History YMMV / FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin

** Sid also tells Aki to burn any notes related to her support of the Gaia hypothesis because they might be used to discredit her as a scientist. The problem being, Sid's objections to Hein's plan being based on a hypothesis he has never attempted to falsify and has next to no evidence for is actually pretty good proof neither of the is much of a scientist.

** Sid also tells Aki to burn any notes related to her support of the Gaia hypothesis because they might be used to discredit her as a scientist. The problem being, Sid's objections to Hein's plan being based on a hypothesis he has never attempted to falsify and has next to no evidence for is actually pretty good proof he isn't much of a scientist.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: The film's not-so-subtle anti-war message, and in a way, it has to be obvious to get past the visual effects and music.

* CaptainObviousReveal: The movie treats the reveal that the Phantoms are actually alien ghosts as a big reveal, despite the fact that "phantom" is a synonym for "ghost."

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This film was the beginning of the end of Square's dominance in the RPG video game market, even after they merged with Enix. Part of this also has to do with the technology necessitating longer development times for ''Final Fantasy'' games, the rise of others such as Bioware, and the BrokenBase with some later games, which hit a tipping point in 2010 with ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''.

* ClicheStorm: Despite its setting and premise, the characters are widely felt to be pretty cliched - especially General Hein, Dr Cid and Gray.

* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Practically the TropeCodifier. The Phantoms are stuck in a dream-like state, lashing out at everything around them, unsure of what is reality. The larger beasts are just gigantic wildlife that have no idea what's going on as well.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This film was the beginning of the end of Square's dominance in the RPG video game market, even after they merged with Enix. Part of this also has to do with the technology necessitating longer development times for ''Final Fantasy'' games, the rise of others such as Bioware, and the BrokenBase with some later games, which hit a tipping point in 2010 with ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''

* HilariousInHindsight: In light of Roger Ebert vs. video gamers, Ebert gave the film one of its best reviews, calling it revolutionary in terms of its visuals and giving it a 3.5-star review. In fact, Ebert has given more positive reviews to video game adaptations than any other major critic, with additional positive reviews for ''{{Film/Hitman}}'', the ''Film/TombRaider'' films, and ''Film/MortalKombat''.

* HilariousInHindsight: In light of Roger Ebert vs. video gamers, Ebert gave the film one of its best reviews, calling it revolutionary in terms of its visuals and giving it a 3.5-star review. In fact, Ebert has given more positive reviews to video game adaptations than any other major critic, with additional positive reviews for ''{{VideoGame/Hitman}}'', the ''Film/TombRaider'' films, and ''Film/MortalKombat''.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: While not quite as good as the hype was promising, lots of effort was put into the effects for the film, and some parts are quite impressive.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: By today's standards, the animation (especially facial) is nothing to write home about, but considering the film came out 3 years before the first movie in performance capture (''ThePolarExpress'')... well, at the time it was pretty damn impressive.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: By today's standards, the animation (especially facial) is nothing to write home about, but considering the film came out 3 years before the first movie in performance capture (''ThePoleExpress'')... well, at the time it was pretty damn impressive.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: By today's standards, the animation (especially facial) is nothing to write home about, but considering the film came out 3 years before the first movie in performance capture (''PoleExpress'')... well, at the time it was pretty damn impressive.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: While not quite as good as the hype was promising, lots of effort was put into the effects for the film, and some parts are quite impressive.
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: The Phantoms, when you learn their BackStory. The large ones aren't even people - they're ''animals'' akin to elephants and whales.

** The reverse is true: 5 stars for ''{{TRON}}'', which was a movie ''about'' being in a videogame.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: While not quite as good as the hype was promising, lots of effort was put into the effects for the film, and some parts are quite impressive.

* HilariousInHindsight: In light of Roger Ebert vs. video gamers, Ebert gave the film one of its best reviews, calling it revolutionary in terms of its visuals and giving the film a 3.5-star review. Funny enough, Ebert has given more positive reviews to video game adaptations than any other major critic, with additional positive reviews for ''{{VideoGame/Hitman}}'', the ''Film/TombRaider'' films, and ''Film/MortalKombat''.

* HilariousInHindsight: In light of Roger Ebert vs. video gamers, Ebert gave the film one of its best reviews, calling it revolutionary in terms of its visuals and giving the film a 3.5-star review. Funny enough, Ebert has given more positive reviews to video game adaptations than any other major critic, with additional positive reviews for ''Film/Hitman'', the ''Film/TombRaider'' films, and ''Film/MortalKombat''.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Allmusic suggested that ElliotGoldenthal's score for the film would have been nominated for an Oscar if the rest of the film had been better. And Lara Fabian's "The Dream Within" (one of the score tracks - "Adagio And Transfiguration" - with added lyrics) is pretty damn epic too.
** And if you sit through the credits till the end of "The Dream Within" you'll be treated to one a rare North American appearance by LArcEnCiel!
* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: The Phantoms.
* TearJerker: Several
** The scene where Aki reveals one of the spirits was a LittlestCancerPatient.
** Oh dear heaven, [[spoiler: the fall of Barrier City 42, New York City. You are dead inside if you don't wear the same expression as the Deep Eyes after listening to the desperate screams and death cries of the people in the shuttle & rooftop scene. It is HighOctaneNightmareFuel that will shake you every time you watch.]]
** The whole scene where [[spoiler: the Deep Eyes perish.]]
*** Including Neil and Jane's shocked faces when [[spoiler:Neil gets killed by a phantom and then when Jane realizes she can't escape either. Considering how Jane always picked on Neil, it was especially touching how she reacted when he died. When she realized she was trapped, she made sure her body fell next to him in death. Pass the tissue.]]
*** And the BigNo scene where Grey screams out [[spoiler: Ryan's name just after he dies.]]
** Kind of hard not to feel something when Aki is mourning over [[spoiler: the loss of the Deep Eyes and New York City.]]
** When [[spoiler:Grey scacrifices himself]].