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Fullmetal Alchemist tv Review
"You can't gain something without sacrificing something else of the equal value. This is the principle of the equivalent trade."
The story takes place in Amestris, in the early 1900's. Two brothers, Edward and his younger brother Alphonse Elric, live with their mother, Trisha, in the small village of Resembool. Although their father left home when they were still very young, his sons inherited his passion for alchemy and practiced it on their own. In 1909, Trisha dies of an unknown illness, the boys' father still nowhere in sight. When Ed finds out about human transmutation from one of his father's books, he and Al engage in intense training in order to be able to perform the ritual that will bring their mother back.
In 1910, the Elric brothers cross the forbidden line; unfortunately, the resurrection attempt is a complete failure, as Ed loses his left leg and Al — his entire body. In a last desperate attempt to undo the damage, Ed binds his brother's spirit to a nearby suit of armor, at the further cost of his right arm. After recovering, the two embark on a journey to find the legendary Philosopher's Stone, rumored to facilitate alchemic tasks without the requirement of equivalent exchange, in hopes of getting their original bodies back.
Story & Characters
This anime I believe is a classic in terms of originality and to me is a blast of fresh air. The story is about two brothers Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric who lost their mother and went to great lenghts to revive by using alchemy. But of course you can't play God and so Ed looses his leg and arm and Al his body and his soul is now trapped in body of armor. Afterwards Ed becomes a state alchemist in order to obtain the philosophers stone and get back their true bodies. The story may seem abit boring but its far from that. Fullmetal Alchemist has some of the BEST cliffhangers I have ever seen in anything; book, movie, anime whatever. The plot moves at very fast pace too. One of Fullmetal's strongest points though in terms of its story is how the plot gradually unravels through each episode as the boys come closer and closer to the real meaning of 'equivalent exchange'. Many people might not realize that compared to many other anime (like Cowboy Bebob, Scryed and Dragon Ball Z) their isn't much action. But the plot does such a great job of pushing you through each episode that you really don't realize it. But the strongest point of Fullmetal Alchemist would have to be the main character Ed and how he matures throughout the entire show. I swear I have never in my life seen a book, movie, anime do what Fullmetal has alchomplished. You can actually see Ed mature throughout the stage of the show and it shows in the way he behaves and in the overall presentation of the anime. To me Fullmetal Alchemist has one of the best story lines there is and it shows what a small action (such as the deat of thier mother) can lead to big things (like in the end of the anime)
Rating:
Art
The art in this anime is quite good (compared to many others) and considering that it has alot going for it in terms of moving parts and all (transforming things into bigger things ain't easy). I've herd that from other people that there were a couple bad scenes but I haven't seen that. There are a vast amout of landscapes in it too actually and the animation doesn't change quality and it really has that early nineteenth centuary look to it too. All in all there isn't much Fullmetal has done bad in this department except for the fact that too me nothing really stands out as being spectacular or a beauty to see its pretty much the same throughout. There's also the characteristic anime behaviour (like suddenly falling down, the long sweat in there head and the nerve appearing) that really fits in well with the overall tone of each episode but this graudally disppears during the course of the anime and for good measure too as it would not have fit the plot in the later episodes as they get more serious.
Rating:
Sound
The sound in Fullmetal is one you'll expect from a game made by Square. Excellent. The voice acting in Fullmetal is suprisingly good actually good in comparison to alot of other anime. The voicing for each character fits perfectly with what they are saying and the dialogue flows smoothly. In fact there isn't any point in the anime in which the characters said some out of the way line that made you wonder where those that come in. The music is of top quality. The music does not exactly match the whole early nineteeth centuary theme but its for the better good though cause there are parts in which I was really blown away by the music. The good thing though is that no one song is over used to the point in which it gets annoying because each song that comes adds more power to the overall feel what's going on like when Ed was trying to find his brother and when the brothers are slowly unraveling the truth behind alchemy. The starting songs are particullary good and so are the ending songs but they lack the kind of muster herd in other anime starting and ending songs though like Inuyasha. All in all the sound department is one of the best though and its with this that automatically seperates Fullmetal Alchemist from the rest of the crowd
Rating:
Presentation
Fullmetal Alchemist is very much enjoyable and can be watched by anyone (well anyone over ten years of age that is). There is quite alot of humor too suprisingly especially in the early episodes too and will have you laughing but when Fullmetal Alchemist gets serious, boy those it get serious and quite fast too. This is one of Fullmetal Alchemist best quality which is conveying just how serious things are getting without directly telling you through funny dialouge and stupid actions. But the best quality of all in Fullmetal Alchemist is the inner message that it leaves for about the principal of equivalent exchange and its appilications. I don't think anyone who watches Fullmetal Alchemist straight through would stay the same. I think that if you take to heart what Fullmetal Alchemist says as it goes through each episode, then you'll become a much stronger person able to make choices on your own and being that person who's not afraid of being different from the rest of the crowd. If you're already that person then it will only strengthen you. The way in which this is representing is through the actions and dialogue of the the main character and the way in which he interacts by making choices. Fullmetal Alchemist is one of those anime who's main focus is not only to get people to watch it but to teach them that inner lesson and that's a score in my book. If you can get past some of the blood and some comments in between thenFullmetal Alchemist is a great teaching tool for little children showing them the basic principals of life
Rating:
Final Verdict
9.5000 (excellent)
Reviewed by Blaze016, Jun 26, 2006
Comments
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Sanisa Sep 22, 2009
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