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Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children - Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a 3D computer-animated science fiction drama film based on the popular Final Fantasy role-playing video game series. The film, released in 2005, features many characters from Final Fantasy VII , who would soon return in the highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake. The film received mixed reviews, with some praising its spectacular CGI graphics, while others complained that its plot was poor. About a year after its initial release, a director's cut of the film was announced, but was not released until April 2009. This version of the film was titled Advent Children Complete and contains nearly thirty minutes of additional footage, revised scenes, and updated visuals.

Plot and setting

Advent Children takes place two years after the events of the 1997 role-playing game Final Fantasy VII . The few survivors of Midgar, a city that was almost entirely destroyed by Sephiroth's meteor spell, founded a new city called Edge, where Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart run a courier service and care for the orphaned Denzel and Marlene. Cloud cannot forget the death of Aerith Gainsborough , and, along with Denzel, he becomes infected with a disease called "Geostigma," for which there is no known cure. At the beginning of the film, Cloud has isolated himself from the rest of his companions.

Through Tifa Lockhart, Cloud is contacted and summoned to a meeting with former Shinra Corporation president Rufus Shinra, who was originally believed to be dead. Rufus implores Cloud for help in stopping Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo, the three physical manifestations of Sephiroth's spirit who hope to resurrect him with the remains of an evil alien named Jenova. Cloud, however, refuses to help. Kadaj and his group begin recruiting people infected with Geostigma, and Denzel joins the group, drawn to finding a cure for his illness. Loz follows Tifa and Marlene to Aerith's church, and a fight ensues, where Tifa is knocked unconscious and Marlene is kidnapped. The kidnapped people are brought to the ruins of a mystical Forgotten City, a place where Kadaj welcomes them as his comrades and announces his intention to reunite them with Jenova. Cloud eventually arrives to save them, but is overpowered by Kadaj's group and is later rescued by his former companion, Vincent Valentine .

Cloud continues his fight and returns to the city, but once there, he discovers that Kadaj has summoned the Bahamut Sin and other evil beings to torture the population. Cloud and his former group from Final Fantasy 7 However, Kadaj confronts Rufus Shinra and reveals that he is in possession of a box containing Jenova's remains. Rufus tries to destroy it but is unable to, and Kadaj flees to the city with his group. Cloud pursues Kadaj and engages him in battle. Cloud ultimately wins the fight, however, Kadaj manages to open Jenova's box and enclosing its contents, transforming into Sephiroth. He declares that he will be able to use the life force of those infected with Geostigma to dominate the planet. Sephiroth and Cloud then fight and, after a long struggle, Sephiroth is defeated, leaving behind only a wounded Kadaj. A healing rain cures those afflicted with Geostigma, but Loz and Yazoo appear and catch Cloud off guard. The two self-destruct, resulting in an explosion that completely engulfs the three fighters. Cloud appears to have survived the attack, however, as he eventually wakes up in the church and is joined by his friends.

Reception

The game received mixed reviews, with some praising its computer-animated graphics while others complained that the film's plot was confusing and unconvincing. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a score of 33% based on 6 reviews, though the audience score was significantly higher at 84%. James Mielke of 1UP.com gave the film an "A-" and praised it for its incredible computer-generated visuals. Advent Children Are Complete , the director's cut of the film, is often considered a much improved version of the original film, as it is generally more accessible and understandable for those who have not played the original game.

Distribution of production

This film was directed by Tetsuya Nomura and produced by Yoshinori Kitase , Shinji Hashimoto, and Ichiro Hazama. Kazushige Nojima None Advent Children also stars various voice actors and actresses such as Takahiro Sakurai (as Cloud Strife ), Ayumi Ito (as Tifa Lockheart ), Kenichi Suzumura (as Zack Fair ), Shotaro Morikubo (as Kadaj), Maaya Sakamoto (as Aerith Gainsborough ), Toshiyuki Morikawa (as Sephiroth ), and Shogo Suzuki (as Vincent Valentine ). The film's music was composed by Nobuo Uematsu , while the role of cinematography is credited to Yasuharu Yoshizawa. Keiichi Kojima is listed as the main editor.