Already released in Japan, Fullmetal Alchemist is about two brothers, Alphonse and Edward, whose mother passed away when they were children. Their world is a place where alchemy, which is governed by a law of equivalent exchange, can instantly turn stone into castles and iron into weapons. However, there are limits to what can be done in regard to alchemy. Trying to bring somebody back from the dead is not ethical and against the law. The duo decides to use alchemy to bring back their mother, but it doesn't work out for them like they thought it was going to.
Being a protégé alchemist, Edward tries to bring back their mother, but ends up losing limbs in the process and transferring Alphonse's soul into a nearby suit of armor. It begins a quest to get his brother's soul back to him. The first thing Edward must do is become a State Alchemist, which may get him closer to the Philosopher's Stone. The Philosopher's Stone may be just what the two need to right all of the wrongs that they created while they were trying to bring their mother back from the dead. There's a lot going on in Fullmetal Alchemist, but Japanese reviews have been positive.
Fullmetal Alchemist was such a waste of potential. Should have been darker and more serious. Unfortunately from what I've seen the movie has the same tone as the anime. Why even make a movie if it's just going to be the same thing all over again? You literally bring nothing new to the table. So yeah... this sums it up nicely:
So I did watch this a few days ago, been sitting on it a bit to let my thoughts digest a bit.
Overall I’d say it’s a decent movie, but it is far from a good movie. It is really aimed at people who are already familiar with FMA, those who haven’t seen fullmetal before will not be totally lost but the pacing is prob too fast for them.
The biggest problem with the movie is that they tried to just pack in as much as they could from the anime and the ending was at an odd place. Due to this quite a few characters are very poorly fleshed out. Envy and Al were mere shadows of their actual characters, and a few like Lt. Ross are basically tacked in.
There are some minor plot changes, but nothing noteworthy. Really the movie is like the first half of the anime crammed into a 2 hour experience.
Honestly the only real praise I feel I can give the movie is the CG for the alchemy was well done. CG for characters was really hit and miss, they did the Nina Chimera well but later on it felt like they ran out of time.
Oh it is also only in Japanese, so keep that in mind. Also on that note having Japanese actors threw me quite a bit. Not like I’m criticizing that, but I kinda miss the German theme that the anime/manga has.
I thought that envy was one of the best characters in the movie. But that isn't saying that much, because I didn't think the movie was very good.
As you said, I think the pacing was too fast and confusing, and I think anyone who hadn't seen the anime would have a difficult time trying to understand what is happening, and would have no chance to appreciate the depth of what is actually going on in the story.
I also feel like they chose "easy" scenes to put into the movie - the fights and stuff are underwhelming. They had 2 hours and then they'll spend 5-10 minute chunks on "dramatic moments" where you aren't really getting to see anything new.
My wife really liked it - but I think she decided she would like it before she even saw it. I give it a 5/10.