Final Fantasy may be one of the most successful gaming franchises in history, but it hasn't had much luck as a film series. Both Advent Children and Spirits Within failed to resonate with audiences despite Square Enix spending millions on cutting edge visuals and big Hollywood names. Blame it on convoluted stories that alienated the audience from whatever message was supposed to be conveyed. Fast forward to 2016, when you'd think the studio would do things differently by making their latest film Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV cohesive. Alas, it too ends up being a beautiful head scratcher that never quite connects during its nearly two hour runtime.

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When I say Kingsglaive is beautiful, what I really mean is gorgeous. This theatrical accompaniment to the FFXV game positively drips with mouthwatering detail. Every pristine office building and every tiny blade of grass is brought to life through a spectrum of vibrant color, filtered through spectacular textural detail and excellent lighting and shadow effects. It's so hyperrealistic there were times I actually forgot I was watching an animated movie.

“ When I say Kingsglaive is beautiful, what I really mean is gorgeous.

The character designs shine equally bright. Every freckle, every droplet of sweat, every strand of perfectly gel-swept hair, and every silver boot buckle looks fantastic. The only time I remembered these characters weren’t real was when they hazily stared into the distance, their eyes devoid of emotion. Perhaps they were busy trying to puzzle out the movie’s overwritten plot.

The nucleus of the story itself isn’t hard to understand. For years, the technologically advanced empire of Niflheim has been at war with Lucis, the only nation standing between it and world domination. Nifleheim fights with monsters and machines, while Lucis employs a magical fighting force known as the Kingsglaive. So far, so good.

The story threads begin to tangle once Niflheim’s scheming chancellor Ardyn Izunia offers a lopsided peace treaty to King Regis of Lucis (played majestically by Sean Bean). This leads to a diplomatic tit-for-tat between the nations as they try to out maneuver each other before the peace treaty is officially signed. At first Lucis has the upper hand, but when the empire starts doing some truly evil things to win the political chess match, it's up to Kingsglaive leader Nyx Ulric (Aaron Paul) and Princess Luna Freya of Tenebrae (Lena Heady) to stop it.

The explosive, adrenaline-fueled action sequences that accompany Nyx and Luna everywhere they go are fun to watch, but the political intrigue woven between them is not. There are too many characters doing too much with too little explanation. I understand some of the ambiguity is meant to nudge the audience into playing the game so they can learn the whole story, but the byproduct is a movie that feels scrambled and unfocused.

The only thing preventing the over-inflated plot from escaping into the stratosphere is the solid voice work. I was nervous when Square Enix announced a parade of top-of-the-marquee names for the English dub, since on-camera actors tend to struggle in the voice booth. I was also worried that every time I heard Luna and Nyx converse, it would sound like Queen Cersei from Game of Thrones discussing politics with Jesse from Breaking Bad. It turns out I had nothing to worry about. Both actors breathe life into their respective roles by using the right combination of energy and emotion, and never once do they sound like they're resting on the laurels of their TV alter egos.

“ The only thing preventing the over-inflated plot from escaping into the stratosphere is the solid voice work.

Unfortunately, not every performance is good. Incidental characters tend to over-deliver their lines, sound disconnected, or both. Part of that might be the result of mixing well-seasoned veterans with a less experienced talent pool, but it's more likely due to wobbly writing that veers into the pedantic. (Lines like “my pride is shaping the future” are particularly wince-inducing.) It doesn't help that the over-baked, dry-as-toast script lacks emotional versatility; even a lighthearted moment between friends ends up feeling so serious. When you have nothing but serious moments, it's hard to take anything seriously at all.

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The heavy-handedness may be typical of Final Fantasy, but happily that’s not the only nod to the series. As a long time fan, I was charmed by all the little Easter eggs I spotted. Familiar beasts like Behemoths show up to fill the screen and menace the heroes. There’s a humorous reference to Chocobos (the only line in the entire movie that made me laugh), and I nearly cartwheeled out of my seat when a monster resembling a classic Final Fantasy character appeared, albeit in a new and more terrifying form. Even the score has hidden gems cleverly tucked into it. (I should note that the music in Kingsglaive is a strange mix of the conspicuous and the ambient, meaning I either noticed it and enjoyed it or I forget about it entirely.) With all the modern architecture and amenities in Kingsglaive it can be easy to forget it's a Final Fantasy film, so it’s nice to be reminded the movie still has ties to its gaming roots.