Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within [Special Edition] [2 Discs] [DVD] [2001]

Get ready to be at the center of the ultimate fantasy adventure

Computer animation has sure come a long way since the film Tron was released back in 1982. At the time, it was state of the art. Then came Jurassic Park and its two sequels, James Cameron's revolutionary morphing techniques in The Abyss and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and the countless lesser-known films and commercials that have utilized computer animation for aesthetic and practical reasons. But no one has used computer animation to the extent of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, the first full-length CGI film. And despite what you may think of the film's plot, there is no denying the film's plethora of beautifully stylized alien landscapes and dynamic science fiction visuals. Columbia-TriStar Home Entertainment's two-disc set of the film is packed with hours of extras and more than enough information on every facet that went into producing such a monumental production. The film itself has been given a wonderful transfer to disc, letterboxed at 1.85:1 (enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs), and has also been given a very robust English-language 5.1 Dolby Digital track and a two-channel one. A French-language two-channel option is also available. The picture looks excellent throughout and the film's visual richness and sense of detail really comes off nicely for the home environment. Disc one of the set contains the film and two feature-length commentaries. The first one contains comments from co-director Moto Sakakibara, sequence supervisor Hiroyuki Hayashida, sets and props lead artist Tatsuro Maruyama, and "Phantom" supervisor Takoo Noguchi. The track is not exactly the most enjoyable for the layman, but animation freaks should find more than enough insights to keep them interested. Track two contains comments from the animation director, editor, and the staging director. There is also an isolated score track with commentary by composer Elliot Goldenthal available. The disc also includes production notes, trailers, and much, much more. Disc two contains even more supplemental material, including a very fascinating interactive documentary on the making of the film, multiple workshops which include character bios and more, an alternate opening sequence for the film, and the ability to re-edit a particular scene which allows the viewer to gain an insight into the world of an editor. Also included is a very amusing easter egg which has the character of Aki replicating Michael Jackson's "Thriller." All in all, the set is fantastic and should be a welcome addition to either your science fiction or animation disc collection.