Carnivorous

Let's make one thing clear before I start this review, I have no experience with the previous incarnation of Fullmetal Alchemist. This series was my first foray into the world of FMA, & I must say, it is VERY excellent.

First off, the series has a huge cast of interesting & unique characters. They are each quite different from each other, and act in different ways. The way the series elegantly manages all the character's developments and story lines is a feat in itself. The series also has a fantastically crafted plot, filled with action, humor, & tragedy. Despite its mainstream appeal, it still maintains a mature tone that really grabs you.

The animation & art is top notch. You won't be getting any poorly edited sequences or grotesque looking art. The production values are great. I watched the series with the English voice track, and the dub did quite a good job. No complaints there. The soundtrack is excellent as well, particularly the opening & closing sequences that accompany each episode.

It goes on for some 64 episodes, & maintains your attention the entire time. It even manages to close everything up in a satisfying manner. A fantastic series. This show will make you laugh, cry, and even get angry a few times.

Loved it.

Let's all be honest; Ridley Scott has been putting out some disappointing films these last couple of years. I mean, Robin Hood was a waste of everyone involved. The last great film he put out (in my opinion) was American Gangster back in '07. Now, I've been waiting for this film ever since I heard about it. & let me tell you, this is definitely a return to form for Scott. Not that isn't without its flaws, though.

First off, the acting is solid. Noomi Rapace is excellent as Elizabeth Shaw, a god-fearing scientist. As the film progresses, Shaw becomes more a warrior & has to go through some intense scenes, which Noomi nails perfectly. Charlize Theron & Idris Elba are solid in their roles as well. The rest of the supporting cast is great as well, I wouldn't say there were any examples of 'bad' acting in this film, though Logan Marshall-Green is definitely the weakest in terms of acting.

The strongest actor, though, is definitely Michael Fassbender. As the android David, he owns the entire role. Out of the whole film, he was my favorite character. He's very mysterious as well, you're not really sure what he is going to do next. Excellent.

Now, the visuals. This is a beautiful film. From the opening shots to the end, it's a visual feast. The special effects are top-notch, and the art direction is phenomenal. It's on Avatar's level in this regard. Definitely a huge factor of your enjoyment in the film.

Now, here is where many critics & moviegoers are divided; the plot. Now, I can't go too much into it without spoiling anything, but let's just say that the movie seems to be heavily edited (in my opinion). There are odd plot gaps that really bother me, and I hope Ridley Scott pushes out a director's cut when it comes to Blu-Ray.

The largest problem with the plot is that it bites off a little more than it can chew. It asks tons of questions, and answers many of them, but it does fail to answer some of the larger ones. It also heaps on several new questions as well. At the end of the film, it feels like a prologue to something greater, which is a bit frustrating.

Overall, however, I greatly enjoyed the film and would definitely recommend seeing it. It's my favorite film of the year, thus far, & yes I HAVE seen Avengers. I'm more of a science fiction guy though.

David Fincher is brilliant. I thought he had maxed his potential at Social Network, but he came & did it again. Having not seen the Swedish film or read the novel, this was a completely new story for me. & I was blown away! Daniel Craig gives a solid performance as Mikael Blomkvist, a disgraced journalist tasked with solving a 40 year old murder. The supporting cast is excellent as well, in particular Christopher Plummer & Stellan Skarsgard. But the real star is Rooney Mara, as Lisbeth Salander, an emotionally damaged and unstable woman bordering on insanity. In every scene, she owns the character. She's fierce, wildly sexy, and unbelievably authentic. She better get an Oscar nomination.

David Fincher is known for his dark, edgy style & it shows in this film. the cinematography is fine, but its the score that really shines. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross definitely produced a phenomenal score that goes well with the film. Oh, and don't let me forget the opening credits! Amazing, one of the best.

This film is R-rated for a reason though. There is quite a bit of nudity and a particularly disturbing rape scene. Just be forewarned. Overall, my favorite film of the year, just beating out Drive.