If you've read Zack and I's article on video game movies, you know that most of them suck already. Before I start the review, I must admit I am a Final Fantasy fan and have played FF1, FF6, FF7, FF8, and FF9.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within deal with a cast of characters that have to get rid of some aliens. But should they capture their souls or use a nuke to destroy most of the planet?

OK, the plot isn't the greatest. The CG in this movie is the best I've seen yet and it manages to look so real part of the time that it's creepy.

What I liked best about this movie, making it the best video game movie made to date, is that it incorporates aspects of the video games into the movie and somehow make it work. One sequence where characters are being chased by aliens and have to shoot at them with a gun on the back of a truck seems like a part from Final Fantasy 7. The character design in general seems inspired from Final Fantasy 8. The main character's plight is from Parasite Eve.

All of the voice-work is very well done. Unfortunately, this beautifully shot and deeper than the usual summer action fest flick is doing poorly at the box office. If there's a sequel, let's hope the script is better.

***1/2 out of ****.

Being an avid fan of the Final Fantasy game series, I had been waiting for this movie to come out. I expected a pretty cool movie, after seeing the trailer. then I actually watched it. Needless to say, I was a tad bit dissappointed. It was basically your standard issue Sci-Fi movie, with a every turn in the movie more predictable than the last. Final Fantasy has always found ways to remain an interesting, involved story. This movie does not. the movie contained some weak dialogue coupled with terrible pacing. The movie only lasted 90 minutes, but it seemed like three times that long. I found myself dozing off at times, of course this could also be because I had been awake for 24 hours, at the time. One of the few good things I can say about this movie, is that it had some good acting, with good performances from Alec Baldwin, and and Steve Buscemi, who's always good. Other than that, though, it was a bit weak, for what I was expecting.

** out of ****