I had no clue who anyone was throughout most of the movie (cept obviously for the main ones like Cloud and Tifa). I've only played about 30 minutes of FF7.

I shouldn't have to spend 50 hours on a video game and several more reading obscure books to know who the people in a movie are.

And how the h*ll could you consider the story rushed??? FF7 came out, what, 8 years ago?