As a FFVII slash fan...i've gotta say...this is probably one movie that is going to make Final Fantasy fans everywhere wish that they had gotten this instead of that "The Spirits Within" crap.

I liked it, but I was hoping it would have more adventure in it. Pretty much the whole movie took place in Midgar. I wanted to see some Chocobo riding and the rest of the world. It was basically one big fight scene with some plot thrown in to create a story.

So the US release is slated for DECEMBER?

Liked the movie a lot. Would have wished to see more of the other characters a bit more.

I totally agree. Square would have been a lot more successful, at the Box office, with Advent Children rather than Spirits Within.

I liked it alot too. although it was a vcd from a friend, so i'm really wanting to see the dvd's sharpness even more. the story was incoherent and unstructured but it could have been the translation but the action sequences were just WOW!

Very, VERY doubtful.

It wouldn't have been a hit, but I'm sure it would have done better. Spirits Within got no repeat business as the Final Fantasy fans largely hated it as it didn't feel like a Final Fantasy story.

With this, at least the die hards would have loved it and seen it a few times.

No, it probably wouldn't have been a hit but it DEFINITELY would have been more successful than Spirits Within.

I agree, I think Advent Children would have been more successful then Spirits Within easily.

(since we're bolding words for emphasis)

pics of the box set and contents

I agree completely. This is the Final Fantasy movie that should have come out in 2001, not that clunker "Spirits Within." I don't think any Final Fantasy movie would have been a blockbuster, but most moviegoers went in expecting something that actually had, you know, fantasy in it. "Spirits Within" was just a sci-fi ghost story and I can't believe Square and Sony even greenlit that script. Most fans and gamers were still on a high from VII which was only 4 years old at that point and that's what people wanted to see in a film. "Advent Children" is pure geeky action fun, and I absolutely loved it, more than I can see for the soulless and boring theatrical film.

I think I might be the only persone...well ever who has actually enjoyed Spirits Within.

Well, you, Ebert and Roeper.

I enjoyed it as well. It was a good movie. It just wasn't great. It was terribly marketed and clearly not made for the fans so it was, sadly, DOA when released in theaters.

Spirits Within was a good movie, its just not the movie Square should have done as it's first entry into the movie business. In my opinion they would have been more successful doing a CG movie based off of one of the previous FF games like they just did with FFVII.

I own it and enjoy it.

Even N'sync's Lance Bass as Sephiroth? I would prefer someone a bit cooler, but that's just me.

I enjoyed Spirits Within, but it just didn't feel like a story from the series and left me a bit disappointed. Even if AC's plot is thin, the film should be similar to reading fan fiction in that I'll be able to revisit characters that I admittedly spent too much time with in high school. Depending on its success, Advent Children may open the door for new adaptations, FF6 anyone?

Just noticed the original score by Nobuo Uematsu

I thought he voiced Sephiroth perfectly, what little there was. Of course there will be "those kind of people" (anime fans) that will simply dismiss him because of his pop stardom, not noting that some of the Japanese cast are also little kid's pop stars in Japan. It's so funny how that works out.

Easily the best part of the movie, no contest. Nothing comes close.

Thank you, sir, for pointing that out. I hear the same crap from anime fans in my area. Casting in Japan is no different from casting anywhere else. You hire people based on who will get the asses in the seats. That said, he did surprise me as well.

After watching the Advent Children I read a "spoiler review" of it. It's amazing how much was lost in the fansubs, but then again the spoiler review sort of added subjective insight into some of the events, not sure if they were correct. I'm definitely buying the DVD when it comes out. I would have bought the R2 release if it came with English subs, unfortunately not. Those who haven't played the game, movie's worth watching for the action scenes alone. If you're a fan of the game it's a must watch. Considering the movie is only 1.5hrs it felt rather shallow on the substance but compared to a 50hr game, I guess it's not bad. A FF trilogy spanning 3 movies and 3hrs each like LOTR might satisfy more in the substance department. =D

I think the US version comes out in November.