Details

Movie Description Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (who also created the best-selling series of video games that inspired the film), the groundbreaking FINAL FANTASY, which stars a startlingly lifelike cast of animated characters, is the first photo-realistic computer-generated feature film ever made. In the year 2065, Earth has been taken over by a race of alien phantoms and transformed into a barren wasteland sprinkled with dome-enclosed barrier cities--the last remaining bastions of human civilization. Dr. Aki Ross (voiced by actress Ming-Na) has teamed up with Captain Gray Edwards (Alec Baldwin) to search for the "eighth spirit," a powerful entity dwelling in an unknown life form somewhere on the planet. It holds the key to perfecting a system of energy waves that will neutralize the phantoms. Ross's opponent is the reckless General Hein (James Woods), who is determined to put a stop to the alien invasion by firing a satellite cannon directly into a nest of phantoms located deep within the Earth, even though this could mean obliterating the planet itself and all life upon it.
Film Notes DVD Features:
Region 1 Keep Case 2-Disc Set Disc One: Widescreen- 1.85 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1- English Dolby Digital 2.0- French Additional Release Material: Audio Commentary- 1. Motonori Sakakibara- Co-Director, Hiroyuki Hayashida- Sequence Supervisor, Tatsuro Maruyama- sets and props lead artist, Takao Noguchi- Phantom Supervisor 2. Andy Jones- Animation director, Chris S. Capp- Editor, Tani Kunitake- Staging Director Trailers Isolated Score with commentary by composer Elliot Goldenthal Storyboard/Playblast selects of the film with optional filmmaker commentary or subtitled factoids Interactive Features: Interactive Animated Menus Scene Selection with motion images Text/Photo Galleries: Production Notes
Disc 2: Widescreen- 1:85 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1- English Dolby Digital 2.0- French Additional Release Material: THE MAKING OF FINAL FANTASY- Original Interactive Documentary featuring Music Video, Alternate Opening Sequence, AKI'S DREAM Mini-Movie Face Wraps Character Morphs FINAL FANTASY Shuffler Film Editor Interactive Features Interactive Menus Text/Photo Galleries: Compositing Builds Vehicle Scale Comparisons Character Files Matte Art Exploration Sets and Props DVD-Rom Features: Complete Screenplay Vitual Tour of Square Pictures Screensaver Weblinks
Theatrical Release: JULY 11, 2001
Industry Reviews "...The visual effects are wondrous..." New York Times - p.E1 - Elvis Mitchell
"...A visual marvel....The emotional kick wouldn't be much stronger were it populated with people..." USA Today - p.7D - Mike Clark
"...Visually impressive....[The] voicing is solid down the line....[The film] evinces a craftsmanlike fastidiousness throughout all levels of production..." Variety - p.20 - Todd McCarthy
"...A mesmerizing technical achievement....These computer-created characters represent a cinematic art of the future....It's a great wow..." Entertainment Weekly - p.42 - Lisa Schwarzbaum
"...The film exerts a hold..." Rolling Stone - p.70 - Peter Travers
"...Those being inducted to FINAL FANTASY through THE SPIRITS WITHIN will marvel at the technical expertise of game-producer-turned-director Hironobu Sakaguchi..." Sight and Sound - p.42-3 - Dan Mayers
"...Sci-fi fans and programmers will find it hard to contain their glee as battleships explode in vibrant shades of orange and red....The alien phantoms, luminous and ethereal, are both beautiful and terrifying..." Total Film - p.88-9 - Nicky Agate
4 stars out of 5 -- "This was a groundbreaking movie that triumphantly unveiled realistic virtual humans..." Ultimate DVD - Ultimate DVD Staff (04/01/2008)
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