Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with a presentation that's both technically solid yet inherently flawed due to its original animation quality. The 4K UHD showcases a 3840x2160/24p BT.2020 image with a widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio, utilizing 10-bit video depth, Wide Color Gamut (WCG), High Dynamic Range (HDR) encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec for HDR10. Despite these advanced specs, the source material's age is palpable, notably in early scenes with evident aliasing and texture limitations, revealing the limitations of its early-2000s animation pedigree. The upconverted transfer from a 2K digital intermediate slightly improves detail over its Blu-ray counterpart but often seems constrained by its 1080p origins, depicting softer imagery and instances of aliasing and flickering.

HDR10 color grading introduces some vibrancy into this primarily bleak animation, with bursts of color amidst the dominant steely blues, deep blacks, and flat earth tones, occasionally enlivening the visuals. Although wider shots may suffer from a lackluster definition and rudimentary textures highlighting the animation's dated nature, detailed observation reveals finer textures in close-ups, like skin imperfections and textile weaves. However, the disc's high resolution emphasizes the source material's shortcomings, including aliasing and a general lack of definition across complex cityscapes and creature designs.

The presentation's black levels are robust, fostering solid contrast that boosts the image's three-dimensionality in certain sequences. Specular highlights show some improvement, offering glimpses of brilliance on metallic surfaces, though inconsistent across scenes with occasional blooming effects overshadowing finer details. Ultimately, while Sony has endeavored to elevate "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" within the 4K UHD format's capabilities, the film's inherent animation quality and aged visual effects temper its overall impact, leaving it as a technically adept yet visually uneven upgrade from its Blu-ray release.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children" on 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers a riveting audio experience with its Dolby Atmos upgrade, harnessing the advanced capabilities of High Definition 3D Object-based immersive audio. This marvelously engineered track is proof that age has little impact on its effectiveness, accentuating thrilling action sequences with a blend of atmospheric effects that vividly bring the landscape to life. While the soundscape benefits from a diverse scoring palette that ranges from heavy metal to sweeping orchestral melodies, dialogue clarity emerges as a minor hiccup, particularly noticeable in the English dub version. Despite this, the overall audio prioritization remains adept, ensuring the auditory feast is not marred by occasional inconsistencies in voiceover work.

The Atmos mix is dynamically engaging, making prolific use of overhead channels to craft an enveloping half-dome soundstage that effortlessly draws viewers into the film’s world. Environmental sounds and music cues are skillfully positioned within the sound field, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the visuals. Both the Japanese and English tracks share structural similarities beyond the language barrier, exhibiting a rich layering and seamless integration of audio cues and surround effects. The additional rear and overhead speakers enhance stage placement and ambient support, further immersing the listener in a meticulously crafted acoustic environment.

However, the soundtrack's not without its shortcomings; bass performance is somewhat inconsistent, lacking depth in some action sequences which diminishes the overall impact. Upper frequencies also occasionally suffer, tethering the soundscape to a more constrained mid-range. Nevertheless, these issues barely detract from an otherwise stellar auditory presentation. Atmospheric effects move across and above the viewer convincingly, with strong directionality and precision. Vocal clarity is maintained from start to finish, offering a polished auditory experience that significantly enhances the viewing experience, despite some technical hitches in execution and bass response.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" primarily focuses on delivering a visually stunning rendition of the beloved film, with the extra content being relegated to the accompanying Blu-ray disc, a direct carryover from Sony's 2009 release. This disc compilation includes a comprehensive set of legacy and promotional materials that delve into the rich lore and history of the Final Fantasy VII universe. The extras provide an immersive retrospective through featurettes such as a detailed look back at the game, behind-the-scenes glimpses from various event parties, and previews of upcoming titles, albeit with some content showing its age. Notably, the UHD disc itself is devoid of any supplementary features, directing viewers to explore the bonus content via the Blu-ray. Included with purchase is a Movies Anywhere digital copy code, packaged with a non-embossed slipcover, offering a complete yet familiar package for fans and newcomers alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Legacy of Final Fantasy VII: An overview of the franchise's impact.
• Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII: A detailed look back at the game via key scenes.
• Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII Compilation: Clips from various games/projects in the storyline.
• On the Way to a Smile - Episode: Denzel: A side story focusing on character Denzel.
• Sneak Peek at Final Fantasy XIII: Preview of the then-upcoming title.
• Jump Festa 2009, Tokyo Game Show 2008, DKΣ3713 2008, Tokyo Game Show 2007, Square Enix Party 2007: Collection of trailers and event party videos.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" offers a visually stunning revisit to the beloved world of one of the most iconic games in the Final Fantasy series. This edition, brought to viewers by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, showcases the film in an impressive 2160p/HDR video presentation, complemented by a Dolby Atmos audio track. It's an update that breathes new life into the digital animation, with over 1000 revised scenes and 26 minutes of explosive new footage. The technical upgrade is significant, aiming to please the vast fanbase and potentially draw in newcomers with its crisp visuals and immersive sound quality.

"Advent Children Complete," however, remains a challenging narrative for those unacquainted with the complex lore of its universe. Its attempt to extend the storyline with additional footage somewhat muddles the pacing, making the longer cut a more strenuous endeavor to digest. Despite this, for fans versed in the lore, the movie unfurls as a visually innovative ride that peaks in an epic final battle, reminiscent of the game's most thrilling moments. The movie's plot revolves around Cloud Strife's quest against a backdrop of mystical forces and planetary peril, embedded within a tale of corporate greed, planetary sickness, and redemption—a thematic approach that intriguingly mirrors real-world climate issues albeit through a fantastical lens.

In its essence, "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" on 4K UHD Blu-ray serves as both a homage to its videogame origins and a testament to the advancements in digital animation. While it undeniably caters more convincingly to its loyal followers by offering an enriched visual feast and deeper dive into its post-apocalyptic storyline, it also underscores the limitations of adapting such a densely packed universe into movie format without losing some of its narrative coherence and emotional impact. Despite these narrative hurdles, the technical prowess displayed in this release reaffirms its place as a significant piece within the Final Fantasy media landscape.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" makes its 4K UHD Blu-ray debut with mixed results. The film, a sequel to the iconic video game, continues to divide audiences with its convoluted plot and reliance on expository flashbacks, which may alienate those unfamiliar with its predecessor. Despite this, it retains a visual appeal, particularly for diehard fans of the franchise, thanks to its impressive albeit source-limited 4K restoration and a significantly improved Dolby Atmos audio track. The inclusion of all original Blu-ray extras provides some continuity for the collection, though no new content has been added to entice newcomers.

The presentation quality of the movie in 4K HDR does show a marked improvement over previous HD versions, primarily through better utilization of HDR which brings out the nuances in its predominantly gray-tone visuals. However, it's important to note that the animation's age and style do not lend themselves to showcasing the full potential of the UHD format. This, coupled with a story that is challenging to follow for those not deeply entrenched in the game's lore, means the release may offer limited appeal beyond the franchise's core fanbase. The enhanced Atmos soundtrack does present an auditory upgrade, but this might not be sufficient to warrant a purchase on its own.

In conclusion, "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete" on 4K UHD Blu-ray serves as a niche offering that will best be appreciated by fans deeply invested in the "Final Fantasy" saga. While the audiovisual upgrades are commendable, particularly the Dolby Atmos enhancement, they are somewhat hampered by the film’s original production limitations and a story that remains inaccessible to the uninitiated. For those outside the fan circle or seeking reference-quality UHD material, this package might not justify its cost, positioning it as a collector’s item rather than a mainstream must-have.