Film Analysis

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Ordinary World: It's been two years since the meteor fell and nearly destroyed the planet. Cloud lives an ordinary life filled with regrets of killing two of his best friends: Aerith and Zack. He lives in a church, not wanting to help anyone because he believes he can't save anyone anymore.


Call to Adventure: Cloud goes and talks with Rufus, who is the current president of Shinra Company and is summoned to find the cause of "Geostigma", a mysterious disease that is threatening the cities population. The disease appeared after the meteor fell and after Sephiroths death. And now there have been sightings that he is still alive. Kadaj's gang has suddenly appeared hoping to find their "Mother". 


Refusal of the Call: Cloud refuses to work with Rufus knowing that he can't save anyone and that more people will die because of him being a first class Soldier. 


Meeting with the Mentor: Cloud meets with Tifa, his childhood friend. She tells him to move on and accept the way things are. He also crosses over into the lifestream and gets to talk with Aerith, asking her for forgiveness. He then talks with Vincent, and asks him if sins can be forgiven. Vincent says "I've never tried it." and then Clouds burdens feel lighter knowing that he can try it. 


Crossing the Threshold:  Cloud teams up with his companions to take down Kadaj and his gang. There are many scenes with that, such as the race of the highway. 

Tests, Allies, Enemies:  He fights Kadaj and his gang who are trying to bring Sephiroth back to finish destroying the planet once and for all. His companions who fought with him since the beginning come together to take down a huge monster Kadaj summoned to destroy the city to find his "mother". 


Approach: Cloud talks with Marlene, Aerith's little sister whom Cloud and Tifa were talking care of along with the orphan named Denzel who has Geostigma. Marlene tells Cloud not to give up and that people are always there looking after him no matter what. Cloud realizes that it's his turn to protect the people he loves. 


Ordeal: Cloud faces his enemy: Sephiroth. It was an epic battle between good and evil. Cloud comes near death, but his strength is returned because his best friend Zack talks to him from the other side, telling him to always have pride for being a first class Soldier. 


Reward: Cloud has gained a greater understanding how important life is and that there is nothing that he does not treasure. Also, Rain that falls from the sky became the cure for Geostigma. Cloud gets healed as well as the other children. 


The Road Back: He goes back home to his friends who have loved him and missed the old Cloud. 


Ressurrection: Kadaj's gang shoots Cloud as soon as Sephiroth is dead. Cloud runs to kill them, but then an explosion occurs catching Cloud in the middle of it. Aerith and Zack take Could from the lifestream back to the ordinary world. 


Return with Elixir: The church is full of water that cures the Geostigma and Cloud heals Denzel and other children. 

Archtype Analysis

Hero: Cloud Strife

Mentor: Tifa, Aerith, Zack, Marlene, and Denzel. 

Threshold Guardian: Kadaj and his gang. 

Herald:  Rufus Shinra. 

Shapeshifter: Kadaja and his gang

Shadow:  Sephiroth

Trickster:  Rufus Shinra, Reno and Rude.