Continue with Madlax?

[notanumber]

So far I've seen through Vol. 4 of Madlax and am still underwhelmed, which is strange since I enjoyed Noir quite a bit. Madlax still seems to be a Noir clone (Young girl, older assasin, soundtrack kicking in at the most obvious times). I've heard that the ending is "meta-physical" and that somewhat interests me, but how far out does it get? Do all the questions get answered? Is the ending satisfying?

Any Madlax lovers out there want to convince me? Being halfway through the series, I'm not sure I want to get the last 3 discs.

Oh, and the shortcuts they keep taking with Margaret's hairstyle are VERY distracting... /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[chloes_fork]

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notanumber said:
So far I've seen through Vol. 4 of Madlax and am still underwhelmed, which is strange since I enjoyed Noir quite a bit.

[/ QUOTE ]
Not so strange. Despite some superficial similarities, they're very different shows, and Noir is much the better of the two.

But yeah, I'd say go ahead and finish it. My reaction to the series was similar to yours, but it's worth following to the end. And the conclusion is fairly satisfying, if not entirely surprising.

[Johnny]

Oh definitely keep with it. I too had those "Noir-clone" thoughts up to around volume 4 but after that, for me at least, it just got better and more addictive as it went on.
The mystery elements around <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>the 3 books and Laetitia</span> hooked me in and there are quite a few revelations in the last couple of volumes that you probably won't see coming.
As for the ending, it would be fair to say it has similarities to Evangelion...it's a lot deeper than Noir's ending for sure and it is wrapped up more than Noir too.

FWIW, I found Madlax "above average" until the last 3 volumes and I now consider it one of my very favourite series. Just don't keep the "Noir clone" thing in your mind too much when watching and you should enjoy the ride.

[Puppet Master]

Haha it's got an interesting ending I forgot when things start to change though but it does get better as it advances. I must say though I'm one of the few who thought that Madlax was Noir done RIGHT.

[ScorpioEyez]

Oh absolutely! I can't speak highly enough about this series, stick with it!

[Leon_Belmont]

I thought the series was slightly better than Noir but the ending pretty stupid. Noir's was quite bad ass and if not for that I'd enjoy Madlax more in almost every aspect. If you're through volume 4 and you're not at least enjoying the ride, can it.

I enjoyed it from the first couple episodes, and 16 episodes is more than ANY series should ever take for you to get into before it gets canned. Especially if it's only 26 episodes long in the first place.

[notanumber]

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johnny said:
there are quite a few revelations in the last couple of volumes that you probably won't see coming.


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That's what would keep me watching, the chance to say, "Wow, I didn't see that coming!" The story with Laetitia is interesting and I would like to see it come to light in a unique way.

[pianocello]

I'd say continue. Renting that is. I don't regret watching it. However I found that after finishing it, I had no desire to rewatch it. Maybe again it was because a few certain yuri couples were not meant to be but that's just me.

[Johnny]

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notanumber said:
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johnny said:
there are quite a few revelations in the last couple of volumes that you probably won't see coming.


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That's what would keep me watching, the chance to say, "Wow, I didn't see that coming!" The story with Laetitia is interesting and I would like to see it come to light in a unique way.

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Oh, it does. It kinda hints at what will happen in the build up to it, but personally I didn't see it coming and it was quite surprising.

[XenoCrisis0153]

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notanumber said:
So far I've seen through Vol. 4 of Madlax and am still underwhelmed, which is strange since I enjoyed Noir quite a bit. Madlax still seems to be a Noir clone (Young girl, older assasin, soundtrack kicking in at the most obvious times).

[/ QUOTE ]
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, it IS a Noir clone. It was made by the same production team and everything. Actually, Madlax is the 2nd installment of a chicks-with-guns Bee-Train triology.

Hmmmm, I just finished volumes 6 and 7 the other day. There is a lot of that "meta-physical" stuff that will make you think and finding out the real relation between Madlax and Margaret is interesting. And ironically enough, I'd say the artwork actually gets better in the final episodes. I say go for it. If you don't like it, you can always sell the disks after.

oh, and during the last 5 or 6 episode, there will be plenty of WTF moments. Try your best to just go with it... it makes sense in the end, trust me.

[Johnny]

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XenoCrisis0153 said:
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notanumber said:
So far I've seen through Vol. 4 of Madlax and am still underwhelmed, which is strange since I enjoyed Noir quite a bit. Madlax still seems to be a Noir clone (Young girl, older assasin, soundtrack kicking in at the most obvious times).

[/ QUOTE ]
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, it IS a Noir clone. It was made by the same production team and everything. Actually, Madlax is the 2nd installment of a chicks-with-guns Bee-Train triology.



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Really? What's the 3rd series?

[chloes_fork]

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johnny said:
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XenoCrisis0153 said:
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notanumber said:
So far I've seen through Vol. 4 of Madlax and am still underwhelmed, which is strange since I enjoyed Noir quite a bit. Madlax still seems to be a Noir clone (Young girl, older assasin, soundtrack kicking in at the most obvious times).

[/ QUOTE ]
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, it IS a Noir clone. It was made by the same production team and everything. Actually, Madlax is the 2nd installment of a chicks-with-guns Bee-Train triology.



[/ QUOTE ]

Really? What's the 3rd series?

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It doesn't exist, at least not yet. The "trilogy" thing comes from a Newtype interview with the Bee Train folks in which it was mentioned as a possibility that they might do a third show in the girls-w/-guns vein of Noir and Madlax -- which, BTW, I still say are pretty different shows beyond the surface similarities, and hardly "clones" of each other.

[JackProton]

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chloes_fork said:
a possibility that they might do a third show in the girls-w/-guns vein of Noir and Madlax -- which, BTW, I still say are pretty different shows beyond the surface similarities, and hardly "clones" of each other.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. Unless I completely missed the reality warping mystical psycho-drama part in Noir.

[XenoCrisis0153]

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chloes_fork said:
a possibility that they might do a third show in the girls-w/-guns vein of Noir and Madlax -- which, BTW, I still say are pretty different shows beyond the surface similarities, and hardly "clones" of each other.

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well, perhaps "clones" isn't the best word since that would mean they are EXACTLY the same. I wouldn't call it a "sequel" either since it's no way a continuation of Noir. But I don't think anyone can say the similiarities in story, art, music, and characters don't exist. Maybe calling it a "sibling" is more accurate, haha.

And chloes is right, the info came from a Newtype interview. I can't remember the guy's name, but I think series coordinator, Yousuke Kuroda (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=515) is the guy who was in charge of all this.

[pianocello]

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chloes_fork said:
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johnny said:
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XenoCrisis0153 said:
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notanumber said:
So far I've seen through Vol. 4 of Madlax and am still underwhelmed, which is strange since I enjoyed Noir quite a bit. Madlax still seems to be a Noir clone (Young girl, older assasin, soundtrack kicking in at the most obvious times).

[/ QUOTE ]
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, it IS a Noir clone. It was made by the same production team and everything. Actually, Madlax is the 2nd installment of a chicks-with-guns Bee-Train triology.



[/ QUOTE ]

Really? What's the 3rd series?

[/ QUOTE ]
It doesn't exist, at least not yet. The "trilogy" thing comes from a Newtype interview with the Bee Train folks in which it was mentioned as a possibility that they might do a third show in the girls-w/-guns vein of Noir and Madlax -- which, BTW, I still say are pretty different shows beyond the surface similarities, and hardly "clones" of each other.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well maybe they should do a sequel to both Noir and Madlax crossing over into one combined series. Imagine Mireille and Kirika meeting Madlax and Margaret and saying,"OMG! You look exactly like me!"

[notanumber]

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XenoCrisis0153 said:
well, perhaps "clones" isn't the best word since that would mean they are EXACTLY the same. I wouldn't call it a "sequel" either since it's no way a continuation of Noir. But I don't think anyone can say the similiarities in story, art, music, and characters don't exist. Maybe calling it a "sibling" is more accurate, haha.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I knew Bee Train did both shows and I vaguely recall hearing that there was going to be a trilogy as well, but you have to admit that at the beginning especially, there are a number of resemblances (heck, even the DVD case artworks are similar). I wasn't trying to give the impression that they were clones, just that it's all about the ending. When I hear that it ends meta-physically, it brings back memories of Eva **shiver** /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I'll probably see if I can rent them first, because I would like to see how interesting it ends (Thanks to all who responded!), and if I like it, then go for the purchase.

[XenoCrisis0153]

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notanumber said:
Yeah, I knew Bee Train did both shows and I vaguely recall hearing that there was going to be a trilogy as well, but you have to admit that at the beginning especially, there are a number of resemblances (heck, even the DVD case artworks are similar). I wasn't trying to give the impression that they were clones, just that it's all about the ending. When I hear that it ends meta-physically, it brings back memories of Eva **shiver** /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

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haha, actually, I was defending myself since I thought I was the one who originally said the word "clone." Oh well, yeah, the similiarities are definitely there, but Madlax has a better twist in the end... though the final gun battle in Noir cannot be beat. I wasn't too big on the meta-physical mumbo jumbo in Madlax (and all that cult chanting drove me nuts). The ending will shed a little light on it, but it will still make you have to think about what the hell is happening before it clicks. I really need to watch the whole thing over again now that I have all 7 volumes in my possession finally.

[chloes_fork]

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piano_cello_conducting said:
Well maybe they should do a sequel to both Noir and Madlax crossing over into one combined series.

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There have actually been rumors to that effect. Supposedly, Monica Rial (who played Kirika in the English dub of Noir) told a fan at a convention that the reason she didn't also have a role in ADV's dub of Madlax was because of rumors of a future crossover show.

[AbeChinchilla]

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chloes_fork said:
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johnny said:
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XenoCrisis0153 said:
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notanumber said:
So far I've seen through Vol. 4 of Madlax and am still underwhelmed, which is strange since I enjoyed Noir quite a bit. Madlax still seems to be a Noir clone (Young girl, older assasin, soundtrack kicking in at the most obvious times).

[/ QUOTE ]
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, it IS a Noir clone. It was made by the same production team and everything. Actually, Madlax is the 2nd installment of a chicks-with-guns Bee-Train triology.



[/ QUOTE ]

Really? What's the 3rd series?

[/ QUOTE ]
It doesn't exist, at least not yet. The "trilogy" thing comes from a Newtype interview with the Bee Train folks in which it was mentioned as a possibility that they might do a third show in the girls-w/-guns vein of Noir and Madlax -- which, BTW, I still say are pretty different shows beyond the surface similarities, and hardly "clones" of each other.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree.

Some similarities, but FAR from "clones."

The stories and endings are quite different.

[AbeChinchilla]

Go for it.

I admit I wasn't hooked until volume 3, but in the end it was probably one of my best series purchases for 2005-2006.

The absolute best, of course, was GANTZ.

[Redcoffin]

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chloes_fork said:
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piano_cello_conducting said:
Well maybe they should do a sequel to both Noir and Madlax crossing over into one combined series.

[/ QUOTE ]
There have actually been rumors to that effect. Supposedly, Monica Rial (who played Kirika in the English dub of Noir) told a fan at a convention that the reason she didn't also have a role in ADV's dub of Madlax was because of rumors of a future crossover show.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love that -- Is that like, rumor within rumor upon unconfirmed report? /images/graemlins/tongue.gif I'm not snarking -- it's just kind of funny, the highly nuanced way you put that...

I must admit that try though I might to like them, I found both Noir and Madlax dull, poorly animated and repetitive. I don't mind slow pacing, but there were just too many scenes, such as multiple flashbacks of the same scene repeated at full length, and characters staring off into space for no apparant reason, that made me think of budget cutting rather than meditative pacing.

[XenoCrisis0153]

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Hiyo_2366 said:
I must admit that try though I might to like them, I found both Noir and Madlax dull, poorly animated and repetitive. I don't mind slow pacing, but there were just too many

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gah?!?! dull... maybe, repetitive... yeah, I'll give ya that, but poorly-animated?!?! no way!! Noir is older, so it looks a little dull compared to what we got fresh off the shelves these days, but Madlax is stunningly beautiful. It has some of the nicest landscapes, city-scenes, and sunsets out of most of the animes I've seen.

well... all I matter of opinion, I suppose

[BluWacky]

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XenoCrisis0153 said:...but Madlax is stunningly beautiful. It has some of the nicest landscapes, city-scenes, and sunsets out of most of the animes I've seen.

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Animation doesn't necessarily mean background art. Bee Train do some beautiful background art, this is true, but their animation is an acquired taste; it's very smooth, thanks to some obsessive inbetweening work, but generally actually quite limited and saved for very special occasions.

[Redcoffin]

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BluWacky said:
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XenoCrisis0153 said:...but Madlax is stunningly beautiful. It has some of the nicest landscapes, city-scenes, and sunsets out of most of the animes I've seen.

[/ QUOTE ]

Animation doesn't necessarily mean background art. Bee Train do some beautiful background art, this is true, but their animation is an acquired taste; it's very smooth, thanks to some obsessive inbetweening work, but generally actually quite limited and saved for very special occasions.

[/ QUOTE ]

This was well put. As I said, I really tried to like both shows, but the pacing didn't work for me. .

Although the backgrounds are very beautifully painted, even the lighted night city scenes in Madlax look empty and motionless. Both of these shows feature cities apparantly without people: vast hotels occupied only by a couple of guests and one or two staff: courtyards with no one in them, streets with no one on them, empty churches, empty shops, restaurants inhabited by a single patron and maybe a clerk. Over and over again there seems to be a general lack of evidence that this is a functioning world.

I think this must just be a stylistic thing with Bee Train. I mean, the old "Urusei Yatsura" TV episodes were as cheaply animated as anything ever made, and yet Tomobiki Town always seems to be teeming with activity, people hurrying everywhere and a dozen things going on at once. Bee Train shows are always permeated by a sort of theatrical silence, as though people were waiting their turn to appear on stage and say a few words. "Dot-Hack" is the most intellectual and meditative MMORPG I have ever seen.

Just taste, I guess.