Advent Children Complete Blu-ray Review
Movie Sequel to Classic Game Final Fantasy VII is Great Fun for Fans
Jun 9, 2009
A reworked movie sequel to the Playstation game, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete comes to Blu-ray in a gorgeous but flawed transfer. The film is highly entertaining for fans of the original game, but newcomers may be lost.
Advent Children Complete Plot Review
Set two years after the end of the original Playstation game, Advent Children Complete sees the city of Midgar ravaged by a virus known as Geostigma. Three strangers arrive in Midgar with the intention of bringing about the return of Sephiroth, the villain from the game. Only the heroes from the original game can stop them, but Cloud Strife, has been infected by Geostigma, and is having some serious confidence issue after letting Aerith die. Only if Tifa, Vincent, and the others can bring Cloud back from his despair will they be able to stop the return of Sephiroth.
If that paragraph made no sense to the reader, then the movie is probably not for you. This is a movie for fans and fans alone. Those unfamiliar with Final Fantasy VII will be completely lost, as no time is spent setting up the original characters and relationships which can be daunting for a new viewer.
Fans of the original with find an absolute joy of a movie. All of the great characters from the game make a return, and the action is exquisite. The animation is truly jaw-dropping, and musical score is a reworked version of the score from the game. If a viewer remembers Final Fantasy VII fondly, this Blu-ray is highly recommended.
The Filmmakers have added of 20 minutes of new footage to Advent Children, and tweaked and changed over 1000 shots, from changing colors to adding blood and bruises during fights. Overall, Advent Children Complete is the definitive way to watch the film. The new footage makes the story far more comprehensible, and the minor tweaks smooth out some of the rough spots in the original.
Advent Children Complete Picture Quality
Advent Children Complete on Blu-ray is a mixed bag. At times it is one of the most stunning blu-ray discs on the market. There is a gorgeous 3d effect throughout most of the film, where the animation is so clear and sharp the image literally appears to be miles deep. Colors and definition are clear, contrast is fantastic, and at its best the image is jaw dropping.
Not all is perfect however. Advent Children Complete is riddled with shimmering and aliasing problems. Especially noticeable in the characters’ hair, straight lines appear jagged and seem to have shimmer about them. Interestingly this is more pronounced in the old footage and almost non-existent in the new footage. It’s possible the original footage was not mastered in 1080p but rather 1080i, which is causing the jagged effect. Whatever the reason, it is very distracting and takes away from what should have been a perfect score on picture quality. It’s still above average, but not as good as it should have been.
Advent Children Complete Audio Quality
While the picture quality on Advent Children Complete somewhat disappointed the audio quality is superb. The Blu-ray contains both English and Japanese Dolby TrueHD tracks. The Japanese TrueHD with English subtitles was used for this review. The audio is clear and booming with nice separation across all channels. The energetic musical score is clear and thunderous, but dialogue remains clear throughout the movie. The audio track will give any home theater system a solid work-out. English subtitles are well-done and easy to follow.
Advent Children Complete Extras
The extras on Advent Children Complete are decent, but unimpressive. Most of the extras from the two previous DVD releases of Advent Children have been dropped. The only original extras that remain are some trailers and Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII. Reminiscence is a compilation of cut-scenes and game footage from the original Final Fantasy VII. It’s a nice review for those haven’t played Final Fantasy VII in years.
The remaining features are exclusive for this release. Legacy of Final Fantasy VII takes a look at the origins of Final Fantasy VII. Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII Compilation is a recap of all of the games and movies in the Final Fantasy VII universe, and is the most entertaining feature on the Blu-ray. On the Way to a Smile-Episode: Denzel is an animated side story fleshing out the role of one of the characters in the film. Finally there is a preview for the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII game.
Advent Children Complete Final Thoughts
For a fan of Final Fantasy VII, Advent Children Complete is an absolute joy. It’s a pleasure to see the characters again and catch up with them after a few years. The movie is made for the fans completely. Non-fans will be confused by the storyline, but will be impressed by the gorgeous animation and spectacular action sequences. The Blu-ray is solid, though it should have been stellar, and as such is a bit of a disappointment. Advent Children Complete is highly recommended for fans of Final Fantasy VII and worth a rental for everyone else.
Advent Children Compete Final Review (out of five)
Movie: ****
Video: ***
Audio: *****
Extras: **
101 Minutes
Unrated
Buy the Blu-ray here.
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