orcishgamer: FMA and Brotherhood are both on Netflix instant watch in the US, I just saw Brotherhood pop up as a suggestion last night.
bevinator: It is on Netflix instant watch, but only the first 60% or so. The rest isn't up yet for some reason.
The first anime was very good, but Brotherhood is probably the best anime I've ever seen. It's certainly the best from a technical standpoint. It differs somewhat from the first anime, especially in the endings, but IMO it's much much better. They breeze through the first 30 episodes of the manga in the first half-dozen episodes or so, primarily I think because that stuff was covered in extensive detail in the first anime, but then it really picks up. Alphonse's voice is also pretty irritating (for the English dub) in the first couple episodes, but the voice actor gets a hang of it real quick. Plus the ending is way better. If you liked the first anime, you'll definitely like Brotherhood.
Nah, the best is, to me, a three way tie between Gurren Lagann, Code Geass, and Basilisk.
On the one hand, you've got mechs that use galaxies as shuriken. It's so over the top, you'd think it would be cheesy as hell, but it loops around about three dozen times to ultra-mega-awesome.
On the other, you've got Xanatos gambit after gambit. Wheels within wheels within wheels. Just when you think Lelouch is cornered, you find out you've played right into his trap.
On the last paw, you've got a story that has no happy ending possible. When the opening credits say, "To my beloved, please die", you know it's gonna be good. Awesome ninja abilities plus an emotional story between Gennosuke and Oboro.