Final Fantasy: The Ultimate Epic - The First Saga

Greg Strnad's two hour epic fittingly requires an epic review to compliment the mammoth task of writing and directing the four year production. One of a kind and seemingly bettered only by the later work done since its beginnings in 1999, Greg spends the best part of two hours adapting a novel of his own invention, and surely with such visual flair and dynamic direction on display here the film succeeds on every level? Sadly not every level. Where FF:UE falls flat it makes up for with the action set pieces, superb storytelling and slick production values. A shame then that when FF shows weakness they're difficult to forget. That is until you're launched into the undisputed underworld of events. Often matched but rarely bettered, the 'epic' is somewhat of a legend around here, directors nowadays just too lazy to make something as heavy duty as FF:UE. With that in mind, god bless Greg Strnad: this is his world and he's playing by his rules. Not that there's anything wrong with that, FF is fast-paced, action-packed, meaningful, deep and often very breathtaking.

While the camerawork and mise en scene of the movie is highly innovative, it's not without its flaws. In a scene full of some nicely placed camerawork, interesting angles and relevant pans and zooms to add to the intriguing storyline, plain angles and straight-on cuts sneak in which essentially ruins the effect at times. This repeatedly makes Greg's work harder as a director because of such imbalance, and thus scenes that follow require novel inaugirations to reinforce the effect of the narrative. This is most evident in the earlier chapters, indeed the first chapter is both blessed and cursed boasting some fantastic security camera views complete with static that badly juxtaposes with a consistent straight angle in the projector sequence. Chapter six also suffers as a result, a long conversation boasting only a few angles. However, its safe to say Greg really can tell a great story, his direction key to the narrative. The action scenes (particularly Chapter two's gun battle) illustrates this skill, serving as potential highlights in an otherwise well-written interaction movie. When the movie gets going in active sequences it really gets going, and again helps to keep the story fresh and absorbing, a requisite element in order to maintain viewer's attention for FF's runtime.

Although straight angles consistently prove a problem in this wide-angled universe the scenery is all nicely detailed, moderate where focus is unrequired and compelling in all the right places. FF is incredibly watchable as a result of such clarity because it fortifies the world the movie takes place in and adds to the recreation during the action scenes. The bar-room brawl is very entertaining (if not for the running gag of the pianist playing the 'brawl music' midi tune). This makes for a very adequate compliment to the storytelling and an example of why FF is so watchable. It's appeal certainly won't be unrequited in the viewer's minds, rather their own excitement matches the director's conscious decision to make the movie directly.

At times the script falters. Sometimes characters may think or say things that seem out of place in accordance to the character, or express mannerisms or poorly placed expository dialogue that are ill-timed, reflecting on the human condition. For instance in Chapter four, the characters contrast each other by bouncing off anger and serenity, just as quickly the roles swap and the viewer is left with a jaded sense of who these characters are and their own motivations. The script sometimes fails to highlight personal goals and direct morals, sacrificing these ideas for a clear narrative structure. Although setting out the movie as chapters does help with these flaws it is only later in the movie when the sub-plots converge that these clefts are redeemed.

FF:UE is a hugely visual movie. Greg has a real talent for the display of kinetic energy and some genuinely energising eye candy, hence the magic and various explosive set pieces in the film. By Chapter seven Greg enjoys himself with a fast-paced pursuit, and its about this point in the movie that you appreciate exactly what makes the movie so visually stunning. The car chase, now an iconic moment in the movie, is brilliant to watch purely from a personal point of view because it illustrates the genuine thrills and spills of a hi-octane rollercoaster ride. Recognising this Strnad has filled FF chock full of sequences that share the same power, and this is where FF hold its own against other movies in the genre Greg so lovingly referred to as "science fantasy" in the accompanying read-me. It's this kind of exhilarating experience that makes 3dmm so fun in the first place. FF is one of the few movies that have successfully demonstrated not only how entertaining it can be but also why the program is still used by us amateurs, which indeed links to the creation of this institution.

By the end of the experience, Greg Strnad hasn't finished. Believe it or not, three little words sum up the epicness of this story: to. be. continued. You've got to admire Greg for the lack of subtlety and cringe at the work the director has yet ahead in order to finish his masterpiece work. So the real critical question: is Final Fantasy: The Ultimate Epic any good? It's a difficult question to answer. Personally the movie certainly lives up to its name, whether it's comparing with the expanse of the game's worlds or not Greg has crafted a living breathing environment worthy of the subheading. Matched with an enthuasiastic and contagious style, FF makes for stirring viewing. Critically though, FF:UE comes burdened with fault, heightened only further by the sheer weight of everything good. At times the film feels dangerously uneven, and from a critical point of view its disheartening to watch. On another note, sometimes the story trips under its own weight, barely able to shoulder the immense of task of motivating and developing these characters in a film already crammed full of plot details and set pieces. This by no degree makes FF a bad film, but rather a jaded and convoluted one, even for its two hour runtime.

I really enjoyed the movie. No doubt it is a 3dmm classic already. But critically, highlighting where it has faltered serves to remind me of the fatigued viewing affair on offer. It deserves so many different scores as a result. But ultimately, such an enormous task as is on display here deserves everyone's personal opinion rather than the more potentially dissonant one. Science Fantasy indeed, and one of a kind. Remember that as Greg has evidently done, and FF:UE will remain an amazing experience.