A brush of the 03 edition of "Steel" was probably in 2005, when I was only thirteen or fourteen years old. After rewatching it after so long, I still cry several times, deeply shocked. To remind yourself, especially record some of the following impressions and details.
[It is not "equivalent exchange" in the real world]
The main line of the entire series revolves around the Elric brothers' journey to recover their original body with the Sage's Stone. The journey is in-depth and the mystery behind the Sage's Stone is solved, which is what the two brothers believe as minors and scientists. The process of the principle of "equivalent exchange" being shaken or even subverted. Therefore, it can also be said that the whole journey is also a process of the two brothers' worldviews being destroyed and reconstructed, and they gradually entered the process of spiritual adulthood.
The complexity and turbulence of human society cannot be simply summarized by "equivalent exchange", and it is always full of unfairness, prejudice and misunderstanding. The Nina case, the Fifth Institute case, and the second return to the small town of Rior are all important nodes in Edward and Al's journey. In it, they realize that facing the insignificance of the universe as human beings, their actions as individuals can never be separated from the whole world, and they are always inseparable. Good intentions can also do evil. Any random action by anyone, especially the strong, will cause a large group of people to be punished. ripple impact. After struggling repeatedly, the two brothers decided that even in the face of such a painful world and laws, in the face of the bitter past and their own sins and faults, they should bravely "participate" in this world and "do something". Avoidance is one of the things that impresses me the most in the whole work.
[Family is: for you thousands of times]
Al has no body, Edward has no limbs. Although the two brothers are open to each other and to each other, they want to restore their bodies together. But the various dangers in the journey often reveal their true thoughts: when it is impossible to have both, restoring the other party's original body is the highest priority. Even if Al loses his body, he doesn't need to eat or sleep, he can't feel the breeze, and he often falls into the emptiness of existence. Even if the cost of restoring Edward's hands and feet would be easier and more economical.
In the final moment, Al used his soul and the millions of lives in his body in exchange for Edward's hands and feet. Edward woke up and found that Al was missing, and then used his entire body and soul to go to the other side of the door to exchange Al. This kind of mutual sacrifice will not end until the two are reunited, because they both love each other more than themselves, do not want the other to give up on themselves, and always hope that they will sacrifice for each other. Ah, this kind of brotherhood is the most touching place for me. A hundred times a thousand times ten thousand times a million times, I will never give up on you, I must find you!
[The irony of "Elite" Dante]
Dante and Hohenheim appear very rarely, which is indeed the fundamental motivation of the whole story.
The dead city under Zendraru was once overthrown by them and used millions of lives to refine the sage's stone for their own immortality. Hohenheim withdrew halfway through, but Dante never looked back. She spread horrific rumors that the Sage's Stone would bring death. Rumors are a screening mechanism, screening out those with weak willpower, leaving the most desperate, desperate, and desperate alchemists as candidates for traders who use their lives to refine the Stone of Sages. From the candidates, Dante selects a capable guide and snatch the results after completing the refining, so as to prolong his life and soul. This whole process was whitewashed by her as she protected the world from wars and battles due to people's greed for the Sage's Stone, claiming that she was the hero of keeping the city prosperous and stable, as if she had special resources (in the play, information and Some "elites" who manipulate the masses to satisfy their own selfish desires but still stand up for themselves. And the ultimate unavoidable deterioration of the soul brings about the corruption of the body. The author expresses his attitude through the "rules" in the play. How ironic (but I don't believe the logic of the wicked retribution).
[Both sides of the door]
Those who have tried the taboos of alchemy can see the door of "truth". According to the setting, opposite the door is our world. The timeline is set in World War I, after World War II, and before World War II. Edward found himself in Munich, Germany after finally passing through the gate of "truth".
The Armes Doris Nei Station, where the Edward brothers themselves are located, is constantly surrounded by foreign powers (as described in "That's Their Battlefield"), the entire country outside the door is facing serious post-war inflation, and the impending World War II. Explosive tension. No world is good, we can only face the world we are in, and the answer is not elsewhere. This is also expressed in the theatrical version of "The Conqueror of Shambhala".
【The state power of Armestoris】
Judging from the last few words, the entire country of Amestoris has a parliamentary organization, as well as a police officer (in black uniforms similar to military uniforms), so it is likely that there is also a government, but from the parliament to the government, the unity is governed by the military. The President is the commander-in-chief of the military and the supreme commander of the whole country, but he is actually an artificial human, and follows the instructions of "that lord" Dante to direct the country's actions, and Dante's logic is all out of her own self-interest. Makes the whole huge Armestrois regime look like a joke.
【Utilized prejudice】
People are always prejudiced against others. To the black-haired, blond-white-skinned mainstream race that ruled Amesdoris, the Ishbal tribe was an alien race with different hair, skin, and eye colors. Compared to reality, they were perished, expelled, and compressed into a small corner to survive. It is also a familiar history. The wars between Ishbal and Rior were all instigated ideological struggles. Differences in race and religion carried and amplified people’s prejudices, creating a “solidarity” between ordinary soldiers and the public. public opinion field. In this way, Dante, who has lived for 400 years, is well aware of human weaknesses.
Outside the door of "truth", put the timeline on the eve of the outbreak of World War II. Hitler wanted to build a single-ethnic Germany, and he also cited single-ethnic Japan as a reference. This also echoes and contrasts with the reality inside the door. "One World" indeed.
[The dream of the reformers in the system is broken]
Master Mustangu is embarrassing. From an ordinary patriotic young man, he experienced PTSD as a military lackey in the Ishbar civil strife, and after he came out of the suicidal impulse, he became an adult who vowed to act as an adult. A changemaker within the system who is desperate to climb up and has a group of like-minded followers. The final outcome is still to give up reform and turn to violent revolution, and finally confessed to Edward on the way to the decisive battle with the President: "Why not keep the same sincerity as a child". The 2003 version of the chief officer shows a typical process of breaking the dream of a reformer within the system.
[Motivation of the supporting actors]
Different supporting roles have different behavioral motivations. Greed's quest for freedom is no longer under the control of its creator, Dante. Sloth's quest to free herself from role conflict - the conflict between her stance as an android and the memory of her mother as the protagonist brothers, makes her want to kill her brothers as sons and kill her role as mother within herself. A break. After regaining his memory, Slut began to seek answers to "who am I" and thus began to rebel against Dante. As a son not accepted by his father, Envy pursues torturing and killing two sons his father truly cherishes. Wrath pursues a mother's love. Greed's synthetic beast companions seek companionship. The Empty Armor Watcher Brother Pursuit is treated like a man. The supporting roles are not simple tool roles, they are all stand up!
[Comparison with FA: a more frank and brighter character than the 03 version]
FA is the first brush six years ago, and recently started the second brush. Compared with the 03 version, not to mention the difference in plot, from the protagonist brother, to Wendy, the chief, all the characters are more frank and bright. Fewer misunderstandings, more understanding, more direct expression, and faster recovery from sadness. In both versions, Wendy said to the bruised brothers, "they always always say nothing to me." Wendy in the 03 version was frustrated, and Wendy in FA understood and carried distressed. Ah, it's a lot more friendly to the audience... No need to worry about the protagonists not being able to express their feelings well while suffering from the protagonists! Love Aunt Niu!
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