Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

50 percent groundbreaking, breathtaking computer-generated visuals, 30 percent New Age spiritual hokum, 15 percent generic post-apocalyptic science fiction and 5 percent lame action flick clichés, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is such an eccentric amalgam of methods and moods that it's unlikely to leave anyone terribly impressed in the end. While you're likely to be agog at the photo-realistic rendering of landscapes and especially of heroine Dr. Aki Ross (voice of Ming-Na), the supporting players look a little less authentically human, and that lower standard applies to the plot as well. Trying to save the world from an infestation by almost invisible phantom aliens, Dr. Ross opts for a metaphysical mysticism approach: collecting vaguely defined ethereal lifeforces that might counteract the creatures' powers. But a power-mad military villain from central casting (James Woods' voice) demands a blow-stuff-up solution--something Dr. Ross is afraid will "injure the Spirit of the Earth." It's a little frustrating to be so stimulated visually while being spoon-fed incongruous spiritual mumbo jumbo and force-fed incompatible summer movie action sequences to boot. Optional. [Note: While an excellent DVD version can't improve the narrative one iota, the double-disc Final Fantasy DVD is impressive, boasting a stunning direct digital transfer, a pair of audio commentaries, the complete 10-minute "Aki's Dream" sequence, an interactive "making of" documentary (with call out "information pods"), oodles of tech tidbits, blooper outtakes, and more]. (R. Blackwelder)