Review of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) by Jarrett M — 26 Feb 2012

As much as I'd like to be objective with this film, I really can't be. FF7 was the first FF that I played, and to have a feature length film that returns to that world and brings back together the characters that I loved and some that I didn't is truly special to me.

So I have to rate this higher than I probably should. The story here is original and picks up 2 years after the events of the game and introduces a new threat along with a returning one. All the major characters from the game are present and while the majority of them play a small role in the film, it is nice to see them again never the less.

The writing can seem a little odd and rough in patches, and the pacing of the film is also a little uneven, but definately leans toward the fast side. There are several action scenes throughout the film and once introductions are out of the way in the first part of the movie, the action comes fast and furious and hardly lets up throughout the rest of the film.

The majority of what occurs through the movie laughs it the face of conventional physics, but stays within the bounds of what has been established in the game. While this certainly is difficult to follow at times, and can be over the top with it's action, it truly is a movie for the fans and I can't imagine many fans having problems with it.

It has just about everything that a fan of the games could want and delivers it in stunningly gorgeous animation. If you're a fan of FF7, you've probably already seen this, but if for some reason you haven't, you need to.

If you have never played the game, check this out. You may enjoy it. I have several friends who I have made watch this who have no prior knowledge of the game and have told me they enjoyed it. Perhaps they just didn't want me to feel bad.

Again, I aapologize for my lack of objectivity, but this is a special movie to me and I have to rate it high. This would probably stand as more of a 3.5 or 4 star rating were it a comperable film with which I had no previous investment.

I do recommend giving it a look though, even if you don't get the same thing out of it that I do.