Final Fantasy VII Comes to DVD

It is a rare occasion that a video game is turned into a movie; it is even a bigger surprise when that movie does well. Most game turned movie titles end up as flops, because they don't appeal to a large audience or are done with low budgets and not taken seriously. Case in point, The Mario Brothers Movie, but in some cases the movie is a big success, like Tomb Raider. One company that decided to attempt a movie based on a game was none other then SquareEnix, the creators of the acclaimed Final Fantasy series. And of course with Square at the head of movie production what better theme for a movie then the game that started the company, Final Fantasy.

They had tried once before to create a movie based off the series, but with little success. The move was Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and it was a great visual experience with deep story and interesting themes. What the movie lacked however was everything we had come to love and expect from a Final Fantasy game, the action, oversized weapons, strange hair styles, and magic use. So when Square got back from their miserable box office defeat they decided to hold their heads up high, and go with what they knew best... Final Fantasy VII!

The trick was creating an amazing movie that would meet expectations from the fans, and continue with the plot and themes of the game, and Final Fantasy Advent Children does exactly what the creators wanted it to do. The movie takes place right after the destruction of Midgar and meteors defeat. The world is rid of Sephiroth, but the fallout from meteors destruction has caused a virus, a stigma to infest the planet and the people living on it. Cloud has continued work as a mercenary alongside Tifa, when suddenly a group of silver haired punks emerge looking for the remnants of Jenova.

These men want to perform the "Reunion" and destroy the planet like Sephiroth before them, and their leader even has the notion of bringing back the dark warrior. All of your favorite characters make an appearance in this film, Cloud, Barret, Vincent, Reno, Cid and more all come together and untie against this common threat.

The graphics used are the most realistic I have seen to date. The CGI is absolutely astounding; everything looks so great that at times it's hard to remember that the characters and environments you're looking at do not exist except on a computer. The detail and time that was put into the making of this film is easily seen. Square really went the extra mile to deliver a story and movie to the fans of this series that was truly a masterpiece.

The action sequences are very well done. Many of the famous attacks used in the game are present, like Clouds Clip Hazard attack as well as materia casting abilities like Lightning make an appearance. The characters that engage in battle act and look just exactly how you would picture them. Tifa's fight scene entails a barrage of physical maneuvers that would make the Matrix proud, and her showcased moves like Beat Rush ultimately win her a decisive victory. Right after he battle you hear a cell phone ring, the tone of the ring is the classic nine note victory theme featured in each final fantasy game to date, a great tribute to the series.

There are a total of five major battle sequences within the movie, all of which are very engaging and fun to watch, and of course the final sequence is the climax of the movie, a famous rivalry comes to a head as Cloud confronts the reincarnated Sephiroth. This battle is the ultimate showdown, and proves to make the movie what it is, a great martial arts, guns blazing action adventure flick. It's a mouthful to say but very true. Fans of the game, will love seeing their favorite characters in this movie and anyone who is a fan of the action genera or just in need of a good movie will also find this movie to be quite enjoyable. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.