- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Special Edition)

There are already lots of great reviews here for Advent Children, so let me add my review for the half-hour OVA "Last Order," which is bundled in as an extra in this release and makes it more than worth buying: Let me start by saying this OVA... was perfect. Tetsuya Nomura has proved himself fifty times over as a fantastic director with this brief, poignant, and unbelievably powerful little 30-minute OVA. No overt sappiness, no slow-motion tears flying about, none of that. Cloud doesn't even comprehend what has happened. Nothing but grim reality with its edge of grittiness--and it is utterly devastating. I'm sitting here typing in tears and I think, even if I hadn't had the special fascination for this obscure, long-dead side character that I have had since playing FFVII, I still would have been moved to tears by this OVA's plaintive look at the last few hours of this man's life. It would have been so much easier for Zack to escape on his own; slowed down and strength sapped from carrying the nearly comatose Cloud, Zack could have traveled so much faster and less-conspicuously if he'd just abandoned him. With his strength and wits, he would have made it. It's a mark of what a wonderful person he is that he went so far as to shield Cloud with his own body---Cloud, this random, low-ranking soldier who was probably only an acquaintance before the Nibelheim incident, if at all (SOLDIER first class, the highest of the high, and Cloud, a common, faceless foot soldier!). He didn't owe him a thing, but he still valued this poor kid's life enough to protect him all the way to the end. That's why I'm so happy we have this OVA touching on the truly tragic and unfair fate dealt to such a wonderful person. Zack is such a minor character in the grand scheme of the original game (he's even dead long before it begins!), but still---if you're watching closely---you see, little by little, how much his deeds have effected the story. He starts out just as shock factor--you see the photo taken at Nibelheim the day Tifa led Sephiroth's party up to the Mako Reactor, and instead of our familiar, blonde-haired Cloud standing there as we expect, it is a taller, dark-haired stranger. From here, little by little, Zack's influence grows and discover slowly, rather painfully since you know of his sad fate, what sort of person it was who lost his life (and even identity) so that Cloud could take it. You discover that he was the wonderful boyfriend of Aerith's whom Cloud reminded her of, that he was the elite SOLDIER 1st class who was friendly even with the foot soldiers, that he went on his own to try to stop Sephiroth during the Nibelheim massacre, that he suffered side by side with Cloud in Hojo's laboratory for those five, long years of their imprisonment, and it was he, alone, who managed to break free and literally CARRIED Cloud back across two continents and was finally killed defending him when he fought alone against an entire squadron of Shinra soldiers. It hurts, doesn't it? And he did all that never knowing that his actions would give Cloud the strength, motivation, and will to save the world someday. That's why I love this OVA so much. Just like the cool, unassuming guy that Zack was, it doesn't come at you with this, "look at me, this is such a tragedy!!!" sort of "tragic epic" attitude. It's just "there was this cool guy, and this is what he did. He fought simply for a chance to live in freely, and died trying." It's just the way Zack would've wanted it, I think. Directiorally, it was very nice how the movie begins with Cloud (as we expect, Cloud being our cherished hero of FFVII). But all we see is his clouded, green, mako-tinged vision, and all we hear is his gasping breath. He doesn't actually speak a coherent line until much later in the story. In this way, we make the transition from Cloud, who IS FFVII, to Zack, who is (just as in the original game) our "hidden" hero. You realize long after the fact that Zack is the one we're actually focusing on (every time he enters a scene, it's in a rather unassuming way--the opening, and in the Nibelheim flashback, when he wanders in from the background in the midst of the disaster). All the things you wanted to see most happen--from some of the most AMAZING animated fight scenes I have ever seen (when Sephiroth elegantly slashed away Zack's sword strike, did your heart stop for a moment? Mine did...), to that beautiful moment when Tifa discovered that Cloud did keep his promise (though she later thinks she just hallucinated it... ^^; ), to the perfection that is animated Sephiroth whispering "Mother, come with me," to Cloud's truly incredible moment in the fight against Sephiroth. Wow, the power of this animation! (I love you, Mad House!!!!!) And let's not forget that quiet, last scene. Our esteem and affection for Zack is just growing and growing as he cheerfully (and somehow, fatalistically) expounds on the fortunes and adventures he'll have hereafter and then, his famous and haunting line, "We're friends, right?" to the man who will steal his entire life and identity later on... wow. Ah, the Turks. Now that was a truly clever touch! I love how they become a sort of sympathetic third party. Tseng's quiet sadness and contemplation of the pitiful fate that Zack and Cloud were dealt, even as he hunts them down, gives the audience solace. We know (as the Turks know) that their escape is futile, but the fact that the people who are actually tracking them down feel sorry for them as well is somehow soothing for us. I love how Tseng's sympathy, and his order to try to take them alive, gave me this wild, completely irrational hope that maybe--just maybe--they would make it through this impossible situation alive. In particular, that last scene when the Turks' helicopter is right there, rushing toward the scene and offering some sort of salvation (at least for their lives) for Zack and Cloud just at their fateful hour. But of course, they don't make it in time. History has already laid down its cold order, hasn't it? And anyway, Zack says it all in that one line--"I don't want assurances that my life will be spared. All I want is FREEDOM!" I guess for him, it was better to have died fighting of his own will than to return to Hojo's lab of horrors to live as a test subject to the end of his days, ne? But still... ;__; I love that we see the last moments of Zack's life back in Cloud's point of view. It is satisfying to know that, whatever he forgets or blocks out of his memory later on, he did bear witness to Zack's final sacrifice for him. But that grieving is for later. For now, I love that Cloud has no reaction, no sappy screaming, etc. Just silence and the haunting echo of the gunshot that ends it all. That shot is so devastating, so inevitable... just as we know from the moment we began watching this OVA that Zack would soon die despite all his efforts, that shot is so inevitable and heavy, and we (like Cloud) are so helpless to stop it. We don't even get to see it happen--just the sound signalling that it has been done somewhere beyond our reach and we are only hearing the declaration of its completion after the fact. It's wonderful and SO painful. Really, truly, hats off to Nomura-sensei and his entire crew. This OVA was everything I had hoped for. Thank you so much for it and for this incredibly well-deserved tribute to that nameless soldier who gave Cloud his life, his sword, and even his memories--and gave us one of the most memorable video game stories of all time.

Ever since I heard of this movie three years ago, I was shaking in anticipation of it. How could I not be? I still consider Final Fantasy VII the best game ever, with one of the most in-depth and emotional stories written. And the characters were easily the most lovable of any of the FF games (come on, who didn't cry when Aerith died). Needless to say, upon finishing the game, I wanted more. Almost nine years later, I'm finally getting what I wanted (me and millions more). Advent Children takes place only two short years after the climax of Final Fantasy VII, and the children of Midgar are suffering from a disease associated with the Reunion. They call it Geostigma, and it causes pain to everyone who has it. Including our hero, Cloud, who continues to fight for these children despite the pain. But when a group of "spirits" appear, who claim to be three more of JENOVA's offspring, Cloud's fight becomes a little more desperate. What follows is perhaps an hours worth of action interlaced here and there with some emotional character interaction. The action in the movie is excellent. But two scenes in particular stick out in my mind, and that's the battle with Bahamut, where Cloud and all his friends are reunited, and the final battle with Kadaj. I think I like the Bahamut fight because of what happens during the battle. It's instant nostalgia for FFVII fans, and you can't help but smile as the characters pull off some rather super human feats. And as for the Kadaj fight, I'll leave that one unexplained... Another great part about this movie is the surprise appearance by characters thought lost. I won't spoil it here, but at least two characters appear, and have important roles, in this movie when they were thought dead in FFVII (and Aerith isn't one of them). All together, this movie is the best I've seen when it comes to animated features. The only one that even comes close is The Incredibles, and the action in that film is dull compared to what's found in Advent Children. It's far better than Final Fantasy: A Spirit's Within, and I'm kind of wondering why that movie was ever made when this one had been planned. But I think, after watching, I can guess: this movie is for Final Fantasy VII fans only. The story in this is never explained, very specific words are used (like SOLDIER and Reunion) that no one besides players of the game will know. It's kind of a movie geared toward the Final Fantasy VII fan club. But still, if you have even a small amount of familiarity with Final Fantasy, get this whenever if comes out. Even if you don't quite know what's going on, the visuals easily carry this technological masterpiece of an animation.

Amazing movie, the fight choreography, hair physics, lighting, animation, directing was all so amazing and its so mind blowing for 2005. The bitrate and resolution was really amazing, although 1080p when viewing it on my monitor the bitrate made it look crystal clear, just beautiful. The case was in okay condition but the disc was in superb condition, I'm very pleased with this purchase!

based on the complex story line of the final fantasy 7 role playing game, this movie pics up from a few years after the game ends. in terms of visuals, this movie is awesome. this movie pushes the boundries of "fantasy" to the limits-the characters are beautiful, the scenes are breath taking, and the battle scenes properly incorporate all aspects of physics, but at the same time is continually breaking every single law. unbelievably beautiful. from the single drop of water, to the dematerilization of the body, this movie doesn't disappoint. as for the story line, i'm all about the inner termoil. and of course, this story revolves around mr. blond haired dude who's all about that. but it's an interesting resolution as he realizes not every battle is won with skill, strength, and determination. this movie was worth every penny for me-but then again, i'm a sci-fi loving kind of guy who has a love for the ff games of the past (i stopped playing at ff10). i appreciated every aspect of the movie, especially the very few tidbits that were taken from the games and cleverly incorporated to the game. and as for the characters, everyone's back. and although i wished certain characters were in the movie longer, i think that purposely limiting their presence in the movie brought a lot more weight to them for when they appeared. and the japanese-style thug humor? very funny. although certain parts illustrate cultural differences that an american would not typically understand, if you observe their actions, i think it offers a tidbit of insight to the traditional japanese sempai/kohai relationship. (but that stuff was minor) only bad point i can think of was that some of the scenes were too fast. i mean, crap, it was like you were following a bullet in real time. sheesh. i mean, i like action, but when it happens, i'd like to actually have it register in my brain before jumping to the next sequence. (but i have to admit, there's no time to complain about it-if you do, you miss the next thing, which they slow down....lol) i guess they didn't want to play-out the slow motion thing. (that made me appreciate those sequences even more). so all in all, it was a great movie. although i'm biased for playing every single ff game until ff10, and for being a huge sci-fi fan, i'd have to say that if you appreciate art, you would appreciate this film (if not for the story) for what the makers were able to do with cgi. and honestly, i think this movie did a great job of blurring the lines between reality (as in physics) and fantasy (characters, storyline, and fantastic action sequences). hope this helps-

This movie was outstanding. It takes place a little after Final Fantasy 7, where the game ends. I'm glad this movie came out because it was meant to put a conclusion to the game. If you've played and beat the game it leaves some stuff in question. After I beat it I wanted to know more about what happend to the characters, well this answers that. We here in the beginning of the movie a battle going on in crater between the Turks, and 3 unknown young men. Next we see Cloud driving a motor bike, he's now a deliverer. The same unknown 3 reveal themselves and attack Cloud on the way. Cloud meets up with a few of the Turks and someone who I won't mention that was from the FF7 game. Clould learns a little about the 3 from them, the main leader of the 3 is called Kadaj. Cloud is asked to help stop them for everyones sake. Later we learn that their true intention, is to find the one they call Mother, quite a lot through the whole movie. The one who they call Mother. The first former comrade and child hood friend Tifa is the first one Cloud meets again. Tifa too has some trouble with Kadaj's group. There are other appearences by Cloud's former party members helping out. Cloud not only contends with Kadaj but also his own guilt still about what happend to Aeris in the game. So he has his own inner battle going on at the same time. The movie makes the main character Cloud even more interesting in this way. The story may seem somewhat short, but the game was close to 70 hours, with many mini-quests along the way, not just battling Sephiroth, but many monsters, and Shinra's Empire. This of course will seem like a much story. The grahpics of the movie are superb. They look like the game characters, the design of them has been redone though, they are more real types. Not as anime looking as the game characters looked. The environments of the city, to the rain effects really set the mood. A fantastic battle scene towards the end with a well known FF monster was terrific, and my favorite battle. There will be lots of battles in this movie. Some people felt they had to many battles, I felt it was just right. There were enough story points in the movie to tell everything they had to. Also I'll mention again this is only a 2 hour movie here. They had a lot of time to put out focus on all the characters, including a lot on Shinra. Not much of Shinra as an evil force here, lot's more on Kadaj and company. And there was alot of action in the game too remember. I've watched the Japanese and the Dubbed. I like them both, from what some people were saying I was expecting the worst from the dubbed. The voices fit well, I did not feel the need to have to switch to Japanese again, since I saw that first already. That's about it. So remember this is meant as a conclusion to the events of FF7 mainly, with a new side story mixed in. This movie was a wonderful experience to watch. FF AC made up for the movie Final Fantasy Spirits Within, yes, I did not like that movie. This is much more entertaining in every way, and is actually based on one of the games.

FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN - UMD For PSP - 5 Stars I still like it better than the Complete Edition. When I got this UMD it was rumored (now proven false) that the movie would be exclusively to the PSP; wrong since there are now DVD and Blu-Ray editions. (and the "this movie has been modified to fit this screen" warning lets you know that this was not the intention in the 1st place) I really liked this movie, even with it's drawbacks: -No chapter selection menu -No extra features whatsoever -And the extremely low volume it plays in (you have to set the volume to max and set the UMD audio option to "+2", and use headphones to hear what they're saying). All of these due to the UMD format, so I considered getting the DVD version after it's release and I ended up buying the Blu-Ray of the Complete Edition. Even with all the extra scenes included I still watch my UMD and I still prefer the final battle of the Original version rather than the one in Complete. --------------------------------------------------------- EDIT And since apparently I can't make a Review for the Complete Edition Blu-Ray, I will post it here and add a title for each one inside the review itself --------------------------------------------------------- FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN Complete Edition - BLU-RAY - 4.5 Stars Excellent quality, excellent film, love all the scenes included, why only 4 stars? the final battle. This complete Edition has a lot of extended scenes included in it, and every single one of them is adding to the perfection of the film (the highway chase near the end, kicks the crap out of the whole "Normal" film by itself), and they are masterly incorporated into the film (I mean the syncing with the original music and story play, it's very well done) that none of my friends believed me when I tried to convince them that this was an extended version of the one we saw (the one I also have in UMD format). Along with extended scenes, are some few minor changes in some other ones, like the one of the Battle between Sephiroth and Cloud. It has a lot of extended scenes this battle, but the minor difference is the final blow that Cloud inflicts Sephiroth, it's almost the same but slightly different, and waaaayyyyy better in the original one. They take out the scene in which Cloud disassembles that sword, I take down half a star.

Final Fantasy 7/ Advent Children, Two Disc Set (I own the Blu-ray FF7/AC Complete also) is pure CGI heaven with just the right amount of action and pathos to both rock and emote! Even the soundtrack reaches across a broad spectrum of emotions ranging from exhiliarating fun to suspenseful action to a touch of humor to deep, heavy sadness. Oh yeah, believe it! May I also mention that I have NEVER played the game in my entire life. I'm not X,Y, or whatever generation, more like "boomer', and as one previous reviewer predicted, I was introduced to FF7/AC in the "new millenium" via YouTube music videos. What I saw, blew me away so I continued to explore the FF franchise. Hollywood has its Shrek, The Lion King, Toy Story, Kung Fu Panda, you name it, but Square-Enix has produced one of the most defined and humanistic 'video game-based" full-length feature film which I have ever set my eyes upon. Yes, I admit (like many fans/players), I felt an emotional connection to FF7/AC's CG-animated characters, especially the main protagonist, Cloud who had suffered so much loss. Hey, would it hurt for him to crack a smile?! If you're searching for one of the hippest, cutest, and ultra-cool video game heroes to root for, look no more. Cloud and his friends fit the description and then some. From hair to clothes to accessories (dig those wolfy doorknockers Cloud) to shoes to gestures to dialogue to the neatest fight moves, FF7/AC brings it on! Everything is so "fly" about this movie. It certainly helps to be familiar with the prequel, FF7/Crisis Core but don't get me wrong, FF7/AC, a true CGI marvel, can stand on its own. I personally chose to backtrack for a beginning since I have never played the FF games. Needless to say, video clips and plot synopsis are all available on line to fill in the gaps enabling a seamless storyline. BTW, the English dubbing is spot on! Thank goodness, no generic dubbing! All the characters sound the way I imagined them to be. With the minor exception of some reverential/philosophical talk which may go over the heads of a very young audience, I of the "baby-boomer" generation got the biggest blast out of FF7/AC! Since I own the Blu-ray version as well, the technology has resulted in imagery of photographic quality. Every detail and subtle facial/physical nuance can be detected perfectly. Indeed, "not reality, but actuality". Blu-ray also offers almost a half hour more footage and sharpness of scenes beyond compare. The regular DVD gives a more "softer" look overall but a knockout just the same. There are in-depth interviews with FF7's creators from director, artists, composers, etc., etc., etc. in the latter disc as well. I enjoyed discovering the journey of FF7 making it one of the most influential video games ever. Guys and gals, young and old alike will fall in love with the techno-magic and the honorable characters as they evolve to battle evil forces. Now, isn't it so natural to root for an underdog hero in everyday life? Well what are you waiting for? Time to watch FF7/AC once, twice, thrice..................!!!!

Yes, this is the fan's long-waited sequel to the 1997 game. Those who have no knowledge of the game will be severly confused. As I am a fan of the game, I was extensely happy when this movie was announced for release (when they announced it years ago) and was not disipointed. Graphically, the movie is beautiful (as are apparently all the characters in it) and flawless in my opinion. Story-wise, it strikes the hearts of FF7 fans the most and, as I mentioned before, might be confusing to those who have little or no knowledge of FF7 (even though Marlene over-views the game at the beginning of the movie). ~The story takes place mainly within Midgar and is full of both explainations, surprises, action, and drama... ~The group is back and faced with a task to stop new enemies; the Turks help out, too; And our Hero, Cloud, has to rekindle his fighting spirit in order to save all that he cares about and the world--a task only he would be able to acomplish as his Showdown of Fate continues--and finally gains a long-waited resolution... Audio: There are several returning FF7 songs that have been upgraded for this movie--even to the battle-victory theme (haha; I hadn't expected it...so I burst out laughing). The music fits, overall, and lives up to the FF legacy. The ending theme (are we getting the Japanese song in the US?) was cool, just as the ending sequence it was playing in. Extras: Hmm...not sure what we're all getting in the US...but for the lucky ones, some of the Japanese versions came with the "Last Order" OAV--we are not getting this in the US, I believe (which I find rather stupid). I believe we're getting the trailers (which I already have seen like 50-million times), but I'm not sure until I buy it... Overall, it's Great. It could have been better if they had made it longer~! It's full of fast-passed action which will make fans tingly as you watch it two or three times in a row to catch everything (such as the little pink-ribbon on our 8 heroes' arms), and to laugh at the Turks antics again and again, and laugh at the bad-guys for being fooled for half the movie by a character I used to hate. Well...I shan't go into any more detail on the movie (I'll just go watch it again). Favorite Quote the the Whole Movie~: ""Watashi wa...Omoide niwa nara nai sa..."" (^-^; If you don't know who said it...you can watch it to find out who's line it is~!)

In arguably the most anticipated game-to-movie sequels of all time and being a huge fan of FFVII I didn't waste time in buying this film. To begin with I doubted the film for even being able to compare to the immensely deep storyline that runs through the game. For those who aren't familiar with the game, here is a brief background. The game starts with an unlikely cocky hero called Cloud joining a group called Avalanche in taking down a corrupt organization called Shinra Inc. who are draining the planet of "life energy". The game takes a hell of a lot of plot twists including brief flashbacks from Cloud, the troubled main character who interestingly finds himself aligned with the main villian, Mr Sephiroth himself. An insanely powerful villain that is one of the toughest villains in any game I've played other than the Final Fantasy games. The game continues down a winding path, introducing more and more characters as the plot thickens further. After finding out Cloud is merely a 'puppet', a failed clone of Sephiroth, the story really picks up into an action-packed game. Without giving too much away, to fully understand the story of the film I strongly recommend you buy the game and unravel the mysteries that may be plaguing your mind after watching this film. If not, the bonus material on the DVD 'revisiting VII' is an excellent source to do your homework and if you have no ideas about the story, watch this first...I cant stress this enough. What sets this game apart from the other final fantasy games? The passion you develop for the characters and the interesting twist of humour, love and action all thrown together in a very satisfying game spills over to the film. Watching this film, I was regularly questioning myself as to whether this really was CGI throughout the film or whether 'real-time' screenshots of Japanese towns had been thrown in for good measure. To full appreciate the time and effort spent on this film it really is a masterpiece. The film is a huge success in my opinion and has lived up to the expectations if not exceeded mine. I would strongly recommend everyone to watch this film as it really is well worth the money. Obviously every film has its downfalls and the only things I can question here is the character of Barrett. He was a huge part of the game and supplies only a few lines. His body work is also questionable as in the game he seems to me to be extremely muscley with a big physiche. However, in the film he looks far too skinny to be Barrett! The only other flaw I can find here is that too few of the main characters from the game say more than 2 or 3 lines through the film but hey, can't please everyone right? BUY this film now it is well worth the money!

Pasan los años y aún sigo flipando con esta película. Recomendada a cualquier fan de Final Fantasy VII y la saga en general.

とても面白いです。今あるFFⅦリメイクシリーズと比べたら勿論古くは感じます。 さすがに所々古いと感じる部分はありましたが、それでもかなり綺麗だったかなと思います。 ファンであればかなり最高だと感じると思うので、悩んでるのなら是非！

Ich muss gestehen, dass ich erst dieses Jahr (2020) durch das Remake mit FF7 in Berührung gekommen bin. Ich habe das Original vorher nicht gespielt, das aber inzwischen nachgeholt. Auch ohne Nostalgiefaktor begeistert mich die Welt von FF7 sehr. Das Remake fand ich grandios und freue mich sehr auf mehr. Das Original ist zwar nicht mehr zeitgemäß, ich kann aber verstehen, warum es so beliebt ist. Ich bereuhe es sehr, nicht schon als Kind damit in Berührung gekommen zu sein, aber ich war 1997 leider noch zu jung. Aus diesem Grund habe ich mir auch gleich den Film Advent Children geholt um diesen anschließend zu schauen. Als ich gelesen habe, dass der Film von 2005 ist, habe ich erstmal nicht viel von der Technik erwartet, wurde jedoch sehr positiv überrascht. Die Animationen sind auch heute noch klasse. Schöne Bilder, krasse Kamerafahrten und tolle Details. Nur die Charaktermodelle sehen beim Remake von FF7 mMn deutlich besser aus. Die Story vom Film fande ich nicht so interessant, aber das ist auch nicht nötig, da diese nur zur Charakterentwicklung Clouds beiträgt. Der Rest von Film ist reiner Fanservice. Alle Figuren aus den Spielen haben ihre Auftritte, die Originalmusik aus FF7 wird verwendet, der Endkampf zwischen Cloud und Sephiroth geht in eine xte Runde. Das macht einfach nur Spaß! Man muss hier aber auch sagen, dass Leute die FF7 nicht kennen oder mögen eher keinen Spaß an dem Film haben werden (Für die, bei denen es schon lange her ist, ist bei den Extras übrigens eine Zusammenfassung des Spiels enthalten). Es waren mehrere Szenen dabei bei denen ich Gänsehaut bekommen habe. Dies liegt insbesondere daran, dass Musik und Bild sehr gut aufeinander eingestimmt sind. Auch die Aktion- und Kampfszenen sind sehr gut gestaltet. Humor ist ebenfalls zu genüge vorhanden. Der Film lebt aber wie auch das Spiel größtenteils von den Charakteren. Diese sind einfach grandios. Cloud ist mir extrem ans Herz gewachsen und es war richtig schön die komplette Gruppe zusammen kämpfen zu sehen. Die Freundschaft der Gruppe ist quasi greifbar. Für mich ein sehr schöner Film auch 2020 noch!

Bon film dans l'univers de FF