Customer Reviews

Noir - The Firing Chamber (Vol 3)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This edition of NOIR I have to say is my personal favorite. It starts with the startling new character Chloe, and a whole bunch of questions. This girl is a mysterious yet talented killer that kept me on the edge of my seat going "who" "Why" and "man I love this show!!" I deffinately must say that it didn't dissapoint me in the least and I am eagerly anticipating the next volume's release - you see, the last episode ends very unexpectedly and leaves you with a whole bunch of questions and excitement that just made me want to pop from all the exitement!!
I deffinately reccommend this volume to any and all who want to see a good exiting and wonderfully made few episodes about the mysterious assasins. :)

The next episode has an informant trying to bring them additional information on Noir, and the mysterious Soldats. He talks about bringing them an ancient book, which will provide some of the background on the group. In somewhat predictable fashion, he's going to have trouble completing the transaction, as dozens of killers show up. Again they are helped by the mysterious Chloe, who briefly sits down for a very nervous tea party.

Episode 12 explores more about Chloe; the two principals are not even a part of this episode. It involves a general, long retired, who is perhaps too dangerous to leave alive by certain factions. He still knows the game well, and treats Chloe as an honored guest, even though he knows she's there to kill him. The bounds of Noirs honor are perhaps explored, as the general has an unusual favor to ask of his potential killer. In many ways, this episode echoes an early episode, with Kirika and the white cat. It shows the depth of character within Chloe, and of course more of her spectacular abilities. It appears someone else also has the same contract... or do they?

The final episode on the third DVD is the closest thing to a true romance in the series. It involves Kirika, and a painter she meets while trying to draw along the riverbank. He shows her the proper technique, and they develop a fast friendship. Mireille advises Kirika, that her relationship with the painter is not a good thing in their profession. Is this something that Kirika must learn for herself?

Like the two DVDs that precede this, we again get great music, and near flawless animations. If anything, the stylishness which is the main strength of the series, has picked up along with the plot.

Just when you thought that Mirielle and Kirika were the baddest babes out there, in comes Chloe. As skilled as Kirika, but with none of her doubts or dilemas, Chloe is a cold blooded killer who never lets her guard down.
But this strange girl is not without her softer side. She honors an old man's final request, and she is respectful and even affectionate towards her mentor, the enigmatic Altena. And Altena, despite being behind Les Soldats, dotes on Chloe as a mother would her daughter.

Much remains to be learned, but this is definitely an interesting series so far.
My one complaint: Will ADV make up their blasted minds about how many episodes go on one disc?! Five, four, and now three? Sheesh.

The surprise in this third DVD in what has proven to be one of this years most stylish issues, is the sudden appearance of a mysterious killer who keeps doing Noir's jobs for them. Of course, when you are a pair of assassins, this doesn't create a sense of gratitude and Mirielle and Kirika go one full alert. When a promising information source is killed, Mirielle decides that Les Soldats are involved, but this helps little. Les Soldats are as inexplicable as the mysterious assassin is.

Chloe, the viewer finds out, is a pure killer, capable of a cruel sort of kindness. One with skills that surpass Mirielle's own. But, Chloe marches to her own agenda, or rather, to the agenda of Altena, a secret power in the world's most secret organization. Chloe believes she is the true Noir, rather than a team that has merely adopted and old, unused name. And she puts up a pretty good argument. Leaving a trail of spectacular yet efficient murders behind her.

It is hard to decide who is one whose side. Chloe is taking on Noir's targets and has no qualms about endangering the team, but she doesn't attack them directly. Which she seems quite capable of doing. Soldat politics are so baroque that Altena is no clearer than her minion. In the end, the viewer must be resigned to appreciating yet another twist in a story full of subtle complications.

The killings themselves are classic 'Noir' - saying more about the women that carry them out than the victims. It is almost a shame that the core plot has so much activity in it that the episode plots are a bit obscured. But writer Ryoe Tsukimura manages to achieve an edgy sort of balance where the interplay always enhances the whole.

Based on a rare interview on this DVD, Chloe and Altena are more than an interesting detour, but will drive even more of the increasingly baroque plot. I don't mean that in a negative sense, story and character development continue to be the vital keys in this series. 'Noir' is clearly remarkable for combining beautiful women and weapons in a series that defies the 'girls with guns' anime genre and refuses to stoop to anything that resembles fan service. This remains high on my recommended list.

Noir is an adventure series based around a French hit woman named Mireille and a Japanese school girl named Kirika. Mireille is capably living under her own terms when she received an e-mail from a girl in Japan that lures her east believing there may at long last be the answers to the murders of her parent years ago. The name of their new company? Noir, a name in the underworld that has been used by assassins for years.

On the third disc the two main characters are back in form and discover there is an organization behind their mysteries. The problem here comes in the form of Chloe the young woman with purple hair and a green cape and surprisingly for anime she does have asian features. Chloe is also an assassin, specializing in knives who claims to be "the true Noir' but she doesn't seem to hold any animosity for the two women she see's as `pretenders to the title.

The trouble is Chloe is way over the top in appearance and behavior. While the two main characters are anime hero levels in their fighting abilities, Chloe is so out there as to make the suspension of disbelief difficult. It is one thing to us a knife in close in a building, but by the 3rd episode on the disc she is having a fight on a mountain side against multiple men, all armed with guns and she's throwing knives further and harder than they can shoot. It's at the `you gotta be kidding me level.' And is very disruptive.

This started out is really well but by this disc you start to worry if the rot has set in and is it worth going on. Unfortunately is gonna get worse.

first of all the first 2 volumes of Noir werent the best first 2 volumes in anime.I only watched the show this far because it hinted of great action and an intriguing plot.I wasnt really sure if I liked this show or not and if I should just give up on it since the previos titles werent all too great.After episode 11 though I have decided to stick with the show as since they have FINALLY hinted at what the over-all plot might be.I wont bog you down with plot details or intros but a new character named Chloe has appeared, and she makes the show so much better. Chloe believes that she is the true noir and will go to great lengths to prove it.Favorite quote:Mirielle:"tell me, why are you here?Answer me! you didnt just come here to have tea did you!?" Chloe: "there are bisquits too."Classic!If you werent sure wether to stick to Noir or not i'll let you know that Noir's started to pick up, the action's even more intensce and its just more interesting.the music is great as usuall (Noir has some of anime's best soundtrack), and the action isnt as boring, (i felt that the action in the first 2 volumes wasnt frantic enough even though Kirika and Mirielle were always in life-or-death predicaments). over all, this is a good dvd.

The first two volumes of Noir were good. If you're reading this you've most likely seen them. They had great action and the best music I've ever heard. I don't usually notice the music much, but it seems almost like a character in Noir. The music is what gives the action scenes a lot of their artistic style.
Vol. 3 continues this. But it also adds Chloe, the third of the main characters. She seems to have more presence than Mirielle or Kirika. Chloe brings a certain style (and a bit of humor) to Noir and her presence makes the series infinitely better.

One thing I don't like about the way anime series have started coming out is the 7 disk format which means one of the disk is only going to have 3 episodes.
That said, I have to say that I find this installment of the Noir series is one of the best so far. The introduction of Chloe and her claim to be the true Noir puts a interesting spin on the series. The fact that this claim was made after Chloe beats Mireille and Kirika to the mark for the second time rattles our girls to no end.
Its interesting to see the story shift off of our main characters to focus even an entire episode on another. The way its done gives us a good look at Chloe even though it doesn't explain much about her. She is cool, cold blooded, and profesional but at times she also shows a child like youth and a wonder for beauty. Aslo, what is her connection with Kirika? Never showing weakness and never with her guard down she is a very cool enigma to the series.

Well, I am impressed. Normally in ÒNoirÓ our two assassins are usually cool, if not cold; calm, if not disciplined; and calculated, if not precise. Since Noir episodes are generally a two-act play with the set-up taking place in the first act and the execution; (no pun intended), taking place in the second, ÒNoirÓ episodes are as structured as the assassins themselves. However, things get shaken up as a new assassin enters the picture.

This new character makes her entrance by beating our two girls to an intended assassination target. Then to add insult to injury, she beats them to the next target as well.

Her name is Chloe, and she rattles the usually cold and in control Mireille a great deal. MirelleÕs voice shakes when in her presence, she becomes insecure, and practically powerless to react when near her. Kurika on the other hand, also somewhat rattled, seems to both fear and admire her unparalleled abilities. Whoever she is, she knows more about our girls and the mystery that surrounds them then they do. Thus, the plot thickens and our characters are more fully developed.

The Production notes are very extensive which were written by the "Noir" animation director, Satoshi Ohsawa. He explores the type of guns the primary and secondary characters used and the technical details of animating them as well. He spends numerous verbage explaining his sincerity in making a female centric anime that was not insulting or sexist and in my opinion he suceeded.

The music in ÒNoirÓ is very good but you know that if you are up to the third DVD. The song ÒCanta Per MeÓ was slightly changed to make it more driving yet operatic in tone and it works very well. If you have to own the song, get this version.

One more thing I would like to add. To me, Chloe and Kurika look almost related. Gosh, the things about ÒNoirÓ that make you go, hmmm?

The three episodes are some of the best so far, in the series. Good plots, great lines, good artwork, and Chloe, the 'True Noir'. The three episodes link together like one large story, with the focus on Chloe, who is not only a assassin of great skill with blades, but seems to know something about Kirika (and has a thing for tiny forks). In fact episode 12 is totally on Chloe, which just screams of her importance to the storyline. The DVD has the normal extras, plus an interview with Houko Kuwashima, who does the Japanese voice of Kirika (and the cat in Lost Kitten). I love Mireille's line about the Mad Tea Party, but her questions during the party suggests she's not too bright. She should have already guessed most of the answers.
I take a point away from what I think is the best Noir DVD out of the first three because it only has 3 episodes. The show is starting to grow on me, but giving me only 3 episodes on one DVD is bad business and not a very good value.
Get it used, unless you really like the series up to this point, then, used or not, you'll want this one!