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Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within


	Aki, the heroine of The Spirits Within.

After years in development and production, the fully computer-animated Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was released in the US by Sony Pictures on July 11, 2001. Boasting nearly photo-realistic-looking characters and a voice cast including Alec Baldwin, Ming Na, and Donald Sutherland, The Spirits Within was one of the most ambitious animated projects ever undertaken. Unfortunately, Americans didn't flock to see it, and as of mid-September, it had grossed less than $80 million worldwide (compared with production costs rumored to top $140 million). However, the movie seems to be more successful in Japan, a country open to serious animated features. It also might find a bigger audience in the US on DVD. Here are some selected quotes about the film from leading critics:

"The movie's preoccupation with environmental and spiritual concerns makes Final Fantasy a closer cousin to Japanimation films such as Princess Mononoke than loud video-game adaptations like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Mortal Kombat.'" -- Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune

"The backgrounds and settings are less spectacular and sometimes quite pedestrian. But Final Fantasy, despite its conceptual shortfall, is worth seeing, if only to update yourself on what can emerge from a keyboard these days." -- Jay Carr, Boston Globe

"The army-battling floating phantoms in 2065 are the most realistic-looking computer-generated humans the movies have given us, which foreshadows an only mildly compelling story." -- Mike Clark, USA Today

"...as was true of Tron, you may find yourself staring at this film's special effects to gauge their realism--a much more diverting endeavor than following the storyline." -- Elvis Mitchell, The New York Times

"Untethered from the conventions of human-emotion-based storytelling, these computer-created characters represent a cinematic art of the future taking its first baby steps today." -- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

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