reel critics

“Final Fantasy” represents the current state of the art in

computer-generated animation. How good is it? So good that it is

initially disconcerting to see voices you easily recognize such as Alec

Baldwin, Ving Rhames, James Woods and Peri Gilpin emanating from “other”

people. The film’s ultra-realistic depiction of humans has caused some to

ponder if human actors are now dispensable.

The film opens in the year 2065. A meteor crashed into the earth some

years before unleashing millions of phantom aliens. The aliens have

decimated all living matter and are on the verge of destroying the planet

entirely. The few survivors live in scattered “barrier cities,” or

fortified man-made ecosystems.

The film is based on a story by Director Hironobu Sakaguchi with Al

Reinert and Jeff Vintar receiving screenplay credits. The plot is

serviceable and carries the considerable action reasonably well, though

things do get a bit metaphysical and “touchy-feely” at times. The story

really exists as a mere framework for displaying the incredible visuals.

According to the film’s informative Web site o7

(https://www.finalfantasy.comf7 ), “Final Fantasy” is based on entirely

original designs and no real locations, people, vehicles, or props were

used. Over four years in the making, 200 artists from 20 countries worked

on the project.

As anyone who has seen the trailer knows, “Final Fantasy” is visually

breathtaking. This film has a high “wow” factor that causes one to notice

and admire the smallest details. The non-character elements such as the

barrier city, vehicles and alien planets, are incredibly realistic. If

you like animation and science fiction, you will love “Final Fantasy.”

The debate over “cyber actors” aside, “Final Fantasy” should be

appreciated as a fully realized artistic vision.

* VINCENT A. (VAN) NOVACK, 48, is the director of institutional

research at Cal State Long Beach.

‘Blonde’ proves perky and fun

“Legally Blonde” is an entertaining fish out of water tale

transplanting a perky and friendly west coast fashion major to the sedate

hallowed halls of Harvard Law School.

On the surface the hero of the story, Elle Woods, appears superficial

with a little too much air between the ears. How seriously do you take

someone who dresses up her Chihuahua for every occasion? Elle Woods

(Reese Witherspoon) quickly dispels any misconceptions about blonds

lacking intelligence. No one is able to take advantage of her except for

her boyfriend, her one blind spot.

When Elle’s boyfriend breaks it off because she is too much Marilyn

Monroe and not enough Jackie O. the story takes off cross country to

Harvard. Elle switches from fashion to law school and sets her sites on

proving him wrong in order to win him back.

“Legally Blonde” is “Clueless” meets “My Cousin Vinny.” Like the

heroes in those movies, Elle is likable yet lacks respect from others

holding positions of power. Her parents are more shocked than impressed,

her professor sees Elle as unprepared and her ex-boyfriend figures she’s

not serious about a career in law.

That’s just the jolting wake up call Elle requires to prove everyone

wrong to the point of earning an intern position on a murder case.

While far fetched, the film provides all the essential ingredients for

a fun romp. There are the supportive friends and cohorts Elle meets along

the way who encouraging her when her spirit sags under the weight of

school and meeting her ex-boyfriend’s fiance. Luke Wilson (“Never Been

Kissed”) as the friendly lawyer, Holland Taylor (“The Practice”) as the

strict but wise professor and Selma Blair (“Cruel Intentions”) as the

quintessential snob enhance the story with their performances. Usually in

comedies of this fare the supporting cast can be the scene stealers. In

“Legally Blonde” they all bow to Witherspoon, allowing her character to

remain the focal point.

“Legally Blonde” is worth the price of admission. The trials and

tribulations addressed in the film are universal issues, easy to identify

with and dealt with in a positive fashion. Whatever your age or gender

forget your troubles, call a friend and go enjoy the show.* PEGGY J.

ROGERS, 39, produces commercial videos and documentaries.

‘Score’ wins no points for suspense

The two godfathers together at last in one movie. Can it get any

better than this?

Well, I certainly hope so.

In “The Score” Robert De Niro plays Nick, a jewel thief and safe

cracker, who in the opening credits shows what a true professional he is.

Marlon Brando plays Max, his fence, who wants Nick to do one more job.

Edward Norton plays Jack who has gotten a job as a janitor at the

Montreal Customs House by pretending to be mentally impaired. Their goal

is to steal a French scepter inside the customs house that is worth

millions.

With a movie like this you naturally expect things not to go as

planned. It doesn’t disappoint in that area. Where it does go wrong is in

an inadequate screenplay that doesn’t generate any kind of suspense at

all. While it is certainly satisfying seeing a movie that doesn’t use car

crashes or special effects to carry the story along, in a movie about a

heist the key word should be suspense. I didn’t feel any kind of tension

or edge-of-your-seat nerves you should expect from this kind of film. It

was as if the writers decided to take you on a roller coaster but left

out the turns and the sudden drops. The final job at the customs house

makes you feel like you have been there before, know what was going to

happen and couldn’t care less.De Niro is incapable of giving a bad

performance. He can take any character and shape him into his own. He and

Angela Bassett, who plays his girlfriend, are the only convincing roles

in the movie. Brando gives a very poor imitation of Sidney Greenstreet.

He should have watched “The Maltese Falcon” before taking on this role.

Norton, even with his considerable talent, needs to learn the old axiom

that less is more.

Unfortunately, even De Niro can’t salvage a weak script with virtually

no support from his fellow actors.

* Larry Nolte, 59, is a retired United Airlines employee.