Plot: What’s it about?
Madlax is a high level mercenary for hire, able to complete assignments others could never finish. She is skilled in all forms of combat and weapons use, blessed with a brilliant mind for strategy and tactical elements. In other words, not the kind of person you want to have to deal with, since she has no real weaknesses. She even has a moral compass, taking only cases she believes in and never putting cash over her principles. She is so efficient and flawless in fact, that some believe she isn’t even human, instead some kind of mechanical marvel. Margaret Burton on the other hand, is a spoiled rich girl surrounded by advisors who guide her actions and decisions. While the two women seem like total opposites, their lives will soon become interwoven as a brutal war rages around them at all times. When the two do finally cross paths, will they be on the same side and in any case, will Madlax be able to fend off the forces that seek to extend and expand the conflict?
I first saw Madlax on The Cartoon Network and the show seemed interesting, so when ADV Films released all twenty-six episodes in one collection, I decided to revisit Madlax in total. I saw random episodes, a handful or so, so I wasn’t up on the story, but the show still entertained. Now that I have watched all the episodes, I am even more impressed and Madlax develops some great stories and characters. The writing is very good and pays off for those who invest the time to watch the entire series, with subtle touches and references. I expected just a wild show about girls and guns, but Madlax has depth and even social undercurrents. So not only does the show kick ass as far as action, but there is also substance behind the style. The animation is not cutting edge, but it looks good and the visuals are well crafted here. ADV Films’ packs in all the episodes with a reasonable price, but the extras have been cut loose, so this box is pretty much just the series itself. Even so, Madlax is a great series and even casual anime fans will have a blast, so this complete collection earns a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The show’s vivid color scheme is well handled, so we have lush and rich hues throughout. I was sure some oversaturation would surface, but the colors never ventured into error, which is impressive. I found black levels to be good also, so blacks have a stark texture, instead of an overly bright appearance. The animation isn’t always that detailed, so some scenes have a soft visual presence, but that is not due to this presentation. So all in all, these episodes look terrific and should more than please fans.
Audio: How does it sound?
You have the options of a stereo Japanese soundtrack or a Dolby Digital 5.1 English soundtrack, so for this review, I chose the original Japanese soundtrack. I hoped for a little more pop, but the sound is solid and gives no cause for concern. The audio is clean and crisp throughout, with no pops or distortion to mention, so all the elements come through well. The music has a little more presence than expected, while sound effects make good use of the limited directional resources. So not all that memorable, but well crafted and more than effective soundtracks. This release also includes optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes some promotional trailers.
