Reviews

It's a pity this movie failed at the box office, because in my opinion, it's really good. It combines combines the classic dystopic sci-fi future with a scorched Earth, a few heroes struggling against enigmatic aliens and a corrupt military force, action style sequences that are at times quite intense, and the typical slow-paced Asian movie storytelling. Add to this a rich amount of influences from the FF games, including eight mysterious spirits that must be found in time or the heroine will succumb, as well as a lot of mythological references that must be taken for granted rather than analysed to bits if the viewer is to find any pleasure in this film.

The trouble is that the FF video game fans wanted a story based on the games, or on their particular favourite in the series, and were disappointed with both the story, the setting and the characters. The average sci-fi movie fan, though, who ought to have loved the wicked general (excellently voice-cast by James Woods) and his huge space cannon, as well as the 'Aliens' styled surroundings and technology, was put off by all the talk about spirits and world souls. Leaving for a few of us who went to see the film with no real expectations, to enjoy it.

Because it is a good film. The animation is, for the most part, excellent, even if some scenes have a too blatant 'look what we can do' boast to them. Particularly all the scenes of Aki's hair waving in the wind. Personally, I didn't think the story was either too slow-paced, nor too weird. It works well, especially if you like Asian movies. For the European and American market, though, there's probably not enough action and too much talking.

If this movie had been released this year, it would probably have been given a better reception. The thought of fully computer animated films isn't as new and strange anymore, and with films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Ring and Hero, the west is opening up for the Asian way of telling stories. I hope to see more films like this, at least if they are this well made. 9/10

To think that this movie was made one year after Jurassic Park was released... yet the special effects look like something that would have been rejected from an old Adam West-age Batman episode. Low-class photographic effects are mixed with cartoon animation, as if the editing stopped at storyboard stage.

Now, crappy special effects doesn't necessarily make a movie bad, there are lots of good films that were made with minimal effects budgets, but here all things add up to be wore than bad.

The script is awful, the dialogue even worse. The acting is really bad and the characters are remarkably flat considering they are based on well fleshed-out comic characters. A multi-facetted villain like Dr Doom is here just a laughing maniac, with no shred of the style and poise of the original character.

The scenography is as bad as the special effects. Dr Richards's lab looks like something out of the old Star Trek series, and the Batman TV series comparison is still not far off.

No, this should not have been made, everyone involved should have been spared this horrible movie, including those of us who have yawned our way through it. I have little more hope for the new movie, except for maybe a classier production, but at least it won't be this bad. It can't be. Barely nothing can.

A gloriously crazy film, superb acting all over the line and so funny you'll laugh every time you see it. Possibly the last truly funny Swedish movie (sadly). 10 out of 10, and a golden star to Hans Alfredson for his wonderful portrayal of the old gobbledygook-speaking fisherman.

This has got to be one of the worst movies ever made. Lousy story, pathetic script and poor acting, even by great names like Margaretha Krook. Simply as bad as they come. Watch it, then regret it for the rest of your life.