Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)

Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi. Starring (voices) Ming-Na Wen, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, James Woods, Steve Buscemi, Peri Gilpin, Ving Rhames, Keith David, Jean Simmons, Matt McKenzie. [PG-13]

Ambitious effort to create the first photorealistic computer-animated motion picture is set about sixty years in the future after Earth is beset by an invasion of ghost-like aliens known as “Phantoms.” A scientist (Wen) and military officer (Baldwin) defy the planet’s council and a hawkish general (Woods) by endeavoring to understand and make peace with the otherworldly beings. Lustrous visuals and epic dimensions are at the service of a dramatically inert narrative built out of familiar sci-fi tropes, one-dimensional characters, and stilted dialogue. The “uncanny valley” is unmistakable in the character design and rendering, and at no point is one likely to forget they’re watching computer trickery; hollow eyes and inexpressive facial movements make even the more energetic vocal performances seem stiff and disengaged (and the fact that the features are so polished and detailed only makes it more distracting to hear so many instantly-recognizable voices coming from between their sluggish computer-generated lips). Inspired by the titular RPG video game anthology series, but otherwise bears no relation to any of the storylines or recurring motifs—what, no chocobos? Moogles? They don’t even spell Sutherland’s doctor’s name right! A box office flop that led to the demise of Square Pictures, the short-lived motion picture branch of video game company SquareSoft (Square Co., Ltd.).

41/100