Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a movie sequel to the game Final Fantasy VII. If you are unfamiliar with FFVII, buy it off of Ebay and spend the twenty hours it takes to beat it. You will be hopelessly lost without the background, and believe me; the movie is well worth the time.
FFVII for the PS1 was a revolutionary game. Although the character models were blocky with spiky hair, the game possessed a story and depth not present in other games at the time. If you ask any Final Fantasy fan what their favorite FF game is, you can bet seven is high on the list.
The CG scenes were fantastic, and Sephiroth was really a bad-ass you could be afraid of. Players could firmly believe he was capable of destroying the planet. Also, the characters were believable and the game was actually fun to play. The soundtrack from FFVII has been sought after by musicians everywhere, and if you mention “One Winged Angel” most FFVII geeks immediately start blabbing about the enormity of the final battle.
On top of all of this, the exploration factor in FFVII is phenomenal and has countless walkthroughs dedicated to finding that one special materia. This game has left a deep impression on its fans and with the arrival of Advent Children many gamer’s dreams have come true.
Advent Children takes place approximately two years after the events of the game. Marlene, Barret’s daughter, narrates the opening scene that serves to catch viewers up to the current time. Flashbacks from the game are in abundance here. We learn that a deadly disease named “Geostigma” is wreaking havoc on the populace. It is a disease believed to have occurred as a result of the body fighting off foreign material from the lifestream.
Cloud has become a recluse while managing his own business “Strife’s Delivery Service” which is located in Tifa’s bar. Tifa’s bar also serves as an orphanage for children struck with Geostigma. Barret’s six-year-old daughter Marlene also resides here while Barret searches the world for a alternative to Mako. One day, Cloud receives a phone call from Rufus Shinra, the president of Shinra Inc.
Rufus begs Cloud to protect him from Kadaj, a wacko looking for his “mother”. Kadaj and his two brothers, Loz and Yazoo, believe that Cloud and Rufus hold the key to finding their “mother”. Cloud and his group of friends must protect the ruins of Midgar, themselves, the orphans, and the “mother” from Kadaj and his cronies.
The animation in Advent Children is beautiful. The action sequences at first are difficult to follow, but after minutes into them, it is easy to see which character is fighting which. Half of the movie is dedicated to battles, but viewers will not be disappointed. Watching FFVII characters blow people and animals to smithereens with their chosen weapons is quite entertaining. Lastly, facial expressions are especially well-animated, and players finally get to learn how materia are actually equipped.
The beginning of the movie is mostly catch-up and an introduction to the new situation. It moves slowly, but after the first fight scene the movie picks up again. If viewers are not familiar with the story of FFVII, they may be bored during the first half hour of the movie.
There was some speculation surrounding the choice of native FF composer Nobuo Uetmatsu for the movie soundtrack. That speculation has now vanished. Uetmatsu’s soundtrack is subtle and fitting with the added nostalgia factor of songs from the game. “One Winged Angel” has also been re-vamped for the movie; it now features an electric guitar as well.
The plot of Advent Children is weak, but many fans won’t even notice. The purpose of this film is not to set a standard for emotional story-telling, it is strictly a reunion of characters. This alone will bring many fans to the movie. However, one angle never resolved is the love triangle between Tifa, Aeris, and Cloud. (It isn’t a subtle triangle either.)
And what would a reunion be with a surprising return from Sephiroth? No plot spoilers here, but viewers will be surprised with how the writers decided to add him back into the mix. There is even a large dose of summon creatures and limit breaks in the movie and any FFVII player will be able to identify them. Also, this movie presents a strong case that Vincent Valentine is the best game bad ass ever created.
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is what fans of the game have been waiting for. Even if you are only mildly fond of RPGs, FFVII is worth playing. Even though the graphics are a bit outdated, it is worth the time and $20. Advent Children is a great movie and will quench a portion of the thirst FFVII fans have for a sequel. It is definitely worthy of its Final Fantasy title. Now, where is my GAME sequel dammit!?
Here are some extra screenshots of the movie. They are just too beautiful to not show…