Full Metal Alchemist General

Wasn't that, like, in the Elrics' backyard or something?

Nope, there backyard doesn't have a big building behind it.

Edit: Also finish Conquer of Shamballa, I'm actually surprise I enjoyed the movie this time around, my issue with the movie still has some plot holes and some thing that I didn't particuly like but it didn't bug me that much this time around.

So all that left in this marathon now is Brotherhood which is a total of 64 episodes and a Side-story movie which takes place between episode 20 and 21.

I'll get started on that this upcoming Thursday.

I'm almost finish with the FMA marathon.

edited 27th Oct '12 8:24:55 PM by DavidtheMouse14

Can't wait to see how this ends.

Why did Ed have to stay in our world in order to destroy the portal there when the problem is easily fixed by destroying the portal in amestris since the other portal would be rendered useless. spoiler contains to the ending of conqueror of shamballa.

easy answer: wtf is wrong with you ignore the stupid movie

other answer: magic

best answer: i have no clue

edited 29th Oct '12 4:13:45 AM by cutewithoutthe

My theory: The Winry in the 2003 universe scared him enough into staying here.

It's been a while since I've seen the movie, but as I recall, the Nazis were able to send people through the portal even before the gate was opened on the other side; it's just that doing so had some nasty side-effects.

Yyyyyep.

In Shamballa sacrifices must be made to open a huge gate.

Doesn't that sound familiar?

edited 29th Oct '12 12:21:10 PM by DavidtheMouse14

A lot of major plot points in the 2003 show and the movie ended up in modified form in the manga. I'd guess that part of it was a sort of two-way feedback loop: Arakawa giving the team rough ideas of where she was thinking of going, then taking alternate routes with respect to certain decisions after seeing what they'd done with the story.

Speaking of the movie, I really wish that I knew what they cut out of the script when paring down from Aikawa's original draft. It has the seeds of a truly great story, but the end result is so... rushed. I was particularly frustrated at how few lines Wrath received, especially considering what happens to him, and Eckhart's behaviour (and subsequent attempt at self-justification) at the end was clearly supposed to be foreshadowed, yet wasn't.

Also, I can understand why someone like Hughes might join the NSDAP, but a little more general character development there would have made the situation more sympathetic (and therefore interesting). Ditto Earth!Alphonse and Noa.

Seriously, that movie could have been a frigging arc in that series, and they just chopped it down so much—and strictly speaking, it was already about as long (content-wise, in both cases) as four or five episodes of the show, which is more annoying.

And Envy got shafted. I liked Envy. S/he was horrible in all the interesting ways, and that made me happy.

edited 2nd Nov '12 1:15:11 AM by JHM

Watching episode 5 of brotherhood has anyone notice that the situation between the Elric brothers and Scar is similar to the situation between Father in episode 62?

In both cases:

• Ed's wearing the same clothes.
• His auto-mail arm is destroyed.
• He's helpless as an enemy is about to kill him.
• Al's entire torso is torn apart.
• Both brothers were willing to make a sacrifice to save said brother out of the situation.

It's probably intentional on Arakawa's part - she bookended Ed's beat down of Father at the end with his one of Father Cornello at the start, down to the same lines and poses, and she likes her repeated themes.

(See also Elric family photos ver. Hohenheim and kids and ver. Ed and his kids)

Just watched the OV As and 4-koma theater with my brother, who'd yet to see them. The OV As were wonderful to watch again (Izumi's backstory is still my favorite) and the 4-komas crack me up each time (especially if Scar or King Bradley are involved (such as the the overly long name duel scene), strange how the serial killers/mass murderers always get the funniest material) Again, cannot figure out why a small segment of people don't like the humor in FMAB and its related works or think its inappropriately timed-I've always loved it, I think Arakawa and the staff writers for the show have perfect timing with the humor. Oh well, no more to say on that...I like the first anime's usage of humor, too, btw, some of the best bits are from there (Flame vs. Fullmetal, for instance, which did originate in the manga but did very well here)

Anyway, as for the scene with Scar in episode 5 vs the scene with Father in 62-yes, one of the things I love about FMA is all the callbacks and later scenes that reflect/build upon earlier sequences, etc, in order to demonstrate character development and the like. Same with the Cornello bit once Ed takes Father out in 63.

Ah man!

Episode 14 of Brotherhood is so awesome, truly one of my favorite episodes.

Also I find it amusing that while Brotherhood was made to follow the Manga and 2003 wasn't.

2003 was more faithful to the Elric's back stories on the island, than Brotherhood.

edited 8th Nov '12 12:52:41 PM by DavidtheMouse14

Can't believe it took me so long to ask this, but does anyone know what's up with the bird motifs in 2003.

That's something I've often wondered, too. I assumed that the birds like hanging out on Al because they think he's a statue-either that, or he's luring birds in to be delicious snacks for all the cats and kittens he likes to hide inside his armor :) Probably just a strange little artistic touch, I don't know, I'm certain someone else does...

Yeah, I have to agree wiht being statue like, Al doesn't breath, or have any flesh if he stands perfectly still, he would look like an inanimate statue.

Also I finish watching The Sacred Star of Milos after episode 20, I loved that movie, seems I'm the only one in that department.

I think the movie's alright, but it's very... filler.

I know a lot of people got all excited when the movies was announced right after Brotherhood finished and were hoping for an adventure set after the series, or maybe something flashback-y for Mustang or Hohenheim. So a lot of people were let down by the premise.

I don't see how people can think it would be a movie set after the series, seeing as Brotherhood had a conclusive ending.

It was pretty obvious it would be a filler, and then there also the fact that having a flashback as movie really wouldn't be a good premise for a hour length film, maybe for an OVA but looking at something like that for a length of movie?

No, that wouldn't work, beside we really couldn't call it Full Metal Alchemist Movie if throughout the whole film Edward couldn't use alchemy, now would we?

That's a problem Shamballa had, he didn't use alchemy in till the climax happen.

edited 11th Nov '12 5:58:00 AM by DavidtheMouse14

Actually Brotherhood's ending contained the promise of further adventures. It's just that it was the final end to the current story.

Although perhaps whatever adventures happened from that point on are better left up to the imagination.

I don't have a particular problem with Milos, and I can enjoy any filler story so long as it's fun. I just think if you're going to make it a feature length story, it should have some amount of greater significance. I guess that's just a problem I've always had with most anime movies, something about having the events of the movie carrying no real significance were Ed and Al are concerned seems like the plot for a filler episode, not a full movie.

I rather liked Sacred Star of Milos, even if it was only filler and the animation was...odd (I both liked it and disliked it, rather torn about it, to be honest). The plot was noce and solid, if a little strange near the end, and Ed and Al got some great stuff. The supporting regulars, not so much, though they were still entertaining.

Funny thing is, the director of the film worried about making the movie in the series, because it wouldn't have a huge significance to the overall plot, and Ed and Al normally don't travel to different countries.

Which is why they had the movie take place when Edward came up with theory that Al's body is somewhere along the gate, seeing a different alchemist with different alchemy would pro sue them to jump on another train to a country for that purpose of figuring out, if it would help them restore there bodies.

Also finish episode 26, it's was awesome, the art, animation, music, and emotions.

The scene and music when Edward transmutate himself was excellent.

I don't think 2003 could ever match the quality of that episode imo, it was just so beautiful...

Edit: I also love how brotherhood one up the gate scene compared to the Manga, where in the manga he simply get drag back making his promise, In Brotherhood? He freaking punch through the gate to make that promise!

So badass and heartwarming at the same time...

edited 12th Nov '12 10:47:52 PM by DavidtheMouse14

My thoughts on both animes: As a villain,Father PWNS Dante. Dante may be clever, but she's still just a stuck up bitch who's killing people just to live longer. Father, on the other hand, is already immortal, and his plan is much more well executed. Starting off as a small alchemical experiment,he founded the entire nation of Armestris, gave the people Alchemy, and Hohenheim his immortality. He created the entire plot, and in this sense he's not just the father of the Homunculi, but the story in general.

Also,Tim Marcoh was not only far better utilized in the Manga/Brotherhood than he was in the 2003 anime, but there was also an awesome scene in the manga where he stood up to Lust, which unfortunately was cut from both animes. Still, it's hilarious to watch.

I did like Selim Bradley/Pride more than I liked Wrath/Izumi's son. I just loved how the hyperactive little fanboy turns out to be one of the deadliest characters in the series. Still, Wrath's storyline was interesting, and I like how they explored more into Izumi's role as a mother.

Finally, I really liked the 2003 anime Tucker. I liked how they took an utterly despicaple one note bad guy and made him more three dimensional. He was still a horrific psychopath, but at the same time, he knew what he was and literally gave up his humanity to make up for his evil past. Shou Tucker may have been a Complete Monster in the original, but here, he had a much more human side.