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REVIEW: Madlax DVDs 6-7


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v1cious



Joined: 31 Dec 2002
Posts: 6199
Location: Houston, TX
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:19 pm Reply with quote
the last episodes were cool, but the ending was extremely disappointing. that's just me though.
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maus



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 84
Location: The Netherlands
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:38 pm Reply with quote
No it wasn't just you. Wink I feel the ending was entirely not what I had expected. Too farfetched and VERY WEIRD.
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Whearn9999



Joined: 11 Jun 2005
Posts: 211
Location: Texas City TX
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:06 pm Reply with quote
Cool! I just recently watched vol 6. Now I'm REALLY looking forward to vol 7. It's been a long, slow, twisty ride. I've enjoyed every minute of it.
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biliano



Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 956
Location: Cleveland, OH
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:46 pm Reply with quote
To be honest, I bought Madlax Vol. 6 only for the Chris Patton sock puppet show, but I will definitely check this series out in the near future. I read nothing but rave reviews of Madlax all over the Net (including here) and most everyone I know loves this series.
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Keonyn
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Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Coon Rapids, MN
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:28 pm Reply with quote
Really, I looked for reviews and definitely got a mixed bag. I had some who said it was great or good and others who downright hated it or just didn't think it was very good.

Of course, I read enough to intrigue me anyways so I went ahead and picked it up. Haven't seen very far yet but it's certainly not what I was expecting, but not in a bad way, definitely more to the story than I figured it would have which is helping to keep my interest.
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AuraShadow



Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Posts: 242
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:49 pm Reply with quote
I absolutly loved the ending of Madlax (finally the last vol is out so people can see this AWESOME ending) It was confusing at first to understand (countless rewatchings of the last few scenes to get everything straight) Fav eps over all is definatly tied between 24 and 26. I wish there could have been more, but alas, that is the end. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.
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the Rancorous



Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 2248
Location: Hunting the Dragon in Gransys
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:50 pm Reply with quote
Definitely not what I was expecting, but it didn't disappoint me personally. I found the concept interesting, even if very odd, I thought they explained it to where it made sense.
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HitokiriShadow



Joined: 09 May 2005
Posts: 6251
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:47 pm Reply with quote
Personally, I thought the ending was pretty good. It was on the weird side, but what did you expect considering what led up to this point? Like the review said, it wrapped up everything pretty good, so I was satisfied.

In addition to not opening the extras menu, its also recommended that you don't even look at the list of extras on the DVD case before watching these volumes. And don't read the interview in the second OST before watching volume 6.
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Zalis116
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Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 6864
Location: Kazune City
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:23 pm Reply with quote
An alternate review wrote:
The last 4 episodes of Madlax are funnier than most anime comedies. Madlax is an absolutely splendid parody of slow moving action/fantasy/dramas, in the same vein as The Golden Child (Asian kid with magical powers, flying dragons, mythical demons, and Eddie Murphy seeing this ridiculous world through the most cynical eyes.), and The Princess Bride. There’s one problem, however; Madlax was never intended to be a parody. The only enjoyment to be found in Madlax is the kind you bring with you. I enjoyed Madlax in the same way I enjoyed such films as Armageddon, Godzilla, and Troy; by ridiculing them mercilessly.


Not my review; it's from a certain anime site too affiliated with fansubbers and DVD rippers to be mentioned here. Still, I have to say I found Madlax to be a disappointing series overall. It starts out with gritty, realistic war drama (+super-powerful girl with guns, that's acceptable), but by the end, it degenerates into a massive string of wtf? moments that only a Golden Gate Bridge-caliber suspension of disbelief can overcome. For some reason, I didn't have a problem with series like Air and Kanon going down the fantasy route, but Madlax bothered me. Maybe it would have been better if it established itself as fantasy from the start, like Read or Die.
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Key
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Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 18137
Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley)
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:42 pm Reply with quote
Zalis116 wrote:
Maybe it would have been better if it established itself as fantasy from the start, like Read or Die.


It isn't like they didn't warn you that there was going to be some weird stuff in it. The whole thing with the book Margaret found and the strange reactions its script causes (which IIRC comes up as early as the 5th or 6th episode) should have been an early tip-off. Because of that, I was prepared for the weirdness involved in setting up the ending.
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the Rancorous



Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 2248
Location: Hunting the Dragon in Gransys
PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:04 pm Reply with quote
I must agree with Key, it was pretty subtle in revealing its mystical side, but it was definitely there. I was able to figure out what the "essence" was by the 2nd volume and thus, I too was prepared for the weird ending.
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HitokiriShadow



Joined: 09 May 2005
Posts: 6251
PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:40 pm Reply with quote
I agree with Key and its pretty much what I said before: there was plenty of warning. The mystical elements came into play very early in the series (it was in either episode 4 or 6, one of Margaret's episodes with the detective that was erased). If special words brainwashing people (kind of) didn't warn you that things where going to be weird, I can't help you. I don't think it could have been any more obvious that it was deep in fantasy territory.
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Keonyn
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Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Coon Rapids, MN
PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:00 pm Reply with quote
Yes, that was the 4th episode the detective is basically erased. That's as far as I've seen, but even at this point in the series I'm well aware of an underlying element of fantasy or supernatural or something that is definitely not in the realm of normal. It's more a matter of strangeness at this point but it's not that subtle and it's definitely there. Just after seeing disc 1 I'm quite certain there's more to it than just a gritty war drama.
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Chrno2



Joined: 28 May 2004
Posts: 6171
Location: USA
PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:54 am Reply with quote
I enjoyed the series. But again the ending was somewhat of an enigma. Again, it's a pyscho-series that does require some thought. Hey, the creators can't be perfect all the time. But I have to admit that this series had some great music this time around. But it is pretty long getting to where it's getting. I certainly enjoyed it. I do plan on picking this up along with 'Noir'.

*Now the question is what does 'Bee Train' plan to do next? After all one of the producers did mention he's looking forward to another flick of girls and gun action. Laughing
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Necros Antiquor



Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 571
Location: Funny in a car crash sort of way
PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:12 pm Reply with quote
Keonyn wrote:
Really, I looked for reviews and definitely got a mixed bag. I had some who said it was great or good and others who downright hated it or just didn't think it was very good.

From what I can tell, I think it comes down to whether or not you can enjoy the Bee Train style of anime, with an emphasis on mood set by the music and background art along with lots of slow pans and somewhat slow talking. Generally, if you think this style is nonsense, you won't like what Bee Train does, but if you can tolerate it (I like to think of it as a more "active" picture book with accompanying radio drama), it's a great show to watch.

Chrno2 wrote:
*Now the question is what does 'Bee Train' plan to do next? After all one of the producers did mention he's looking forward to another flick of girls and gun action. Laughing

I believe that they are currently producing .hack//ROOTS. I saw the intro for it the other day on dothackers.net, and it didn't look too bad, if you're into Bee Train and Yuki Kajiura.
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