Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 3 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 3 Blu-ray Movie Review

There's no turning back now...

Reviewed by Dustin Somner December 22, 2010

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a newly produced anime adaptation of the original manga by Hiromu Arakawa. Released five years after the original Fullmetal Alchemist series, Brotherhood contains elements of the prior 51-episode production, but remains more faithful to the storyline of the original manga. If you recall my prior review of the Part 1 Blu-ray release (episodes 1-13), you'll remember the initial 13 episodes basically rehash events that occur during the first 33 episodes of the original production, creating an excellent primer for long-time fans of the original series, as well as a necessary introduction for those in the uninitiated camp. With the release of the Part 2 box set, FUNimation included episodes 14-26, which charted a divergent path from the familiar territory of the original series and offered an initial glimpse at what we could expect from the storyline of Brotherhood. Now that I’ve witnessed the third release in the series (episodes 27-39), I’m convinced the story can’t get any better (I know, I know, that's what I said last time...). New characters are introduced, secret motivations are uncovered, and a desperate rebellion begins to emerge in the wake of startling revelations. Buckle up folks, because this is anime at its finest.

After failing miserably in cosmetic school, Scar developed his own patented electric makeover.

Those who haven’t viewed episodes 1-26 should be aware there are spoilers in the following synopsis.

During the climactic conclusion of the prior box set, we witnessed Ed, Lin, and Envy escape from Gluttony’s stomach using a transmutation portal known as the Door of Truth. Meanwhile, after transferring most of Colonel Mustang’s men to various outposts outside of Central, Fuhrer Bradley revealed his own sordid history with a Philosopher’s Stone, making it clear his allegiance fell with the creator of the homunculi. This 180 degree turn in the series offered a conclusion which registers among the likes of Empire Strikes Back, by placing several of our favorite characters directly in harm’s way, while turning the tide in favor of the mysterious “Father” and his evil homunculi creations.

The first disc in Part 3 opens with a recap episode aimed at bringing viewers back up to speed on the more profound events in the first 26 episodes. A sullen Hohenheim ponders the value of humanity’s feeble existence while villagers from the town of Resembool celebrate around a bonfire. Unlike most summary episodes, this is actually a powerful analysis of the prominent themes emerging in the overall story arch, laying a solid foundation for the other 12 episodes in the set. Moving forward, we find Ed and Al reunited during a timely introduction to the “father” character, while Scar researches the connection between the Philosopher Stones, the creation of homunculi, and the massacre of his people during the Ishbalan War. The answers to these questions coupled with May’s insistence on the value of alkahestry draw most of the main players to the snow covered mountains of the north—where the ultimate plan of Fuhrer Bradley and the mysterious “father” are brought to light.

As with my prior reviews of the series, I’ve chosen to keep the synopsis as vague as possible. I understand this could be disappointing to some viewers, but it would be a huge disservice to the uninitiated if I detailed the many twists, turns, and revelations revealed during this 13-episode stretch. From a more general basis, I view many of the events prior to Part 3 as necessary character building moments that gradually build our connection with the extensive cast of the series. Between the loss of loved ones (Ed and Al’s mother, Winry’s parents, Scar’s brother, and the murder of Colonel Hughes) and the poignant focus on the consequences of one’s actions, the series laid the framework for the present shift into rapid story development and pacing. This remains true throughout episodes 27-39, as our heroes are forced to play an uncomfortable game of cat and mouse in order to save the lives of those they love, while maintaining a precarious truce with their enemies. Adding to the tension, we begin to realize the scope of what’s in store, though there are plenty of questions left unanswered.

One of the elements I appreciate the most about Brotherhood thus far is the continual introduction of new characters to keep things fresh. As much as I enjoy getting to know a principal set of heroes and villains, you can’t float a continual storyline through 64+ episodes without stepping off track into filler side-stories or bringing more players into the fray. Thankfully, Brotherhood chose the latter, allowing the audience to connect with unfamiliar faces on a regular basis, and giving them a genuine purpose within the convergent plotline. What this translates into is a production that dispenses with the occasional lighthearted “fluff” episodes that cropped up in the original Fullmetal Alchemist series, and emerges as a fast-paced, focused affair.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 3 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 33Mbps), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood appears decent enough, though viewers should expect carryover of the same flaw present in the first two boxed sets of the series. The singular element I'm referring to is line consistency, which reveals abundant-yet-subtle stair-stepping jaggies along thin diagonal lines. The issue is pronounced enough to be noticeable on a 100-inch display (or at a short viewing distance), but I'd wager a number of viewers won't find themselves overly distracted by the deficiency. That's not to say I'm downplaying the problem, but as with my review of the other collections, it's worth mentioning the reality of differing sensitivity to nuances of this sort. Moving along, the show incorporates a bold color spectrum full of lush hues that quite literally jump from the screen. Whether we're witnessing the crimson red of Ed's cloak, or the deep blue of the State Military uniforms, colors never waver from scene to scene, and hold up with equal vibrancy in day-time or night-time sequences. Continuing with the positives, black level depth is consistently spot-on, and contrast never struggles in the creation of shade differentiation. Beyond the usual suspects, banding is kept to a minimum, DNR is absent, and edge enhancement is rarely utilized in an effort to artificially sharpen the image.

Aside from concerns over the appearance of jagged lines, I didn't detect any stand-out flaws in the production of this 1080p Blu-ray transfer, though it's a shame a series of this magnitude wasn't designed with fully realized high-definition in mind.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 3 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Although there are two lossless tracks on the disc, I wasn't able to navigate back and forth using the convenient menu system on my PS3. This problem was also present on the first two boxed sets (I suppose it's more annoyance than problem), but it's still worth mentioning to anyone who's not accustomed to using the disc menu in order to change the audio selection. Along the same line, I couldn't find a subtitle option anywhere in the settings menu, leading me to the conclusion that English subtitles are mandatory with the native Japanese audio track. Breaking down the two language options, we have a lossless 5.1 English dub alongside a lossless stereo mix in the native language of Japanese. As you can imagine, the English option boasts a greater sense of immersion and spatial separation, giving it a noticeable edge over its Japanese counterpart. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is chock full of fantastic displays of epic mayhem (thanks to the widespread use of earth-shattering explosions), so enjoying those effects across the entire sound field is a true delight. The Japanese track is still no slouch, sporting equal clarity and volume balance next to the dubbed version, but it simply can't compete with the superior English offering. Whatever your preference, there's still plenty to enjoy in the audio presentation on the disc, but the combination of the excellent English voice cast and the added depth of the full surround option make this an easy decision for non-purists.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 3 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The only supplements included on this two-disc set are two episode commentaries by members of the English voice cast, textless opening/closing title sequences, and a collection of previews for other releases in the FUNimation catalog.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Part 3 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I'd imagine if you're reading this review you already know Part 3 of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a must-own addition to your growing anime collection. Just when we thought the storytelling hit a threshold that would be impossible to surpass, we're introduced to a new onslaught of revelations regarding allegiances, motivations, and origins. I can't wait to discover what's in store as we move forward into the final 24 episodes of the series run. Given the hole our protagonists have found themselves in, I suspect we'll witness significant tragedy before this tale is over.