Showing posts with label Bluray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bluray. Show all posts
Baraka [Blu-ray] Review
This video impressed me so much that after viewing it I thought about it for about a year and then bought it. There is no plot, per se, but it is amazing and keeps your attention. It takes you around the world, viewing the world from new perspectives, like getting a gift every few minutes. Watch it, you will not be sorry.
Baraka [Blu-ray] Feature
Baraka [Blu-ray] Overview
FULLY RESTORED - The only movie ever transferred with an 8K HD Scan
Shot in breathtaking 70mm in 24 countries on six continents, BARAKA is a transcendent global tour that explores the sights and sounds of the human condition like nothing you ve ever seen or felt before. These are the wonders of a world without words, viewed through man and nature s own prisms of symmetry, savagery, harmony and chaos.
BARAKA produced by Mark Magidson and directed and photographed by Ron Fricke, award-winning cinematographer of KOYAANISQATSI and creators of the IMAX® sensation CHRONOS has now been fully restored from its original camera negative via state-of-the-art 8K UltraDigital mastering to create the most visually stunning Blu-ray ever made.
INCLUDES OVER 80 MINUTES OF ALL NEW BONUS FEATURES:
Baraka: A Closer Look
Baraka: Restoration
Baraka [Blu-ray] Specifications
The word Baraka means "blessing" in several languages; watching this film, the viewer is blessed with a dazzling barrage of images that transcend language. Filmed in 24 countries and set to an ever-changing global soundtrack, the movie draws some surprising connections between various peoples and the spaces they inhabit, whether that space is a lonely mountaintop or a crowded cigarette factory. Some of these attempts at connection are more successful than others: for instance, an early sequence segues between the daily devotions of Tibetan monks, Orthodox Jews, and whirling dervishes, finding more similarity among these rituals than one might expect. And there are other amazing moments, as when sped-up footage of a busy Hong Kong intersection reveals a beautiful symmetry to urban life that could only be appreciated from the perspective of film. The lack of context is occasionally frustrating--not knowing where a section was filmed, or the meaning of the ritual taking place--and some of the transitions are puzzling. However, the DVD includes a short behind-the-scenes featurette in which cinematographer Ron Fricke (Koyaanisqatsi) explains that the effect was intentional: "It's not where you are that's important, it's what's there." And what's here, in Baraka, is a whole world summed up in 104 minutes. --Larisa Lomacky Moore
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Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 [Blu-ray] Review
This DVD contains two versions of the Star Trek pilot "The Cage" and the final original series episode "Turnabout Intruder". There is a full color version of "The Cage" and another which has portions in black and white and color. "The Cage" stars Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike, who commands the Enterprise on a mission to a forbidden planet (Talos IV) where illusions are experienced as reality. Parts of this episode were used in the later two part voyage "The Menagerie", but it is really interesting to see the pilot in its original form. It was a really great beginning for Star Trek with a thoughtful, intriguing story, which has been loved and admired by many even though a major television network once rejected it. "Turnabout Intruder" was the last episode of the the original series, and while not one of the best stories, it is interesting if not a little strange to see William Shatner play the part of a woman. Dr. Janice Lester, who envies Kirk, transfers herself into his body and Kirk into hers. An interesting idea but there isn't much beyond the character transfer. It is well worth owning this DVD since there are over two hours on it with good sound and picture quality. It makes a fine addition to any Star Trek fan's collection.
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 [Blu-ray] Feature
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 [Blu-ray] Overview
Space. The Final Frontier. The U.S.S. Enterprise embarks on a five year mission to explore the galaxy. The Enterprise is under the command of Captain James T. Kirk. The First Officer is Mr. Spock, from the planet Vulcan. The Chief Medical Officer is Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy. With a determined crew, the Enterprise encounters Klingons, Romulans, time paradoxes, tribbles and genetic supermen lead by Khan Noonian Singh. Their mission is to explore strange new worlds, to seek new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 [Blu-ray] Specifications
In 1966, Star Trek set out to boldly go where no series had gone before, beginning a three-year mission that led to a franchise that would last decades. Here at last is the first season of the original series all in one box, 29 episodes in their original broadcast order. That means starting with "The Man Trap," and soon followed by "Where No Man Has Gone Before," the second pilot filmed and the first one starring William Shatner as Captain Kirk. The many highlight episodes include "Balance of Terror" and "Errand of Mercy" (introducing, respectively, the Romulans and the Klingons), the two-part "The Menagerie" (which recycled footage from the original pilot, "The Cage," which featured Christopher Pike as the captain of the Enterprise and is not included in this set), "Space Seed" (introducing Ricardo Montalban's Khan character), and "The City of the Edge of Forever" (written by sci-fi giant Harlan Ellison and considered by many the best-ever episode of the series).
The first-season DVD set is supplemented by 80 minutes of featurettes incorporating 2003-04 interviews with Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, other cast members, and producers, and some 1988 footage of Gene Roddenberry. The longest (24 minutes) featurette, "The Birth of a Timeless Legacy," examines the two pilot episodes and the development of the crew. Slightly shorter are "To Boldly Go... Season One," which highlights key episodes, and "Sci-Fi Visionaries," which discusses the series' great science fiction writers (most famously in "The City of the Edge of Forever"). Shatner shows off his love of horses in "Life Beyond Trek," and, more interestingly, Nimoy debunks various rumors in "Reflections of Spock." As they've done for many of the feature-film special editions, Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda provide a pop-up text commentary on four of the episodes filled with history, trivia, and dry wit. It's the first commentary of any kind for a Star Trek TV show, but an audio commentary is still overdue. The technical specs are mostly the same as other Trek TV series--Dolby 5.1, English subtitles--but with the welcome addition of the episode trailers. The plastic case is an attempt to replicate some of the fun packaging of the series' European DVD releases, but it's a bit clunky, and the paper sleeve around the disc case seems awkward and crude. Still, the set is a vast improvement both in terms of shelf space and bonus features compared to the old two-episode discs, which were released before full-season boxed sets became the model for television DVDs. --David Horiuchi
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Witchblade: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] Review
"When I saw the pictures and the explanation of the story, I thought it was a coarser, scarier and darker anime. But once we started, I realized it had less violence and more heart." - Mie Sonozaki
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Before anything else, you need to understand the following: Witchblade is, first and foremost, a character-driven drama, rather than an action series. It has some fighting, yes, but the vast majority of the episodes are spent focusing on character development. Everything else comes a distant second. At first the suggestion is that it's going to be a The Devil Lady, 'monster of the week' type, but that isn't the case.
Whoever decided to market Witchblade as a violent, fan-service heavy title wasn't too bright. Likewise, the person who came up with the idea of taking the title of a popular American comic and then creating an entirely different story, with an all-new cast, didn't make the wisest of moves. By attempting to pass-off a slow-paced, heartfelt and very human drama as a generic action title with added boobs, all Gonzo achieved was getting the wrong type of viewers; pushing away the types who would appreciate a family drama about a mother loving her daughter with all her heart and being willing to do anything for her.
Judging the series based on the revealing Witchblade forms and boob sizes, it's hard not to expect an utterly tasteless anime. But you know what? Sex only occurs ONCE during the entire series, and NOTHING gets shown--the two involved kiss and then it's the morning after. That pretty much sums Witchblade up: there's a lot of cleavage but, that aside, Witchblade is surprisingly tasteful. In truth, there isn't even a huge amount of action once series gets past the introduction period.
:: Story :: 6/10
Six years prior to the start of Witchblade, Tokyo had been left devastated by a catastrophic earthquake. Two people were found alive at the ground zero of the quake: a 17-year-old woman (later named Masane; her having lost all of her pre-disaster memories) and a baby (Rihoko). Only the maternity diary held by the woman pointed towards them being related...
Once the series gets going, the two are heading back to Tokyo on the run; desperate to stay together and not be separated by the child welfare organization (created after the quake, to 'help' children). As jobless Masane struggles to keep Rihoko, she encounters the 'monster' responsible for a string of nasty murders, and that's when what had been sleeping within her for six years awakens--the power of the 'Witchblade'; something that has existed since the beginning of time, selecting its (female) hosts and forcing its hosts to give into their lust and destructive urges. Masane then gets caught between two organizations who seek the Witchblade, ending up working for one (Douji: a major weapons supplier) to support her life with Rihoko and hunted by the other (NSWF: in charge of the child welfare organization and with links to genetic research).
I'll be honest here: the story of Witchblade is full of anime silliness, ranging from fat men disguised as killer microwaves, genetic experiments, and women who use 'Cloneblades'--lesser, copied versions of the ever mysterious Witchblade. It's never explained why the weapons Masane hunts target random females, or why the Witchblade only selects women as 'hosts'... or what the Witchblade actually is. And I couldn't help but see most of the twists coming in advance; the writers actually intentionally spelling out how the series would end in order to impact on the viewers' feelings progressively rather than shock them.
While it does have a B-movie sort of entertainment factor in its favour, if I were to score Witchblade based only on its story, it wouldn't be very flattering... But this is where the negative ends because, like I've already pointed out at the start, the characters are where it's at. The story is no more than a means to an end; the backdrop for lots of excellent drama.
:: Characterization :: 9.5/10
Masane (nicknamed 'Melonie' because of her boob size!), the lead of the story, has nothing going for her apart from her six-year-old daughter, Rihoko. She isn't incredibly sharp, has no skills of note and, really, only has her love for her daughter. The child welfare organization try to separate them; Masane's ability to transform into a scantily-clad, sexulized version of herself (thanks to the mysterious Witchblade attached to her wrist) puts her in danger and powerful corporations involve her in their troubles, but, no matter what stands in her way, she fights to protect and give a better life to the one she loves the most.
Loud, simple-minded, direct type of characters tend to be hard to like and easy to hate, but Masane is very endearing. There are many simple things that made her into a likable character, such as when she went into a blind panic after learning that her daughter had been hurt; Masane ending up running out of her apartment barefoot. She's often called a primate by her 'boss', Takayama, because of how she acts without thinking and says what's on her mind, but that's what's so lovable about her: her honesty, maternal instincts and selflessness. It's little surprise that she eventually wins over even Takayama with her natural personality as the series progresses - she's just impossible to not like and respect.
The supporting cast backing up Masane aren't too shabby, either. Rihoko basically 'mothers' her own mother by shopping, cooking and caring for the more absent-minded Masane, and her being so mature at such a young age makes her have instant likability. Takayama plays the role of Masane's stern and somewhat awkward middle-aged boss, giving her orders to hunt down rogue 'weapons' for money, and it's his banter with her that provides much of the comic relief--the two later also becoming much closer; the writers doing a wonderful job of humanizing him and showing his softer, caring side as the series progresses. The rest of the cast are less developed and involved than the main three but all play important roles; the residents where Masane and Rihoko live, though never getting much time individually, are responsible for the 'family atmosphere' always being in the air during the more relaxing periods, for example.
:: Art / Animation + Sound:: 8.5/10
The first thing that made me think, 'Wow, Witchblade might not be so horrible, despite the title and fan-service!' was its opening. I watched/listened to the opening by chance, and as soon as I heard the fast-paced, exciting beat and saw the visuals that accompanied the music, which included a close-up of Masane's eye and a tear coming out of it, I just knew I had to watch it. The first opening is THAT good--even the 'GIVE ME YOUR XTC!!!' lyrics going with the show itself. Gonzo went on to regret changing it halfway through since they replaced the far less impressive second opening with the first for the final episode.
In terms of the overall art and animation, the best word to use when describing it is consistent. Why? Because Gonzo are known for running out of budget and forgetting to animate towards the end. That wasn't the case with Witchblade, though, since the final episode featured fluid animation; Gonzo not being reduced to showing movement through lines on the screen and actually showing the characters running. Aside from a few instances of laziness where there wasn't animation and a few stills were linked, it was great to watch. Even Japan's obsession with breast jiggling got attention throughout! And, though I can't say Masane's HUGE, could-suffocate-with-ease breasts appealed to me personally, overall the art did look pleasing.
As for the soundtrack, I have to say: it's excellent. One track that stands out is one used for action quite frequently; a track with an eerie edge and... a woman breathing in an 'erotic' manner in the background - the track having an action-oriented beat. I was ALWAYS pumped for the action - my attention focused - simply because of the music. Towards the end, I recall drums starting beating after what had been a nice 'family life' sort of episode, and I just knew some sweet action would be coming my way. If a soundtrack is good enough, it can make something great into something even greater, and that's the case with Witchblade.
:: Overall :: 9/10
Witchblade has its flaws: the story isn't anything special, Gonzo appeared to run out of ideas at the death and just ended it, and the near enough naked girl-on-girl battles might be off-putting for some. However, the good by far outweighs the bad, and the characterization is at such a level that, if you're anything like me, you won't give a toss. Once the introduction was over and time had been given for attachment to the characters to form, I was too engrossed in their struggles to concern myself with negative thoughts about a robotic monster with the head of a bug and the like.
To sum it all up: If you go into Witchblade expecting nothing, you might just get everything in return. It's always rewarding to find a gem, and in my eyes Witchblade is a gem that deserves to have more people look at it. Do yourself a favour and watch it!
Witchblade: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] Feature
Witchblade: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] Overview
The destiny of the Witchblade continues – in stunning high definition!
Sought by the greed of Men since the dawn of Humankind, but only bestowed upon the woman whose fate it forever scars – The Witchblade. Is it the Righteous Sword of God, of the Hand of the Devil Himself? Now a new bearer has been chosen and she must discover the answers for herself. As she stands on the brink of destiny, she is forced to seek the balance between ecstasy and ruin…
Masane Amaha is a woman on the fringe of society, bouncing rootless from town to town with her daughter, Rihoko. She struggles to build a life for her family, with no memory of the past and no clue as to what the future holds. But upon their arrival back in Tokyo forces conspire to separate parent from child, unleashing the fury of the Witchblade. The young mother will find herself conscripted into the service of the Doji Group and hunted down by the emissaries of the NSWF, all while seeking to balance the weight of this forced duality.
Witchblade: The Complete Series [Blu-ray] Specifications
The fan-service adventure Witchblade (2006) is another trans-Pacific hybrid: a Japanese TV series based on an American comic. Masane Amaha and her obnoxiously precocious daughter Rihoko were discovered amid the ruins after an earthquake devastated 22nd century Japan. During the disaster, she somehow acquired the sentient ultimate weapon, the Witchblade. When Masane comes near an X-Con, a prototype cyborg made by Douji Industries from human cadavers, the Witchblade causes her to morph into a fighting fiend--in an outfit Pamela Anderson might wear in a sequel to The Dark Knight. The Witchblade supposedly endows the wielder with "insatiable lust and unthinkable power," but Masane gets her exposed derrière kicked by women using Cloneblades, imitation Witchblades the Douji Group also created. Maria, the most powerful Cloneblader, emerges as a potential rival to Masane. When she decides to seize control of Douji Industries, the audience is left to wonder how and why she went from an undisciplined, infantile killer to a disciplined, mature killer. The inevitable duel between Masane and Maria atop Tokyo Tower suggests High Noon with implants. Masane triumphs over Maria and the power of the Witchblade in a finale that's simultaneously gory and mawkish. Although the convoluted plot stumbles along like Masane after a binge, Witchblade will delight adolescent boys who want to watch fights between overendowed, under-dressed babes. In an accompanying interview, character designer/executive animation director Makoto Uno says, "We added a devilish element to the physical beauty of women and animated them with particular attention to the breasts and butt." No kidding. (Rated TV MA, suitable for ages 16 and older: violence, violence against women, grotesque imagery, risqué humor, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
Stills from Witchblade (Click for larger image)
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Predator (Ultimate Hunter Edition) [Blu-ray] Review
Has it really been that long since the first PREDATOR movie was released? You might not think so but when you check the date you'll realize the film was released in 1987, over 23 years ago. More amazing is that when watching it, you don't feel the film is dated in the least with the exception of its stars looking a bit older these days.
For those who don't know the premise here you go. An elite team of commandos is brought in by the CIA to rescue a diplomat held captive by rebels in a Central American country. The head CIA op in charge is Dillon (Carl Weathers) who has a good history with the team's leader, Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger). With the situation described, Dillon insists on going along and the team head out via helicopter.
As they trek through the jungle to their location, the team comes across a deadly sight. The bodies of three men hanging from the trees, their skin removed. A quick look and they find the dog tags of the group, its leader an old friend of Dutch's. This was the first team sent in for the rescue and one they hadn't been informed of. Thus begins a layer of distrust between the team and Dillon.
The team finds the camp where the rebels are holed up and witness the killing of one of the hostages. With no time to lose, they formulate a plan and hit the camp with everything they've got, sparing no one and attempting to rescue the last hostage. Instead they discover him dead as well as the real reason for this mission. The Russians had sent advisors in to help the rebels and the CIA was trying to put a stop to their plans as well as retrieve information on hand.
As they get ready to leave, they find one person alive, a young woman they take captive. Their attack alerted the rest of the rebel army and their site is now a hot zone. To be lifted out they need to get to a safe zone and taken out. But that safe zone is miles away through the jungle.
As they team make their way through the jungle, lead scout Billy (Sonny Landham) senses something isn't right, that someone is watching them. Little does he know how true this is when all hell breaks lose and the team find themselves under attack. As the film progresses, we discover that the team is systematically being tracked and hunted by an alien, a predator, who views them not as living beings but as game. And the team must rely on everything they know to get out alive.
Okay, so most of you already know the story or what happens. But for those that don't, don't give it away. Instead let them see the story of the Predator as it was meant to be and not the lackluster way it's been presented in sequels.
So what makes this movie so special now? The film is just being released in a special blu-ray edition and claims to be the ultimate edition. And it seems as if it lives to its claim. There are all sorts of extras from voice over commentaries to making of featurettes. But that's not what makes the DVD special.
What makes it special is the pristine look that the blu-ray quality gives to it. Even after all these years, the quality of the movie is crisp and clear as if you'd never seen it before. This is a movie that you could put into your blu-ray player and demonstrate to your friends just what the difference in quality is.
But it offers something else as well. As I said at the start the movie holds up amazingly well. It doesn't seem dated in the least. You watch some movies and the clothing screams 70s or the hairstyles scream 80s. None of that is on display here so they don't date the film.
But it's the quality of the movie that shows how well it holds up. It looks like it was fresh out of the can yesterday. Even the effects don't seem dated. And the make up effects by Stan Winston on the Predator itself still remain some of the best ever conceived and executed.
I've seen a lot of movies released on both standard and blu-ray format and wondered why anyone would want to pay the extra for the blu-ray edition. Many just don't warrant the extra costs involved. But this movie, this edition, is well worth the extra expense.
Predator (Ultimate Hunter Edition) [Blu-ray] Feature
Predator (Ultimate Hunter Edition) [Blu-ray] Overview
Rambo meets Alien in this terrific science-fiction thriller from 1987, directed by John McTiernan just a year before Die Hard made him Hollywood's most sought-after director of action-packed blockbusters. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite squad of U.S. Army commandos to a remote region of South American jungle, where they've been assigned to search for South American officials who've been kidnapped by terrorists. Instead they find a bunch of skinned corpses hanging from the trees and realize that they're now facing a mysterious and much deadlier threat. As the squad is picked off one by one, Arnold finds himself pitted against a hideous alien creature that's heavily armed and wearing a spacesuit enabling the creature to render itself invisible. The title says it all in describing the relentless, escalating action that follows, maintained by McTiernan with an abundance of visual flair. The film's special effects are still impressive, and stunning locations in the Mexican jungles create a combined atmosphere of verdant beauty and imminent danger. The plot doesn't hold up to much scrutiny, but the movie's so exciting and tightly paced that its weaknesses seem irrelevant. --Jeff Shannon
Predator (Ultimate Hunter Edition) [Blu-ray] Specifications
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Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete [Blu-ray] Review
Others have remarked on how this movie would be confusing to someone who's not familiar with the Final Fantasy VII video game. As one who first watched this movie in that state, I'll offer my comments on both `before' and `after' impressions. I've been a long time fan of both science fiction/fantasy and animated movies. Four or five years ago I watched "Final Flight of the Osiris" a CGI video short on a dvd called Animatrix. I was so impressed by it that I looked for other work by the same artists and found "Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within", and the original dvd version of "Final Fantasy: Advent Children". "Spirits Within" had phenomenal and imaginative imagery and some gripping scenes but overall it didn't have a `spark'. "Advent Children" though was another matter. I fell in love with it. The characters are terrific; the graphics are awesome; the settings fresh and some quite beautiful; the action is out-there. The dystopic science fiction setting and elements of magical fantasy were very satisfying as a fan of those genres. And it has some nice wit and humor. But yeah, the story was confusing. Being as innocent as I was though of the story that led up to the movie, I was in a state of not knowing how much I didn't know, so I didn't miss it. I enjoyed the movie so much I watched it a couple more times over the next few years.
It wasn't until surfing the internet this summer, coming across the movie's protagonist, Cloud Strife, by chance and reading about him that I became aware of the huge story world behind "Advent Children". I soon learned that Cloud is a renowned character among gamers, as is his enemy Sephiroth; that Final Fantasy VII is regarded as groundbreaking and one of the best video games ever; and that there's a massive amount of verbiage on the internet about both the characters and the game. The more I read, the more I was drawn in. I read complete synopses of the game and bios of its characters and - branching out to its prequel Crisis Core - watched all 3 hours of cutscenes from that video game in 10 minute Youtube segments. Then I watched "Advent Children" again, knowing that the first few times around, I'd been watching it through a dim fog. This time it all seemed to be in focus. I knew what the glowing round spheres were. I knew who the secondary characters were and how they connected. I knew why the city of Midgar was in ruins. My enjoyment of the movie was substantially enhanced, so much so that I was left wanting more. The only solution was to play the game itself.
This took me a bit of self-convincing, since I'm old enough to be Cloud's grandmother and hadn't finished a video game since Zork Nemesis, but I took the plunge. I just finished it a few nights ago. And I agree that the game is everything it's cracked up to be. But I know this is a review about the movie, not the game. I'm leading up to how much more still having played the game adds to the pleasure of the movie. I watched the movie again last night, and this time I watched the blu ray extended version. Of course I expected it to be better this time around what with the added minutes, the increased clarity of the blu ray format, and the much deeper understanding I'd gained from the game itself, but the movie STILL exceeded my expectations. The additional footage is a great improvement, from tiny little insertions to some complete new scenes, they're all worthwhile. Some serve to fill in story and character development, others add even more wow to the over-the-top action sequences. The blu ray clarity makes these quite a bit easier to follow. And now having played the game, I understood even more than I'd expected about what takes place in the movie that I'd not recognized before - Sephiroth's tragic background and what took place between him and Cloud; why Cloud camps out in the church; Aerith's huge significance. And Zack! I was delighted to see more of Zack, who's an awesome character in his own right. He deserves his own movie. I was surprised by the impact of the music this time. It derives from the game, and strongly evokes the game's themes, from battles to uneasy exploration, to Aerith's warmth and Sephiroth's sinister terrificness. This time around, the characters, their friendships and animosities and traumas were much deeper for me. The interconnected FFVII stories are more like a tv series than a single movie or book in the amount of time one spends on, or `in', them, and as with a really good tv series, I found I'd come to really care about the characters. A lot of excellent creativity and effort was put in to Advent Children. Considering its limited prime audience, it's a grand gift from Square Enix to FFVII's fans. I'm glad it's been successful for them, and very happy they put the effort in to making this new "Complete" edition. Sure it helped to sell blu-ray playing PS3s and generate interest in the FFVII PS3 download, which is what I played. But they did a great job. They have my appreciation. I think Tetsuya Nomura's sense of character and story is genius.
In summary, I recommend this movie to anyone who's curious about it, especially if you have a fondness for epic sci-fi fantasy action adventure romance. It hits on all cylinders (ok, the romance part is mostly in the games). But "FFVII:Advent Children" also has thought provoking currents underlying its save-the-world plot, the personal challenges faced by its characters and its sensational, adrenaline stirring action and battle scenes - the tradeoffs of degrading our environment in return for energy; the use of a soulless corporation as an excuse for committing atrocious acts; the importance of friends. The depiction of Mako energy and the lifestream as having a healing/destructive duality also intrigues me, especially as there's a similar 'planet force' depicted in some of Hiyao Miyazake's animated movies, which I also adore. In this extended version of "Advent Children", Reno asks how a person could ever manage to atone for the horror brought about by the Shinra Corporation (which occurred during the game), and there's mention of the destroyed Mako reactor still emitting too much lifestream energy to be safe. I can't help but wonder if this is a conscious or unconscious reference to nuclear energy, also both beneficial and hugely destructive, and if it comes up in these Japanese stories because Japan's the only country in the world to have been exposed to a nuclear attack. Then there's the whole question of Jenova and what she represents. That FFVII has this depth and breadth (which you can take or leave as desired) helps make it an A+ story for me.
If you're already a FFVII fan who by some chance hasn't learned of this movie already, I doubt you need much further encouragement to watch it. If you aren't familiar with the game, I do recommend reading a summary of it and the characters beforehand. With video games now rivaling movies for entertainment dollars, it's worth learning about the game if only for its `historic' value. But the game stories are well worth it on their own terms, and do enhance the movie. I also recommend watching the movie in Japanese with English subtitles. Sometimes in dubbing, the translation has to be altered in order to fit the spoken words into the character's visible speaking time, and clarity or nuance can be lost. And the Japanese voice acting here is superb. I find that despite my knowledge of Japanese extending no further than 'hai' and 'arrigoto', the tone and inflection of the voice actors' portrayals, especially Cloud's, adds greatly to the characters' presentation. And, compared with my memory of the dvd version, the English sub translations have been improved in the 'Complete' edition.
Yes, this movie is escapist entertainment, but it's also deeply satisfying. My only consolation in being done now with the game and having again watched the movie is that there are several more Final Fantasy games yet to play.
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete [Blu-ray] Feature
- "Legacy of Final Fantasy VII" Featurette
- "Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII" Original Story Digest
- On the Way to a Smile - Episode: Denzel Animated Film
- Exclusive Sneak Peek at Final Fantasy XIII
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Trailers
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete [Blu-ray] Overview
Continuing the storyline based on the hit Playstation® game Final Fantasy VII, two years have passed since the ruins of Midgar stand as a testament to the sacrifices made in order to bring peace. However, the world will soon face a new menace. A mysterious illness is spreading fast. Old enemies are astir. And Cloud, who walked away from the life of a hero to live in solitude, must step forward yet again . . .
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete [Blu-ray] Specifications
The question facing any viewer of the Japanese CG feature Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is: do you have to know the games on which it’s based in order to understand the film? And the answer is: it certainly helps. But even complete novices (i.e., most parents) in the Final Fantasy world will find some entertainment in its wealth of fantasy-based action, and the animation never fails to astonish. Picking up two years after an epic battle between the forces of good (represented by brooding soldier Cloud) and evil (Cloud’s former general, Sephiroth), FFVII opens in the devastated city of Midgard, whose youthful occupants suffer from a ghastly disease known as Geostigma. A trio of brothers arrives with what appears to be a cure for the plague, but their gesture conceals a more sinister purpose: to revive Sephiroth and bring about the end of the world. Cloud and his companions must once again rise to the occasion to stop the siblings and the revived Sephiroth from unleashing total destruction. Complex and self-referential to the point of occasional incomprehension, Final Fantasy VII will definitely be most appreciated by fans of the game series, but if others can look past the numbing dialogue and frenetic action (which is a bit too intense for very young children), the film offers a carefree and action-packed viewing experience. The two-disc set contains the original Japanese language version of the film as well as an English-dubbed edition (Rachel Leigh Cook and Christy Carlson Romano, among others, provide the vocal talent) and a version edited for the Venice Film Festival. A 30-minute featurette that recaps the Final Fantasy story up to VII, as well as a making-of documentary, deleted scenes, and promotions for future Final Fantasy VII games and products round out the extras. --Paul Gaita
Stills from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (click for larger image)
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Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Limted Edition Collector's Set)
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children(Limted Edition Collector's Set) includes: • Theatrical Trailers • Bonus Script • Bonus Book • Bonus Postcards
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