Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa is the movie sequel to the
similarly-named 2004 TV series.
Taking place five years after the series
concluded, the movie continues the stories of the two brothers as each seeks
to reunite with the other.
Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, is now living in the world beyond the
gate (Earth) as a rocket scientist in Munich Germany, while his younger
brother, Alphonse has relearned the ways of alchemy and is searching for a way
to reopen the gate to the other side.
The ambitions of the German Thule Society on Earth will throw things into
chaos and Ed and Al will soon find themselves in a battle on both fronts.
Review: Fullmetal Alchemist The Conqueror of Shamballa
As the sequel to the popular Fullmetal Alchemist TV series, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa has a lot of expectations to live up to.
And while it may not
fulfill all these expectations, it is nevertheless an exciting, action-packed
and worthy conclusion to an already excellent TV series.
For seasoned fans the
formula hasn’t been changed much, for the most part, only fine tuned for the
big screen.
The action sequences are still spectacular to watch Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie Conqueror of Shamballa Crunchyroll, the
character-driven plot is just as important as it is in the series, and the
characters themselves are just as dynamic and intriguing.
And in fact, BONES
did well to not change things too much because, frankly speaking, the formula
works and is a blueprint for success, even on the big screen. As always the plot is not overly complex nor does it try to be too broad in
scope.
The story is still centered on the two brothers, their friends, and
their enemies as each battle to achieve their goals.
What makes the
storytelling different from the series however is that the movie takes place
amid the backdrop of the economic depression of post-World War II Germany and
the eventual formation of the Nazi Party and the rise of Adolf Hitler.
While
the movie never focuses on these events, the story brings the alternate world
of Amestris (the world that Ed and Al lived in) to the real world of the
viewer (early 20th century Germany).
This blending of fantasy with actual
world history adds a new dynamic to the storytelling and brings a sense of
realism that originally escaped the series.
We are also introduced to several
new characters in the alternate world, including an alternate version of
Alphonse, who is a fellow scientist who works alongside Ed, and Dietlinde
Eckhart, a high-ranking member of a German occult organization called the
Thule Society who fears the world beyond the gate, which they call
“Shamballa”, and seeks to destroy it.
Several other “alternate” or
“real-world” versions of familiar characters from Amestris also appear in the
film, which makes for an interesting contrast when comparing them to their
counterparts in Amestris.
Many themes prominent in the series are also prominent to the movie such as
the importance of family and friendship and the problem of racial
discrimination.
We also see ideas such as the nature of hate and fear, and the
necessity of self-sacrifice. Ed and Al, while being worlds apart, never lose
hope of reuniting.
Eckhart’s curiosity concerning the world of “Shamballa”
soon turns into fear and hatred. And while there are points in the movie where
the tone is dark and melancholy, the movie is overall a positive one.
We are
encouraged to be involved in the world, because we are all a part of it and
that it isn’t where we live that matters, but who we are.
That said, the movie
is also more serious overall compared to the series, but that is not to say
there aren’t bits of humor interjected amongst the drama.
Looking at the visuals of The Conqueror of Shamballa, one can’t help but be
impressed by the production values.
The movie is presented in 1.85:1
widescreen and the animation is smooth, vivid, clean, and detailed. The
results are quite spectacular, from the introductory flashback in the
beginning to the epic sky battle at the end.
BONES has once again done a
marvelous job, showing us bright outdoor set pieces, dark ominous interiors,
and pretty much everything in between. All this makes The Conqueror or
Shamballa look even better than its predecessor.
To complement the excellent
visuals is the superb surround sound audio. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1,
the audio is sharp and clear and at times surprisingly immersive.
The English
dub track, as with the series, is good but again probably not good enough for
sub fans. But if you don’t fancy reading subtitles all the time, the dub is
certainly a viable alternative.
The music in the movie is also great, and
helps to set the tone and atmosphere of the film. Now then, do I have anything bad to say about this movie? Well only a few
things.
One, the pacing could have used some work as the movie suffers from
what many could consider “the middle problem” in that the middle part of the
film does tend to drag a little without much plot or action occurring.
This
isn’t a big problem, as this part of the film is still quite interesting, and
the fast-paced action of the rest of the movie does more than make up for it. But it could certainly have been handled better.
Two, this is a sequel, and
because of that it doesn’t have nearly as much impact and doesn’t work nearly
as well as a stand-alone feature.
While there is plenty of action, adventure,
and drama here for pretty much anyone to enjoy, to truly get the most out of
the film, the viewer needs to understand the subtle relationships between the
characters as well as the background story presented earlier in the TV series.
Hence, for those who have not seen the series beforehand, the movie may leave
them feeling a little confused and unsatisfied.
Finally, while I found the
movie to be very enjoyable, it just doesn’t have the same kind of impact that
the series had, and the story, even with its new dynamics, is still fairly
linear, and isn’t quite as well developed as it could have been.
However, despite some minor issues, Fullmetal Alchemist Movie The Conqueror of Shamballa is an excellent
feature that will definitely please many fans of the Fullmetal Alchemist TV
series.
And even those who are new to the FMA universe will most likely find
enough to like about in the movie to find it enjoyable and to also give the
series a try.
This is, without a doubt, high quality fare and a definite a
must see for fans of Fullmetal Alchemist.
Miscellanies: Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa
The movie runs 104 minutes. The original Japanese DVD release actually
included English subtitles.
The English Region 1 DVD release was handled by FUNimation and was released in
two versions: a single-disc version with the movie, trailers, and a production
gallery, and a 2-Disc Limited Edition that also included a 54 minute interview
with Japanese Cast and Crew, Japanese and English Staff commentaries, a
hardback packaging that includes 64 pages worth of interviews, character art,
and an illustrated glossary, ten illustrated cards, and an extended trailer.
The DVD transfer is presented in anamorphic widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect
ratio. There are also four language tracks included (English and Japanese
Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes, and English and Japanese Stereo mixes), along with
English subtitles.
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa (Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa) | |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 1 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Jul 23, 2005 |
| Producers | Aniplex, Square Enix, Shochiku, Mainichi Broadcasting System |
| Studio | Bones |
| Rating | R - 17+ (violence & profanity) |
| Themes | Historical, Military |
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