Those who have followed the Full Metal Alchemist anime series will jump in quicker to Kazuya Murata's new film. Newbies may be a bit confused up front, as different characters, places and time periods are unveiled in rapid succession. But the film — which forefronts "alchemists," or individuals able to harness extra-ordinary powers — soon settles in for a more basic storyline: A group of rebels try to claim their holy land back from a more powerful clan. It's close to nonstop action, with the occasional one-liner, and there are plenty of explosions, battles and aerial stunts to keep fans of the genre cheering. (For me, there was one twist too many at the end.) Sacred Star is a chapter in an ever-unfolding narrative, but it functions well enough as a stand-alone adventure. In Japanese, with subtitles. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 20; 7 p.m. Sat., Jan. 21; 2 and 4 p.m. Sun., Jan. 22. Hollywood, Dormont
