Product ReviewsFullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa (DVD, 2009)

FM Alchemist movie: worth waiting for English version

It was a long three year wait for this movie to be released in an English-dubbed version. But I’m glad I waited to see it with the same voices & cast of Full Metal Alchemist I’m familiar with and believe other fans of the TV series will also be thrilled. This film continues the story of Edward & Alphonse Elric, two youngsters who pursue alchemic knowledge and the mastery of the Philosopher’s Stone. (And don’t worry, I won’t be giving any major spoilers in this review.)

The film jumps right back into Ed and Al’s struggles, beginning with a flashback that has them battling a semi-mad scientist type who has invented a dangerously destructive bomb. Then the story picks up with Edward in pre-war Europe, working with his brother Al’s modern-day alternate. Ed is seriously into rocket research, believing it might be his ticket back home to the Alchemic world and to his brother. Concurrently back in the Alchemic world, Alphonse has spent his time studying to improve his skills. Thanks to his unique experience within the gate, Al’s alchemic talents are exceptional, exceeding even those of his brother Edward’s. He’s surpassed everything Izumi can teach him and has moved on to become quite a master in the art. The plot jumps back and forth between Edward’s efforts in the ‘real’ world (1920s era Earth) and Alphonse struggling to reopen the gate in the Alchemic world.

One aspect of the movie I really liked was that all the main characters are essentially doubled; Ed meets up with almost all of his past acquaintances as ‘alter-egos’ in the modern day world he occupies now. But virtually all the characters on both sides of the gate have undergone major transformations and no one is doing what you’d expect them to be. For instance, Colonel Roy Mustang has turned hermit, living alone in a mountain cabin far away from the military and refuses to use his alchemy... OK, so the man has issues. One shocker for me was how many of the main players were killed off in this movie, but of course, I’m not telling which ones bite the dirt.

The pivotal battle scene in the film is partially revealed in previews: an epic fight involving a very mutated and grotesque Gluttony, the homonculus who creeped us out so bad in the series. Yes, the inhuman, eating-disorder guy is back in an even creepier form. Envy returns too, in a much-transformed state.

The inclusion of Nazi evildoers and an attempt to illustrate prejudice against Jews and minorities didn’t really shine, but only felt like the creators’ stilted attempt to make a point about social injustice. Even so, there’s enough plot twists, action scenes and special effects to keep any FMA fan on the edge of the couch cushion. And the ending promises more to come, so now I'll impatiently wait for the second Full Metal Alchemist movie.Read full review...

Perfection, But Made for Fans

I want to start by saying that if you don't know Fullmetal Alchemist, go to Youtube or Veoh and absorb as much of it as you can. It's a great show, has its moments of dullness but everything does. Though the story is watered down from the manga, the cartoon is a GREAT watch with a cast of fascinating characters and a deep story. The reason I say this is because this movie will confuse the hell out of you if you don't know the series that well.

For those like me who love the series and know the main gist of the story, this is a great buy. I had seen it in Japanese online before I bought it, but there's this rare quality about the series where the American versions are NEVER short of the original quality. True artistic integrity. The story is great, and the animation is top-notch (Though I think they hold back sometimes). The fights are sick, but a bit short, but that may just be my own taste getting in the way. Anyway, FMA fans give it a look, even though I can't see any real fan of the show not having seen it before it was even released in America. (It's a BUY)Read full review...

MASSIVE! Can't wait until the new movie comes to DVD!

an excellent add-on to the series! this movie picks up on where the series left you in limbo, wondering of what's next and what had happened to our beloved heroes. i bought the product simply because i love anything that has to do with Fullmetal Alchemist. i had actually watched the movie once before, but it wasn't good enough- i HAD to own it. and i must say, out of the lot of anime I've watched Fullmetal is one of the best; if not THE best! the graphics are dazzling, just as expected when it comes from FUNimation. I'd highly recommend this to other anime fans, but only if they had watched the first section of the Fullmetal series. the movies and series are not interned for younger viewers, but is directed towards teens and adults- I'm 18, i love anything FMA! Fullmetal alchemist is one of the more massive stories in the anime world, it includes many games which were most popular in the playstation2's era, soundtracks, manga, fan-fictions, cosplay, it's everywhere! there are two different series, the classic Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Brotherhood is based more on the gigantic manga series, and i prefer Brotherhood over the classic, if i had to choose of coarse. FUNimation has also come out with a new movie just this year, which I'm going to buy once it's available on DVD- i was greatly unamused with how far the closest theater to show then new movie was, i couldn't make it. but I'm sure the wait will be worth it!Read full review...

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa

sad but true it ends here but really what an ending right if you havnt see the series dont be dumb and by the movie reason being is it plays right off the move (not like dbz where their movies were just from every and any where) these is by far the best follow up movie i have ever seen it gives you honest closer that is needed for all charters that were involved in the series as well it actually leaves an opening for a continuing series if they wanted to i will give nothing so go get Fullmetal Alchemist season 1 part 1/ season 1 part 2 /season 2 part 1 / and season 2 part 2 then watch this Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa (2006, DVD) after youve completed those and my advice if you can do so get a bose life style system crank it on a 60" or better and trust it will be better then love its self....... kinda :)Read full review...

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa

The reason why I decided to buy this movie was because I did not like the ending to the Fullmetal Alchemist series. I thought that this movie would compensate for the bad ending of the series. I decided I was wrong after watching the movie because Ed and Al were moved to the other side of the gate Without their powers of Alchemy. They were also seperated from their friends in the world of Alchemy and would never be able to see them again. The other reason why I did not care for this movie was because many people that the viewer finds to like such as hoenheim of light and wrath die. And finally after the series built up the relationships of the characters with each other such as that of Roy mustang and the state alchemists to Ed and Al and Winreys relationship with the brothers everyone is split up from each other. This is why I found this movie to be unsatisfactory. Only if you are a true Fullmetal Alchemist fan would I reccomend this movie. All in all I would prefer the ending to the series more then this ending.Read full review...

Worth every penny.

While wonderful, the end of Fullmetal Alchemist (the first anime) left several loose threads that left it feeling, for lack of a better way to address it, incomplete.

The Conqueror of Shamballa is a wonderful further glimpse into the complex world of FMA - this movies takes the things fans loved about the series and uses them to their full advantage here. The animation is vibrant, fresh, and consistently well-done; the voice-acting is top-notch from both the Japanese and English casts; and the score for the film is lush and beautiful, but still well-suited to the scenes they accompany.

I would highly recommend it to any Fullmetal Alchemist fan who still wanted more when the final ending credits had drawn to a close - it's truly worth every penny! :DRead full review...

Ties all the loose ends from the original anime togethe

If you have watched the ENTIRE Fullmetal alchemist original anime then you have to see this movie. It will answer all of your questions. I love the fact that its a full length movie to. One thing that you should know before you buy this is that it has nothing to do with the second version of Fullmetal alchemist (Brotherhood). There are two completely different story lines. Anyways i recommend watching The original fullmetal then the Movie and last but not least the Brotherhood version. The only thing i didn't like it the fact that there is not another movie.....i don't want this series to end.Read full review...

A personal review of 'Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie'

I had seen the movie before elsewhere, and had really liked it. It is a movie that has heavy research about the time between the world wars and incorporates that history with a popular animated story. The story about the brother's adventures in the Fullmetal Alchemist series is a very popular series. When I finished the series, I have to admit, I was disappointed because I wanted to know what happened next. It felt like there was still so much more to the story. I enjoyed the movie because it is a continuation of the series and shares with the viewer what happens next. But it also brings the series into reality for the viewer, because the characters are no longer in the fantasy world only, the world of Amestris expands and our world collides with the characters' world.

I guess I could say I decided to buy it, because I really liked the movie and wanted to be able to watch it anytime.Read full review...

Good value!

This was the right item I needed to upgrade a gift for someone. I've seen most of some of all of these animes.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: tybro7312

Great Movie

Plain out: It's just what you would expect from the Full Metal Alchemist series. It still has a deep story that grabs you, all the characters that make you laugh, and, of course, the ever driven Elric brothers going after what nobody believes will happen, which, in the movie, is Al working to find his brother and bring him back.
Overall, awesome movie, worthy of five-stars by me. To complete the FMA collection of box sets the movie is a must-have!Read full review...