Final Fantasy gamers hope film is more of same

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

Final Fantasy video game fans – from left, Mark Verrey, Ross Yoshino and Milton Streeter – await release of the movie "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within." Associated Press

The real question surrounding the long-in-the-making science fiction adventure opening nationwide today is whether longtime fans of Square's 14-year-old video game series on which the film is based will like what has been done to their favorite role-playing game.

So far, the fans have approved — sort of. Though the film was quietly previewed Monday for Square One employees here, what fans have seen hasn't gone all that much beyond several movie trailers that have painted the film — somewhat deceptively — as a wall-to-wall action adventure light years removed from the somewhat more spiritual game series it remains true to.

"To be honest, I was a little worried that ... (the film) would be some kind of action-packed Jerry Bruckheimer-style film," says Mark Verrey, 21, a decade-long Final Fantasy fanatic, about the trailers. "You know, just another explosion bonanza science fiction movie set in space where a bunch of monsters take over."

When Verrey is told that the plot of "Spirits Within," under the direction of series creator and mastermind Hironobu Sakaguchi, supposedly bears more resemblance to the mythic intellectual quests of each game (where story and character development mean more to players than the number of aliens one kills or the arsenal of weaponry one amasses), he is visibly relieved.

"That makes me feel better," he says with a smile.

Since the release of its first Final Fantasy title in 1987, Square Pictures' Japan-based parent Square Inc. has seen its revenues rise with each near-annual reinvention and reshaping of its flagship role-playing game.

Still Square's largest-selling series, the "Final Fantasy" titles have achieved a cult-like fanaticism in Japan, where per capita sales of each new game are higher than anywhere else in the world and advance orders now number more than a million. The nine-title series has sold more than 33 million units worldwide.

"There isn't any real continuity between the games," says Verrey, a University of Washington computer science major who is home on summer vacation. "Each one is self-contained, with new characters and complicated and well-developed storylines. Because of that lack of continuity, there isn't really anything that Hollywood could screw up. Still, there's always ... (worry) of that happening."

Hawai'i Pacific University English tutor Milton Streeter, 50, is a Final Fantasy VII addict valiantly trying to reach that game's conclusion before purchasing VIII and IX.

"Everything I've read has pointed out that the film is ... (Sakaguchi's) personal vision," says Streeter, playing down the possibility of any large-scale Hollywood-style tinkering of the film for mainstream audiences. "I think it'll stick pretty close to what he actually had in mind for it."

Streeter was even impressed by the action-heavy "Spirits Within" movie trailer.

"Even knowing it was ... (computer-generated imagery), I found myself looking twice to make sure," Streeter says. "That's the mark of some people that took a lot of time and care to come up with their product. If ... (Square) can keep that up for 90 minutes or two hours, I'm all for it."

Still, there's some worry over what effect Square's mostly successful four-year battle to keep everyone in the dark about "Spirits Within" might have on its ultimate box office performance.

"What I think might work against Square is all the secrecy," says Ross Yoshino, 31, a medical tech support specialist who has a collection of seven Final Fantasy titles. "That kind of secrecy worked great for 'Batman,' but everybody already knew who Batman was."

Concurs Verrey: "Square is sort of used to being the George Lucas or Steven Spielberg of video games. All they have to do is (announce a new title) and people will go out and buy it, and game magazines will beat down their door to find out more information. (But) Final Fantasy isn't quite a household word with most ... (moviegoers)."

"I'm not worried about the movie itself," Streeter says. "I'm more worried that it may not find its audience. Because no matter how ambitious it is or how well done it is, if it doesn't reach a certain number of people, there will never be another one."

None of the Final Fantasy fans cared what the critics might say.

"'Tomb Raider' got lambasted, but I enjoyed it because it was an entertaining flick," says Air Force captain Todd Perkins, 35, a video game fan also eagerly awaiting the bow of "Spirits Within." "It wasn't the most cerebral movie around, but I played the game so I know it wasn't meant to be cerebral."

Streeter and Perkins can barely hold back laughter when recalling one jaded movie critic's tirade concerning "Tomb" heroine Lara Croft's film wardrobe.

"One of these guys complained about Lara Croft walking around the Arctic in an open coat," says Perkins. "But anyone who plays the game knows that this is Lara Croft, and SHE DOES THAT!"

You can reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.