REEL CRITICS

Realistic animation and no cutesy plot for ‘Final Fantasy’

“Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” takes a cinematic risk by telling

a dramatic tale with realistically animated characters. For American

movie audiences, animation is strictly kid stuff. So if you go into this

film expecting singing teapots, you’ll be disappointed.

Dr. Aki Ross (Ming-Na) is searching for the last remaining spirit

waves -- rare Earth-based life forms that survived a deadly invasion of

aliens. In 2065, humans have been driven to barrier cities and are

working to discover the one weapon that will annihilate the invaders.

Aki and her mentor, Dr. Sid (Donald Sutherland), support the

controversial “Gaia Theory.” They believe that all Earth-based life forms

are born from and return to Gaia, the Earth’s soul. If they can harness

Gaia energy by collecting the spirit waves, it can be used to counteract

and destroy the invaders.

However, General Hein (James Woods), obsessed with vengeance and

glory, sabotages Aki and Dr. Sid so that he can use the Zeus Cannon

against the aliens -- at the price of destroying the Earth. With the help

of her dreams, as well as her lover, Capt. Grey Edwards (Alec Baldwin),

and his Deep Eyes Squad, Aki saves the Earth. But not without making a

sacrifice of her own.

What makes this a satisfying movie -- it’s not without its flaws -- is

that the story is relentless in delivering complications for the

characters. Unlike most action movies, these heroes are vulnerable and

have to use their brains rather than their brawn and sassy one-liners to

save the day.

So if you have the afternoon off and no desire to find parking at the

beach, check out “Final Fantasy” for a thought-provoking,

what-will-they-do-next movie.

“Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action

violence.

* MARY A. CASTILLO, 27, is a Costa Mesa resident.

‘Legally Blonde’ imparts light lesson

As a brunet, this movie taught me about how blonds may feel with the

reputation they are given as “dumb.” You have to admit that some blonds

fit this description, but in “Legally Blonde,” Elle Woods (Reese

Witherspoon) is a girl who wants to be known by what she is capable of.

She is a blond at heart, but she has plenty of potential in her that is

not at all the reputation that blonds have.

In “Legally Blonde,” Elle Woods gets dumped by her boyfriend, Warner

(Matthew Davis), who wants to have a serious relationship with a good

pedigree and is bound for Harvard Law School.

Because of this, Elle puts in her application to Harvard in hopes of

winning Warner’s heart back. When she reaches Harvard, she has a lot of

challenges to face, including getting back together with Warner.

Elle goes from life in Bel-Air to life in Massachusetts. She dresses

up to match her environment with all the accessories. She sticks out, but

learns how to blend in.

She goes to Harvard for a law degree just the same as Warner’s. She

soon discovers that she is quite good at being a lawyer, and is assigned

to help her professor on a case dealing with a woman who was convicted of

murdering her husband. She tries to prove this woman innocent. During

this process, she meets a man named Emmet (Luke Wilson) who helps her do

just that.

I think this movie is proof that blonds have fun. And that they are

not usually taken seriously because of their reputation. But some are

smart, just like Elle Woods.

This movie had some good humor involving the thoughts of true blonds.

It shows that you have to look at the overall picture of a person, not

just the hair color.

“Legally Blonde” is rated PG-13.

* SARA SALAM attends Corona del Mar High School as an eighth-grader

and enjoys dance.