Customer Reviews

Neon Genesis Evangelion, Collection 0:2 (Episodes 5-8)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This second Neon Genesis Evangelion disc is a marked improvement over the first one in my opinion, in terms of both DVD quality and the entertainment value of the episodes themselves. The image quality here is WAY better than the first disc--sure, it's still not as gorgeous as some of the newer anime shows that are turning up on DVD, but considering what ADV had to work with this picture is simply beautiful. Even better, it doesn't have the "overlays" that plagued the earlier disc (where signs and notes that were originally in Japanese were jarringly covered with English language text). It causes a number of problems with overlapping subtitles in episode 6 if you watch it subbed, but it's always easy to tell what's going on. The disc automatically plays a few trailers for other ADV shows when you first put it in, but (unlike the annoying automatic trailers on most of Disney's releases) they can easily be skipped by pressing the menu button on your remote. Like the first disc, there are no extras other than a few character biographies. As for the episodes themselves, you'll find a couple of really tense action sequences, some foreshadowing of future plot developments, and most importantly the introduction of female leads Asuka and Rei (well, Rei was sort of introduced in the first collection of episodes, but this is where she becomes a major character). Aside from the occasionally annoying comic relief, this is first-rate anime viewing. Highly recommended.

The plot thickens with the second DVD installment of "Evangelion", and there's some major character development especially with one of the main characters, Rei in episodes 5-7. As with Collection 0:1, you get 4 episodes on Collection 0:2.

This DVD overall is much improved over the first. Due to it being just a single-layer DVD (whereas the first was dual-layered) makes for much improved image quality, because the compression of video is lessened. Although the image tends to "shift" or "jump" on the first frame when cutting to another scene, this is of little annoyance to me. I've seen many other anime titles where this kind of thing is noticeable, even on VHS tapes, so this is not a fault of the DVD disc or DVD playing hardware/software.

The sound quality, as with the first DVD, is top notch. All 3 dubs (English, French & Spanish) as well as the original Japanese audio track, as with the first DVD, are all present as well.

If you already have Collection 0:1, and enjoyed it immensely like I did, pick this one up. It's worth the price.

I feel A Viewer from Texas is doing the series a gross misjustice, and attacking what certainly is one of the best anime series and most popular. Granted, this portion of the show is not as smooth as the later parts (excluding ep 25 and 26) as far as animation goes. However, to assume that the director didn't even care for the show is absurd! This show was done on a LOW BUDGET and if you'll compare animation, you should realize that this is a TV SHOW. DragonBallz and Pokemon and other lesser animes are TV shows themselves, so just LOOK at the ENOURMOUS difference in animation quality. Next is the "psuedo-psychology." All I can say is that I'm sorry A Viewer cannot appreciate the escelation of this element as seen in the show. I'd like to remind him that the series is from the perspective of a mentally instable 14 year old and a woman who witnessed an apocolypse and spent two years in catatonia, in ADDITION to the fact that such overexaggerated views on "reality" are prevalent in Japanese entertainment. It's a shame many Americans cannot appreciate it. I too became curious as to how some of the things in Eva were "quantified" (such as destrado, the will to cease living). If you accept the fact that this takes place fifteen years from now, where science has reached a point so advanced that it can produce Evangelions, thereby making Man like a God, then the revelation of someone making a Scientific Unit for Psychology isn't quite so bizarre. The mind itself and all the decisions we make are simply electronic transmissions amoung brain cells.

Now to my informative part. This portion of the series takes a final glance at sadness as we see much of the haunting Rei Ayanami, and her participation in repelling the fifth angel. All such traces of drama are then wisked away until what will most likely be the fifth DVD (all DVDs after the second have 3 eps) as we experience the "happy days," a romp-style part of the show lead by Asuka, who lets the world know that you can kill Angels with a smile on your face. THe only reason why I give this 4 stars and not 5 is solely because of how strong the shows caliber gets later on, but never take this part of the show for granted, its still a great anime.

After returning to NERV and resuming his pilot duties, Shinji and his friends meet the Second Child, Asuka Langley Soryu on a battleship carrying her Evangelion Unit to NERV. Their peaceful afternoon on the ship is interrupted by the arrival of Gaghiel, who attempts to destroy Asuka's Evangelion Unit and thus hinder NERV. This episode also shows viewers one of NERV's many terrible secrets.

The following episode introduces my favorite particular angel, Ramiel, whose ultra-dense Absolute Terror Field can only be pierced by a blast from the experimental prototype SDF Positron Cannon. The only problem with this: the Positron Cannon requires an extremely large amount of energy, meaning that all of Asia must go without power while the Cannon is active. Worse still, Ramiel's powerful blasts and dense A.T. Field mean that whoever has the Cannon had better fire before Ramiel does and score a direct hit on the beast . This episode also offers more information on Rei Ayanami's true nature and origins.

This DVD marks the beginning of EVA's shift from mecha/angel battles to introspective psychological discussion. The angels continue to get tougher, the pilots continue to slowly slide into insanity, and Anno's dark themes become ever more visible.

Now that we have met Shinji Ikari, the second child, it is only fair that we follow his encounters with the other children, Rei Ayanami, the first child, and Asuka Langley Sohryu, who is the third. All of these fourteen year olds are destined (perhaps doomed) to save the world of the Second Impact from the attack of Angels - bioengineered creatures determined to destroy the human population.

We know from some idle conversation that Rei has no memories of a time before her training to merge with one of the gigantic Evangelion built to stop the angels. Badly injured in the testing of the prototype unit, it is only in episode 5 that she finally takes an active role. Rei is withdrawn and unemotional, so it is only because of a wildly embarrassing incident that Shinji penetrates her exterior. Then Ramiel, Angel 5, attacks NERV headquarters and Rei and Shinji must work together to face the threat. Then later (episode 7), Shinji and Misato confront a berserk robot created as competition for NERV's EVAs.

In episode 8 we finally meet Asuka, who is the exact opposite of Rei. Loud, egotistical, and intensely competitive, she is the pilot of EVA 02, the first 'production EVA. Shinji and Misato fly out to meet with the fleet that is transporting the new EVA from Germany to Japan. Asuka is only distracted from making Shinji miserable by the arrival of Gaghiel, the horrific sea angel. As Gaghiel starts tearing the fleet apart Shinji and Asuka must pilot the untested EVA 02 while Misato tries to come up with a scheme to stop the angel and keep the two young pilots alive.

One of the things that is notable about this series is that the pilots, Shinji, Rei, and Asuka, are all too human. Shinji's underlying cowardice, Rei's distance from her emotions, and Asuka total lack of distance from some inner source of anger grant this story a sense of reality that something like 'Power Rangers' is totally lacking. I also have to commend the acting of the English voice cast for the color and accuracy of their readings.

simply my favourite anime of all time...it has everything that you can possibly want in an anime.large mechs,cute blue haired chic and a child hero who is trying to find his place in the world while trying to cope with his own special abilities.i own quite a few anime from the old macross & captain harlock series to the latest Lain and sakura dairies....but this all is nothing compared to the evangelion series.when you get into the storyline you'll get so engrossed that it freaks you out.voted one of the most successful anime with millions of fanatic fans all over the world.i have to admit,i am one of those fanatic..i own the video,vcd and dvd collection.i own the dolls,posters,the mechs etc...if this is one of the first anime you buy,trust me you'll never regret it ever.but what really brings the story to life is how shinji,our hero tries to cope with his love life,where he belongs in the circle of things and his relationship with his dad.it has quite some serious overtones and quirky situation but overall what makes this anime so great...is how you feel drawn into the role of shinji,rie and asuka.in the great prepective of life,we try really hard to belong and be accepted by our surroundings.it is never easy but thats' life...

This is one of the better animes (?) out there in terms of story, character development, pacing and action. There are two angel battles, one taking one and a half episodes and seeing character interaction between Rei and Shinji. The first episode is a little slow but is important later in the series in Collection 0:4. The Rei sub-plot is introduced and is quite startling later on in the series. The next battle doesn't take place until the last episode, but it is well worth it because of the introduction of the Second Child, Asuka and Unit 02. Her personlaity is on the opposite end of the spectrum in comparison to Rei and she is a great character with a few good moments in her debut episode. There is also the introduction of Kaji, who has some brilliant moments with Misato. There is a cool plot twist at the end. SO BUY IT ALREADY!!!

Evangelion is one of the finest series out there - perhaps my favourite. I was overjoyed when ADV decided to go full speed ahead after the excruciating wait for the 2nd volume. The episodes on this disc are very good. Lots of character delelopment on the mysterious Rei, and lots of action, including the very cool episode where EVA02 and Asuka are introduced.

People should try to see all of the series, because, having seen it on video, it gets a lot more intense and involving, with some incredible fights and animation later on. My only gripe about the disc is that the overall picture quality lacks compared to other DVDs like Trigun and Ghost in the shell. Occasionally blurry and washed out, the picture is not as bad if played on an expensive player and TV, as opposed to a DVDrom.

Still, the average picture quality should not put anyone off this superb series. Having the English and Jap languages is real bonus. The definitive verion of Evangelion to get.

In this second part of the eight DVD collection, we get a little closer to Rei, to say a LOT closer. One reason why I can pity Shinji so much (unlike other anime characters) is that he tries to do good but ends up messing everying up. In this volume, we have Shinji try to bring Rei her new ID card. He ends up walking into her house, uninvited, into her room (where we see freaky looking bloodstained clothes and pillows), and picks up a pair of glasses we've been told were Commander Ikari's. Rei walks in, Shinji turns and sees she just got out of a shower, she walks over, takes the glasses, Shinji slips on the water, falls onto Rei, drawers go flying, and before we know it, he on top of her and her towel's completely off.
This scene has a very artful way of covering nudity with objects (...).
The next on the list of people who are introduced is Asuka Langley Sohryu, the Second Child and pilot of the German-made Unit-02. She's a real sassy girl, when Toji is crawling on the floor to retrieve his wind-taken hat on the aircraft carrier they meet her on, she steps on it. A gust of wind blows up her skirt (...) and Toji gets smacked.

I don't like revealing TOO much of the story but like my others, I give an overview of the episode, a review, and a closing overall statement.

This is the next chapter and still as good as the first, yet better. The series doesn't really reach the full swing of tension, drama, and action until around Neon Genesis Evangelion 0:5 Inner Sanctums. But that doesn't mean just give up now! Keep watching if you like it!

Overall: I love the DVD, the extras (like all the other DVDs) really are bone-dry (only a few previews but some are good ie: Gasaraki, Spraggain, Samurai X The Movie, etc), but overall, if you just want the episodes, you've got the right DVD!

This is a very good dvd and is very funny, out of the five anime dvds I own this is definatly the best. You should buy it, if you are a serious anime fan or even a beginer you won't be dissapointed.