Final Fantasy is a strange and unique film experience. Although it is computer animated, it doesn't really feel like a cartoon. On the other hand it doesn't feel like live action either--it falls somewhere in between. One thing is certain--I've never seen anything quite like it on the big screen.

Final Fantasy is based on the video game of the same name and although it does feature some of the trademarks of the popular game, the two have little in common. This dark sci-fi mystery takes place in the future as Earth has been under attack by strange life forms. We have waged war with the strange transparent creatures for years, and can't seem to win the battle. And it seems Dr. Aki Ross may have the key to saving mankind. With the help of military personnel, Aki not only finds herself in a battle with a destructive life form, but an out of control General as well.

There is no doubt about it. Final Fantasy is a visual stunner and features a new style of big screen animation. Nearly every frame of this picture had something that left me awestruck and that's why I'm giving it such a high mark. However, with all the complaints made about the flawed A.I., it should be noted that Final Fantasy lacks much in the logic department. As I left the movie, I thoroughly loved the look of the flick but felt a bit dumbfounded where the story was concerned. Taking a big cue from James Cameron's Aliens (the commradery and dialogue between the military soldiers seems to be directly lifted from the brilliant sci-fi epic) and Stanley Kubrick's 2001 (evolutionary steps, and dreamlike sequences etc.), Final Fantasy is constantly bogged down by some melodramatic dialogue and some terribly hokey scenes.

Final Fantasy has rounded up an all star vocal cast. Ming-Na (T.V.'s ER) didn't quite work for me as Aki. However, as stock as the rest of the cast was, I really enjoyed them. Following a hammy and extremely over the top turn in Pearl Harbor, Alec Baldwin has a fun time as bulky Captain Gray (to keep the Pearl Harbor references going, this character seems to be modeled after Ben Affleck). Steve Buschemi is the smart ass soldier, making for what little comic relief this picture has. The rest of the cast is rounded out by the likes of James Woods, Ving Rhames, and Donald Sutherland.

I really liked the mood of Final Fantasy. It has a dark, mysterious edge yet the story never fully worked for me. Still, this is definitely breathtaking to look at. With it's almost life like characters, swift action sequences, and epic scope, Final Fantasy is one of the best looking pictures of the year.