Product Description

While Al defends himself against the transmuted Barry the Chopper, Ed discovers more about the dark alchemic experiments deep within Lab Five. But the biggest threat of all may be Ed's own morality, as he's tempted with the ultimate power he's been seeking for years. Hughes issues an order to allow Armstrong, Bloch and Ross to investigate what's going on inside the 5th laboratory. Now Ed sees that Tucker was hiding the fact that there were human prisoners involved in the making of the stone...and that Ed would have unknowingly killed them. But Lust has Al held hostage...forcing Ed to attempt the unthinkable, Meanwhile, Al's recurring questions about his existence come to a boil. Was ther ever an Alphonse Elric? Or are his memories and soul alchemically created lies?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32814 in DVD
• Brand: Funimation
• Released on: 2005-11-15
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 6.25 pounds
• Running time: 30 minutes

Amazon.com
The battle at Prison #5 continues in the sixth installment of Fullmetal Alchemist, as Edward and Alphonse Elric duel with suits of armor animated by the disembodied souls of murderers. In the deeper dungeons, the brothers learn that many of their adventures have been arranged by unseen puppeteers. Shou Tucker, the alchemist who created hideous chimeras in episode 7, has continued his research at the Prison, helping to draw Ed there. But Tucker is just a pawn for the homunculi, Lust, Envy, and Gluttony, who want the Philosopher's Stone for their own purposes. Edward is faced with the terrible choice of losing his brother or committing a hellish crime when the experiment is interrupted by Scar, the powerful and vengeful survivor of Ishbal. Although these conflicts are dramatic, they're eclipsed by the Elric brothers' inner struggles: Al has begun to doubt that he ever existed in human form, while Ed fears that Al hates him for delving into the forbidden knowledge that destroyed his body. Many series lose their energy and momentum as they near their midpoint; Fullmetal Alchemist shows no signs of slackening. (Rated TV PG: violence, grotesque imagery, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Levels of "Intellectualism"
It doesn't surprise me that people will compare what's supposedly smarter to something else that is less than intelligent, in their own vaunted opinions. However, there are much more things at stake in terms of the entire value of the production than just mere perpetual "who's got the bigger brain or brawn" that I constantly see in anime today.

There is an actual sense of ethics and raw emotion as well as cold logic and brute action in Fullmetal Alchemist that other shows do not begin to touch upon. Children lose loved ones and struggle to come to terms with their mistakes as they get older. Older people try in vain to keep what they cannot have. Beings beyond the realm of human understanding desire that which eludes them most-- a soul. All this, and still FMA continues to add humor, sorrow, joy and grief to the driving action that is anime.

You cannot simply look at this from one perspective. Compared to the likes of the older generation of shows where the bigger guns, bigger machines, bigger swords, fancy costumes and shows based solely on "you're stupid, you have no idea what I can do to you, so I'm going to spend five minutes talking about the way I'm going to talk about the things I'm doing to you", FMA need not compare. It delves into a part of our own history based in THIS reality, creates a completely different fantastic world-- and manages to keep itself centered on the very notion of humanity. The same can be said of Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex. However, look at any other show, and you'll see exactly what's missing. Plot.

The plot is thick in FMA. And it always leaves you wanting more. A sense of resolution-- be it the actualization of the plans of the Homonculi, body reunited with soul, limbs reunited with original flesh, loved ones being able to see their kin again. Not just, "Hey-- I'm gonna beat you so I can have the dragonball/demon shards/alter powers/super robot and rule the world until someone else comes along that I have to yell at and tell them how I'm going to beat them up for their dragonball/demon shards, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera..."

Get a grip. See THIS show. It's worth it.

Response to "explanation"
I'm very sorry, but I feel obliged to correct the person that left the review "explanation" with a little explanation of my own. The Sins are some the most well crafted villains in anime, because they are ruthless, heartless villains. They are malicious, sadistic, and, above all, they are desperate, desperate to, once again, be human, and a desperate villain is the worst thing that can cross any hero/heroine, becuase that means they will stop at nothing to get what they want. And the Sins--Lust, Envy, and, with the exception of Gluttony, are very smart and very cunning. Though they have their moments of frustration, they are very slick, and they have all of their moves planned out. They sent Barry the Butcher and The Slicer after Ed and Al becase they knew how deperate they were to return to their original bodies and they also knew that Ed wouldn't allow himself to be killed by a simple and weak serial killer (that's an oxy-moron, isn't it?). so the Sins are very smart. Secondly, I think that Full Metal Alchemist is extremely intelligent, it's just not as over whelming as Ghost in the Shell. If you have seen the episodes with Greed, you will find that Full Metal Alchemist is very inteligent, not merely intelectually, but feelings wise as well. it's very human and it's very disturbing at times and it also ranges from sad to gut wrenchingly funny, which is difficult to do in any series, let alone an anime. And thirdly, yes, it may get alot of publicity and it may be a teensy bit overated, but so many people love it, myself included. If you have looked past the basic scenario of a genius boy who has to save people, you find a series that's main core is love, and the lengths that some people will go to either destroy or obtain it. And fourthly, I feel that it was not necessary for you to call another reviewer stupid. That is rude and unnecessary. Please forgive this introduction, but I felt it necessary. Full Metal Alchemist is and always will be my favorite anime series. It's a great buy and anyone with an open heart and mind should give it a try. Though it is classified as a shonen series, I, being a girl, can truthfully say that girls will enjoy it to. Thank you for your time.

Another Excellent addition
This DVD has some great episodes and some fair episodes. The first two episodes on this disc (21, 22) wrap up the Lab 5 story arc, and they are among the best of the story arc IMO. As Edward questions what he is willing to do to acquire the Philosphers stone and Alphonse continues to question his own existence. A new Homunculous and some new characters make there first appearance here, though they are not seen again till about ten episodes later. Overall I was very satisfied with the wrap up of the Lab 5 story arc, and they are among my favorites. As the truly serious parts of the storyline are excellently done. Episode 23 and 24 are not the best but not bad either. Episode 23 is interestingly done, as there is a sober mood overall, yet comedy is inserted as well. It's ending is excellent though. Episode 24 was pretty good but I felt some parts of it were a tad rushed. Overall I felt that since it had to deviate from the Manga during these episodes certain differences weren't handled as well as others. I felt the conclusion of certain characters (I'll only give you one clue as to who: 6 ) was somewhat thrown together. However it is a fairly good character development episode. My only complaint about this DVD is that I wish they could have crammed the end of Season 1 (Episode 25) into it as well.