tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395748504986705619.post8298283915785054852..comments2024-03-09T15:57:02.770-05:00Comments on Oy with the Articles Already: Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) vs. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)Antonio Whiteheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04683849518766835378noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395748504986705619.post-53625082526815703122015-10-08T12:37:45.862-04:002015-10-08T12:37:45.862-04:00That surprises me that you haven't seen at lea...That surprises me that you haven't seen at least one of the movies because a lot of people consider Conqueror of Shamballa to be the true ending to the original series (though it certainly has it's own problems). <br /><br />Sacred Star of Milos is more of a general anime movie with an FMA flair to it but I enjoyed it for what it was. Dexteroushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00209492147020176188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395748504986705619.post-35985781602524661312015-09-29T23:17:09.115-04:002015-09-29T23:17:09.115-04:00Oof, I definitely meant Lust in that one sentence ...Oof, I definitely meant Lust in that one sentence where I referred to Envy as a "she"!<br /><br />It seems like alot of people prefer Brotherhood and I think you bring up some good points. I especially agree that the best version of the story is probably some mixture of the two series. But if I had to pick one or the other, I'd go with the original series. I like the looser storytelling and I really love the second half (aside from the ending, which is pretty bizarre and bad). Plus, I think the original is tighter thematically, which is why the bringing of characters feels crucial to me and not unoriginal.<br /><br />I actually haven't seen either Conquerer of Shamballa or The Sacred Star of Milos yet. I should get on that, since I think they're both still on Netflix.Antonio Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04683849518766835378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395748504986705619.post-43627194413381374242015-09-29T11:47:23.983-04:002015-09-29T11:47:23.983-04:00Finally reading this...I know...
I watched the o...Finally reading this...I know... <br /><br />I watched the original Fullmetal Alchemist around the time it was airing in the United States, and I watched Brotherhood when it was airing in Japan, so I have quite a bit of distance between the two (though I've rewatched both several times). <br /><br />The original was a huge part of my teenage life (and also the way I met one of my ex's) and had a tremendous impact on me when I was younger, so I have a huge connection with it. I personally feel that filler episodes beside, the first half of Fullmetal Alchemist, combined with the rest of Brotherhood after the Greed arc splits things, is the best version of this story. There are things I admire about the second half of the original series, but so much of it seems like unoriginal storytelling (bringing back various characters instead of introducing new ones, such as Tucker/Nina and the Tringham brothers randomly) or shoehorning in elements of the manga's storyline (The fuhrer's true face). <br /><br />That being said, at many times I vastly prefer the tone of the original series, which is much darker at times, and while some elements of the ending are indeed, quite terrible, I feel like Conqueror of Shamballa helps make up for some of these elements (surprised you didn't mention it here?). Also curious about your opinion of the Sacred Star of Milos. <br /><br />Now Brotherhood, on the other hand, in my opinion has a far superior story on a structural level that is far more calculated and prepared. The first 13 episodes are indeed literally the show just skipping through the original material as fast as possible, but honestly I don't blame them because I'm guessing the only had the go-ahead to make 64 episodes (which is why some elements of the end-game are seemingly rushed). After that 13 episode sprint though, I think the series makes a tremendous transformation into the sweeping epic that Brotherhood became; and while I agree that the Xing section of the story is rather weak, I disagree about the homunculi in some aspects. Sloth from the original series is certainly a better character than the beast from Brotherhood, but I personally feel that Lust's struggles in the original series bogged down her as a character, though she is certainly more emotionally complex in the original series. I personally feel that Pride is a far more interesting and inventive addition to the homunculi than the original series' version of Wrath though. While it tied Izumi to the storyline more, Wrath was a drag through much of the original series. <br /><br />Moving into the endgame of Brotherhood, I completely agree with you about Mustang's amazing storyline that occurs. Those episodes with Envy and him are among the best in the entire series and is the best climax the series has in my personal opinion. <br /><br />Overall, I like both series, and I feel that taking the first 32 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist (minus some of the weaker filler additions, and accounting for some of the changed lore from the original series) and combining it with the other 51 episodes of Brotherhood makes the best possible Fullmetal Alchemist.<br /><br />By the way, Envy is a guy. Dexteroushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00209492147020176188noreply@blogger.com