Before the theater release of The Spirits Within, we all knew Squaresoft could pump out amazing Computer Generated Images (CGI) as seen in the cut-scenes from games. Somewhere in the early press for The Spirits Within, it was clear that the gaming crew was not working on the movie, and that the team for the movie wasn?t in any way a ?best of? from the gaming side. Really, the technology seems to have been the one constant, along with a design esthetic and attention to detail that flows through almost anything associated with the Square name. The resulting movie was not hollow or pointless, like so many movies inspired by video games, but it failed to draw big crowds or revenue. We could speculate forever on why things happened this way, but if Square doesn?t end up fronting too many other movies, we?ll still definitely see them pop up in CGI productions everywhere. If nothing else, The Spirits Within was one mother of a technology demo! With the disappointing results of the movie?s release behind us, the Special Edition DVD is anything but a let-down. Loved the movie? You?ll flip over this. Were okay with the movie, but probably only went to see it because your friend was a huge fan? If you like cool DVD features, you?ll still flip over this.
The part about ?filmless digital files? means they burned this one direct from the source, and images come through with a clarity far better than the version we saw in theaters. As a result, The Spirits Within is crisp and as good, if not better, than any print you saw on film; a benefit of the filmless technology working from end-to-end. It?s crisp, clean, and in widescreen! Menus pop off the screen and scenes actually animate from the index page of thumbnails. There?s more production quality and detail work in the menus and presentation of this DVD than should be allowed. It would be fun to play with, even if the movie were sold separately. And, that?s just the first disc! When you?re done watching the movie, switch discs to see feature-length commentaries on all aspects of the production, creation and filming of the final version. The musical score is a nice touch behind the scenes, as are the many storyboard views of the film?s early progress, and catalogues of the detail that went into making Aki?s world look real. Plugged in with a DVD-ROM capable PC, you?ll obviously be able to watch the movie, but also look for the complete movie screenplay, a screensaver, and a virtual tour of the production studios at Square. Neat interactive features like adjustable scene sequences and the ability to tweak pieces of a scene for playback make The Spirits Within engaging long after you finish the movie.
For those who missed the release in theaters, The Spirits Within takes us somewhere between high technology and high mysticism. In a failed world struggling to stay alive after apocalypse, teams of scientists look for pieces to a puzzle that might get the human race back on track. Of course, the military has ideas of their own, hoping to solve problems with brute strength and firepower. The clash of cultures, along with a rather hot scientist named Aki, lead to some terrific battles and a strong love interest. The twists we find are enjoyable, but if the ?post-apocalyptic, girl-boy fight to save the world against scheming dictator? concept feels played out, you?re not alone. Trite storyline or not, The Spirits Within DVD edition is almost ridiculously loaded with special features, making it a DVD buff?s hot, must-own item. Poking around will reward careful viewers, and just when you think you?ve exhausted every feature on the feature-packed second DVD, you discover something else. And, the DVD-ROM features may leave PS2 people out in the cold for now, but things like the screenplay help take the movie to another level. With so many options, those lukewarm about The Spirits Within in theaters may still find themselves really taking a shine to owning this DVD.
I don?t have to tell you that the movie is total eye-candy, but watching it a few times may give you the weird feeling I keep having when I mistake the views for models or real-life locations. This is nothing but CGI, and lots of it. Don?t get this for the story, but do get it to understand more about this awesome milestone in the world of cinematic CGI. Just as Square continues to break new gaming ground with each release of Final Fantasy, we?ll no doubt look back on The Spirits Within as a harbinger of things to come. Real actors won?t go away (unfortunately...), but I?ll take Aki as my virtual dream girl for 500, Alex! I hope we see more (and I mean that in every way possible) of the smart and sexy Dr. Aki.
