does any one know of any good modern japanese movies

[lockie]

hey i was wonderin if any one could tell me of any good japanese movies nothin old though im lookin for things that are teenage type movies :-) thanx

[nice gaijin]

check out "The Blue Light" and "Nobody Knows." Not exactly happy films but very good and fairly recent.

[Jack]

try "battle royale" now theres a film.

[lockie]

cool thanx ill look out for them i recently bought water boys, kamikaze girls and about to by nana or ebay my japanese friend said that water boys is good on the fone but then said she didnt like it at school so ill see if its any good if not it can go back on ebay lol

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

kamikaze girls ?
http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/kamikazegirls.shtml
A Japanese title is "Shimotsuma story"
http://www.shimotsuma-movie.jp/
"NANA"
http://www.nana-movie.com/
"WATER BOYS"
http://www.altamira.jp/waterboys/trailers.html
http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/waterboys/index2.html
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/waterboys.htm

This movie is interesting, too
"SWING GIRLS"
http://www.swinggirls.jp/index.html
http://www.apple.com/jp/quicktime/trailers/toho/swinggirls_large.html

From the makers ofShall We Dance andWaterboys comesSwing Girls, a feel-good comedy about a bunch of girls who form a group to perform big band jazz. That's it. Forget big emotional clinches, family issues, or even any real teen romance; this is a movie about girls who play the sax, trombone, trumpet, and assorted other instruments that you might remember from high school. Very little else happens inSwing Girls besides the girls picking up the instruments and learning how to play them. Most of the girls are types, some are barely glimpsed, and yet everyone bands together to perform some inspirational jazz in a loaded "battle of the bands" finale. Does this sound like a good movie? Well, formula be damned, itis a good movie!
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/swing_girls.htm
http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B0002J5400.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[misa.j]

I recommend a few I've watched recently. They are not very famous, so you might have to look around for them.

"Hellevater: The Bottled Fools"
"Japanese Hell"

and, movies by Takashi Miike are good and interesting.

Sorry, I forgot to see how old you were. Those movies listed above might be not suitable for your age. :p

"Howl's Moving Castle" is supposed to be a good animation.

[kokusu]

Sayonara, Kuro

Densha Otoko (the movie)

Casshern

. . . and I second the recommendation for "Swing Girls"; that movie was great!

[yokachin]

Shasei ga kuuchuu kara, kiotsukete.:blush:

[nice gaijin]

another vote for swing girls, especially if you liked waterboys. it even has Takenaka Naoto-san!

[Tsuyoiko]

"Hellevater: The Bottled Fools".What did you think of that film Misa? I love horror films, especially Japanese ones, but Hellevator was too much for me! I nearly hid behind the sofa!

[misa.j]

Cool you've seen it too Tsuyoiko.
Yeah, I thought it was really gory. I loved the idea and the characters in the movie. The part when those businessmen marched into with their cell phones was funny.

[senseiman]

I loved Beat Takeshi's Zatoichi.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

KAIJYU film of Japan
I like "GAMERA" than "GOJIRA"

"GAMERA 3"
http://www.advfilms.com/_VideoWindow.asp?type=wmv&Path=http://www.advfilms.com/trailers/Web%20Movies/gamera%203%20-%20revenge%20of%20iris1.wmv&W=480&H=429

NEW GAMERA
http://gamera.jp/movie/gamera_trailer01_l.wvx
http://gamera.jp/trailer.html

http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B00005HTZ3.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[kurosuki]

all sadako-ness rox.

:wave:

[Yokan]

Heres my contrabution XD(so spelt that wrong) -
Battle royale
Battle Royale 2 : Requim
Oresama Shikoku
Moon Child
Zatoichi : The blindswordsman
Hana-BI
Animes -
Spirited Away
Mononoke Hime
totoro
the cat returns
Howl's moving Castle

:p

[kurosuki]

I totally forgot about those movies, like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.

[Zentron]

Give 'Red Shadow'(Akakage) a try, it's cool, stylish and funny as heck at times. It's a Shinobi movie, very teens!!

[Iron Chef]

Azumi and the sequel are both worth watching imo. A bit older but still stylish, The Returner /w Takeshi Kaneshiro has some cool moments. Onmyoji and the sequel are also good but a bit slower-paced than Azumi. Also, as others have already mentioned, Swing Girls is definitely a good film. I had my reservations too about how enthralling could a film be about a bunch of adolescent girls playing Big Bang Swing... but dangit, I really liked that movie. 8-) Check it out.

[hitsugi_kitty]

Versus is very good, and Aoi Haru (Blue Spring) is also worth a watch, though a little shallow on actual plot, brilliant film!

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Because today is a day of a movie, a rate becomes discount
Every month 1st DAY
It is price 1,00 yen especially

The movie which I watched today
"ALWAYS　三丁目の夕日"
http://www.always3.jp/
http://lx02.www.tsutaya.co.jp/tol/sp/streaming/stream.pl?mode=now_cinema&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2etsutaya%2eco%2ejp%2fcinema% 2fmovie%2f328_0398_100%2easx
(Automatic translation of a commentary sentence)
Tokyo of 1958.
I was short-tempered, but, in the Suzuki auto that thick NORIFUMI ran of feeling, six children did it by group finding employment.
Naughty Buddhist priest / Ippei of family comforts six children disappointed at a small small factory in town with the word that "close television comes".
While there is the experience that stayed in selection of the Akutagawa Prize, the tea River which I am opposite, and do a cheap candy shop of Suzuki auto is the days that contribute an adventure novel to a boy magazine now.
One day in tea River is ordered from proprietress of a bar sitting on light thought, Hiromi, and receiving boy without a relative, JUNNOSUKE.
Yamasaki your supervision of "re-Turner" picturized comics of Ryohei Saigan that the total publication number of copies of the series recorded 14000000 parts, "the setting sun of the third order".
1958 when Tokyo Tower where the stage is under construction lengthens little by little to the sky.
I was impressed to take in VFX and expressed a figure of the people who spent the days when a smile did not die out in setting sun-cho the third order modestly.
In the scenery which is not seen by first television admiration that attracted neighborhoods, exchanges between house across the street laughing at unintentionally and Ippei and adventure of JUNNOSUKE present age that become muddy, and play || only a heart of people || of the present age || Japanese, is enough, and is about to accuse you.
Appearance is bank Shinichi and doctor-maru Hiroko to a couple of Suzuki auto.
It is Hidetaka Yoshioka in tea River of a novelist.
HORIKITA MAKI plays six children of the red cheek which came over from Aomori sweetly.
The work which I look back on the reliable times and touch a heart of people to have a gentle and am obedient, and can be ever impressed by Japan.
http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/cinema/cinema_info.zhtml?TITLE_ID=7811
(.......Even if translation is funny, I do not get responsibility)

http://www.new8.co.jp/image/jyoeisakuhin/always.jpg

[Da Monstar]

Chakushin Ari (english title: One MIssed Call) Is a great movie featuring Kou Shibasaki and Anna Nagata (mostly know from Battle Royale). It was just released un the UK and US a couple of month ago, and is really worth buying.

[budd]

negotiator.
it made me real mad at first, but the storyline changed a bit and i was only mildly annoyed, as it didn't seem to address ALL of the underlying issues affecting japanese society (imo)
but i would watch it again, and its not a horror movie or a serial character goes killings or gets killed movie even either

[Kraid]

I would recommend that you watch, Returner [Ritaanaa]. It´s a real high budget action movie on the same theme as, The Terminator. The best part ebout this movie is that the "bad guy" in the film, has the exact psycho behavior as, Gary Oldmans, role in, Leon.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339579/

[tetsuko69]

Does any body see the film -Nana?

[budd]

i heard about it. its based off another popular manga?
http://wire-d.net/seven/ fansite
paradise kiss anime is out now also i think

[advigilo]

Chakushin Ari (english title: One MIssed Call) Is a great movie featuring Kou Shibasaki and Anna Nagata (mostly know from Battle Royale). It was just released un the UK and US a couple of month ago, and is really worth buying.

i missed that movie when it was aired :-(
is it good enough to rent?

[Jack]

casshern is a great movie.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

"Chakushin Ari 2"
SITE
http://www.chakuari.jp/web/

Trailer
http://www.walkerplus.com/movie/asx/mo3015_500.asx

http://www.walkerplus.com/movie/asx/mo3015_51_500.asx

http://www.chakuari.jp/web/img/photo_15.jpg

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

It is free distribution of "Gyao".
The Japanese horror series
http://www.gyao.jp/cinema/
"Ring"
"spiral"
"Tomie"
"St.-John's-wort"
"狗神"

[budd]

"is it good enough to rent?"

depends. the women were cute imo especially ms (mrs.) fukushima

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

"Gyao" movie

Jam Films "JUSTICE"

Under session of English in a high school.
An English teacher reads "Potsdam Declaration" aloud.
Students write it in a notebook while translating it.
Tojo sitting on the seat by the window looks at the outside of a window.
The lesson of a woman student's gymnastics was performed in the ground.


http://www.gyao.jp/sityou/catedetail/contents_id/cnt0005502/

http://www.showtime.jp/info/cinema/04934/img/contents_image.jpg

[TuskCracker]

.
Their are many. Even with too too many horror movies out of Japan. Not being a fan of horror. I found Maborosi and After Life really exceptional films.

Cafe Lumiere (2004)
(Kohi jiko ; Directed by Hsiao-hsien Hou)
(have not seen this, good reviews for showing modern tokyo.
some have said the movie is too slow.)

The Sea Is Watching (2002)
(this is Ok)

After Life (1998)
(Wandafuru raifu, directed by Hirokazu Koreeda)
(this is fantastic, a unique idea)

Maborosi (Maboroshi no hikari,1995)
(you really get a sense of japanese culture)


Dr. Akagi (1999)
(this is Ok, interesting)

Shall We Dance (1996)
(Shall we dansu?)
(better than the Ameican remake)

Taxing Women (Marusa no onna, 1987)

Tampopo (1985)
(this is actually good)

[yukio_michael]

These are some of my favourites, some may be already listed, I read the thread, but I have a bad memory---

Three Extemes
(three movies from three different Asian directors, one of whom is Takashi Miike) all shorts, all horror genre, all good. Korean/Chinese/Japanese

Bright Future
Movie by Kiyoshi Kurosawa about a violent boy who breeds a killer species of freshwater jellyfish, well, that's part of it---

Electric Dragon, 80.000v
Kind of a long music video almost by Koroshiya 1 (Ichi the Killer) star, Tadanobu Asano... black & white---

Happiness of the Katakuris
Another weird Miike film, I don't really know how to describe this except for it's almost a musical, but very very strange (Miike after all----)

Wild Zero
This film is about space zombies and the j-rock band Guitar Wolf, who apparently are more famous OUTSIDE of Japan than in it, from what I can tell--- it's great, especially if you like zombies and 50s greasers...

Stacy
This is another fun movie w/ zombies (aka Stacy's), except that the zombies are girls who before becoming completely zombie-fied fall into a trance like state where they act extremely bubbly and happy---

Survive Style 5 Plus
This movie is pretty great, but I haven't finished watching it (I watch fewer Japanese movies living in Japan... I don't know why---)... it has Tadanobu Asano, the townie guy from Shimotsuma Monogatari (who also is on a tv-dorama as well...), and Vinnie Jones of Snatch/Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrells fame...

Cutey Honey
This movie should really anoy me, but it doesn't---- it's basically live action anime almost w/ model Eriko Sato as Honey--- It's pretty stylized and at times cheesy, but so is the original anime so, it's not like they are plodding on the retelling of Les Mis'....

Zatoichi
A lot of people cry foul about Beat Takashi's version of Zatoichi, the other guy who stared in like 50 of them, died apparently--- I haven't seen the previous versions so I can't say, but on it's own, it's a great ronin meets masseus meets musical sort of thing--- lots of swords and music based around an older era of Japan...

Also, it was mentioned but, it's worth mentioning two films, Casshern, a sort of sci-fi action movie that doesn't have a lot of 'sci fi', but a lot of 'sci' i guess--- no spaceships just future--- and Nobody Knows, aka Dare mo shiranai, based around the true story of a group of kids who were left to live alone in a house by their wayward mother (played by 'You'--- the hardest name in the world to google---)... All of the characters had no script and basically improvised each shot.

Also, this is a great site that has movie news and reviews on Japanese films
http://www.midnighteye.com/index.php

[TuskCracker]

Also, this is a great site that has movie news and reviews on Japanese films
http://www.midnighteye.com/index.php

-> Is the other sites in English about japanese movies. Any era, even silent movies, pink movies from the 1960's.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

"Gyao" movie

Jam Films"ARITA"
When noticed || a girl (HIROSUE RYOUKO) whom ARITA appeared on every paper.
I believed that I appeared in whose place, but I knew that there was not ARITA in a notebook of a friend and it seemed to be a secret in oneself and did it and spent 22 years.
She who has begun to have doubt toward such one day, existence of ARITA tries to set fire to paper with ARITA.
Then ARITA ran about in the whole room while achieving a queer cry.

http://www.gyao.jp/sityou/catedetail/contents_id/cnt0005503/

http://www.showtime.jp/info/cinema/04935/img/contents_image.jpg

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

"Gyao" movie

"日本侠客伝"
A yakuza movie
http://www.gyao.jp/sityou/catedetail/contents_id/cnt0009696/

http://www.gyao.jp/img/info/cinema/cnt0009696_l.jpg

[-rika- shinya`]

the movie which was recently SUPER famous in Japan and most parts of Asia especially HK and also Taiwan is 'NANA' starring Nakashima Mika. it was adopted from the manga, Love for NANA.. it's the best ! :D :cool: and the best part of all is that many J-Pop/J-Rock singers make songs for it too like Tetsu69, T.M.Revolution, D.A.I(but disbanded now) n many more.. so the soundtrack is popular as well.i really recommend this movie for manga/j-pop/jrock fans.! and while you're at it, get the OST with the movie too!

another super famous movie is Initial D-the movie,released a few months ago(forgot when). It was also adopted from the manga by the same name and super popular racing game. so the storyline is Japanese, but the actors are all from Hong Kong and speak Cantonese except the lead Jay chou(taiwanese)and anne suzuki.. it's an interesting movie(it was really popular among teens here (& also japan i think) when it was released and every1 talks about it,esp. those who like fast cars) and the actual racing/drifting is extremely good too! :lol: !! go get it! the dialogue's r pretty funny too if u can understand cantonese. but it's okay if u can't,coz it's all abt the superb racing techniques:-)

[katsukagerou]

the best movies are howl's moving castle ,mononoke hime spirited away and moon child (feat gackt and hide)

[-rika- shinya`]

so sorry for the double post but that message was getting way too long and confusing..i don't think anyone would take the time to read such a long msg,ne? :(

there's more movies, if you like Gothic Lolitas, then watch 'Shimotsuka Monogatari' starring Kyoko Fukada .. she's really cute inside that movie wearing all the gothloli clothes.:-) but other than those interesting clothes, the movie itself is.. not really that interesting

and if you're the sick sadist type, watch 'Ichi the Killer'. That movie is the GROSSIEST, GORIEST(hope i spelt that right) and SICKEST S&M movie i've ever watched.and i kid you not, it's even worse than all the horror and gory movies add together x.x *shudders* if you don't want to puke, you can watch the cut version which can be found more commonly. the original uncut version is too..gross. and every d**n detail can be seen clearly. but as some people say, it's too overly done and gets bored after while, just killing and killing and ripping all those bodies. :souka: but i think it's not that bad. XD damn i'm sick too! im influenced by Kyo too much! XD *hopeless diru fangirl*

[Apollo]

Most of my modern Japanese film collection consists of horror films, but of "non-horror" films I love "Tampopo" (because it is a hilarious story with funny dialgoue) and "Yomigaeri" (because it can be a sentimental film).

[TuskCracker]

this thread is worth bumping.
->In Between Days
->Eve and the Fire Horse
->Dear Pyongyang (story told through their japanese daughter viewpoint)

->http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/30/movies/MoviesFeatures/30priz.html
Conflicts Between Cultures Win Awards at Sundance
By DAVID M. HALBFINGER
Published: January 30, 2006
PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 29 — Stories of culture clashes captivated jurors and audiences alike at the Sundance Film Festival, as films featuring Sudanese refugees in the United States, Central American migrants in Mexico, a Chinese girl in Canada, a Korean girl in Japan and Latino-gay friction in Los Angeles all took home major awards Saturday.
.... on and on..
In keeping with this year's taste for culture clash, three Asian assimilation stories won special jury prizes. So Yong Kim's "In Between Days," a minimalist look at a teenage Korean girl's dislocation in her new American home, won one for "independent vision." Julia Kwan's "Eve and the Fire Horse," about a Chinese girl in Vancouver in the 1970's, received one for world drama. And Yonghi Yang's "Dear Pyongyang," a look at a pair of Koreans fiercely loyal to the North through the eyes of their Japanese-born daughter, was given one of two special jury prizes for world documentary.
.
.

[TuskCracker]

Go to "Midnight Eye", which is just for Japanese movies. All pedigrees of film; new, silent-era. WEBSITE:www.midnighteye.com

This is in English.

[TuskCracker]

I find japanese horror, fairly cheesy. Like watching the made-for-tv, CREAPSHOW, that you have in America.





http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/16/46/50m.jpg

.

[RockLee]

How about "Chikan Otoko"?

http://www.chikanotoko.com/

[TuskCracker]

Gyao" movie

"日本侠客伝"
A yakuza movie
http://www.gyao.jp/sityou/catedetail...id/cnt0009696/


I tried to go their. Got the general screen.

Is this moive available for someone who does not speak
Japanese

[Da Monstar]

I finally got my Casshern Ultimate Version 3disc dvd with the mail today. And that movie just rocks :D

Very hard to explain the plot, so try to take a look at the trailer and see what you think http://youtube.com/w/Casshern---Trailer?v=mwbEpMj726c&search=casshern

[TuskCracker]

Most of my modern Japanese film collection consists of horror films, but of "non-horror" films I love "Tampopo" (because it is a hilarious story with funny dialgoue) and "Yomigaeri" (because it can be a sentimental film).
"Tampopo" is great. But an old movie. I never heard of "Yomigaeri". I find japanese-horror, cheesey movies. They are campy and cheesey. They never scare me. Like the made for TV movies CreapShow, that exist in United States.
.

[ftw]

did anyone metion Ping Pong?

[BakaAoi]

I've heard through the grape vine that Nana, which has come out pretty recently, was pretty good. I cant wait to buy it myself.

[Domon]

Casshern, Azumi, Lady Snowblood and Ichi the Killer are among my favourites.
Has anyone here seen the live action version of Devilman? I've read some good and some bad reviews and I was hoping someone here could tell me if its worth importing

[lockie]

ahahaha lol thanx evry one lol i havnt beenon in a loong time lol i forgot my user name and password and then just figured it out but yeah i have seen some of the tittles and will check out some that u guys have recopmended thanx lol

[lockie]

hmm lol i donno if ani wone mentioned it i have read through it all but i have forgotten now lol "one missed call" i luv those movies soo much i recon there awsome, but i havnt seen one missed call final yet i will have ta get my friend to send it to me lol, but alot of the japanese movies i have seen havnt had subtittles like "NANA" and "one missed call" and heaps of others havnt had them lol but i get the general idea even if my japanese isnt that good lol

i actully showed some friends from skool one missed call the were shitting them selves it was so funny lol, did any of u like the one missed call movies?

[Blue_Kun]

Anyone has seen Old Boy? Its a nice movie.

Tokyo Fist, another nice movie.

Returner is a very nice and modern Japanese movie (imo).

[BenWa]

There's a movie that will both make you sick and scare the hell out of you. I know you said you didn't want anything old, this film was made in the 70's. Its called Audition. It kicks ass. I'm not goning to spoil it for you so you should just watch it and then get back to me

[yukio_michael]

Anyone has seen Old Boy? Its a nice movie.Oldboy is a Korean movie. I too however think it's a good movie...

Returner is a very nice and modern Japanese movie (imo).I didn't care for it too much, in my opinion its a b-movie at best.

Midnight Eye (http://www.midnighteye.com/) is a great site which offers not only reviews of new Japanese movies, but also critical essays about the history of Japanese film and various film festivals in Japan etc.

[Blue_Kun]

Oldboy is a Korean movie. I too however think it's a good movie...
Its true. My misteke :souka:

[miki78]

i don't watch many films only animes but i want to see Bara no Konrei (BRIDAL OF ROSE) soooooo much

but it's really exspensive too:(

[Mycernius]

There's a movie that will both make you sick and scare the hell out of you. I know you said you didn't want anything old, this film was made in the 70's. Its called Audition. It kicks ass. I'm not goning to spoil it for you so you should just watch it and then get back to me
If your thinking about the Audition I think you are then it is not a 70s film. Made in 1999 by Takashi Miike. See link (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235198/)
In fact I can't seem to find any film by that name made in the 70s. If I am wrong could you please provide a link or info on it? Thanks

[misa.j]

Bird People in China (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142181/) is my absolute favorite Miike movie.

It's a beautifully filmed fantasy, which you wouldn't expect from him, but it definitely has a bunch of quirky characters that are familiar in his other films.

[ricecake]

I've just finished Firefly Dreams,it's a warm heart-felt story with substance.This Japanese film has gorgeous scenery of Japan's countryside.

[BenWa]

Audition might have been made in the 90's, I don't know, but regardless to when it was made I think that movie kicks ass

[yukio_michael]

Bird People in China (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142181/) is my absolute favorite Miike movie.

It's a beautifully filmed fantasy, which you wouldn't expect from him, but it definitely has a bunch of quirky characters that are familiar in his other films.I liked Bird People in China too, it wasn't a typical Miike film either, and that's always a nice change from him.

I enjoy Miike's work, I specifically liked the movie Izo (http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/izo.shtml), even though a lot of other reviewers panned it as being single-minded (a statement on violence in media & otherwise realized as 2 & 1/2 hours of various & sundry people being cut down left & right by one vengeful spirit's sword) to a fault.

I don't know if this has been mentioned much, but until recently the Japanese government didn't have anything in place that sought to promote and preserve Japanese film. Film was seen as something like cheap entertainment, so government agencies largely ignored its artistic capacities. Film of course was later seen as an important contribution to Japan's history and art, and was given attention to promoting and preserving the work of Japanese film-makers.

I can't find a source article on this at the moment, so I'll try to find something to cite here....

[Miho_Inutachi]

I know alot. Like there's Audtition from the creator of One Missed Call, or there's: A Tale Of Two Sisters,Koma,Infection,Noroi(Curse)<--this one reminds me of The BlairWith..anywho *cough*,Pray,Rinne(Reincarnation),the obvious, Ju-on 1-2,Kowai-Onna,MAREBITO,and much more but I think I should stop..:3..oh yes..does anyone know where I can download the episodes of One Missed Call? I wanna burn them on DvD for sis who luv series. But i never have enough money to pay for these downloads..so if anyone knows please please please! tell me..tank you. ^^

[Spyder93090]

Not exactly Japanese but have you seen "Lost in Translation" ? Haha

"Advent Children" is crazy sick

[yukio_michael]

Not exactly Japanese but have you seen "Lost in Translation" ? Haha

"Advent Children" is crazy sick

[...]Trivia: The creators of the film had no prior knowledge of how to make a movie, so it was based on their knowledge of in-game movies.Sounds like a great recipie for a "crazy sick" movie to me... :okashii:

[lunatic_pandora]

First of all, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "All about Lilli Chou-chou" !
It's an amazing movie which has won awards at the Rotterdam, Toronto, New York and Pusan international film festivals.
It was described as "an exceptional depiction of teenage life" by The Daily Telegraph, and is in my opinion the best film about teenaged life (particularly Japanese) I have ever seen.
I would seriously recommend watching this movie. It is unbelievably touching in a surreal and breathtakingly beautiful way. :bawling:
Also, yukio_michael, in response to:
[...]Sounds like a great recipie for a "crazy sick" movie to me... :okashii:
"Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children" is an extremely good film in its own right. Despite the fact that its creators had only ever made "in-game movies" it is brilliantly executed, with the most stunning computer-generated visuals I have ever seen, brilliant voice acting, and again the best fighting scenes i've ever seen. The story is a bit difficult to follow, especially if you have no previous knowledge of the plot from the original game series, but it is one of the best animated movies I have seen to date; up there with "Mind Game" (which is a must see, I really can't express this enough) and "Princess Mononoke" (MononokeHime in Japanese)