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New Final Fantasy Movie
This is an amazing movie, one that suffers from being too good for it's own sake.

What I mean by that is, for 90% of the movie you won't even notice that you are looking at computer animation. But 90% that is great makes the other 10% all the more bothersome. You'll just be getting fully into the movie and it will be blown by a speaking scene that is wrong. The constant falling into the movie's mood and then being knocked out greatly reduced the enjoyment level for me.

And it's the speaking roles where it falls down. The movement of the lips just isn't quite right. The effect is rather jarring though, because we are so sensitive to such things.

This movie is at it's best when it throws something at you that causes you to just marvel at the level of realism achived. Some of the scenes are so realistic, I think people would have trouble telling them from films of similar real places and things.

Plot wise, it's pure Final Fantasy. Rather simplistic compared to the games, but following the same theme. Science and technology on top, but mystical at it's core. It doesn't have the quasi-medival armor and sword play found in the games though.

Overall, I would give it a 6 out 10. If you like computer animation or like the Final Fantasy games then you'll probably enjoy the moive. But it won't make a great lasting impression on you.

Jay
New Never played the games
The mystical part of the film surprised me. From the trailer, it looked like more of an action SF kind of story. (Especially with the shots of the 'space marines') As for the plot, when I'm asked to describe it I tell folks that it's 'very Japanese'. It reminds me of an anime. (Of course, 'The Matrix' reminded me of an anime as well.)

But I enjoyed it immensely and really got into the storyline while still marvelling at the absolutely gorgeous overall look of the film. I found myself actually caring about the characters. (So much so that I got misty when the female space marine died.)

The voices were well-cast. It was a kick to hear Steve Buscemi as well as Peri Gilpin (Roz from Frasier). I think Peri has a very sexy voice which can also be quite commanding. The basso tones of Ving Rhames were welcome as well.

I'm not sure why some folks (mostly movie critics) seem to be down on this movie. I suspect that they had trouble following the story and that seems to irritate film critics no end.

New Critics who are down don't understand the Japanese story
Americans simply aren't used to having major portions of the plot be so dependent upon mysticism and symbolism. Watching a bird fly away after the death of a major character is unfortunately what most Americans would call "anti-climactic"; but here it is the entire resolution of the climax.

As far as the lip-synching goes (answering the previous post), I have to say that it was so much better than almost anything else out there, that I really enjoyed it--it wasn't jarring to me at all (okay, after the first 30 seconds :).
That's her, officer! That's the woman that programmed me for evil!
New I'll say...
Americans simply aren't used to having major portions of the plot be so dependent upon mysticism and symbolism.

I just say "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and the ending was a bit odd to me.
Jay O'Connor

"Going places unmapped
to do things unplanned
to people unsuspecting"
New That's how I've been describing the film...
as very Japanese. This was quite a surprise to me after seeing the previews that painted it as some kind of animated version of 'Aliens'. Unfortunately, at the time I saw it, the audience consisted mostly of teenage boys who seemed a bit put off by the plot. I've been recommending this film to folks who got the wrong idea from the preview.

In a sense, it's kind of a 'chick flick'. At least, my wife liked it.

I've also found that many critics have trouble following the plots of sf/fantasy movies and on that basis give them lower marks. (for example, Siskel had this problem but Ebert didn't.)


New Interesting point.
About sci-fi/fantasy plots, I mean.

I'm part of a community theatre company* and the previous play we did was called "Communicating Doors". It involved time-travel as a fairly important plot-device via a door in a hotel suite - hence the title. But that made it a little unusual for much of our normal clientele, since they weren't used to that sort of thing. Oh, it was well-scripted, though it allowed history to be altered - not the way it should work by my way of thinking - but I remember my Dad couldn't follow it, even though he practically saw all 6 performances (he does the tech for it).

Hmm.

Wade.

* They used to be called amateur theatre.

"All around me are nothing but fakes
Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"

New Huh?
Plot wise, it's pure Final Fantasy. Rather simplistic compared to the games, but following the same theme

So..we have a movie based on a video game...and the plot of the movie is more simplistic than the plot of the video game ?!?!
Jay O'Connor

"Going places unmapped
to do things unplanned
to people unsuspecting"
New Attention spans ain't...what.. errr... I forgot.
New Not too surprising...
...the Final Fantasy series of games are known for fairly intricate plotlines, with tons of subplots, sidquests etc...

Just take the central plot of a FF, and you'd have a movie-length story.
New I can believe this.
FF8 comes on 4 CDs! It is a *big* story.

Wade.

"All around me are nothing but fakes
Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"

     Final Fantasy Movie - (JayMehaffey) - (9)
         Never played the games - (tjsinclair) - (4)
             Critics who are down don't understand the Japanese story - (tseliot) - (3)
                 I'll say... - (Fearless Freep)
                 That's how I've been describing the film... - (tjsinclair) - (1)
                     Interesting point. - (static)
         Huh? - (Fearless Freep) - (3)
             Attention spans ain't...what.. errr... I forgot. -NT - (addison)
             Not too surprising... - (inthane-chan)
             I can believe this. - (static)

The LRPD wots of things you wot not of.
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