Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 1 [Blu-ray]

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Product Description ------------------- Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood faithfully recreates the story from the classic manga - see Fullmetal Alchemist the way the creator intended! Edward and Alphonse Elric s reckless disregard for alchemy s fundamental laws ripped half of Ed s limbs from his body and left Al s soul clinging to a cold suit of armor. To restore what was lost, the brothers scour a war-torn land for the Philosopher s Stone: a fabled relic which grants the ability to perform alchemy in impossible ways. The Elrics are not alone in their search; the corrupt State is eager to harness the artifact s power. So too are the strange Homunculi and their shadowy creator. The mythical Stone lures exotic alchemists from distant kingdoms, ring some deeply enough to inspire murder. As the Elrics find their course altered by these enemies and allies, their purpose remains unchanged and their bond unbreakable. .com ---- As the television adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) remains one of the best and best-loved series of the last decade, it's surprising Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is not a continuation of the characters' adventures, but a remake. Young Alphonse and Edward Elric delved into forbidden knowledge when they tried to use alchemy to bring their mother back from the dead. They paid a terrible price under the principle of "equivalent exchange". Al was reduced to a disembodied soul bonded to a suit of armor; Ed lost an arm and a leg but has been fitted with the mechanical prostheses that earn him the title "Fullmetal". The brothers wander through a world that resembles late-19th-century Europe, seeking the legendary Philosopher's Stone, which they believe can restore their bodies. Although the series has been expanded to 63 episodes from the original 51, many of the subplots have been trimmed or eliminated to keep the focus on the Elric brothers. Their encounters with Cornello, the corrupt priest in Liore, and the murderous guardians of the sinister Fifth Laboratory are noticeably shorter. Yasuhiro Irie's direction is less dynamic than Seiji Mizushima's, but he has the advantage of stronger scripts that pack a lot of emotional punch. He balances that intensity with broader slapstick, using the simple, cartoony versions of the characters Arakawa draws in comic sequences. Almost the entire vocal cast reprise their roles, including Vic Mignogna as ra-voiced, hot-tempered Edward. But Aaron Dismuke was cast as Al when he was only 11 and had to rush to complete the original series before his voice changed. His replacement, Maxey Whitehead, sounds too feminine for a 14-year-old boy. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood will delight both fans of the original and new viewers with no knowledge of the Elrics' previous incarnation. (Rated TV PG: violence, grotesque imagery, and alcohol use) --Charles Solomon (1. Fullmetal Alchemist, 2. The First Day, 3. City of Heresy, 4. An Alchemist's Anguish, 5. Rain of Sorrows, 6. Road of Hope, 7. Hidden Truth, 8. The Fifth Laboratory, 9. Created Feelings, 10. Separate Destinations, 11. Miracle in Rush Valley, 12. One Is All, All Is One, 13. Beasts of Dublith)