Customer Reviews

Escaflowne - Betrayal & Trust (Vol. 2, Uncut Version) [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me just start by saying that Escaflowne (Visions of Escaflowne) is not your typical anime TV series. If you have not yet seen the original uncut version and are only watching the FOX version, you are really missing out. This series has drama, incredible action sequences, and the music that will pull you completely into the story. Oh yes, and the animation is better than most other TV series, especially during the mecha battle sequences. The characters are extremely interesting, and they seem to display emotion and react as real people would in their various situations. This series is also very deep and sometimes may seem a little confusing to you. The plot has many secrets and surprises in store for you. However, trust me, no matter how confusing the series may get, everything will come together in the end. This is the second DVD release for Escaflowne which will continue the excellent story, and I can't wait to get my hands on it. This is the original uncut version with all of the video and music in its right place. And it's on DVD, which means that it will last you a lifetime, and you will get to see the crisp animation as it is meant to be seen with sharpness that only DVD can display. If there has ever been a reason to buy a DVD player, this series is it. I would reccommend Escaflowne to any anime fan, and especially fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gundam Wing, or other mecha series. I think that fans of those series will love the medievel spin put on the mecha in the Escaflowne series. So, do yourselves a favor and make sure that you have some money reserved for this DVD when it is released.

This one has my favorite episode on it... #7, "Unexpected Partings," I believe. Ah! I just love that one. I mean, how can I resist Dilandau-sama destroying a city while screaming "moecha" (burn) at the top of his lungs? *grin* Okay, okay, serious review. I reccomend this series highly. It's a very beautiful show with exquisite animation and a very complex plot. It's amazing that it all fits in 26 episodes, I think. The characters may have noses the size of the Empire State Building, but I'm willing to overlook that fact because half the characters are so darn GORGEOUS anyhow (like Folken or Dilandau or Allen or Yukari [yes, you heard me, Yukari =P]...yumminess... ^_^). This show is very detailed in a way most anime isn't, even showing little things like the citzens' reaction at having their houses shoot up in flames...come on, do you see that in, say, Sailor Moon? Anyway, it's easily my favorite anime ever, even topping Evangelion and Mononoke-Hime (both of which I also love). I'm glad that it's finally been released comercially with subtitles, and it's obviously a goldmine for the company that did so...

"Club Escaflowne"! One of the things I really love about the DVD format is the little extras that usually come along with it. The first Escaflowne DVD had a set of beautiful music videos set to music from the series. This disk as a really fun interview with the Japanese voice actors for Merle, Hitomi, Van and Folken called "Club Escaflowne". (Warning to people who haven't seen the whole series yet, they do reveal a major plot point that may "spoil" some things for you) The actors really have a lot of fun joking and teasing back and forth as they chat about the series, funny stories about themselves, and more. Even if you have the series on VHS already, I consider this feature, along with the durabilty (escaflowne is a series you'll watch over and over) and beauty of the DVD format to be a reason to get this disk.

One of the things I will probably mention in several of my reviews of this series is that it is really a 'series,' not just a string of episodes with a dramatic ending. Themes and characters are developed over time, story arcs weave together, and each episode builds on the previous. With the kind of production effort that has gone into Escaflowne, success is a forgone conclusion. Not just success, but the kind of richness that makes for greatness.

When Van turns Escaflowne into a dragon and leads off Allen and Hitomi's pursuers it puts him face to face with his brother Folken, who failed the Fanelian test for kingship and fled to the Zaibach Empire. We discover that, as unappetizing as Folken's agenda is, it springs from honorable motives. This dichotomy between to forms of duty will haunt this series, providing as it does the seeds of redemption.

Eventually the flurry of rescues and escapes leads everyone to Palas, the capital of Arturia. But, there is no peace there. The Asturian king is squirming in the grasp of Zaibach and quickly proves his own untrustworthiness. Hitomi discovers that Allen, whom she is falling in love with, has some kind of pre-existing relationship. While this is unclear, Hitomi's confusion over her feelings for a boy back on Earth, Allen and Van is completely apparent. Thus will fate, desire, and duty play repeatedly in these relationships.

Art, animation and music continue to be top grade. I was struck in this DVD with the fine work done to bring Escaflowne to life, reminiscent of Evangelion, but a notch better. The kind of choreography used isn't just a delight to watch, it is expensive to use, underlying Kazuke Akane's commitment again. There is an interview with many of the lead voice stars that, amidst a lot of kidding around, reveals that Akane is not the only one who is determined to make something special of this series.

One of the best anime's I've ever seen, and one I can't recommend enough. My wife and I saw this at a local anime convention and stayed up all weekend to catch the 8 episodes shown. Buying the box set beat out the grocery money, ramen for a week was worth it. A great story, great animation, and an amazing soundtrack. I'm waiting for the boxed DVD set before I go out and buy it on DVD. If you like NGE, this'll be right up your alley. Avoid the Fox version, they should be charged with assault for what they did to it. My only complaint is the pinnochio syndrome, what's with those noses? The previous reviewer was right on target, Yoko Kanno's work with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra is simply awesome, John Williams should give this a listen so he could relearn how soundtracks should be done. I've also heard that this was "in response" to NGE, Escaflowne actually predates NGE, and besides, what's the problem with having 2 great anime series about mecha?

This is a fun series to watch.
You kind of feel sorry for Hitomi, your sucked into a mystical land where people fight in giant suits of armor called Guymelefs and there's constant fighting and people are dying and theres animal people to.

It took me awhile to get this whole set. I would of prefered to get it as a box set, but still I really enjoyed this series.

My favourie character is Dilandau he's one bad guy totaly vicious he mows through guys on the battle battlefield just to get to Van his main anemy the only one he cares about fighting.

I really recomend this series for all to watch.

The first episode I saw of Escaflowne was episode 4 and my first impressions weren't too gr8 but my brother bought this DVD so I decieded to watch it anyway. After we watched the whole DVD I thought too myself "Hey this anime is pretty good after all" so it was this DVD got me into the Escaflowne series. Episode 5 is where Van finds out who his brother is, Episode 6 is when Hitomi meets Milerna and she believes that Allen and her are a couple until the next episode when we find out Milerna is getting married, but not to Allen. Hitomi thinks Allen is available until she is heartbroken from what she see's (it's sad that bit) and to make matters worse, Hitomi is sold off and Van rescues her but then Dilanduo appears, but Escaflowne changes into a dragon and flys them to safety. In episode 8 Hitomi wakes up from a strange dream and near the end of the episode, the angel in Hitomi's dream saves her from near death and so the DVD ends. My fave episode is probably 8 and I recommend this DVD to any1! Go buy it!

This eposiode of Escaflowne has everything you come to expect from top of the line anime . Lord Folken as it turns out is Van's older brother. Who was supposed to have been killed by a dragon.But he turned out to be a coward and becomes a turncoat and joins the Zaibach Empire. Van is captured and brought onbroadthe Zaibach floating fortress where he is questioned Folken who tries to convence Van to join him. (Folken is secretly plotting the downfall of the Zaibach Empire from within,so he can rule.)Allen ,Hitomi,Merle and Allen's crew storm the fortress to rescue Van . Van retrives the gymelf Escaflowe and takes both Hitomi and Merle with him as he escapes with the merory of how his own brother betrayed him and Fanaila.So all of you die hard fans of anything anime go get this and all the eposiodes of this epic and I bet you anything you can't stop watching until the very end of all 26 .

It is about a girl (Hitomi) who has been transported to a strange world. In Ep. five Van is captured and you learn a little about his past in his kingdom. You also meet one of his family members. While Van is being held captured the others try to figure a way to save him or if they should leave him and procede with there mission. The four Ep. are packed with action, adventure, and mystery. This is a show that is hard to put down. The characters are well developed (even the "bad guys") You'll find yourself spell bound by this show. There are 26 Ep. in total which are still being dubbed. If you haven't seen the first four you have to watch it, the rest will not make much sence without it. I bought both DVDs and they were great. I suggest that you buy the DVDs (if you can)because they have a better sound quilty and clearer picture. You also don't have to rewind or fastfoward to get to your favorite Ep. My sister and I love the DVDs over VHS. We are still waiting for the next few Ep. to come out to buy. This is a great anime if you like animes. There are mechas, fighting (hand to hand combat), plot, and you can follow what is going to happen. IF you buy any anime buy this. There is no nudity and no rude comments.

With the first four episodes of "Escaflowne", "Dragons and Destiny" captured our imaginations and prepared us for what could possibly be a monumental anime series. The second DVD, "Betrayal and Trust", expands upon the first DVD in every way and yet still hints that there is much more to be explored along the way.

By now, Hitomi is pretty much a part of the turmoil going on in Gaea, whether she likes it or not. On the run with Allen and Van from the sinister Dilandau, her mysterious powers begin to grow and play a much larger role than with her simple Tarot card readings. And while Van has to contend with the fact that his long-lost brother Folken has betrayed his country, Hitomi tries to deal with her possible love of Allen, who already appears to have a lover in the form of Princess Millerna. And all the while, Dilandau schemes and acts rashly in his unstable and almost insane mood.

Like the previous four episodes, the next four episodes play out at a very reasonable pace. Things slow down enough for back story and characterization to take place, but the plot moves along somewhat faster than most other anime series. Thankfully, the overall effect is a finely balanced series that doesn't sacrifice one thing for the other. And considering there are still 18 episodes left in the series, one can only guess what extraordinary and imaginative ideas this series can come up with next.

Visually, "Escaflowne" is one of the better looking series on the market today. While colors may not be as sharp as many of the series that are coming out these days, the series still manages to hold up on its own with its unique art direction and wonderful character designs. And when the series wants to look good, it can look good. Definately something anime fans demanding quality eye-candy can enjoy.

Audio-wise, you know you can almost always expect greatness when Yoko Kanno does the soundtrack. With her eclectic and mastereful genius, she has crafted music that is a league of its own. From orchestral to choral and back again, she truly knows how to make a great anime series even greater.

As for the English dub (provided by the Oceans Group of "Gundam Wing" fame), this set of episodes reveals where the dub actually starts to get good. While the dubbing of the first set of episodes wasn't terrible, the voice actors failed to completely develop their characters and thus sounded stale at times. With "Betrayal and Trust", they finally manage to get into their roles, and by episode eight they sound emotional and vibrant. Sub fans may argue about certain choices of VAs for some characters, but dub fans and sub fans with an open mind should find the "Escaflowne" dub acceptable.

As for extras, the second DVD has a set of interviews of the four main Japanese voice actors. Any fan of "Escaflowne" would be insane to pass this up, but be forewarned. These interviews contain many spoilers (the DVD even gives a clear warning of this) so it would be best for newcomers especially to watch the entire series before even looking at this.

Overall, "Betrayal and Trust" in an excellent continuation of the first four series. The story is progressing nicely, characters are developing marvelously, and the dub is starting to sound more enthusiastic. Die-hard anime fans would be insane to pass up this epic, and even casual anime fans need to look into this show at least once. There is a reason, after all, why many people call this the "Saving Private Ryan" of anime.