FF7 is only grindy if you are going for full completion. It's entirely possible to complete the main story just running straight through the game and just fighting the random battles that come up as you're running. Fighting the Weapons is a different story, it's near impossible to beat them if you don't have ultimate weapons, ultimate limit breaks, and maxed out materia.
FF7 Advent Children was good for fans. I liked it, but let's be honest, as a stand-alone movie, it completely sucks. Very little story and character development. Some of the action scenes were cool, but other action scenes were extremely corny...like the scene where Cloud was launched toward Bahamut by the other characters...makes me slightly cringe thinking about it.