Final Fantasy Vii: Advent Children

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.

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!

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..................!!!!

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！

Bon film dans l'univers de FF

Perfecto estado, super bien forrado, me la he visto muchas veces en mi PS5 y me encanta, se ve genial. Añaden contenido adicional de como se creó.