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REVIEW: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood BLURAY Part 4

There are a good number of differences between the original Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, but if one had to choose just one, it would be that Fullmetal Alchemist was controlled by the engineers while Brotherhood was controlled by the artists. The original's mechanical precision, its carefully measured ratios of action and tragedy and humor, are no coincidence. Brotherhood is the more organic of the two, ruled simply by what it wants to do rather than what it thinks it should.

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There are a good number of differences between the original Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, but if one had to choose just one, it would be that Fullmetal Alchemist was controlled by the engineers while Brotherhood was controlled by the artists. The original's mechanical precision, its carefully measured ratios of action and tragedy and humor, are no coincidence. Brotherhood is the more organic of the two, ruled simply by what it wants to do rather than what it thinks it should.

That makes some sense. Basically, the first series took the core concept(really, what else could they work with?), and sorta predicted where and what it could really do/become.
In that sense, calling it "a controlled drama" is sorta like lumping it in with Key's formula series; not really fair.
Calling Brotherhood organic; in the sense that every bit of intelligence and world-building... and how it's only used to beef up it's shonen plot...
Well, is this a compliment or an insult? And to which series?

It seems that reviewing Brotherhood is becoming increasingly harder to properly do, because you can't help but compare it to the 1st series... and you can't help but nonchalantly badmouth it in the process, if just a smidgen.

I really like the episode of Hohenheim's past. It was like the roots of FMA in 20 minutes and it really expanded his character a lot more than in the first FMA anime.

This needless side taking of "which is better?"

Basically, I hope we don't love remakes for the wrong reasons.

Otaking09 wrote:

This needless side taking of "which is better?" Basically, I hope we don't love remakes for the wrong reasons.

. You are right this needless debate about which version is better is silly. It all comes down to personal preferences. I do prefer Brotherhood but only because it follows the manga plot. And before anyone gets on my case about something being closer to its source material not being automatically better I know that. But I have preferred the manga to the first anime from the very beginning, way back in 2004 before there ever was a Brotherhood. It has nothing to do with what is new & fresh. So for me the manga storyline is what is the classic. Anyways both sides bash the other adaption & this has been going on well before Brotherhood ever existed, trust me. In fact on another thread on these forums I see people acting like the first anime is some deep drama compared to the typical shonen plot of the manga & Brotherhood. I didn't say anything because I know I would just be unfair to the first anime like those posters were being unfair to the manga storyline. But really I see plenty of depth in the manga, mores than in the first anime. But maybe I have missed things other people got out of the first anime. And maybe those people missed all that I see in the manga. Basically I wish People would stop trying to bring down one version to raise the version they like better up. But Unfortunately I know that is wishful thinking.

What do you mean larger than life love? You mean the love Ed and Al share for each other? Yeah it's an emotional story but I wouldn't call it something rare.

This needless side taking of "which is better?" creates fear for a future project:
The Berserk revamp movies.

Know why? Because we'll get discussions and posts and trolling about the same thing...
People will forget, or purposely block out the special qualities of the first series, undermine what it did despite it's an incomplete adaption, and/or make petty comments regarding it's faithfulness, it's ending, etc.
I get that remakes are popular because it's a fresh take, it'll have more to work with, and previous nostalgia will invoke half, if not all, of the enjoyment.

But, as a wise man said, we mustn't forget the classics. And, personally, a classic is something that's good DESPITE the inherit limitations. Which is why I'll almost always love the 1st series over Brotherhood(regardless of where the production staff went from there).

Basically, I hope we don't love remakes for the wrong reasons.