 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos
- Review Date: January 20, 2012
- NR
- Genre: Fantasy
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Heavy violence in convoluted but dazzling anime fantasy.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos is a fairly violent movie that follows an earlier Fullmetal Alchemist movie and the successful Japanese TV series. Expect heavy fantasy violence, including fighting, shooting, and stabbing -- plus gushing blood, death, and dying. A character also tears at a woman's clothes, though not for a sexual purpose. The movie is available in both Japanese and dubbed into English; subtitles in the Japanese version include words like "bastard," "hell," and "crap." Teen fans of this series will be excited, while others are likely to be a little confused by the movie's complicated plot and lack of character introduction.
What's the story?
The Elric brothers, Edward (voiced by Vic Mignogna in the English dubbed version) and Alphonse (Maxey Whitehead), are alchemist heroes, trapped in different bodies after an accident. After a mysterious prisoner breaks out of jail with only a short time left on his sentence, the brothers attempt to solve the puzzle. Their investigation leads them to a beautiful alchemist named Julia (Alexis Tipton), who lost her parents and her brother years earlier. Before long, they find themselves in a valley inhabited by the Milos, a repressed people struggling against exploitation. Julia hopes to lead the Milos in a revolution, and she's even prepared to use the deadly power of the Philosopher's Stone to do it.
Is it any good?
Fullmetal Alchemist began as a popular manga series, then became a TV series in Japan, followed by 2005's Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS is the first title in the franchise to be released in U.S. theaters. That's probably exciting for fans, but less so for others, as the new movie does little to bring newcomers up to speed. For example, since Ed and Al's characters have already been established, they aren't very deeply developed here; most of the time is spent on the convoluted plot and supporting characters.
And the plot is really ridiculously complex -- though also sometimes simplistic, as when basic dramatic turns and arcs occur. Its big, outsized themes and end-of-the-world dramatics are fairly familiar to this type of anime. However, the movie is gorgeously animated and has many powerful images and ideas, and what little we do get of Ed and Al is enough of a sampler to spur viewers on to find more in the series.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. Does the fact that it's animated lessen the impact of all the blood and killing?
Are Ed and Al positive role models? Would you be interested in seeing them in other stories?
What's the appeal of anime TV shows and movies? How are they different from other animated movies?
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AGE
Your review is a joke.
FMA has always been a favorite anime of mine. It has some of the most powerful characters I have seen in some time. I wish the idiots who write the official reviews for this site would have some knowledge of the content they are reviewing. This movie is the ending to FMA Brotherhood. I will write a full review latter, because the one on this site is a joke.
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AGE
Best Anime Movie I've Seen in a While!
I have to say, in response to the original review, the movie was more or less supposed to be a stand-alone type of film. That's why the "supporting" characters are more detailed; It's made to get those who saw the first Fullmetal Alchemist animation and even those who haven't to watch the newest series, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Even watching it after Brotherhood, the movie got me back into Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, and I ended up watching it over again. Of course, a little bit of prior knowledge doesn't hurt, but it's not exactly necessary; I took a friend who didn't know anything about Fullmetal and he understood most of what was going on thanks to the movie's separate story. Some of the jokes that reference to the original animation series, however, flew right over his head and needed explanation. Other than those, this movie's great for those who at least know Ed and Al are brothers who broke the laws of human transmutation (They tried to bring back their dead mother), alchemy involves the law of equivalent exchange, and the Philosopher Stone allows them to bypass said law.
In reference to the violence, yes, there is a LOT of blood. But then again, we have to keep in mind the original anime had blood and gore too. If you kid's used to blood as most children above 10 or so are, this will be no worse than anything else they've seen. I don't know your child or what they've seen; so parents should make the judgement calls themselves.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Studio: | Eleven Arts |
| Director: | Kazuya Murata |
| Cast: | Maaya Sakamoto, Rie Kugimiya, Romi Pak |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 20, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | April 24, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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