Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Anime Review

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Sony Pictures
Movie - 2 discs
101 minutes
$26.96 (2006)
$49.95 (2007) Limited Edition
$38.96 (2009) Blu-Ray
ISBN 043396118966
Japanese/English Audio - English/ French/Spanish/Portuguese/Korean/
Thai/Mandarin/Cantonese Subtitles
Director - Tetsuya Nomura
Studio - Square Enix

Synopsis: It's been two years since Cloud Strife and his band of fighters were able to defeat Sephiroth and stop him from destroying all life on the planet by summoning a catastrophic meteor.  Sephiroth died in the battle and the group managed to cast the spell "Holy" to counteract "Meteor", but the spell was not strong enough to save the day.  The planet itself fought back by sending the Lifestream (the coexistent life energy of all beings on the planet) to halt "Meteor" and preserve itself.

Cloud visits his old Buster Sword and reminisces about the past

After the final confrontation the group has begun picking up the pieces of their lives.  Cloud lives with Tifa and they care for Barret's adopted daughter Marlene along with an orphan boy named Wenzel.  Tifa is broken-hearted because Cloud still holds a torch for the deceased Aerith (who died at the hands of Sephiroth before she could fully complete the spell "Holy").  Cloud runs a delivery service and the group still remains in touch.

Yazoo, Kadaj and Loz are searching for Jenova's remains

The Lifestream has been acting strangely and a debilitating disease has spread called Geostigma.  Despite many efforts it has no known cure and is currently ravaging the population.  En route to a meeting with the Turks (former elite soldiers from Shinra, the corrupt corporation which harnessed the Lifestream to establish a stranglehold on cheap energy supply), Cloud is attacked by three men bearing a striking resemblance to Sephiroth.  They are incredibly powerful and seeking their "mother" (presumably Jenova, the extraterrestrial lifeform used to genetically create Sephiroth).

Tifa fights Loz in an old abandoned church

Many think Geostigma is the planet's retribution against those who would exploit the Lifestream, but it's clear the three men plan to resurrect Sephiroth.  Cloud has become a loner, but the band has to get back together in order to save the human race.  We'll see all of our old favorites, but will their combined power be enough this time?  Will Geostigma consume the population just in time for Sephiroth's return?  What happened to all that Materia from the final battle?  Can Cloud find his true memories and move past the devastating loss in his life (Aerith)?

Cloud is ready for a final showdown

Pros: Stunning CG (computer-generated) visuals - literally everything has a lush texture, nostalgia overload at seeing all of the FFVII characters again, superb character redesigns, sequel to original FFVII game which was a critical (almost historical) success for video game console RPGs (role-playing games), eye-popping fight scenes, great musical score - especially the theme, nice love triangle resolution with Cloud/Aerith/Tifa, additional scenes in Blu-Ray edition + even better HD visuals, actual FFVII story scenes included to recap events of the game (for the most part), Sephiroth!

The gang's all here - Yuffie, Cid, Tifa, Vincent, and Barret

Cons: Plot is relatively simple yet horribly convoluted by bad writing/dialogue, the Turks get more screen-time than 90% of the group members, the three "Sephiroth" clones are really annoying, barely any emotional depth to the characters (yeah, they're CG, but c'mon!), CG is highly detailed yet surprisingly crude in terms of character movements and depicting emotions (facial expressions primarily, but also body language)

The three clones of Sephiroth summon Bahamut!

Mike Tells It Straight: I spent at least 100 hours playing Final Fantasy VII during college and was the first in my crowded apartment to actually finish the game.  It was a memorable experience back in late 1997 and FFVII will stand as one of my favorite video game experiences (in front of the original Final Fantasy and close behind the Tekken franchise - a tale for another review) while I still had time to play video games.  The characters were awesome, the story was interesting with a key death of a main character (Aerith), amazing CG cut story scenes, and the game-play was ground-breaking (Materia, Summoning, optional attributes, side games).  FFVII will always have a soft spot in my heart.

Red XIII - the Samuel L. Jackson of Final Fantasy VII

When Square Enix put out the first fully-rendered, CG Final Fantasy film (The Spirits Within) I was disappointed to see the plot was completely unrelated to any previous FF game.  It never resonated with me.  I guess they got the hint as Advent Children is a direct sequel to FFVII!  Score one for Square Enix.

Sephiroth!

It was great seeing all of the old characters stunningly redesigned with incredible detail and returning in an interesting story premise.  Cloud's motorbike and wide array of swords were better than anything I expected.  The fight scenes were fast and epic - timed perfectly with slow motion cuts amid lightning fast exchanges.  The music added audio texture to an already abundant visual palette.  The writers resolve the Cloud/Aerith/Tifa love triangle in a satisfactory way.

Does Aerith return from the dead!?

The story premise seems promising as it starts with a real crisis (Geostigma killing people), but it quickly falls apart as we jump from one action scene to the next.  Square's fully-rendered CG scenes were awe-inspiring back in 1997 and we all thought a full-length CG movie would be the best thing ever, but today we expect more from our CG.  Sadly, the character motions and 'acting' are horribly stiff and awkward in this film.

The haunted eyes of a former SOLDIER

If you loved FFVII back in the day or came to it later - Advent Children is a great experience.  Those with no prior contact to the original game are likely to be lost at the significance/backstory of most characters - you've got to have some familiarity with FFVII because this film is a sequel.  The slick visuals and exciting action scenes are impressive, but the story and CG character 'acting' are terrible.  After my awe at the rich CG wore off and I focused more on the story it was clear the plot sucked.  Definitely a visual feast and that fact alone makes this film worth checking out, but the poorly executed story really killed any urge for repeat viewings.

TO BUY and Recommendations:
 

Green Legend Ran Anime Review

Green Legend Ran
Pioneer (Geneon)
Original Video Animation
140 mins. - 3 episodes - 1 disc
$19.98 (1998)
ISBN 013023002692
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Satoshi Saga
Studio - AIC

Synopsis: The Rodo, a monolithic alien race, descended upon the Earth at the pinnacle of human culture.  Their arrival affected massive climate changes combined with their ability to draw the planet's resources within themselves resulting in the loss of oceans and rain.  Now the bitter remnants of humanity cluster around the bases of the gigantic Rodo on a barren desolate world. 

The Rodoists have a stranglehold on water distribution

Humans are divided into two factions: the Rodoists stay closest to the monoliths where natural resources are still somewhat available and they worship the Rodo as gods vs. the Hazzard, a ragtag group of rebels who view the Rodo as invaders.  Caught in the crossfire are the rest of humanity, attempting to eke out a sparse living in slowly worsening conditions as the last of the planets resources are swallowed up into the Rodo.

Ran kicks back with a smoke after a long day of gathering supplies

Ran is a resourceful, hot-blooded boy living in a tiny border town and taking care of his aging grandmother.  His mother was killed by a stray bullet from a Hazzard rebel with a huge scar on his chest several years ago.  Now Ran is obsessed with getting revenge on the man responsible for his mother's death.

Aira shows Ran a secret garden where fresh water flows

A battle between the Rodoists and Hazzard breaks out in his town and Ran is caught in the middle.  He meets a beautiful, silver-haired girl named Aira living among the Hazard.  Instantly smitten Ran is torn between his desire for revenge and protecting Aira as the Rodoists seek to capture her as their prophesied 'silver-haired maiden'.

The Rodo 'mother' beckons Aira to come home

What is Aira's strange connection to the Rodo and 'The Green' inside the huge monoliths?  The Rodo's plan is revealed and humanity's fate hangs in the balance.  Will Ran choose revenge over love?

Ran shouts for revenge against the man with the chest scar

Pros: Positive environmental message, somewhat interesting story, a few good plot twists (like who Ran's father is)

That's gonna leave a mark

Cons: Animation is dated and has a very simple style, character designs are stylized without a lot of detail, plot is a bit weak and scattered in places, DVD has no frills (it's from 1998) like menu screen, etc.

The Rodoist Arch Bishop drinks some water

Mike Tells It Straight: I'm a sucker for a good post-apocalyptic anime and GLR fit the bill.  Humanity on the brink of annihilation - check!  Giant alien monoliths sucking the life from the planet - check!  Hot-headed punk kid tasked to save the world and get the babe - check!  All the ingredients for a decent flick, but it had a few pitfalls.

Aira's power emerges in the shadow of the Rodo monolith

The animation felt dated (this was made way back in 1992), was a bit rough around the edges, and the character designs were highly stylized/simple - reminded me strongly of Now and Then, Here and There and Fantastic Children.  Not my favorite style, but I can live with it.

The Rodo 'mother' tries to convince Aira to betray humanity

The story is relatively straightforward and acts as a vehicle for Ran's coming-of-age. I liked the environmental message and Ran's scrappiness.  The head Rodoists were totally weird and unique.  This show has some dust on it (it's a classic to many anime fans), but was decent and satisfied my post-apocalyptic future craving.  Other movies do it better (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind in particular) and the weak character designs prompt me to give it an average rating.

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Pom Poko Anime Review

Pom Poko

Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Disney)

Movie - 119 min.

$29.99 (2005)

ISBN 786936175257

Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles

Director - Isao Takahata

Studio - Studio Ghibli

Synopsis: A massive urban development is encroaching on the natural forests of a group of tanuki ("raccoon dogs").  Soon the tanuki are fighting amongst themselves for the diminishing resources available to them.  Finally fed up with losing their habitat the tanuki band together to stop the humans with their only weapon - the magical ability of transformation!   

The tanukis practice transformation

Only the elders remember the proper techniques and must teach the younger generation.  Soon the whole group is able to pull off imaginative acts of sabotage on the construction workers and their equipment.  They scare away many workers by feigning supernatural hauntings, but more workers take their place. 

The resistance escalates into all-out warfare as the tanuki grow more desperate.  A group of elders arrives from a far-off island where transformation techniques have reached their pinnacle.  With the powerful elders on their side the tanuki prepare to launch their final illusion.  Will the brave tanuki manage to halt the irresistible force of man's progress?

Lush backgrounds - exactly what we expect from Studio Ghibli

 

Pros: Amazing animation by Studio Ghibli, wonderful backgrounds, thoughtful story with good mix of humor with serious message, highly creative and entertaining illusions, the tanukis use their massive ballsacks as parachutes and to thrash on humans!

Cons: The giant tanuki ballsacks may not be appropriate for children - because they could wet themselves from laughing so hard

Mike Tells It Straight: Studio Ghibli deliver another amazing film with top notch animation, lush backgrounds, great character designs, unparalleled creativity, and a mature environmental message.  It's nature vs. the destruction caused by man.  Even though the tanuki are playful and their acts of sabotage are more funny than anything, it's tragic to see their way of life slowly destroyed despite all their best efforts. 

Tanukis unleash their secret weapons in a police skirmish

I'm impressed Disney had the "balls" to release this film domestically considering the numerous scenes of "balls" throughout the story.  I'm glad they did and anyone seriously offended by the "balls" should lighten up.  It's a foreign film and part of the folklore of tanukis in Japanese culture - deal with it.  The dub uses the word "pouch" to describe their "balls" which should more than appease an American audience.

Ghibli have become known for their powerful pro-environment messages and score another victory here for enlightenment.  It's a touching, funny film with some highly entertaining illusions by some highly entertaining tanukis.  Watch this movie because you won't see that everyday. 

TO BUY and Recommendations: