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Special Features
- DISC ONE
- Feature-length commentary by co-director Motonori Sakakibara, sequence supervisor Hiroyuki Hayashida, sets & props lead artist Tatsuro Maruyama, and Phantom supervisor Takao Noguchi (in Japanese with English or French subtitles)
- Feature-length commentary by animation director Andy Jones, editor Chris S. Capp, and staging director Tani Kunitake
- Storyboard/Playblast selects of the film with optional filmmaker commentary or subtitled factoids
- Interactive animated menus, featuring CGI introductions created by Square Pictures
- DISC TWO:
- Original interactive documentary: "The Making of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within." Dig deeper and link out to information pods that spotlight: Final Fantasy Thriller music video, mini-movie: Aki's Dream, two face wraps (Aki, Dr. Sid), character morphs, matte art explorations, compositing builds
- Multiple workshops including: seven in-depth character files, three vehicle scale comparisons (Bandit, Quatro, Black Boa), trailer explorations, sets and props
- Final Fantasy Shuffler: Become the filmmaker by re-editing the council conference-room scene from the film. Complete the edit and play back your final cut
- DVD-ROM exclusive interactive film exploration: complete screenplay, virtual tour of Square Pictures, screensaver, Weblinks
- Interactive animated menus
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Earth is a desolate wasteland in Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Humanity has been decimated by an invasion of Phantoms, insubstantial aliens that extract and devour the spirits of living things. The few remaining humans have retreated to a handful of cities that are protected by massive bio-energy shields. The beautiful Dr. Aki Ross (voiced by Ming-Na) and her mentor Dr. Sid (Donald Sutherland) have discovered that the energy signatures of eight key Earth spirits can cancel out and destroy the Phantoms. With the help of Captain Edwards (Alec Baldwin) and his band of marines, they must scour the globe for the last two remaining spirits before General Hein (James Woods) manipulates the refugee government into attacking the aliens with an orbital laser that may also destroy the Earth.
Hironobu Sakaguchi's film is taken from the popular Final Fantasy video game franchise, which is particularly well suited to film adaptation with its series of original stories, but the movie features entirely new characters and settings. And like Toy Story and Shrek, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is completely computer generated. Unlike those cartoon comedies, though, The Spirits Within is a serious science fiction drama with astonishingly human digital actors. Aki, the female lead, appeared in a full-page spread in Maxim magazine's Hot 100 list--and was indistinguishable from the real-life models. The setting and conflict make for incredible action, but it's the larger issues, character interaction, and human elements that really make the movie shine. The Spirits Within is not simply a science fiction movie, in the same way that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not simply a kung fu flick. The result is a fantastic summer movie with better action and more emotion than Pearl Harbor, and actors more lifelike than those in that other video game movie, Tomb Raider. --Mike Fehlauer
Hironobu Sakaguchi's film is taken from the popular Final Fantasy video game franchise, which is particularly well suited to film adaptation with its series of original stories, but the movie features entirely new characters and settings. And like Toy Story and Shrek, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is completely computer generated. Unlike those cartoon comedies, though, The Spirits Within is a serious science fiction drama with astonishingly human digital actors. Aki, the female lead, appeared in a full-page spread in Maxim magazine's Hot 100 list--and was indistinguishable from the real-life models. The setting and conflict make for incredible action, but it's the larger issues, character interaction, and human elements that really make the movie shine. The Spirits Within is not simply a science fiction movie, in the same way that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not simply a kung fu flick. The result is a fantastic summer movie with better action and more emotion than Pearl Harbor, and actors more lifelike than those in that other video game movie, Tomb Raider. --Mike Fehlauer
Product Description
Ming-Na, Alec Baldwin, James Woods. Based on the popular video game series and sporting state-of-the-art computer animation, invading aliens ravage a scarred Earth in bleak 2065, and an elite military platoon must stop a crazed general. 2001/color/106 min/PG-13/widescreen.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
65 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
'Final Fantasy' is a computer game that has gone through countless versions and editions. Taken as a whole, this mythos is probably one of the best know games in its genre. It is clear from the beginning of this film that Sony and Hironbu Sakaguchi (producer, director, and writer) were intent on topping an already brilliant history of graphic accomplishments. In a sense, 'The Spirits Within' represents a piece of history in the making. It is the first film that presents a startling approximation of life using only automation.
The plot is simple. An asteroid falling to earth carries within it a host of phantom creatures that seem hell bent on destroying earthly life. Civilization has been reduced to living in shielded enclaves, and it is only a matter of time before the planet becomes a haunted wasteland. Aki Ross and her mentor, Dr. Sid, are working on the creation of a neutralizing 'wave' based on the eight basic phantom life forms. General Hein does not trust Dr. Sid's theories about a Gaia, or planetary spirit, and wants to use a huge orbital laser cannon to destroy the original meteor, possible destroying the earth in the process. The conflict between these points of view and their shattering effects on the planet are the meat of the film.
Captain Gray Edwards, once Aki's lover, crystallizes this struggle between the material world of violent reaction and the spiritual world of growth and synthesis. The film plays a bit like an evolved 'Starship Troopers.' In many ways, it presents the same visual image, and deals with the same issues. The problem for the director and the viewer is to get past the magnificent graphic work to experience the abiding spiritual faith that is its meaning. Ironically, the film itself is a metaphor for the issues it expresses.
It is almost futile to discuss the film's animation and design. They are so far above what we are used to that the required superlatives sound trite. In essence, the animation staff set out to create something that is even more real than life, and to a great extent, they have succeeded. This hyperrealism, combined with an almost ballet like feeling of choreography create a sense of moment that makes this seem far more than an action film. The overall animation is carefully balanced so as to keep the focus on the characters. Even so, this film has such a sensory effect that the viewer is tempted to forget the plot and simply observe the screen.
The primary DVD provides the film and a whole set of commentaries (directing crew, animation and staging, composer, and production staff), plus the usual trailers, etc. In the special edition, a second disk adds an extensive 'Making of...' segment, the entire screenplay and some analysis of character, vehicle, and prop design. Technically, this is an important film, despite its simplistic plot and characters. For the first time, the definition of what is acting and what is animation is being challenged in a thought provoking fashion.
35 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There have been many reviews about this movie that have ranged from excellent to shoddy, but mine will fall in the middle for a couple of reasons I will get to. I'll tell you what I found cool and what I found to be lacking. First off, I saw this movie in a digital projection theater. The colors were mind-blowing to say the least. I was constantly losing track of the story because I couldn't take my focus off the spectacular animation. The animation is so rich and textured...let's just say that you have never seen anything like it-real or fabricated. It truly is amazing. The voice casting is perfect. No slackers anywhere. The idea for the story is very innovative, not just some traditional sci-fi retread. But (and there always is a but), the actual dialogue and character development are lacking. Baldwin sometimes seems like a romantic distraction for Ming Na. Is Woods' character supposed to be a sympathetic bad guy because he talks about his family before he commits his bad deeds? Come on, I know 13-year-olds who don't fall for that. The question I was left with was: "Why invest all this money in voice talent, if you give them nothing to work with?" It's a testament to the actors that they were able to pull so much out of the dialogue considering what they had to work with. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, so I won't say anything else about it. ...I enjoyed all the characters for the most part, but I wish there was more to enjoy. I know sometimes that character development is lost because the studios want to get to the next big action event, but when people don't have anything invested in the characters, it just becomes a lot noise. It's too bad because, like I said, there was plenty of sources to draw upon.
Bottom line: The best animation to date, but sorely lacking character and plot development.
36 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of the best computer generated films I have ever seen. Final Fantasy - the Spirits Within was a joy to watch.
It was exciting, funny, poignant, exciting, romantic, joyful, future hopeful and totally mesmerising from start to finish.
With great actors voicing the animated heroes, we are treated to a state of the art adventure in which earth has been decimated by alien phantoms and the only hope for the survival of the human race are eight earth bound energy-spirits that can stop what only be described as Armageddon.
The exquisite Dr Aki Ross along with cynical but mostly good hearted Captain Edwards and his band of disparate marines set out to find these spirits before the megalomaniac General Hein can ruin any chance Earth has for survival.
The graphics are absolutely stunning, the animated characters look so life like you find yourself doing a double take all the time. Aki Ross is especially life like and Captain Edwards positively smoulders on screen but then his character is voiced over by the sexy Alec Baldwin who can still make any red blood female go weak at the knees!
The ending is superb as well as being heart breaking; no one can forget the scene when Captain Edwards lays down his life for the woman he loves and not just to save the world. Romance at its best in my opinion, animated or not!
I also just love the combining of philosophy, nature, science and technology together and the musical score gets a ten out of ten too.
I wish I could have seen this film on the big screen but I only got to see it when it came out on DVD.
A much underrated, under appreciated film that is yet again far too intelligent for your average moronic movie goer.
It was exciting, funny, poignant, exciting, romantic, joyful, future hopeful and totally mesmerising from start to finish.
With great actors voicing the animated heroes, we are treated to a state of the art adventure in which earth has been decimated by alien phantoms and the only hope for the survival of the human race are eight earth bound energy-spirits that can stop what only be described as Armageddon.
The exquisite Dr Aki Ross along with cynical but mostly good hearted Captain Edwards and his band of disparate marines set out to find these spirits before the megalomaniac General Hein can ruin any chance Earth has for survival.
The graphics are absolutely stunning, the animated characters look so life like you find yourself doing a double take all the time. Aki Ross is especially life like and Captain Edwards positively smoulders on screen but then his character is voiced over by the sexy Alec Baldwin who can still make any red blood female go weak at the knees!
The ending is superb as well as being heart breaking; no one can forget the scene when Captain Edwards lays down his life for the woman he loves and not just to save the world. Romance at its best in my opinion, animated or not!
I also just love the combining of philosophy, nature, science and technology together and the musical score gets a ten out of ten too.
I wish I could have seen this film on the big screen but I only got to see it when it came out on DVD.
A much underrated, under appreciated film that is yet again far too intelligent for your average moronic movie goer.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fangirls honest review
Some of the characters aren't developed as well as I'd liked them to have been. They focus on some superfluous things, and could have really ramped up the interest by removing the... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Jessica Shook
Still amazing years later
From the opening sequence to the final scenes an amazing production. The effects are superb. Final Fantasy looks as trend setting today as it did when it was released years ago. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Janice
OWOW!OWOW!OWOW!
Buy this on Blu ray and watch it on the biggest plasma you can cram into the video room! If you liked it on your crappy old tv on regular disc, the bluray experience is full... Read more
Published 4 months ago by The Consultant
awesome
I was blown away by the story and the special effects. I also liked the central theme of spirits and how they relate to the earth, and humans. Bravo, well done.
Published 6 months ago by onemanwreckingcrew
Final Fantasy - The spirit within Blu-ray
i have this edition in dvd but i am glad to have this blu. This edition in one disc edition and don't have slipcase but this case have a lock case to bad plastik cover not good... Read more
Published 6 months ago by young guns
An Undervalued Movie That Is Much Better Then People Give It Credit
I remember when the movie first came out, it was heralded as the new way of making animated movies as this one was the first to use an all CGI cast for their movie instead of a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Rich
The Avatar of 2001!
This review is for the two disc special edition of the Oct/2001 animated film Final Fantasy.A film that never made its creating costs,it nevertheless is a very compelling piece of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Robert Badgley
Hmm
This movie doesn't really capture the essence of the Final Fantasy series. It would have been better if this movie was marketed as something separate from the Final Fantasy... Read more
Published 7 months ago by M
Borrrrrrring!
OK, so I knew this had nothing to do with Final Fantasy... big deal, it still looks cool right? Right. Read more
Published 8 months ago by John Kelly
Strangely Appealing
I don't watch cartoons, but this isn't a cartoon; animated, yes, but in a flowing, beautiful way. The story is interesting and the visual compositons are stunning. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Richard C. Wedemeyer
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