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05-05-2006, 04:29 PM
Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children is the second Final Fantasy movie to be released. Don't make the mistake of thinking that there have been six previously, as my friend did, because you'll end up looking like an idiot.
The reason it's number seven is because the movie is based on the video game of the same number. If you're a fan of Final Fantasy 7, then honestly, this is a must buy for you. This movie was specifically made for the fans of FF7 and even begins with a dedication to the players.
It is two years after the final battle against Sephiroth has been fought and most of the team has spread out, each doing their own thing. A strange affliction seems to be spreading through the children of the world, and there has been no cure found for it. Cloud, as always our favourite character is no where to be found and is actually busy brooding and feeling sorry for himself and for the death of Aerith.
But soon he gets the messages on his phone and now he has to return as events are unfolding which will lead to a defeated foe returning through genetic legacy.
All the great characters from the game feature in the movie. The only two people who didn't seem to make it in were Biggs and Wedge, which is a pity as they have always been a staple event for laughter. All characters have been beautifully rendered to perfection and Clouds' trademark spiky hair is a hoot to watch.
Many of the landscapes from the game have been lovingly re-drawn and recaptured in this movie. Midgar city is where Tifa lives and even the highway bike battle that occurs in the game has been re-created for the movie. You can plainly see how much effort has been put into faithfully sticking to the original concepts from the game.
The visual effects in this title are unbelievable, which is really par for any CGI movie. All the best parts of the game are re-captured perfectly and even re-designed for the big screen. Watching Cloud on his bike, selecting from his vast array of swords is mouth watering. Watching him re-configure his sword during each fight is fantastic. The essence of the inventions in that world are captured perfectly. It all seems so fantastic, which is really the point of the Final Fantasy series.
For people who have never played the game, this movie will not mean anywhere near as much to you. There is too much history that can only be played through and experienced, vested in each of the characters in the movie. However, the DVD does provide a re-cap of the game, and though it's frustrating to sit through, with the old blocky graphics, it will take you through the entire storyline of what occurred in the game.
There is always something lost in that kind of translation and it's easy to define. When playing this game, you invest so much affection for the characters and their plight that you cannot get through a visual re-cap. Aerith's death was a moment in utter pathos, and I (yes, I'm willing to admit) had a very large lump in my throat when she died. Almost every morning, I wake up and wonder why I could not resurrect her like I did in every other battle up till the first showdown with Sephiroth.
So why get this movie if you're not a gamer? Well, it is worth while to experience even a little of the wonderment that SQUARE can create in their games. The battle scenes, which may seem over the top to a non-gamer, are standard fair for gamers everywhere, and experiencing them first hand is indescribable. At least with this movie, you can now lay claim to knowing what happened in one Final Fantasy game. Odds are though, you will probably want to go out and buy a Playstation to experience it for yourself.
In the end, I have to give this movie two scores. One as a gamer, and one as a non-gamer.
As a gamer, this movie is fantastic and easily a 5 star movie. So much of the game has been recrafted into the movie and witnessing certain limit break moves will provide a unique thrill that you will never get with any other movie. Also, watching the wonderful characters, fully animated is fantastic. However, on the downside, this movie will leave you wanting more. I now want to see a movie about the Final Fantasy 8 game. I want to see Triple Triad being translated onto the screen. It leaves you so hungry....
As a non-gamer, this movie may confuse you at times. The character introductions are very short, all assuming that you already know who they are from the game. Even though the DVD does provide you with a game re-cap, it takes much patience to sit through. So, as a non-gamer score, I have to give it only 3 stars out of 5.
I came from the gaming side, and so this purchase was a must for me. It is without a doubt, one of the best DvD's I have ever bought, and has been playing in my DVD play non-stop for the last few weeks. Get into it now!
The reason it's number seven is because the movie is based on the video game of the same number. If you're a fan of Final Fantasy 7, then honestly, this is a must buy for you. This movie was specifically made for the fans of FF7 and even begins with a dedication to the players.
It is two years after the final battle against Sephiroth has been fought and most of the team has spread out, each doing their own thing. A strange affliction seems to be spreading through the children of the world, and there has been no cure found for it. Cloud, as always our favourite character is no where to be found and is actually busy brooding and feeling sorry for himself and for the death of Aerith.
But soon he gets the messages on his phone and now he has to return as events are unfolding which will lead to a defeated foe returning through genetic legacy.
All the great characters from the game feature in the movie. The only two people who didn't seem to make it in were Biggs and Wedge, which is a pity as they have always been a staple event for laughter. All characters have been beautifully rendered to perfection and Clouds' trademark spiky hair is a hoot to watch.
Many of the landscapes from the game have been lovingly re-drawn and recaptured in this movie. Midgar city is where Tifa lives and even the highway bike battle that occurs in the game has been re-created for the movie. You can plainly see how much effort has been put into faithfully sticking to the original concepts from the game.
The visual effects in this title are unbelievable, which is really par for any CGI movie. All the best parts of the game are re-captured perfectly and even re-designed for the big screen. Watching Cloud on his bike, selecting from his vast array of swords is mouth watering. Watching him re-configure his sword during each fight is fantastic. The essence of the inventions in that world are captured perfectly. It all seems so fantastic, which is really the point of the Final Fantasy series.
For people who have never played the game, this movie will not mean anywhere near as much to you. There is too much history that can only be played through and experienced, vested in each of the characters in the movie. However, the DVD does provide a re-cap of the game, and though it's frustrating to sit through, with the old blocky graphics, it will take you through the entire storyline of what occurred in the game.
There is always something lost in that kind of translation and it's easy to define. When playing this game, you invest so much affection for the characters and their plight that you cannot get through a visual re-cap. Aerith's death was a moment in utter pathos, and I (yes, I'm willing to admit) had a very large lump in my throat when she died. Almost every morning, I wake up and wonder why I could not resurrect her like I did in every other battle up till the first showdown with Sephiroth.
So why get this movie if you're not a gamer? Well, it is worth while to experience even a little of the wonderment that SQUARE can create in their games. The battle scenes, which may seem over the top to a non-gamer, are standard fair for gamers everywhere, and experiencing them first hand is indescribable. At least with this movie, you can now lay claim to knowing what happened in one Final Fantasy game. Odds are though, you will probably want to go out and buy a Playstation to experience it for yourself.
In the end, I have to give this movie two scores. One as a gamer, and one as a non-gamer.
As a gamer, this movie is fantastic and easily a 5 star movie. So much of the game has been recrafted into the movie and witnessing certain limit break moves will provide a unique thrill that you will never get with any other movie. Also, watching the wonderful characters, fully animated is fantastic. However, on the downside, this movie will leave you wanting more. I now want to see a movie about the Final Fantasy 8 game. I want to see Triple Triad being translated onto the screen. It leaves you so hungry....
As a non-gamer, this movie may confuse you at times. The character introductions are very short, all assuming that you already know who they are from the game. Even though the DVD does provide you with a game re-cap, it takes much patience to sit through. So, as a non-gamer score, I have to give it only 3 stars out of 5.
I came from the gaming side, and so this purchase was a must for me. It is without a doubt, one of the best DvD's I have ever bought, and has been playing in my DVD play non-stop for the last few weeks. Get into it now!