I might as well talk about the story. The script wasn't written well enough to make the storytelling or characters worthy of being knowledgeable. The script makes the storytelling seem to go a little too fast sometimes, but at only at certain times during the movie. A bigger problem about the script is when it comes to the characters they seem so clueless of the whereabouts in the story, conversations, and situations.

The story is takes place in the year 2065 and a female scientist named Aki-Ross steps foot on the ruins of Earth to try and find secrets of a races invaders trying to save the plant. She has to save herself too because she is infected by aliens. She teams up with a military team called Deep Eyes, and they join forces to fighting the aliens.

I know it seems like I didn't really like this film from the problems that I have pointed out; the story, the script, the characters, but that's not saying that there aren't any good things about this film. The animation actually helps you ignore the problems that this film has making those big problems only average problems. The graphics and animation is awesome! It's stunning to watch how the characters move, the aliens are mind-blowing to look at, and it's overwhelming to watch some of the action scenes. The CGI animation is the best part about this film.

Come to think of it, everything that this movie has; stunning CGI animation and graphics, a weak script, lame characters, a story that is close enough to being called dull that sometimes paces too fast all have in common and are similar to 'Dinosaur'. 'Dinosaur' and beautiful and entertaining CGI animation, but also a poorly written script, characters without a clue, and a story that is lame from the script and storytelling pacing too fast, and that's also everything this movie has. With animated films that have CGI this fantastic to look at they should also have a fantastic story and script to the film. The difference between 'Dinosaur' and 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' is that all the problems with this film aren't as nearly problemed or as flawed from the problems 'Dinosaur' has, and this time the animation in this film can actually create a diversion for us.

I'm not much of a gamer and I hardly play video-games, I have played plenty of games before and comparing how many games people play today to the total amount of games that makes me look like I've only played only less than a few games but I'm not going to lie to you when I say this. I LOVE the Final Fantasy franchise! I am a total fan for Final Fantasy and not just Final Fantasy alone but I also love the company of the Final Fantasy SquareEnix. Enough though this isn't a part of SquareEnix I still liked this film from the animation, but I'm here to tell you that 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' is nowhere near being a 'Final Fantasy VII' nor a 'Final Fantasy X'.

With brilliant stories and ideas that SquareEnix comes up with they should begin making theatrical CGI movies all around the world. Although SquareEnix did make a sequel to 'Final Fantasy VII' but as a movie 'Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children'. Unfortunately that Final Fantasy movie didn't go theatrical in the U.S like it did in Japan or like how 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' did, but it's quite understandable why it went to the shallow and sad Direct-to-DVD category, and enough though Direct-to-DVD's are the worst movies to choose from for 'Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children' it was probably the best Direct-to-DVD movie ever made.

If there are more Final Fantasy movies to come theatrically (hopefully there will be) then I hope that it comes from SquareEnix. I would really mind it they could just remake or reboot some of the games into movies, and I wouldn't be so surprised if those Final Fantasy movies were to be released in 3-D, but anyways.

Overall 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' is an entertaining CGI delight that helps you ignore the problems the film has. If you're a Final Fantasy fan like me then I suggest you see this, but it's the type of movie that's only worth seeing once.