Search - Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 3: Equivalent Exchange (Episodes 9-12) on DVD

Best of the best

A. G Primack | Hamilton, Ohio United States | 02/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not a spring chicken, so I get introduced to anime through my daughter. Some of it is fluffy love stories or improbable characters or situations that appear from nowhere to solve the day. Full Metal is none of these. The characters are believable even when they are a talking metal suit of armor. Ed and Al are young boys. Their mother dies. They desparately want her back. They do something forbidden. They pay. And they learn what the costs are. The world is a confusing place. They navigate, sometimes on their own and sometimes with people who they meet along the way. Not everyone is who they seem at the start. Finally they confront the costs of their and other peoples violations of the rules. Through the story there is humor and growth. The story is told from their point of view. They do not give in to the tragedies that surround them and keep fighting for the truth and for each other. I highly recommend this series for young teens and old fogies (that's me). Much better than most things available for teens these days. I rank this up with Dante and Faust as literature about pacts made by people not understanding the full consequences of their actions fighting to restore the balance of their lives."

Back to the Future

Antonio D. Paolucci | Beaver Falls, PA | 06/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With all the major elements of the Elric Brother's past explored, this volume goes back to where it left off in the first couple episode of the Fullmetal Alchemist series. The brothers are searching once again for the Philosopher's Stone, this time following clues that lead them into troublesome situations. After the first episode on this DVD, which is the last of the "past" episodes, the brothers find themselves in a city hunting a thief that advertises her crimes. After that, the brothers face a second pair of Elric brothers who are refining magical stones from red water in the hopes to duplicate the effect of the Philosopher's Stone.

Yes, I will say that the story slowed somewhat in this, but that had to have been expected considering the fast-paced beginning of this series. In fact, looking back, I think the slower pace was somewhat welcome. It allowed for the series to lighten up a little and give the viewers a chance to take a breather and just enjoy the goings-on of the Elric Brothers. Besides, it still has the excellent animation and music to back up the slowing plot. And though it slowed, I'm fairly sure that it will pick up sooner or later (my guess would be sooner, since I've already taken a peek at volume four).

I'm startled myself by how hooked I now am by this series. The first volume didn't catch my attention the way it probably should have, mainly do to my own skepticism. But now that I've given FMA the chance it deserves, I'm loving every second I spend watching this series, and I feel confident saying that FMA is definitely one of the better anime out at this point in time."