FULL METAL ALCHEMIST: THE CONQUEROR OF SHAMBALA
Don't mention the war! I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it!
Review by: Craig "Transmuted From Lard" Norris
Length: 90 minute movie
Genre: Action, supernatural
Watched: All, subbed
I was a bit scared to watch this film. I thought, as was the case with Evangelion and its finale film, the violence and human suffering that was present in the series would be multiplied exponentially in the movie. So, I was prepared for (but dreading) the prospect of watching horrible soulless monsters being transmuted from puppies and sick orphans, or something. However, the movie's plot surprised me, and not entirely in a pleasant way.
Plot synopsis: After crossing the gate and winding up in 1920s Munich, Edward Elric is splitting time between helping a young man named Alphonse Hiedrich with his rocket research, and trying to find a way back to his own world. Back in his world, his brother Alphonse is also searching for a way for Edward to get home. However, Edward soon discovers that it may not be either of them who succeeds in opening the gate between the worlds, and the people who accomplish it aren't interested in reuniting Edward and Alphonse; their sights are set on war.
Artwork: The animation is pretty much identical to the series, with maybe a negligible amount of extra spit and polish here and there. That's not really a bad thing, as the animation for the series, especially for a series over 50 episodes long, was highly impressive. Action scenes are fast and fluid, and backgrounds look crisp. Suffice it to say that anyone who enjoyed the animation from the series won't find anything here to be disappointed about.
Music: The soundtrack for this movie was pretty fair, but nothing spectacular. Once again it mirrors the overall quality of the series. The opening and ending themes are pretty decent, but are not quite as memorable as some of the openings and endings used for the series. At least corners weren't cut and the soundtrack is original, but it really isn't something worth owning, except if you thought the kind of tracks in the series were unbelievably good, which I highly doubt.
Characters: Well, what little of the cast that survived the series is back, and pretty much retain their personalities. Since 1920s Munich is actually an alternate universe from Edward's world, some familiar faces from the dearly departed show up from time to time, most notably the universally beloved Hughes, and a good-natured version of Fuhrer Bradley. As for the original characters who show up, the most prominent is Noah, a gypsy woman with psychic abilities. Her ability to read minds makes her a target of the Thule Society, a secret organization working for the fledgling Nazi party that is attempting to open the gate. Alphonse Hiedrich, who looks the way Edward's brother would appear as a teenager, is heavily involved in rocket research that is being sponsored by the Thule Society. He is dedicated to his research, but also desires to see Edward find his way home, even though he doesn't quite believe his stories about an alternate reality. The leader of the Thule Society is a woman named Eckart, who pledges to use the powers of the alternate world to aid in the Nazis' revolt against the current government. However, her actual motives become twisted when she sees the kind of power she has at her disposal. There are even a couple of cameo appearances by history's greatest monster himself, Adolf Hitler. In keeping with the spirit of the series, most of the cast is filled with evil raving lunatics and tortured heroes. We all know nobody's perfect, but apparently, nobody's happy or well-adjusted, either.
Plot: The plot confused me a little. Not because it was too complex or convoluted; I simply felt that it was a major and unnecessary shift to go from exploring the consequences and inner workings of alchemy, to watching the beginnings of Nazism in Germany. I simply couldn't get into the story as much as I could with the series. The series presented totally original concepts throughout, while the movie turned into a simple "what if" scenario and reminded me too much of a fanfic for comfort. All the emotion of the series is there, but it ventured into territory that I personally feel it had no business being in.
CHICKS!: The usual suspects are back in the personages of the highly desirable Winry, Sheska, Hawkeye, and Rose. Also, a couple of new faces are added to the mix. I was particularly drawn to Noah, who is not only very sweet and pretty but also gets sympathy points for being a Gypsy, which of course was a very oppressed nationality in the 1920s. Her mind-reading ability is also very helpful in that she would be able to quickly discover exactly what your greatest fantasy is, and depending on the person, could get right down to making it happen. Another chick who gets ample screen time is Eckart, and even though she possesses a certain stern beauty, I would definitely leave her alone. She possesses a xenophobia that makes Eva Braun look like Eva Gabor. Really, if it's pure chick quality you're after, I'd stick with Ed and Al's side of the gate, and leave the despotic Nazi women to themselves.
Overall: This movie just didn't seem quite right to me. Sure, it had all the raw elements that made the series great, but having it take place in pre-WWII Germany was a bit much for me to swallow. I was under the impression that the movie was meant to resolve Ed's quest to get home, but that would up taking a back seat to an evil Nazi plan, which seemed highly out of place for a movie following the series. I'd say it's worth watching just to say you've seen absolutely every minute of Fullmetal Alchemist, but don't expect to find the same original, engrossing plot in this film as was in the series.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Solid artwork
+ Excellent emotion
+ Characters consistent with the series
- Plot focused on the wrong things
- Nazism is not something to be taken so lightly
Rating: 7.5/10
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