Well it worked well enough with that other movie based on Final Fantasy might have to give this latest one a go. Not a major fan of the series but thats mainly because it requires and ps2 (or a very old version of final fantasy) to play it. Probably would have given it a go if that wasn't the case. Its one of those games you can lose yourself in for days on end, which was something I enjoyed a lot in the high days of the point and click Quests.

I love this movie, it came out in Japan last year and has taken until this month to be released on DVD over here.

Some of the fight scenes do get a bit "matrix sequel" which is NEVER a good thing, but you can forgive that (and the "japaneseness" of the plot) cos most of it is so amazing.

The animation is fantastic, and it's quite easy to lose yourself in the gameworld and forget you're a) watching a movie and b) it's all computer graphics.

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by MonSTeRSome of the fight scenes do get a bit "matrix sequel"

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funnily enough, when i went to see the matrix in manchester, halfway through my mate turned to me and muttered "its all gone a bit playstation"...

Yeah the Japanese version had sold over 9 million copies worldwide. I heard it was even shown at the Venice film festival. I just that means people recognize it for reasons other than being a cool fan flick.

The game is definitely something that you can get lost in. I've had people tell me that they played the game until they became physicaly ill! I agree somtimes you forget you're watching computer animation because it is so realistic. But the fact that people can't fly through the air and slam through buildings and survive brings you back to reality rather quickly, haha.

I also think this movie far surpasses the older FF Spitits Within. It is much more closely connected to the Final Fantasy series and the story is continued from the game FF7.

I sat through a bootleg DVD of this film whilst at someone's flat in Blackburn last year. I haven't played video games as a matter of habit since I was about 16, and I've never played a Final Fantasy title in my life.

So whilst the three people I was with were into the plot head first, I didn't have a flamin' clue from start to finish, and was just sat back watching the pretty animation and the Matrix-esque fight scenes - even if it was all one big load of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

But the film's not actually meant as an introduction to the narrative, and isn't pretending to be.

Clueless about it though I may've been, it actually made a fairly pleasant change change to watch a cross-media franchise film that hadn't blown its content open to almost patronising levels to nursemaid new fans in.

That means that the film's actually focusing on the story that it wants to tell, and presumably the story that an existing fan would want to see. Which I could grudgingly respect over just another attempt to grab revenue from an established name.

(Edited by Samanfur 12/05/2006 12:16)

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by Samanfur
I sat through a bootleg DVD of this film whilst at someone's flat in Blackburn last year. I haven't played video games as a matter of habit since I was about 16, and I've never played a Final Fantasy title in my life.

So whilst the three people I was with were into the plot head first, I didn't have a flamin' clue from start to finish, and was just sat back watching the pretty animation and the Matrix-esque fight scenes - even if it was all one big load of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

But the film's not actually meant as an introduction to the narrative, and isn't pretending to be.

Clueless about it though I may've been, it actually made a fairly pleasant change change to watch a cross-media franchise film that hadn't blown its content open to almost patronising levels to nursemaid new fans in.

That means that the film's actually focusing on the story that it wants to tell, and presumably the story that an existing fan would want to see. Which I could grudgingly respect over just another attempt to grab revenue from an established name.

(Edited by Samanfur 12/05/2006 12:16)

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Well the movie is probably more appreciated by those who have played the game and know the story/characters but at the same time I think it has a universal appeal. A few people I saw the movie with had never even heard of Final Fantasy and they were just as engrossed as those who had. It is much easier to follow the story dubbed in English and not reading subtitles gives you more of an opportunity to take in the film as a whole.

The OH bought it and I gave it a chance but I just couldn't follow it. I think it definitely helps to know who is who and what the hell is going on. Both of which I had no idea of, so eventually I fell asleep.

Maybe I will have to play the game and then watch it.

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by misskittyfantastic
The OH bought it and I gave it a chance but I just couldn't follow it.

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VG & I kinda had the same issue.... Lets just say a lot of "do you still follow this" and "huh?!?"'s were uttered while watching it. Animation was good though