Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

[Gxas]

I have just been blessed in being able to see this movie. At first, I was skeptical as to how I would like it. I mean, all the reviews I had ever heard were absolutely terrible. But, I gave it a chance and, my god, it was amazing. One of my top 10 movies, no doubt. The story was amazing, the animation was incredible, and casting was superb.

I'm wondering what everyone else thought of this movie. Why do you think it got as much flak as it did from critics?

 

[Trivun]

I loved it, I think the criticism was mainly because it was too close to the Uncanny Valley. Otherwise, it was awesome...

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

I thought it was too short. Felt a little rushed, y'know?
But yeah, I liked it when I watched it. I don't understand why everyone would hate it so much.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

I liked it(if I didn't I wouldn't have it in my DVD collection).The reason it got so much crap was because the title had "Final Fantasy" in it. If they had just marketed by saying it was "From the creators of Final Fantasy" and not an actual titular Final Fantasy, it would have done great.

Damn, ninja'd.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

The story was amazing, the animation was incredible, and casting was superb.

I agree, and, to be fair, one of the few things praised in the reviews was the animation. However, I do have a discrepancy with the story, or, more specifically, the ending of said film, which confused the hell out of me for a good while. I think I've got it now, but I'm still not sure, despite having the DVD and watching it repeatedly.

One of my top 10 movies, no doubt.

Each to his own, I guess. I'd put it in my top 25, but not my top 10. Still, it was a great movie, and I'm glad to have found someone else who enjoyed it.

 

[sky14kemea]

i liked it a lot, i was pissed at first because it was nothing to do with Final Fantasy XD

but yeah, the animation is pretty damn sweet i have it on my computer

 

[Gxas]

I thought it was too short. Felt a little rushed, y'know?
But yeah, I liked it when I watched it. I don't understand why everyone would hate it so much.

I agree, it did feel a little rushed. Even the dialogue felt way rushed in certain parts. I'd have to say, after reading about it a bit, that the reason people didn't like it was because it was an animated movie. People feel that animated means non-stop action or comedy. Not standing around talking and explaining the plot. Basically, it was a movie that could have been done as a live-action film and received much better reviews. Critics saw animated and expected animated; Square gave them a story and movie with a message to actually think about.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

I thought it was too short. Felt a little rushed, y'know?
But yeah, I liked it when I watched it. I don't understand why everyone would hate it so much.

I agree, it did feel a little rushed. Even the dialogue felt way rushed in certain parts. I'd have to say, after reading about it a bit, that the reason people didn't like it was because it was an animated movie. People feel that animated means non-stop action or comedy. Not standing around talking and explaining the plot. Basically, it was a movie that could have been done as a live-action film and received much better reviews. Critics saw animated and expected animated; Square gave them a story and movie with a message to actually think about.

Yeah, but Princess Mononoke did that and it got great reviews by critics.

 

[Dahemo]

Because it was not "Final Fantasy" enough. Personally I loved it. Sure it took a little getting used to but when I finally learnt it was not meant to be Advent Children then I saw it for the masterpiece it really is.

I think this summed my feelings up fairly well, liked the film as a standalone, didn't see the need to tie it in to FF except for the extra intrest that would generate. There were some classic FF themes in play there, specifically Gaia theory, but it was a very good film, excellently casted. That said, Advent Children was also excellent, although the reappearance of the full cast at the end felt like a big nod to the fanboys, but still made for a very entertaining finale...

 

[Spirultima]

As a film, it was pretty damn good.

As something under the Final Fantasy name, it didn't live up to expectation (although I will admit, the music was perfect as a Final Fantasy goes. Nobuo Uematsu is a genius of music)

 

[MrNades]

I thought it was pretty cool but not really final fantasy, but still was a good movie.

 

[Time Travelling Toaster]

I thought it was a great movie (As do many other escapists apparently), the story was good, not Final Fantasy good but good enough to stand on it's own, the acting was well felt and the animation etc was well done.
And know I want to go re-watch that movie again just for the hell of it

 

[ace_of_something]

I saw it before I played any final fantasy game past 3 (or 6) I was told by many who saw it before me it is it's own story and not related to the games. I didn't really care I usually avoid previews/trailers on purpose because so many ruin a good movie (Hey let's give away the surprise!)

That all being said; I still thought it was a terrible movie. It was generic, corny, confusing story, and for the time period not very well animated. (Shuffling feet!)

 

[ParkourMcGhee]

Better than most hollywood movies I'd say, but I haven't played the respective game. I also thought advent children was pretty damn good until I played FF7... that kind of spoiled both for me ;_;.

 

[Gxas]

Better than most hollywood movies I'd say, but I haven't played the respective game. I also thought advent children was pretty damn good until I played FF7... that kind of spoiled both for me ;_;.

There is no respective game for Spirits Within. It was its own story written as a movie.

 

[Charli]

It didn't need Final Fantasy on it's title. That was my problem with it.

 

[Eric the Orange]

I saw it before I played any final fantasy game past 3 (or 6) I was told by many who saw it before me it is it's own story and not related to the games. I didn't really care I usually avoid previews/trailers on purpose because so many ruin a good movie (Hey let's give away the surprise!)

That all being said; I still thought it was a terrible movie. It was generic, corny, confusing story, and for the time period not very well animated. (Shuffling feet!)

*gasp* How dare you disagree with common public opinion!

 

[Ancientgamer]

When I saw it, the only thing I had ever heard or know about FF was bright colors, "fantasy" style storyline, character's with very extravagant clothes, and most importantly, Chocobos. I was always expecting the chocobos.

Needless to say, the opening of the move totally shocked me. But in the end I thought it was a great movie.

 

[IrrelevantTangent]

Unsure. Most reviews of it I've read have said it wasn't that good and I know it earned plenty of flak for its unreal-looking characters. I may be wrong, though.

 

[Brotherofwill]

I can't remember much about this movie except hating it. Strange that it is brought up now with so much praise.