Customer Reviews

Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 6: Captured Souls (Episodes 21-24)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It doesn't surprise me that people will compare what's supposedly smarter to something else that is less than intelligent, in their own vaunted opinions. However, there are much more things at stake in terms of the entire value of the production than just mere perpetual "who's got the bigger brain or brawn" that I constantly see in anime today.

There is an actual sense of ethics and raw emotion as well as cold logic and brute action in Fullmetal Alchemist that other shows do not begin to touch upon. Children lose loved ones and struggle to come to terms with their mistakes as they get older. Older people try in vain to keep what they cannot have. Beings beyond the realm of human understanding desire that which eludes them most-- a soul. All this, and still FMA continues to add humor, sorrow, joy and grief to the driving action that is anime.

You cannot simply look at this from one perspective. Compared to the likes of the older generation of shows where the bigger guns, bigger machines, bigger swords, fancy costumes and shows based solely on "you're stupid, you have no idea what I can do to you, so I'm going to spend five minutes talking about the way I'm going to talk about the things I'm doing to you", FMA need not compare. It delves into a part of our own history based in THIS reality, creates a completely different fantastic world-- and manages to keep itself centered on the very notion of humanity. The same can be said of Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex. However, look at any other show, and you'll see exactly what's missing. Plot.

The plot is thick in FMA. And it always leaves you wanting more. A sense of resolution-- be it the actualization of the plans of the Homonculi, body reunited with soul, limbs reunited with original flesh, loved ones being able to see their kin again. Not just, "Hey-- I'm gonna beat you so I can have the dragonball/demon shards/alter powers/super robot and rule the world until someone else comes along that I have to yell at and tell them how I'm going to beat them up for their dragonball/demon shards, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera..."

Get a grip. See THIS show. It's worth it.

I'm very sorry, but I feel obliged to correct the person that left the review "explanation" with a little explanation of my own. The Sins are some the most well crafted villains in anime, because they are ruthless, heartless villains. They are malicious, sadistic, and, above all, they are desperate, desperate to, once again, be human, and a desperate villain is the worst thing that can cross any hero/heroine, becuase that means they will stop at nothing to get what they want. And the Sins--Lust, Envy, and, with the exception of Gluttony, are very smart and very cunning. Though they have their moments of frustration, they are very slick, and they have all of their moves planned out. They sent Barry the Butcher and The Slicer after Ed and Al becase they knew how deperate they were to return to their original bodies and they also knew that Ed wouldn't allow himself to be killed by a simple and weak serial killer (that's an oxy-moron, isn't it?). so the Sins are very smart. Secondly, I think that Full Metal Alchemist is extremely intelligent, it's just not as over whelming as Ghost in the Shell. If you have seen the episodes with Greed, you will find that Full Metal Alchemist is very inteligent, not merely intelectually, but feelings wise as well. it's very human and it's very disturbing at times and it also ranges from sad to gut wrenchingly funny, which is difficult to do in any series, let alone an anime. And thirdly, yes, it may get alot of publicity and it may be a teensy bit overated, but so many people love it, myself included. If you have looked past the basic scenario of a genius boy who has to save people, you find a series that's main core is love, and the lengths that some people will go to either destroy or obtain it. And fourthly, I feel that it was not necessary for you to call another reviewer stupid. That is rude and unnecessary. Please forgive this introduction, but I felt it necessary. Full Metal Alchemist is and always will be my favorite anime series. It's a great buy and anyone with an open heart and mind should give it a try. Though it is classified as a shonen series, I, being a girl, can truthfully say that girls will enjoy it to. Thank you for your time.

This DVD has some great episodes and some fair episodes. The first two episodes on this disc (21, 22) wrap up the Lab 5 story arc, and they are among the best of the story arc IMO. As Edward questions what he is willing to do to acquire the Philosphers stone and Alphonse continues to question his own existence. A new Homunculous and some new characters make there first appearance here, though they are not seen again till about ten episodes later. Overall I was very satisfied with the wrap up of the Lab 5 story arc, and they are among my favorites. As the truly serious parts of the storyline are excellently done. Episode 23 and 24 are not the best but not bad either. Episode 23 is interestingly done, as there is a sober mood overall, yet comedy is inserted as well. It's ending is excellent though. Episode 24 was pretty good but I felt some parts of it were a tad rushed. Overall I felt that since it had to deviate from the Manga during these episodes certain differences weren't handled as well as others. I felt the conclusion of certain characters (I'll only give you one clue as to who: 6 ) was somewhat thrown together. However it is a fairly good character development episode. My only complaint about this DVD is that I wish they could have crammed the end of Season 1 (Episode 25) into it as well.

As Edward works his way even deeper into the 5th laboratory, he comes closer to a moral decision that could put him onto the road of darkness forever. Knowing that the creation of the Philosopher's Stone needs the death of human victims, he will have to wrestle with whether restoring Al and himself back to normal is worth the cost of innocent lives, well, actually, criminals. And Al is even questioning whether he is really himself or whether he is just Ed's memories instead of a soul. All the villains of the show are also converging on the site. The Homunculi are there for a reason and want something from Ed, while Scar is there to kill all of them in the name of his god.

Fullmetal Alchemist just keeps getting better and better. While it is heavy on action, the moral issues are pretty prominent. The fact that Ed faces conflict on whether to sacrifice the lives of prisoners for Al just shows how realistic Fullmetal is. Scar is a good anti-hero. While he has done some horrible things and engaged in wanton killing, we see what is driving him, and he has begun to evolve in the past two volumes, becoming more enlightened about the fate of his race, and the hearts of Ed and Al. It even gets a little disturbing because most of the characters, even the bad ones, are just trying to make their lives better. The problem is that you don't get something for nothing. And sometimes that cost is death. Great show

Yes, there are many other great animes out there, but I believe Fullmetal Alchemist deserves 5 stars. First of all, Hiromu Arakawa took a historical topic (alchemy) and turned it into an anime series and built a whole story around it. That in itself is pretty amazing. Second, the plot is deep, and there are many sub plots along the way, especially if you watch some of the later episodes. Many of the characters have their own conflicts and issues. Third, most of the charcters are interesting. There are a few ho-hum characters out there (such as Marco), but the rest of the characters have interesting personalities. There have been a few lame episodes (Even I have to admit that, I just saw episode 35 and I'm giving it the thumbs down), but most of the episodes have something to do with the plot, and usually have a lot of action in them.

I'm not saying that Fullmetal Alchemist should be liked by all. I'm just saying that it definately does not deserve only one star. Hiromu Arakawa's idea for the anime was genius, and very original. I must say that.

Vol. 6 of Fullmetal Alchemist continues the story with new plot, improved fight scenes, and the first true battle with the humonkuli (Lust, Gluttony, Envy so far).

Anyone who likes anime should collect this series. It is a little long, so there should be 13 Volumes when it's finished. There are also Box Sets for every three Volumes; one with this volume in it. So, to get them out of the way rather than having them on a DVD rack, get the box sets to get them off the shelfs and somewhere else. Anyways...

To anyone who wants to know; Vol 7: Reunion On Yock Island, comes out on January 10th, 2006. Vol. 8 is expected to come out some time in March 2006, since it's about every month and three quarters a new one is released. It may be a little pricy, but for this series it is worthit unlike some other series (FLCL, two episodes $23). $20.99 isn't bad at all for this items, cheaper than the previous DVD's.

The moral issues presented in FMA is something you'd find in some of the more classical works of literature, not in an anime aimed at teenagers. Yet it all works as the series never gets away from the fact that it is dealing with some of the most basic concepts of being human. Hell, FMA's bad-guys are even named after the Seven Deadly Sins.

This volume continues with Ed and Al's fight within and outside the prison against creatures that are very akin to Alphonse. Eventually, though, the brother's find themselves facing off against the main antagonists of the series (the aforementioned Seven Deadly Sins). Later, Alphonse must face the fact that he's losing his memories and must also figure out a few things on his own, like whether or not he ever truly existed as the brother to Edward Elric, and what exactly it is to be human. Also, Scar takes center stage more than once in this volume in a somewhat surprising way...

FMA's ability to juggle the massive cast is brilliant. I think I can name almost every character in FMA (and for me, this is something as I'm very forgetful of names), simply because each and every character has something endearing about them. That includes the bit-players who are there simply to fill a moment of the series or to progress a specific scene ahead.

If you haven't started collecting FMA yet, then start quickly. There aren't many anime out right now that can top FMA. It has everything great anime has: great story, great characters, great music, great animation. Though it may be cliche to say this, FMA is one of the top five anime ever created, and any fan of anime would be foolish to let this slip by them.

So far we're 8 volumes into Fullmetal Alchemist and I have to say initially I was planning on waiting to buy these in some large pack for a reduced or bargin price. But, temptation got the better of me and you know it should get the better of you.

If you haven't already purchased the first seven volumes in this series I have to ask why? Fullmetal Alchemist is right up there with the greats of Anime. You'll never find two more loveable protagonists, action, side splitting humor, and momments that just stay with you. Don't just take it from me go catch a few episodes on Cartoon Network and you'll see for yourself.

fullmetal alchemist is in my opinion a great anime and
this dvd episodes are really good so buy it today or you will
regret it.

Fullmetal Alchemist is a great show in general, but I like this dvd a lot. Out of all the animes I've seen, this is the only one I enjoy. It has drama, action, a bit of horror and comedy. This dvd also reveals a lot of things to the audience, and to the story line as well. I would at least give this dvd (and the show) a four.