*phew* All right, here it is, the list of all the changes in the movie, this took a long time, lol. I'll see what you guys think, maybe correct some errors if there are any, then I can post it on the front page (sans the editorializing) if you think I should.
Here goes:
ACC Changes (I might mess up some of the order of the scenes, I apologize)
All the battle grunts have been rerecorded and sound much better. Most of the sound effects in general appear to have been redone.
Immediately after the Red XIII opening, it shows a bit of a conversation between Rufus and Kadaj as they arrive on the 13th floor of the building they're on in the middle of the movie. Kadaj wonders why humans even bother, Rufus talks about choosing to forget the past. It then says “2 weeks earlier” and shows the North Cave scene.
The North Cave scene is a little longer, but unchanged, you still can't see what's going on (that's later).
The Lifestream is better animated in the Marlene recap, and Cait Sith is on his moogle. They show a bit more of Cloud putting Aeris in the water, she sinks completely, but its from the same angle.
Much longer montage of the people of Edge, more voices and half-conversations. Shows the moogle girl and her brother cowering in an alley as a grown man stumbles towards them, dying of Geostigma. He looks rather scary, and the black ooze is pouring off of him.
When Tifa's washing dishes in 7th Heaven and the phone's ringing, a radio is playing talking about the concentration of Lifestream in the atmosphere returning to levels that shouldn't harm humans except around the Shinra HQ and Mako Reactors. Also talks about whether Shinra should be held financially responsible for the crisis.
First bike case is unchanged, but the music is rearranged to fit the scene much better. Cloud spurts a little more blood when his goggles are shot.
From that it cuts to Denzel looking a the picture of the four of them next to his bed. He rolls over and says he that he must have been the last straw (for Cloud to leave). And he flashes back to him arriving at the church. It's actually a pretty long scene, with a beautiful look at Fenrir. First he presumably calls home, and just hears “Your call to Sector 7 cannot be completed at this time.” It shows the ruins of Sector 7, and a broken picture of him and his family. He's about to throw the phone but looks at it again and notices the bajillion missed calls from 7th Heaven. He calls and has that quick conversation with Tifa before his Geostigma acts up and he drops the phone. As he passes out, Cloud trots up saying “Are you all right?”
When Cloud shuts the door on Reno, he starts to walk when when he says “Okay, so you're good.” Cloud pushes the door shut on him and locks it. The conversation is with Rufus is much longer. Rufus discusses his 'theory' that Sephiroth's will remains in the Lifestream causing Geostigma. Since there's no reported cases of it in recorded history before now. Cloud persists that Sephiroth is dead, and accuses Rufus of hiding something when he asks what Kadaj meant about mother. Cloud acts much more like he did in VII, I thought, not just sitting there listening to him.
After the Tifa/Marlene scene in the church, it goes back to Healin where Reno jumps on the couch and he and Rude have a conversation about how so many of Shinra's employees went back to work (for Rufus, presumably), and thinking it was because they felt they had to atone. Reno wonders how they could ever atone for almost bringing about the end of the world, wishing the “Director” (Tseng) were around, hoping they're all right. Rude says they are, and that Tseng is like Rufus, 9 lives like cats (Funny, since so many people thought they both died in 7). They hear a noise. They look to the door and blackness is coming through the seams of the door. Kadaj is heard saying “Found you.”
It then cuts to Denzel in 7th Heaven, he answers the phone. It seems to be Tifa and Marlene saying that they're going to wait in the church for Cloud. Denzel hangs up and hears a motorcycle. He gets excited and runs outside, but its Yazoo. All he does is ride through really.
Then it cuts to the scene of Kadaj and Rufus. This scene is unchanged except Reno and Rude grunt and struggle to stand a little more. Also, as they speak it shows what happened in the Northern Cave.
Tifa's battle with Loz is unchanged save for them getting dirty.
After Kadaj's quick Sephiroth cosplay in front of Rufus, it cuts to the moogle girl and her brother (who she was carrying) being knocked over in the street in front of Denzel. The man who knocked them over apologizes and grabs the boy's arm to help him up, but he notices the black stuff get all over his hand and jumps back, frantically wiping it off on his pants. Angrily complaining that Geostigma victims don't stay in doors. The moogle girl struggles to get her brother on his her back as Denzel picks up the moogle doll and hands it to her. She takes it and shoves him away and starts stumbling to wherever she's going.
This cuts to Cloud replacing the Buster Sword in the ground, he says some new lines about promising to never forget Zack, and there's the flashbacks that were already in AC, and adds the one of him walking into the light and him handing the Buster Sword and “my honor and my dreams” to Cloud on the cliff. Then his Geostigma acts up, he eyes go cat, and Sephiroth is heard giving the almost exact lines he tells him when Aeris died. Something like, “Why are you even pretending to be sad? Face it Cloud, all you are is an empty puppet.”
Cuts back to Denzel, the moogle girl comes and apologizes for earlier, saying her brother is gone. She then tells him they're gonna fix us and they get on the truck.
Kadaj equipping the materia is unchanged at first and then Loz asks questions like “Are they a gift from mother?” Kadaj says that you could say that. Loz takes that to mean that big brother has her. Kadaj says no and that its “that Shinra guy.” Loz says then they just need to look everywhere Shinra has been. Kadaj says they'll have many more allies soon, but first he wants to talk to brother, as “He likes to pretend he's not one of the family.” He charges up his arm and shoots a tree in front of Marlene who was trying to sneak away as they spoke.
Denzel (I think) flashes back again, as Cloud puts him on Fenrir saying, “Tifa says to take you home, kid. Grab on.” Denzel just falls onto his back, barely conscious. Cloud reaches back and takes his hand to put it around him when he notices its shaking. Cloud grabs Denzel's hand tightly until it stops (aw....) It shows the kids driving on the truck. Denzel asks "Who's gonna fix us?" The moogle girl says "I dunno." and Denzel depressively says "Whatever, it's not like matters anyway."
Cloud finding Tifa is unchanged, but when they pass out it plays Anxious Heart (the Nibelheim theme) rather than Water.
When Kadaj hypnotizes all the kids. He talks to mother about all his new brothers and sisters keeping him company until he can find her (gross).
Cloud charges in and draws the correct swords from Fenrir this time ^_~. The fight is unchanged but, like the first battle, the music is rearranged to fit the scene better. And when Vincent comes you can see him in the swirling cloak shooting.
His conversation with Vincent is unchanged, but it feels like it because Marlene's new voice actress' delivery is absolutely perfect.
Yazoo and Loz's interaction with the people is unchanged, but the conversation with Reno and Rude is. Instead of Reno saying they don't know where she is, he says its classified info. Yazoo says so they are hiding something. That's when it shows Reno get mad but his voicing sounds more like he's stumped, and now says “Rude! You and your big mouth!” hahaha.
Rufus' conversation with Kadaj is now fully shown, Kadaj's lines are all the same, but Rufus' are redone. He says basically the same things, they just sound better. And Kadaj pulls the materia out his arm and makes it glow in front of Rufus and tosses it around while they talk. He's awfully careless with it considering they're on the edge of a building. Then he puts it back in his arm and summons Bahamut.
I can't remember exactly where this scene goes, but Cloud arrives at the bar with Marlene. He takes her off the bike and she asks him if his arm hurts. He says a bit, but not as bad as Denzel's. Marlene asks if there's a cure and Cloud says he doesn't know. She comments on all he's been doing for finding a cure for Denzel, Cloud says “You knew about that?” Marlene asks him if he left because he caught it, or because he couldn't find a cure for Denzel. Cloud says he figured he couldn't take care of himself let alone anyone else. Marlene responds with an adorable impression of Barret, holding a 'gun-arm- up. “Yo' can't take care o' yo' fam'ly if yo' can't take care o' yo'self! That's what daddy says anyway.” Then she says something which makes Cloud crouch in front of her saying that she, Tifa and Denzel were always looking out for him. And that she was always there when he needed her, and that now its his turn. Steve Burton gives his best Cloud performance right here. He absolutely nails it, as Cloud speaks as though he's talking to a child, but still very sincere. Methinks Burton naysayers will have a hard time complaining about this one.
Bahamut destroys the monument, the Turks fight the SHM. The battle is unchanges, but Reno and Rude are bloodied at the end of it.
Everyone's arrival in Edge is a little bit shortened, and Cid simply jumps down, rather than saving them. Cid looks a little different...slightly older.
Tifa asks Denzel if he can make it back to the shop on his own. He nods and Tifa starts to run off to join the group, but a Shadowstalker corners him as he had noticed Geostigma victims freaking out on the ground and he flashes back to Sector 7's destruction. She shouts “Enough!” and owns it. Then 3 spawn from underneath her, throwing her into the air, she dispatches them but 3 more lunge at Denzel and a blast from Bahamut knocks down Tifa and the building behind her begins to collapse.
Cloud drives up, and quickly sees Zack walk off into the the light from Crisis Core, and Sephiroth descending on Aeris. He draws his sword and flings it forward. It boomerangs around Denzel, killing the monsters and Cloud catches it back in the sword. He then powers through the building like in the trailer, utilizing his sword-throwing technique. He grabs Tifa, catches his thrown blade again, and pulls around, dropping Tifa off next to Denzel where they do the “I feel lighter...” sequence.
It shows Denzel running home in an alley when Shadowstalkers show up and start tearing into civilians, it's not bloody gruesome, but pretty violent. Denzel's Geostigma acts up, and a monster notices him and starts to charge him. Denzel says he has to do this, runs up, grabs a pipe, and owns it with the fire hydrant.
The battle with Bahamut is unchanged, when Cloud hits it with Braver, a plate of armor comes off the side of its face. Rufus' big reveal is just as badass as before (unchanged). Cloud finishes Bahamut, Rufus and Kadaj go off the building. When Rufus hits Jenova and the screen splits, there's one more split of Tseng and Elena running into position, taking aim and firing the nets.
Cloud and the SHM speed off as the Turks and Rufus gather in the street and nod/smile at one another. The bike chase is the same for the beginning, except the sun is slowly emerging as they fight. Then the Turks show up, Reno saying “You losers are chasing the wrong dude.” And opens fire. Loz fires back with bike, doing more of his goofy sound effects like in the beginning.
The song is obviously rearranged here, and seems to hint at the old battle theme. Rude fires a bazooka, destroying the road. Yazoo launches in the air. His bike goes through the open doors of the chopper taking Rude out with him, and shooting the joystick. It starts to go down and Reno looks out the door to see that Rude as caught on to the side. They bail out and the helicopter crashes, destroying another huge section of road. Tseng and Elena arrive in another helicopter to pick them up.
Cloud barely makes it through that destruction of the road and Yazoo and Loz reappear behind him for the unchanged battle in the tunnel, going to Reno an Rude with their bomb.
You notice scrapes all along the side of Fenrir as Cloud reaches slums after Kadaj. Their little skirmish in the church and the rain is unchanged, as is his fight with Kadaj and the team's conversation in the airship. I was happy that Yuffie's great line “That Cloud's a royal pain in the ass, like always” line was maintained.
Sephiroth shows up, any time the Masamune moves or the “camera” sweeps by it you hear a high pitched metallic twang. Like a tuning fork almost. It's really cool, and when Cloud is having trouble keeping track of him in the building, that sound really adds to the tension because you can hear it from everywhere. It was a fantastic touch.
The battle is unchanged except for Cloud getting dirty and his rerecorded grunts really make it sound like he's struggling, especially during his flurry of attacks on the falling building. Sephiroth pretty much owning him is the same on the top of the building is the same, bu when he kicks Cloud, Cloud goes through the wall instead of just hitting it. Sephiroth calmly steps forward, takes his samurai stance and starts running in and Cloud charges up and begins a ferocious attack on Sephiroth. Its a few slashes longer than in the trailer, Sephiroth knocks him back, Cloud lunges in the air and Sephiroth skewers him. He says “Is the the pain you felt before? This time, I'll make sure you never forget.” His wing explodes out, and his flips Cloud into the air. He rockets after him like a jet, stabbing and slashing Cloud mercilessly, blood spurts everywhere. He gets above him and slams him back back onto to the top of the building.
Cloud looks awful, in a pool of his own blood, he changes his grip on his sword and tries to prop himself up on it as Sephiroth says his “What do you cherish most...” line. Things go whitish and Zack appears standing behind him saying “So what if it looks hopeless, I wouldn't give up.” He asks if Cloud needs a hand with him, Cloud shakes his head. Zack says, “Embrace your dreams, and whatever happens, protect your honor as SOLDIER. ...well, okay, so you never made SOLDIER, but it's what's in here that counts” as he points at his heart. Cloud says, “...Zack...” As he stands and slowly lifts his sword. Zack says, “You already beat him once, this should be a cinch, right?” Cloud nods. Zack finishes up with another inspiring line and Cloud leaps into the air after Sephiroth. Sephiroth smiles and descends. They clash, Sephiroth jumps off the red spire thing and Cloud follows like in the old one.
Cloud says the whole “I pity you, you just don't get it at all. There's not a thing I don't cherish!” Charges up his sword and they lock up again. Cloud is glowing but looks like he's struggling a bit while Sephiroth smiles. The sword goes gold and flies apart and around Sephiroth. Sephiroth looks around him in surprise before looking back to Cloud. When he does, Cloud is already shining brilliantly and streaks off to all of the swords and once. Sephiroth looks around frantically to see where Cloud went and the first strike hits, and the next and the next. Sephiroth makes more noticeable grunts and stuff as he's hit. And the move is about 3 hits longer.
From here there are no changes until Cloud is shot and explodes. Denzel says “He'll come back, he said that he would.” And the phone starts ringing. They run to pick it up, Denzel answers. You can't hear what he hears, but he hangs up, looks to Marlene and says “let's go!” They run through the streets as you hear phones ringing everywhere and people run into the streets. Denzel, Marlene, and the moogle girl join hands and lead the charge.
They slow to a walk and approach the church as a rising version of Aeris' Theme plays. As they get there, things turn white and Zack and Aeris have their conversation about Cloud. The camera angles are different and the piano song ends rather than fading out.
Cloud wakes up in the church, his wounds gone. Everything here is unchanged except that the water looks much better than before – and it looked damn good to begin with.
Credit roll, second credit roll with Safe and Sound. Still the same footage of Cloud driving in Hawaii, but there are scenes from the movie overlayed and some parts. They also do not show Aeris in the field. Then it shows the picture on the desk, and Zack's grave (with just flowers). You hear footsteps and hear Denzel ask, “Is this somebody's grave?” Cloud says, “No, it isn't. This is where a hero began his journey.”
Then it shows the Buster Sword in the church, The End.
I would like to see that
Aeris has like 5 lines XDDD
