The Biggest Flop of 2001

Look at any list of the biggest box office flops and you’ll find Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Considering its $137 million budget and $85 million box office, it’s easy to see why. Reviews ranged from mixed to negative, many praising its cutting-edge animation but also panning its bland story and boring characters.

20 years following its premiere in July 2001, do these opinions ring true? No.

The Spirits Within certainly has enough flaws to prevent it from being called a classic, however the film has a lot more to offer than pretty animation. So in the period of the film’s 20th anniversary, The Spirits Within shall be reassessed, determining which elements hold up and which do not.

What Holds Up

Along with the video game franchise it was based on, the ground-breaking photo-realistic animation was the film’s biggest selling point. While the characters are far from resembling actual humans, the animation has aged well. There are a few instances where characters’ eyes look a little off, especially when they blink but as the film progresses and you get into the story, you get used to it. You just accept it.

And the score by Elliot Goldenthal is incredible.

The Spirits Within takes place in 2065. Earth has been overrun by ghost-like aliens known as Phantoms. Our protagonist is scientist Aki Ross (voiced by Minga-Na Wen of Mulan fame) who hopes to stop the Phantom infestation by collecting eight unique spirits and using their combined energy patterns to negate the Phantoms. At the beginning of the film she already has the first six, the rest of the story tracks her struggle to locate the last two.

Contrary to what the critics said, The Spirits Within is actually pretty well written. The first act prioritizes worldbuilding over character, which makes perfect sense in the long run as we see how the characters are reflections of the world. We learn about the Phantoms and their physicality (footnote: the creature designs for the Phantoms are amazing, their look is really original for the time and arguably even for today). We learn about humanity and how they’ve adapted to the Phantom occupation, from energy powered weapons to energy powered fields that cover whole cities. While it has some similarities to the landscapes of Terminator and Blade Runner, like the creatures that inhabit it, the world of The Spirits Within has a unique and very credible look.

Aki Ross grows on you as a protagonist. When we meet her, she is simply a determined scientist. As the plot develops however, we realize that her mission has a personal dimension. She’s carries a Phantom, the six spirits she's collected so far stabilizing it within her. It causes her to dream of the Phantoms and their history. Knowing that the infection will eventually kill her, she’s hell-bent on finding the meaning of her dreams and how they’ll help in finding the last two spirits. You understand Aki’s quest but you’re not really invested in it until the other characters are pulled in.

The squad of soldiers Aki is grouped with have good chemistry, you believe in their family-like bond. The leader of the squad, Gray (Alec Baldwin) is one of the most empathetic characters as he starts out flawed and by the end undergoes a dramatic change. He and Aki were once together and while he does care about her, he’s also skeptical of her theories.

What holds up about The Spirits Within is not limited to its visuals and worldbuilding. As a narrative it has power. It’s a story about how embracing death and believing in a better world beyond is the greatest thing we can do as human beings. The film’s ending is a testament to that; Gray uses his spirit as a filter to carry Aki’s completed wave through the alien Gaia, allowing the Phantoms to find peace and ascend into space, saving the world.

What Doesn't

One of the biggest flaws with the script for The Spirits Within is how it conveys exposition. This is unfortunate as the world and science of the film is legitimately fascinating. Most of it is revealed verbally in long techno-babbles, which make the film’s themes harder to understand and appreciate. You can see how audiences zoned out during these speeches back in 2001.

Another unfortunate flaw is the film’s primary antagonist, General Hein (voiced by James Woods). The film’s age becomes apparent here as Hein is basically every villain from every animated film from the 90s'. The reason why this is unfortunate is that there are instances where you can see the script is trying to flesh him out as a three-dimensional character. Like the other characters, the Phantom infestation has marked Hein. In one poignant scene we learn that he lost his wife and daughter during the Phantoms’ initial attack. Hein isn’t greedy or pure evil, he has the same mission as Aki, what makes him the antagonist are his methods. He expresses remorse when one of his plans inadvertently leads to a barrier city being overrun by Phantoms, whispering “what have I done.” He even attempts suicide following the incident. If he had more human moments like this, and didn’t look and sound like the devil, General Hein could’ve been just as interesting as Aki and Gray.

Another sign of the film’s age is the comic relief. As I stated earlier the squad have good chemistry but some of their quips, particularly those from Fleming (Steve Buscemi) feel really 90s’ and fall flat.

To Conclude

In an age where it seems all sci-fi has to be expanded universes with numerous sequels and spin-offs, The Spirits Within is a precious memory of a time where fantastical worlds were constructed to tell a single grand story. The Spirits Within has no sequel. No direct ones at least. It exists on its own. Forever.

The biggest flaws in the film aren’t really internal but more circumstantial. The two-dimensional villain and slightly dated animation are common flaws of films from that era.

Its box office performance should not be its only legacy. 20 years later Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within plays as a melancholic standalone sci-fi epic that paved the way for CGI, created a unique world, produced empathetic characters and explored themes rarely touched in epic sci-fi. If you saw it when it came out or have not seen it at all, it is worth revisiting. You'll see something new.