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Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the best anime series of recent years, but the conclusion was not quite what many viewers were expecting. I will warn readers now that there will be a few spoilers in this review, as this cinematic outing for the Elric brothers follows on directly from the end of the series. The film starts with Ed Elric in our world,
Munich in Germany to be precise, in the year 1923. His alchemical powers
are close to non-existent in our world and so he spends his time working with
budding teen rocket scientist Alphonse Heiderich. Our world is a parallel
world to Ed's, and familiar faces are all around him, but not as he knows them.
Maes Hughes is the local policeman and Alphonse is the image of Ed's brother Al
for example, but although Ed has settled somewhat his troubles are by no means
over. As anyone who knows a bit of history will know, the 1920's in
Germany were times of austerity. The country is in a massive depression
that is on the verge of destroying the economy, but more sinister is the rise of
a new political force and their charismatic leader - the Nazi party and Adolf
Hitler. Civil unrest and xenophobia is growing, and when Ed saves a young
gypsy woman called Noah from the Nazis he is put firmly in the firing line.
However, there are far more deadly plans at work. A faction of the Nazi
party called the Thule Society is attempting to open a pathway to a parallel
world in order to obtain powerful new weapons for their cause - and that
parallel world is Ed's own. Meanwhile in that parallel world Ed's brother
Al desperately searches for him, and tries to gain enough power to bring him
back. The worlds are on a collision course, and whilst opening a rift will
give Ed and Al the chance to reunite, it will also provide the psychotic leader
of the Thule Society a gateway to her goal... |
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The ending to the Fullmetal Alchemist series was a little bit unusual to say the least, and it did leave things up in the air. However, the film is here to close everything off in a satisfactory fashion and provide the happy ending the series was missing! Well, kind of anyway. Like everything in the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise the film is anything but predictable, but like the series it's also pretty damn good. With the real world as the setting most of the flamboyant powers and showpiece battles from the series disappear until the very |
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end, instead the story focuses on the characters, and in particular on the persecuted Noah. She is a relatively interesting character, a gypsy with a special power that makes her a target for the Nazis and a figure of distrust amongst everyday people. It's impressive how the film focuses on the normal people and their prejudices despite the major events happening. It shows the insidious rise of fascism without feeling like a history lesson, showing how it grips the hearts and minds of seemingly familiar characters. The human element forms the
centre of the story. Ed yearns for his home, Al Elric is
desperate to find his brother, Noah wants to be left alone and
Alphonse Heiderich just wants to achieve something. The way it
tells these stories and reimagines familiar characters is the film's
strongest hand, it provides a familiarity but at the same time makes
them into something new. Despite the focus on our world there
is still plenty of time to join Al Elric back in his world as he
desperately searches for a gateway to his brother. The
contrast between the two worlds is superb. Earth is depicted
in earthy, almost sepia tones, which makes it seem somewhat more
real than the bright and vibrant colours of Ed's real home.
The animation throughout the film is excellent as you would expect
and so is the music. The thought that has gone into the story
and how Ed fits into German society is admirable, and the story
hurtles along at a fair pace, but there are problems. |
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One is that it's unrelentingly dark for the majority of the film. Persecution, illness, and the rise of Hitler makes Germany into a pretty unpleasant place for Ed, whilst Al's incessant search for Ed means he can never settle or feel complete. This dark air to proceedings makes for a bittersweet ending too, and there's plenty of death and destruction throughout. To make matters even worse Ed's reunion with his father isn't exactly the happiest of occasions either. It may just be me, but after all the brothers have gone through you kind of |
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want them to have a better time of things, and you want the happy ending. But as is often the case with Fullmetal Alchemist what you want to happen isn't necessarily what will happen. I suppose it is refreshing that Fullmetal Alchemist doesn't go for the standard series tie-in approach and make an extended episode just to please fans. Instead Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballah is a complex and intriguing film with a brilliant premise that is executed very well. Its not a simple cash-in to tie up the series, it's a true movie with production values to match. The creators have clearly put a lot of effort into the film, and it shows, especially during the showstopping finale. However, whilst the film is intelligent, dramatic and action packed, it is also slightly unsatisfying. After the emotional wrangler the series put you through, you kind of hope for some relief in the film, but none is forthcoming. Maybe I'm a sucker for a happy ending, but I was left in that odd position of knowing I had seen a really good film, but feeling a bit disappointed. However, a good film is a good film and there is some closure on a story that was left somewhat up in the air by the series. If you have seen the series then this is essential, but just don't expect everyone to live happily ever after... Ratings Feature:
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