Full Metal Alchemist 3 - Equivalent Exchange (DVD)

Advantages: Brilliant concept and story line
Disadvantages: The animation isn't really the best I have seen

...Introduction: The Full Metal Alchemist is a show about people that can change matter of different objects, rearrange this matter and make something completely different, this is the science of alchemy. The show is based on the law of equivalent exchange which states... "Human kind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return, to obtain something, something of equal value must be lost." The Full Metal Alchemist was origionally a Japanese show which has been dubbed in English. Usually dubbing of Japanese TV shows and video games are terrible with over eggsagerated speech and voices you wouldn't necessarilly put with the characters, but I am pleased to say that this series has got the dubbing perfect, with believable voices and enough emotion to not be over the top. The story is about a young prodigy of Alchemy... Read review

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Advantages: Acting, sets and special effects.
Disadvantages: Where did the end go???

...◊^^^Synopsis^^^◊ Full Metal Jacket is Stanley Kubrick?s painful depiction of the lives of new marine trainees as they go through training, graduate and finally end up in Vietnam. A large proportion of the film focuses on the harsh and inhumane training designed to dehumanize people and turn them into, with the help of the demoralising D.I (Lee Ermey), into indestructible killers for the benefit of the United States, men without fear. The D.I?s treatment to the trainee?s is so brutal that some can?t take anymore of the mental hardship. Whilst exploring both the physical and mental suffering of marine trainees the films main focus is on one man, ?Joker? (Matthew Modine). After graduation most of the new marines end up in Vietnam and then the film takes a more direct view point as it follows Joker as he is released into... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Newly Remastered
Disadvantages: Bad if you don't like war films

...Out of all the war films about Vietnam, Platoon and Hamburger Hill being some of the most popular, Full Metal Jacket stands out there as the forerunner. Based on the novel "The Short-Timers" by Gustav Hasford, the film is essentially split into two stories linked by a number of characters. The film follows a new recruit, Joker, with his fellow soldiers through basic training and right into the conflict in Vietnam. The first half of this film is the chilling tale of military brutality mainly at the hands of the drill Sgt Hartman (who was played by ex-marine Lee Ermey). This part of the film mainly centres around Private Pyle, a new-recruit pushed to the edge of his limits. The second half of the film centres around the new-recruits after they have been transported into the combat zone. This part or the film mostly deals with one... Read review

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