Fullmetal Alchemist (film)
Live-action adaptation of the early volumes of the manga, condensing and skipping several story arcs.
Fullmetal Alchemist is a 2017 Japanese science fantasy action film directed by Fumihiko Sori, based on the manga series of the same name by Hiromu Arakawa. It adapts material from the first several volumes of the original storyline, though it skips and condenses significant story arcs, and was released in Japan by Warner Bros. Pictures on 1 December 2017.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Fumihiko Sori
- Producer
- Yumihiko Yoshihara
- Screenplay
- Fumihiko Sori / Takeshi Miyamoto
- Story
- Hiromu Arakawa
- Based On
- Fullmetal Alchemist · Hiromu Arakawa
- Starring
- Ryosuke Yamada · Tsubasa Honda · Dean Fujioka · Ryuta Sato · Jun Kunimura · Fumiyo Kohinata · Yasuko Matsuyuki
- Narrator
- <!-- or
- Music
- Reiji Kitasato
- Cinematography
- Keiji Hashimoto
- Editing
- Chieko Suzaki
- Studio
- Square Enix / OXYBOT Inc.
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. Pictures (Japan) / Netflix (International)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film is set in the country of Amestris, where brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric attempt to resurrect their deceased mother through human transmutation, a forbidden alchemical act. The attempt fails: Edward loses his left leg, and Alphonse's soul is bound to a suit of armor after Edward sacrifices his right arm. Edward becomes the youngest State Alchemist, titled 'Fullmetal Alchemist,' and the brothers seek the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies. The plot follows their encounters with military figures, the chimera-creating alchemist Shou Tucker, and the homunculi Lust and Envy, culminating in the revelation that Philosopher's Stones are made from human lives.
Reader's Guide
The film is significant as a live-action adaptation of a beloved manga, though it received mixed critical reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, 28% of 18 critics' reviews were positive; on Metacritic, it scored 48 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Critics noted its advanced CGI but criticized narrative gaps and rushed storytelling. The film was originally planned for 2013 but delayed until 2016 due to budget and technology constraints. It was released on Netflix as a Netflix Original Film on 19 February 2018, with English-language voice actors from the Funimation anime dub reprising their roles. Two sequels, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy, were released in 2022.
Did You Know?
- Principal photography took place in Italy, with filming spotted in Volterra (identified as Reole) in early June 2016.
- The film's theme song, 'Kimi no Soba ni Iru yo,' was performed by Misia.
- The English dub of the live-action film features a different cast from the Funimation anime dub; Vic Mignogna, Aaron Dismuke, and Caitlin Glass did not reprise their roles.
- The director, Fumihiko Sori, stated he used technology from Hollywood films such as The Avengers.
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