011 4 Starters , I don't much care for special features . This set was perfect for me because of that . The thin cases save lots of room on the shelf , has all the episodes plus 4 director's cut episodes . The only problem I have with this is when you are watching it with subtitles , they don't have those fun facts pop up like when you watch it on the computer . I like those . Other than that it's perfect , good picture quality , actually really good picture quality , good sound , great product .
034 4 I have been a big Eva fan for a long time and this set was perfect for me . It's missing some of the extras that the old set had but its got the show , and the directors cut episodes on the last DVD . All in all excellent , great case art , and I love the thin cases .
104 4 This package is ideal . I have been a fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion for some years now and I had been looking for such a comprehensive collection of the series and at such a good price !
128 4 This really is the best anime series I have ever seen . Watching it gives you a view into the human mind that you won't see anywhere else . The production value on this series is higher than most blockbuster films . . . you can tell the creators put their heart into it . Evangelion is what anime is all about : gripping storyline , lovable characters , and gritty action . If you think anime is for nerdy 13 - year-olds , this is the series to prove you wrong .
161 4 I know many people are going to completely disagree with me on this but I belive Close , but no Cigar is absolutely right . They make an excellent point , a point that so many people fail to see . Evangelion is a very flawed series in the sence that the philosiphy is very loose . I totally 100% agree .
014 4 ( This review refers to the sub version , for my dub review look at the
Neon Genesis Evangelion - Perfect Collection
) .
After seeing Eva for the first time about four months ago , I wrote a review and gave the series three stars , stating many reasons why it was and wasn't good ( you can still read that review for the Perfect Collection ) . The review for the most part was quite neutral , but I received many comments asking me to give it another chance and watch in Japanese instead of in English . Eventually I caved , and now I'm glad I did . Although the series still suffers from some glaring flaws IMO , it is a whole lot better and easier watching it with the subtitles on than with the dubbing . The characters are presented much better and the acting is spot on . I didn't feel like strangling the main character every five seconds like I did with the dub and that in itself made the series better .
- - - THE GOOD - - -
The Characters in the sub are WAY better than their dub counterparts . In the dub I wanted to strangle the characters , or throw them off the cliff in annoyance and disdain . Shinji was just such a wimp I felt absolutely no sympathy for him and actually rooted on his demise ( which never came ) . Misato was nothing but a slut , Auska a loud mouth brat , and Rei a pent up introvert .
Although the characters in the sub are , on the surface , more or less the same , the way they are presented is completely different . Shinji , although still a cowardly weakling , take a dramatic change after the first volume and starts to open up to the people around him for the majority of the show . from volume 2 on to volume 6 , his character is somewhat likable in the way that he starts competing with the others and relates to them as a normal human being would . In volume one , he's completely unlikable , and then slowly changes into someone who the viewer can have an easier time relating to .
Rei is just the same in the dub and the sub alike . Her character is still a pent up introvert who refuses to open up . Really , she is one of the glaring flaws in this anime series . Her character never gets much attention at all , which is a shame because she could have been a very interesting character . She shows some signs of opening up in volume two , but after that all attempts at establishing her character are dropped . She exists in the background for the rest of the show , never doing or saying much of anything .
At the same time , upon second viewing , the mech battles aren't nearly as bad as I remember them being . Although there is still a problem with repetition , the problem isn't as annoying as it was when I first saw it . There was considerably less yelling in the sub version which made the otherwise cheesy battles quite tense . In the dub , everything seemed centered on the angel battles , but in the sub version , the angels are more of a back-story , a side show to the characters story .
Overall , almost nothing in the sub was quite as bad as it was in the dub version . The battles were better , the characters were better , and the overall mood of the series was better .
- - - The Bad - - -
At the same time , parts I remember as amazing were quite as good in the sub as they were in the dub . While watching the English version I remember volumes 6 and 7 being among the best episodes I've ever seen in anime , but when I watched them again , they didn't hold the same power they did when I first watched them . Auska's , Misato's , and Shinji's decent into depression all seemed to happen all at once . One episode everything's pretty much okay , the next everyone's thinking about suicide . I understand why everyone gets depressed , they all have their reasons and they are all understandable , but it didn't quite have the same power as it did in the dub . for other shows , like
Now and Then , Here and There ( Complete Collector's Boxed Set )
, the drama was always better in Japanese , but here it seems that just for certain parts , the dub version holds more power .
Also , the ending , although a little better the second time around , is still a piece of garbage that should never have aired on TV . It seems the creator of this show though we couldn't figure out why the characters were depressed by ourselves so he created episode 25 to spell it out in minute detail and cover every single little thought they had . Was this really necessary ? I already know why they all hate themselves ; episode 25 is just throwing every ounce of subtlety away and spelling everything out for us in a really long and boring way . the music doesn't help out any , driving the viewer more towards sleep than interest , and the animation is , for the most part , just some character sitting in a dark room while his / her younger self talks to them in a monotone voice .
Episode 26 is a little better , but not by much . If you like hearing people talk to themselves , than maybe you'll like this , but otherwise this episode will have you falling asleep . The whole episode is just psycho babble , Shinji telling us ( again ) that he hates himself and everyone asking him why . At the very end we get a glimpse of an alternate world where the angels never showed up , and all the characters have very different personalities . This is near the end , and from that part up until the closing shot it's pretty decent . Overall , the ending is just too needlessly boring . its the kind of artistic ending that a college film student will make and his teacher will praise , but everyone else in the class will fall asleep while watching . it may be artsy but its boring and peointlesly complicated and doesn't finish the stoy in any way .
Other complaints and positives I had from my first review still stand , I just don't want to repeat myself again .
If you are thinking about watching this series , please for the love of god , watch it in Japanese . Do not ever bother with the English version , it sucks . If you read this review , please leave a comment .
006 4 This was the first anime series that i have loved . The show has deep religious themes , along with characters that all have some deep seeded psychological angst , which really gives them character . From narcissism to aphasia , the depth of the series is surprising .
The ending to the series is however , lacking . I would recommend purchasing this instead of watching episodes 25 ans 26 .
Neon Genesis Evangelion - Death & Rebirth / The End of Evangelion Two-Pak
007 4 this has to be one of , if not the best anime ever made .
Eva has a great story line , awesome fight scenes , and characters that you become attached to . Although the show is great , and i recommend it to any anime fan , the last 2 episodes are really confusing , and don't provide an ending with any closure for the audience . So i would also recommend buying
Neon Genesis Evangelion - The End of Evangelion
, as it provides a more suitable ending for some , and is also a great movie by itself . However after watching the movie I almost prefer the ending that went along with the anime .
the product itself comes in a wonderful box , with these pretty half-width DVD cases , and looks great as an edition to any collection .
010 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
Starters , I don't much care for special features . This set was perfect for me because of that . The thin cases save lots of room on the shelf , has all the episodes plus 4 director's cut episodes . The only problem I have with this is when you are watching it with subtitles , they don't have those fun facts pop up like when you watch it on the computer . I like those . Other than that it's perfect , good picture quality , actually really good picture quality , good sound , great product .
051 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
Being new to this genre myself , I was pleasantly supprised at the complexity of character and story developement in this anime complete series . Well worth having for any video library . The art is incredibly vivid . You can be drawn into the emotional turmoil of several of the characters and find yourself wishing for different decisions and outcomes both from the authorities and thos who serve them . Try this one out ! thanx . Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection from ADV
159 4 Amazon cancelled this item from my order due to its own mistake , but sent me an email to ask for review , what am I supposed to say ? ( FYI : I gave 1 star to it because I had to choose a number in order to proceed . It has nothing to do with the quality of this DVD )
033 4 the best anime ever made in my opinion , and now in only a few dvd's . the quality is incredible and the cases are so slim it only takes up the space of about three dvd's . a must have for eva lovers .
047 4 Its been a few years since ive seen it on Adult Swim it was a GREAT show , but too bad they only showed the series once . . .
062 4 I've already reviewed this show , but I am reviewing the way that ADV has put this package together . Put simply , it is amazing . Rather than putting the whole show on 8 discs , the regular run of the show is on 5 discs , plus a 6th disc with the 4 director's cut episodes . The picture and sound quality on these discs blows the old set's quality out of the water , and the convenient packaging saves a ton of space on my shelf ( nothing really to do with the DVDs I know , but just a personal note there ) . Above all , the 4 director's cut episodes are actually quite well worth it with some very interesting footage ( some flat-out creepy i might add ! ) . Out of the 5 characters that were re-dubbed for this occasion , only 1 really needed it , but whatever . If you haven't watched Evangelion before , or if you want better sound and picture than the set you may currently own , then by all means you must pick this up ! It only cost me 58 bucks brand new !
115 4 If you like Anime and Manga , I don't have to tell you about this collection ! It's a cult classic . . . you'll love it .
154 4 This is the best anime ever I don't care what you say it just is . i know this reveiw isn't helpful but This is the best anime ever no best show ever ! ! ! rent it and you'll see for your self
071 4 I've been watching NGE on cartoon network for the past 4 - 5 months and said to myself , I have to get these on DVD . I searched around and found a copy on AMAZON.COM . I ordered them for a great price , and couldn't wait for them to get here . Once I had a chance to watch them I was amazed at the quality of the picture and sound ! Unbelievable ! It made watching NGE a whole new great experience . I'd recommend the DVD box set for any NGE fans !
009 4 The product was shipped in good condition and contains all the episodes of NGE with the directors cut of the final episodes . Overall this is a good package for a reasonable price if you enjoy Neon Genesis Evangelion . I encoruage anyone to check out NGE before making this purchase to make sure that it is something for you .
084 4 This collection is awesome ! when compared to being shown on tv , the dvds had great picture quality . to simply put it , its a must have for hardcore NGE fans and well worth the price .
146 4 This is the best anime series ever . I first saw it when i was fourteen . It still brutalizes me every time i see it . totally brilliant . Don't listen to the haters . Only idiots dislike this show .
072 4 GAINAX , THANK YOU ! ! ! ! ! This collection is definetly the best ever . The episodes look and sound much better than ever before . The detail on all these looks like this is a whole new anime series . And the fact that all this ( with the uncut episodes included ) cost less than half of what buying each volume and uncut episode volume will go for , THIS is the one to go for . The series is one of the greatest ever , and this collection is the one to go for .
073 4 I'm sure if you're reading this , you already know what an amazing work of art Neon Gensis Evangelion is , a work of art made better by higher quality animation from this remastered edition of the series . The colors are nicer , lines smoother , and all of the screen shakes and blotches from the original version have been removed . In addition , this set includes the Director's Cut volume , which contains three episodes that have entirely new scenes added onto them , scenes which are vital for die-hard Evangelion fans . Although it doesn't include the extras , it's still worth the buy . Plus , it's cheap , and you can be eligible for free shipping !
013 4 No anime collection is complete without a groundbreaking series such as Evangelion . The condensed Platinum Edition takes a great idea and expands upon it . Re-mastered audio , video , and DVD setup , not to mention the four director's cut episodes and space saving thinness make this a perfect buy .
065 4 A strong argument . . . Amazing animation . . .
One of the best anime series ever !
068 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
This is an anime series worth wathching at least once . Oh , by the end there is going to be a character that you will hate with so much passion that it's amazing . It's worth watching just to have your emotions so hightened .
094 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
This box collection is an excellent addition to any fan of the Evangelion series . The four director's cut episodes make the series much easier to understand at times , showing scenes which add much more content to the plot . Only thing holding it back from a 5 star is the lack of the movie End of Evangelion with it , but really its no big deal .
095 4 This box collection is an excellent addition to any fan of the Evangelion series . The four director's cut episodes make the series much easier to understand at times , showing scenes which add much more content to the plot . Only thing holding it back from a 5 star is the lack of the movie End of Evangelion with it , but really its no big deal .
125 4 Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Collection is a true masterpiece ! ! ! Its plot will swallow you whole to such an extent that you'll feel like you belong in the universe . Buy it ! You won't regret it !
083 4 The series marks the height in the anime pehnomena . Many others have attempted to follow in its footsteps but are forever falling short . EVA was stunning ! The platinum collection is well worth the meager price tag .
085 4 Been looking for this for my kids for a long time , they have viewed it at least 5 times since we recieved it .
087 4 This is a review of the series and not any particular DVD release .
I would say Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the best anime series of all time , with an admirable attention to the human character's emotions , in a surreal plot that will keep you gripped all the way through .
The striking plot setup is that children have to be used to pilot war machines , and we see how these kid's lives are self destructing while they are surrounded by adults that are using them as tools of war . Everything is presented in a very real way , you feel the soundscapes and cultures of what's happening in any scene . . . you accept from the beginning that if it doesn't end in tragedy , there's much tragedy all along either way .
The are only two things that bothered me about this series . One , is what the Japanese call fan service . It basically means characters are caught naked in front of other characters and get embarrassed . It's hard to say if this is suppose to be titillating , a gag , or both , but it's something that happens in some anime , and this one it happens a LOT , like once or multiple times per episode . It almosts always detracts when it does , since the story is realistic and it's hard to buy people ending up in these situations . However , these sequences are always brief so you'll get over it and learn to ignore it if it bothers you .
The other thing is something that has been a lightning rod of fan criticism of the series , the ending of it as far as the episode run is concerned is a 100% cop out . It turns into basically an informal philosophy lecture , using the character's voices and mostly still shots . There's almost NOTHING related to the extremely detailed and realistic plots tied up here , other then a few vague references to what's happening that you have no reason to trust . It's basically an ending that takes place in the twilight zone , and you will be very agitated to experience such a rich story to end with all the richness ignored , and no resolutions . You have to watch a separate movie to see what you would expect of the series conclusion .
That said this is one the altogether warmest , darkest , most interesting and most human animes ever . Definitely watch it .
022 4 Warning : Spoiler
Evangelion is one of the most complex shows I've yet to see . If you truly understand the ending of both the end of the show , and the movie , you'll see that the show has come to a satisfying conclusion .
That's where I disagree with the Close but no cigar , review , this show is not about changing your physical reality . You can never will a door to dissappear . And this show never says you can . The point the show is trying to make is that life is what you make of it . If you believe that you're a good for nothing person , you will become that good for nothing person . What you believe will shape your life , and as Shinji goes through all the tribulations that occur in the show , he grows and matures until he realizes that he can in fact believe that he is worth something and become in essence , a person . He decided to face reality .
And yes , Evangelion is not only about False Happiness vs . Harsh Reality , it's also about the identity you gain from being around other people , inferiority complexes , love , betrayal , tons of different things . And for the most part , I believe the show's points .
I don't believe that you can in actuality , change your physical surroundings , however , you can change how you percieve them , and that's the point .
As a buy , I've heard that this boxset does not include the little dvd booklets that give you tidbits of important info that were included with the original relase of the Platinum Version :
A dictionary of all terms in Eva
A timeline
Angel Analysis
Screenshots of characters
Commentary on Episodes
Info on Evangelions
I purchased the original release of the Platinum Version , and am glad I did so , because the extras in the booklets helped to illuminate many mysteries in the show . However , if you don't care about those , then this is a much better buy .
$45 vs . 150
Which will you pick ?
082 4 essential . . . deep . . . a triumplh of the human spirit . . . evangallion presents us with a brillaint narrative , rich with complex charecters , christian symbolism and robot fights . You might scoff at the show's sexualization of pre-teens , but
I'll edit in a conclusion to this review later .
092 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
What can I say ? Almost one hundred severely brain deprived people have rated this 5 stars . I will admit , this is entertaining , and barely so .
First , the protagonist , Shimji , is quite possibly the most awful character ever . He spends valuable minutes whining and complaing that his father doesn't love him , all while friends and innocents are being killed .
The story portrayal was horrific , most of those who rated highly were not aware of the show's true theme . Basically there are two beings of creation : Adam and Lilith ( not Eve ) . Adam ( the big light creature ) goes around making beings shaped like the Angels . Lilith ( the Eva shaped creature ) goes around making man shaped beings . Something happened and whoops they both ended up on the same planet : not supposed to happen I guess . Only then the angels begin becoming human . Then the Evas are human , oh and the supercomputers named after the three wise men in the Bible , only the Bible is meaningless because there is no real God , only these aliens spawning creation on various plants . Oh did I mention they have big robots ? And they get kids to pilot them ? And they actually send these kids to public school instead of military training ?
Get a grip people : watch Gundam , at least their plots don't spiral to dismal failure , even with the release of the THIRD NEW ENDING . . .
Like I said , entertaining , but not much else .
Pros : Actually I like Shinji's dad , some great animation for its time .
Cons : Pretty much everything else .
Viewing Preference ; Japanese with English subtitles
105 4 Many of today's problems have arisen due to the lack of sociological interest in philosophical issues . In order for society to save itself from the depths of ignorance to which it has fallen it must restore interest and value to philosophical study . Evangelion is a masterpiece as it has brought philosophy to the media and inspired many viewers to reflect on various philosophical issues such as how to live the good life . The media needs more shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion before the general educational system deifies science beyond recognition of man's own ignorance .
049 4 All in all a very good product . The discs are excellent quality , and the remastering of the old animation looks great . The story itself is very good until the last few episodes , that's why this collection gets only 4 stars . I'm sorry to all the die hard fans , but that last episode just plain sucks . Luckily , there is a movie called End of Evangelion that actually provides a decent ending to the series . Pick this up if you like mecha , phsycho-thrillers , or wimpy main characters .
070 4 If you have never seen this anime before , now is a great time . This is one of the most influential animes ever made , and it has now been remastered to look and sound better . This thinpack collection is devoid of any extras , however , for the price , it is highly worth the price . For those who love extras , go for the individual platinum discs instead .
119 4 This set has all the episodes of the superb Neon Genesis Eva series and also has four directors cut . Overall the animation looks clearer and the sound quality was fantastic , but i gave it four stars because it has no extra materials other then the four directors cut episodes . If you want a barebones dvd set of the eva series then the price cannot be better then this one .
147 4 Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic series . It one of those series that you just have to own , and since it's available in a slim edition that is now too expensive , you can afford it .
107 4 a friend of mine would let me borrow a disk when before he truned them in . i liked it , but i did not understand the series . i got the box set & watched it again & i fell in love with anime all over again . this show will not disappoint you . many will say it is the best anime ever made .
045 4 This was a perfect deal . Clear description and a shipment with no problems . Communication was not a problem .
158 4 I have seen that gimmick from some other websites when they made the price error . but Amazon.com ? It was pretty shocking when I discovered amazon.com took out my order for this dvd set without notice and pretended nothing ever happend . i am really disappointed .
110 4 When I first saw this show on Adult Swim , I thought it was good , but not amazing . After about 13 episodes , I found that I was absolutely hooked . This show has some of the most amazing character development I have ever seen , and doesn't lack the action factor either . After a couple weeks from seeing the 13th episode , I decided to buy the box set . I have read some complaints on how there are so few extras ( only trailers on the first disc ) in this box , but aren't the episodes what you really want to see anyway ? In this box are 5 DVD discs containing 26 episodes , and a sixth containing 4 directors cut episodes , that show a new depth to some of the characters . Keep in mind though , this show isn't for the faint of heart . There is at least 1 one to five sexual references in each episode ( none of them are very explicit ) , some kissing scenes , that reveal relationships certain characters have with each other , and one off screen sex scene ( which is where all sex scenes need to be ) . The language is not particularly strong . I haven't stumbled across any F-words , only a couple of S-words at most . The violence is one of the strongest factors here . Although the angel fights are all moderately violent , there is one absolutely brutal massacre made on an angel , that left me a little breathless . By far however , this show is more disturbing than anything else . The plot material may need to be seen by a mature audience to fully understand , because of how disturbing it can be . Still , with all of these things , the show is quite amazing . The animation is fantastic , the voice actors ( English ) do a great job at grasping their characters . Although this is not my favorite anime , this show has my wholehearted recommendation .
026 4 I have seen and enjoyed Evangelion before so I knew what I was getting . Many others will likely go into more detail on the plot and story , so I won't repeat that here . I had previously watched a different release of the series and can say that many of the sound and video quality issues on that release have been addressed here . Video no longer has the occasional jerkiness that sometimes plagued the previous release and the sound has been remastered to 5.1 . If you are an Evangelion fan , this is a great set to buy .
029 4 You have to be a fan to appreciate this set . . . Though the ending is bad on this particular set ( only because the other ending is not included ) I enjoyed it . Maybe I am bias ? Love the packaging , Love the small dvd cases , love the anime .
066 4 I first got into Eva when it was aired on adult-swim . i was home from job corps , when i saw the first episode . . i was hooked ! i went back to JC , and found that one of the guys there had the whole series ! so i watched it , and i was thoroughly impressed . im glad that i just ordered the ( cheaper ) box set
129 4 I have seen a lot of anime in my life time but this series takes the cake . There are some major differences in this and the original first the sound quality is amazing . Second the video quality has been modified there is no more static lines in the charecters now . Third you can listen to it in Japaness and belive me the sounds in japaness are a lot different then that of the english language ( make sure to read the subtitals to the words are slightly different also ) . So if your looking for another anime to watch for a long time to come i recomend Neon Genesis Evangelion .
131 4 I usually watch anime on adult swim or through netflix and rarely actually purchase the dvds . As soon as I saw the price I could not resist , especially considering this is one of the best anime ever made . Not only do you get the original 26 episodes but the four director's cut episodes as well . This is without a doubt the best Evangelion collection out there .
The original ending of Evangelion may not appeal to everyone .
Personally , I think the End of Evangelion movie provides more understanding of the series and a better sense of closure .
126 4 This is by far the best giant robot series if not the best anime series I have seen . It has a great mix of high tension suspense , drama , comedy and intense action sequences . It is wonderfully drawn and animated . The writing and voice acting is amazing . The set is a great value and and I would have liked to give it a 4 and a half . The only thing that would keep this set from getting a 5 star rating is that you don't get the booklets and goodies that accompanied the original platinum dvds . My advice , if your new to anime pick up this series , if your an anime fan and haven't seen this buy this set , but if you have four or five of the original platinum dvds finish the set out that way .
030 4 This was the series that really got me into Anime ! Of course I would like devoted christians to me aware of the intense religous references that is within this series and the movies most of all . If you are not worried about comments about Adam , Lilith , Angels being Aliens and humans being Angels , who control big robots who are Angels , Then you might love this box set and movies as much as I do . Plus the chicks are cute too !
108 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
If you didn't already know , Neon Genesis Evangelion is a modern classic anime of robots , human drama , and biblical apocalypse science-fiction . The Platinum Collection is a must-have even if you already own the original Evangelion VHS or DVDs . The video and audio are brushed-up and the extra material on later episodes are excellent . My only complaint is I don't like slim-pak packaging but it's a small price to pay to have this ground-breaking anime in tip-top quality at a low price .
109 4 If you didn't already know , Neon Genesis Evangelion is a modern classic anime of robots , human drama , and biblical apocalypse science-fiction . The Platinum Collection is a must-have even if you already own the original Evangelion VHS or DVDs . The video and audio are brushed-up and the extra material on later episodes are excellent . My only complaint is I don't like slim-pak packaging but it's a small price to pay to have this ground-breaking anime in tip-top quality at a low price .
127 4 This series is very good , but it isnt something i would like to watch on a regular basis , like friends or family guy . The primary reason being it's so darn depressing , i would even go as far to say that watching this series too much could damage you mentaly , especially if your recovering from depresion . It makes the veiwer feel pointless , like theres no meaning to anything we do , it also projects the notion that life is just a lonley , hostile trudge to the grave . . . then again , some of you might like that kind of thing . I swear some people are only happy when thier miserable , if youre one then this is the show for you . On a more postive note , the show has several hilarious moments which will have you rolling around in stitches , plus it has some amazing fight sequences . I give it 4 stars for the artwork and originality of the story , plus the surreal effect it has on the veiwer , though it lacks the final star because its quite depresing .
018 4 I won't lie , the last two episodes of this show gave me a feeling comparable to the moment you realize the guy at dominoes ejaculated onto your pizza . The plot was interesting , and i respect the whole interpret the story for yourself sentiment that they were going for , i really do . This series however , leaves too much to interpretation and just leaves you with a confusing plot . The movie the End of Evangelion ties some things together nicely kind of and has some beautiful imagery but is still a little confusing , but at least its not a full hour of I am myself I am the me that exists in YOUR mind . Some of the characters are annoying at first but grow on me , like rei . Other characters i hate from beginning to end , like Shinji , don't even get me started about how much i hated shinji's character . Overall im glad i watched and would watch it again .
063 4 The actual product was good and exactly what I wanted , but the clear covering around the box set was ripped and one of the corners of the box was mashed in . It was shipped in a box that was too big for it and the selller did not put packing material around the box set to protect it from moving around and banging against the side of the box . not smart .
091 4 This was an excellent series . It started out as the average ' save the world ' type show , but as it got closer to the end it got much better as the characters started to deal with their own inner problems . I only give it four stars however , because of the ending . Do not watch the last DVD in this series , instead , watch all the director's cuts and order The End of Evangelion The ending it provides is much , much better than the one in the series .
138 4 Okay Datko , I'll help you with your problem . Heres the deal youve said you have seen the series and liked it so you automatically know you want it . So heres the criteria , honestly I cant give you any informtion on the individual DVD's of the newly released PLatinum edition , I can only give info on the newly released thinpack collecftion . First of all , this set is a bargian , it's way less expansive than the other set that came a few years ago , and it is remasterd so if your looking for good picture quality , then this is for you . However the down side is that this set dosn't really have any extra's , so if your looking for those then you may be dissapointed . Also you must note that this collection is a thinpak which means that it is very portable , unlike the other set . However this collection isn't really everything Evangelion . It's just the original 26 episode series , the two movies are not included in this set . Also the 4 director's cut episodes aren't here either , it's pretty much bare-bones in that sense . But of course you do get the option of having the show dubbed or subbed , which is great , but the old version had that too I guess .
I would say for the money it's definitely worth it , it's a great price , however if you already own the first set and are content with that , then I probably would just stick with that one . But if you really want to see the show remastered then hey , go for it !
040 4 This is the platinum boxed set for what is unarguably my favorite anime ever . Basically , this set contains the whole series ; all 26 episodes look great and sound great in either Japanese or English . This is a must have for any fan , or even those who want to experience the grandeur of Evangelion for themselves .
I'd also recommend buying the movie The End of Evangelion to compliment the set - The two-pak is a fine deal , but in all honesty , Death and rebirth is a somewhat unnecessary synopsis of the series , and the second half of the movie is the first half of End of Evangelion . I'd only purchase this if you were a die-hard fan that wants to see everything the series begat . The End of Evangelion though is something like ' required watching ' when you get to the end fo the series , and it is worth the money to purchase along with the platinum pack .
041 4 First , just so you know , I do not own any other Eva dvds .
That being said , I found this worth the $45 I paid for it . While Evangelion is not the ultimate anime that all the fan-boys make it out to be , it is a decent anime and a must-see for any anime fan .
Having seen the other dvds , which are older versions , I can say that the difference in quality is noticable , however , it may not be quite worth re-buying the series . Another slightly noticable difference was the Director's Cut versions of eps 21 - 24 , although I only noticed an extra scene here and there .
121 4 I don't care what anyone says , Neon genesis evangelion will always be one of the best anime . With awesome action , great humor , great music , and incredible philosophical elements that will really , make you think . Just don't buy it if you are expecting an all-action-all-the-time show . IT's not really a mecha show , but its a drama show that uses mecha . But everyone should watch this .
PG - 13 for some partial nudity , bloody fantasy violence , and language .
157 4 Save your money . This is not good . Obviously 71 people lost their mind . this is not good . Go buy Fullmetal Alchemist and watch somthing that will not be the biggest $45 dissappointment ever . It is really that bad . There have been acid trips that make more sence than this anime . If you are still going to buy it , burn it , do the world a favor and set fire to it .
145 4 Such a fine series but utterly destroyed by AD。 's double-dipping scam . If they could have fit 6 episodes on 1 DVD and sold the entire set for $50 , why didn't they do it in the first place ? ADV did the same with some other fine series , including Robotech , Noir , and Rahxephon . And still ADV continues to rip off anime fans by tactics such as these . It's about time anime fans stood up and said NEVER AGAIN to such deplorable tactics . If you don't have this series , this is a great and cheap way to start . You'll be deprived of the beautiful DVD booklets , though , that offer information and insight into the mythology of the series . You'll also be contributing to the perpetuation of this absolutely despicable tactic that will rip off more anime fans in the future . If you have the original Platinum Collection , one of the extra documentaries features a GRINNING Matt Greenfield saying that this release of Evangelion will not be the last one , that they will continue to reissue this series over and over again . Make up your own mind .
052 4 Being new to this genre myself , I was pleasantly supprised at the complexity of character and story developement in this anime complete series . Well worth having for any video library . The art is incredibly vivid . You can be drawn into the emotional turmoil of several of the characters and find yourself wishing for different decisions and outcomes both from the authorities and thos who serve them . Try this one out ! thanx . Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection from ADV
054 4 more of a action drama , a few laughs here and there if you want a serious anime this one is for you . . .
096 4 I was looking forward to purchasing this thin pak set but am confused about Amazon's prices and shipping . A week ago this item was priced around $47 and had a shipping time of 1 to 3 months . Yesterday , I returned to order this and the price jumped to $66 and ship dates 6 to 11 days . Now today , the price is still up the additional $19 BUT shippping is back up to 1 - 3 months . I am very wary about ordering this item . Anyone else having difficulty with Amazon's info and big price jumps from day to day ? ? ? ?
160 4 so i payed for this box set and i never got it . . . so sometimes i pretend how good the dvds could be , but the truth of the matter is i have no clue because what happen is i payed but then never recieved anything . I do find it odd that amazon would send me an email to write a review for an item that they never sent me but i did pay for it . I suppose that's half the fun though , paying . . . i guess if i never payed for the item i wouldn't be feeling this swarm of exciting emotions such as anger , regret , and rage . It's sort of like approaching someone of the oppisite gender for me . . . if i wouldn't have in the first place i would always wonder would could have been but in this case with the dvds i did go for it only to be shot down and left with a little less than i had before . . . if someone that did pay for the boxset of evangellion and actually did get the dvds in-tact via postage , i would appreciate any secrets you could share about your success !
005 4 This is not the Platinum edition that you think it is . While it does contain the redone episodes and 4 director's cut episodes , it is very dissapointing otherwise . The real Platinum edition comes with a booklet for each dvd that explain things in the episodes ( which is really cool if you want to know what its all about ) . In adition , as far as I can tell , all the extra's on the real DVDs are missing here . No commentary , no interviews , no nothing . Just the redone episodes plus the 4 directors cut episodes . Its great if you just wanted better looking and sounding episodes . Its a terrible let down if you thought you were getting all the cool extras for a great price .
050 4 There are a number of die-hard giant robo fans out there who refuse to admit any fault of this series . I can see why on some levels , but the ending was very slapped on . I won't give anything away , but the whole series is stunning and captivating . . . . . and then I woke up drooling on my living room floor only to realize the last two episodes had come and gone . Really , some of these directors need to stop trying to be so philosophical and just shoot a good ending that ties up all the loose ends . Lots of funny fan service in this though , that's a chuckle !
059 4 This is why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars . Other than that , plain subtitles is pretty good , better than most . The picture is beautiful , and a lot less shaky picture in compare to non-platinum collection . I enjoyed it and am proud to have it in my anime collection .
097 4 Whether you enjoy the world of anime or not this is an experience you must have before you die . Nothing else in the world is like it . For the sake of your personal experience I cannot tell you much about it why . The first 20 some episodes you are immersed in the semi-futuristic world of Tokyo 3 and the characters are developed beautifully . Shinji is the third child he is better then all those kids .
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
* OVERVIEW and EPISODE REVIEWS :
Neon Genesis Evangelion ( NGE ) starts out simple enough . A story about a boy named Shinji Ikari coming to a futuristic city and using giant robot-like Evas ( Unit - 01 himself ) to fend off the invading enemies called Angels . Along the way he meets a mysterious girl and pilot of Unit - 00 , Rei Ayanami , the fiery pilot of Unit - 02 Asuka Langley Soryu , Director of Nerv Operations Misato Katsuragi , the brilliant scientist , Ritsuko Akagi and his estranged father and Nerv's Commander , Gendo Ikari . There's also an intriguing cast of minor characters including friends from his school , Toji and Kensuke and Nerv's Vice Commander Fuyutsuki . But it ends in a completely different place than where it began , with so much filling its creamy center that it's hard to know what to cover in a review .
Yes , it indeed starts out simple enough : Through the first 8 episodes you probably couldn't distinguish NGE from any other giant robot anime ever made . These episodes , while entertaining , are as straight forward as anime gets . Then , slowly but surely from episodes 9 - 13 , the characters are given to more detailing . We get to know them better as more of their stories and histories are revealed . A beautiful example of this is in episode 9 when Asuka falls down , asleep , next to Shinji , who is then tempted to kiss her before something makes him stop . The story is expanded upon as more secrets are revealed , which leads to more questions .
But then , during episode 14 , which starts out as a boring recap , half way through we get the first glimpse of what this series is really about . After the title card we hear the voice of Rei , giving a surreal and beautiful monologue with similar images following on the screen . This bit is practically visual / audio poetry working together , and gives the first hints of what's to come . The psychological and philosophical leanings of this episode would start to become more prominent throughout the series .
Episode 15 is really where the gears shift . The story has slowly built our interest in the characters and the many secrets up to this point , with as much humor and light heartedness as seriousness . In 15 though things takes a more mature , complex , and somber turn - with the end being the catalyst for the brilliant episodes to come . Indeed , episodes 16 and 18 are two of the most dramatic works of fiction I've ever experienced , with 17 being the calm interlude between them .
But then 19 comes along and trumps them all . If I could describe the chills I had when watching that episode for the first time . . . simply put , I don't think dramatic storytelling gets any better . Episode 20 is one of the deepest and complex , further diving into the psychology and symbolism behind the show . 21 ' s back stories are woven so intricately you forget that you're watching an anime as the breadth given to the characters are incredible . 21 ' s finale also serves as one of the most emotional in the series .
22 is one of the most disturbing episodes , diving into the psychology of Asuka this time in a way that will leave you feeling a bit shocked . 23 does what 22 did for Asuka and applies it to Rei . It also has the biggest , most stunning revelation in the series at the end of the episode , as one of Nerv's big secrets is revealed . These episodes also bring much of the bigger picture between Nerv , Seele , and the secrets behind the Angels and 2nd Impact into focus , which leads to the climax . That climax hits with episode 24 , with the introduction of the last angel Kaworu . While one of the most perplexing episodes ( due to its cryptic plot and dialogue ) , its magnificent finale - played out appropriately to Beethoven's final movement of his monumental 9th Symphony - serves as an outstanding closure to the main series before the final two episodes .
The final two episodes completely forego the story that's been building up , and focuses instead on the psychology and philosophy behind the show and its characters . These two episodes are brilliant in their own right . Episode 26 in particular , with its deconstructing of the meanings of reality and freedom , and examining of so many psychological hot points in the show ( one's self worth , for instance ) is an artistic high point in anime . They are not completely un-story related though , as the melding of minds in these episodes are a major plot element . But this works out great for the director Hideaki Anno who probably loved being able to get many of these feelings out through this series and these two episodes in particular .
For those wanting a closure to the story of NGE , The End of Evangelion is the grand finale to end all grand finales . While it won't answer everything in a nice , neat way ( this is not a show that hands you answers on a silver platter ) , it provides an astonishingly powerful and poignant conclusion to the story and to the NGE series . I can understand the frustration of fans after watching the series and then the final two series episodes , thinking this was the end . In reality , the movie was MEANT to be the conclusion , but because of budget and time problems it couldn't be completed in time . The series finale will still stand on their own as the alternate take , but they're an essential alternate take as this is an anime whose meanings stretch far beyond the mecha-sci-fi , boy-saves-world genre . But the film sets a new standard in the art of closing a series on the perfect note .
* SERIES REVIEW
While the layers of psychology , philosophy , and symbolism would crush most shows under their own weight and seeming pretentiousness , Anno handles them with adeptness and acute direction . He skillfully weaves them into the story to the point where everything makes complete sense in relation to the characters and storyline . In fact , if you really take time to analyze the story , the characters , and the relationship between the dialogue and visuals with the psychological , philosophical , and symbolic meanings , you'll see this series does indeed have more depth than almost all others that have attempted to tackle similar subjects . In fact , this is a series which almost has to be viewed several times , as there are recurring motifs ( both visually and in the dialogue ) which link important thematic elements strung throughout . And if you're not watching carefully , you'll miss them the first and maybe even second time around .
I think the reason these ideas become so important is very simple , and that's because of the characters . Anno doesn't just create a random bunch of soulless , mindless , anime characters . He creates characters that everyone can relate to on some level . Because these characters have such range and depth , we begin to really care about them and their struggles . In the end their struggles become our own and they literally become mirrors of our own psychological profiles and problems . We begin to grieve as we watch them deal with such ( self ) destructive behavior caused by their circumstances and consequential frames of mind . It's because of this that the viewer actually cares about the more portentous moments , no matter how grandiose they become . I think it's very important for those out there to understand that all the elaborate complexities of NGE wouldn't matter without the characters that carry the weight and meaning of it all .
NGE is a show of extremes . Ranging from scenes of palpable , viseral power that inspire shock and awe , to the most quietly surene , surreal , and beautifully touching moments . These scenes are woven together as fine and eloquently as the Beethoven Symphony they play in episode 24 itself . And like that symphony , even though the parts are outstanding , the whole is much greater than the sum .
I believe this is a work of resounding artistic depth . I'd go as far as to say it's one of the absolute greatest pieces of fiction ever made in any medium . This may sound like hyperbole , but there have been few - if any - fictional works that have effected me both emotionally and psychologically like NGE has . If you put in the time and effort to actively watch this series , it will reward as many repeat viewings as you care to give it , as new layers and meanings will be uncovered each time . And I think that is , if nothing else , the first sign of a work of artistic genius .
* DVD REVIEW :
The Platinum Edition is far and away better than the Perfect Collection . The remastered visuals and audio are extraordinary . It doesn't get better than watching the big explosions in 5.1 Surround Sound ! The remastered visuals are equally as striking . The reduced frame shake and jitter is a phenomenal improvement from the previous edition . It seems like they almost went back and re-animated parts of the show , making almost every scene look more vivid , life-like and alive . The Subtitled translations is another thing worth noting , as these translations are , by and large , more accurate . Even though I now hate the English translation of the song doesn't match the melody ( always found it funny why it did on the Perfect Collection ) , this is a more accurate translation . The packaging is the only disappointment . The box is nothing special , the DVD cases themselves contain no booklets or notes , and there's no extras on the DVDs . But you get what you pay for as the price is a bargain . If you want all the other stuff you have to buy the Platinum Collection 1 + Box and the rest of the collection separately .
001 4 My Evangelion background :
I have been a fan of the series since I rented the weird End of Evangelion movie a couple of years ago . I rented the original DVDs ( the ' Perfect ' collection ) from Netflix and watched every episode in Japanese + Subtitles and English . I have also seen Death & Rebirth .
What THIS collection contains ( hardware ) :
I purchased this collection from Amazon . The disks have an interesting textured label application . Nothing else is special about the physical items . Thin DVD containers , decent box , NO inserts AT ALL unless you include the promo page stuck to the back of the box .
What THIS collection contains ( software ) :
Just the episodes and the director's cut versions of four episodes , nothing extra . No commentaries , no interviews , no guides , nothing . Well , it has some previews , but those do not count . To be clear , the director's cut and original versions of the four episodes are both here .
Detailed review :
I watched the first DVD and was amazed at the quality of the transfer . It had been a few months since I had seen the Netflix version , so I re-rented the first DVD to compare .
Yes , the picture quality is vastly superior to the old version . I never really noticed the frame shake before , but watching the original was like watching a crappy 60 ' s western - - almost every transition was marred by at least two or three frame shakes that cannot be ignored once the ' clean ' one is seen . The images themselves are also much cleaner . The old version looks like a VCR tape by comparison .
The sound was also amazing . I prefer watching in orignal Japanese with English subtitles , so it was a great surprise to hear it in Dolby Digital 5.1 - - usually the Japanese soundtrack is only two-channel .
There are a few additions to the episodes , but usually very small adds . However , the four director's cut episodes have significant additions that explain things that would otherwise be confusing , which is good , because episode 21 is where the series really takes the story in a new direction .
Opinion :
Again , I watch the Japanese w / subtitles . I was switching audio sources to compare English & Japanese and they sounded exactly the same except for the vocals . It also reminded me why I watch the Japanese versions - - in one scene , Toji gave Ryoko a small item . The English actor said I guess the cat's out of the bag but the subtitles showed Here is a cat souvenir for you ( not exact quotes ) . The English one makes it sound like he's giving her a secret clue to the rest of the story instead of just giving her a cat coin ( she collects cat stuff ) . Plus , you get to see how many ways the sound for yes is used ( yes sir , yes , yeah , probably are all the same word , just different levels of inflection ) .
Should you buy it ?
Here's how you should do it :
1 ) Rent End of Evangelion . You will either love it or hate it , but it provides an alternate ending to the series . Personally , I love it , but I also appreciate the original ending . If this movie makes you want to find out what's going on , then you will enjoy the series . If you thought the movie was stupid and you didn't care about the characters then you will not like the series , so you just saved yourself the cost of the .
2 ) Buy this collection . You WILL watch it again , so you will enjoy the excellent transfer quality for a bargain price .
Note : I revised this review to strip out renting Perfect collection first . There really is no reason to do this since Wikipedia has more info than the extras . Check out these sites for detailed NGE info :
[ . . . ]
003 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
* OVERVIEW and EPISODE REVIEWS :
Neon Genesis Evangelion ( NGE ) starts out simple enough . A story about a boy named Shinji Ikari coming to a futuristic city and using giant robot-like Evas ( Unit - 01 himself ) to fend off the invading enemies called Angels . Along the way he meets a mysterious girl and pilot of Unit - 00 , Rei Ayanami , the fiery pilot of Unit - 02 Asuka Langley Soryu , Director of Nerv Operations Misato Katsuragi , the brilliant scientist , Ritsuko Akagi and his estranged father and Nerv's Commander , Gendo Ikari . There's also an intriguing cast of minor characters including friends from his school , Toji and Kensuke and Nerv's Vice Commander Fuyutsuki . But it ends in a completely different place than where it began , with so much filling its creamy center that it's hard to know what to cover in a review .
Yes , it indeed starts out simple enough : Through the first 8 episodes you probably couldn't distinguish NGE from any other giant robot anime ever made . These episodes , while entertaining , are as straight forward as anime gets . Then , slowly but surely from episodes 9 - 13 , the characters are given to more detailing . We get to know them better as more of their stories and histories are revealed . A beautiful example of this is in episode 9 when Asuka falls down , asleep , next to Shinji , who is then tempted to kiss her before something makes him stop . The story is expanded upon as more secrets are revealed , which leads to more questions .
But then , during episode 14 , which starts out as a boring recap , half way through we get the first glimpse of what this series is really about . After the title card we hear the voice of Rei , giving a surreal and beautiful monologue with similar images following on the screen . This bit is practically visual / audio poetry working together , and gives the first hints of what's to come . The psychological and philosophical leanings of this episode would start to become more prominent throughout the series .
Episode 15 is really where the gears shift . The story has slowly built our interest in the characters and the many secrets up to this point , with as much humor and light heartedness as seriousness . In 15 though things takes a more mature , complex , and somber turn - with the end being the catalyst for the brilliant episodes to come . Indeed , episodes 16 and 18 are two of the most dramatic works of fiction I've ever experienced , with 17 being the calm interlude between them .
But then 19 comes along and trumps them all . If I could describe the chills I had when watching that episode for the first time . . . simply put , I don't think dramatic storytelling gets any better . Episode 20 is one of the deepest and complex , further diving into the psychology and symbolism behind the show . 21 ' s back stories are woven so intricately you forget that you're watching an anime as the breadth given to the characters are incredible . 21 ' s finale also serves as one of the most emotional in the series .
22 is one of the most disturbing episodes , diving into the psychology of Asuka this time in a way that will leave you feeling a bit shocked . 23 does what 22 did for Asuka and applies it to Rei . It also has the biggest , most stunning revelation in the series at the end of the episode , as one of Nerv's big secrets is revealed . These episodes also bring much of the bigger picture between Nerv , Seele , and the secrets behind the Angels and 2nd Impact into focus , which leads to the climax . That climax hits with episode 24 , with the introduction of the last angel Kaworu . While one of the most perplexing episodes ( due to its cryptic plot and dialogue ) , its magnificent finale - played out appropriately to Beethoven's final movement of his monumental 9th Symphony - serves as an outstanding closure to the main series before the final two episodes .
The final two episodes completely forego the story that's been building up , and focuses instead on the psychology and philosophy behind the show and its characters . These two episodes are brilliant in their own right . Episode 26 in particular , with its deconstructing of the meanings of reality and freedom , and examining of so many psychological hot points in the show ( one's self worth , for instance ) is an artistic high point in anime . They are not completely un-story related though , as the melding of minds in these episodes are a major plot element . But this works out great for the director Hideaki Anno who probably loved being able to get many of these feelings out through this series and these two episodes in particular .
For those wanting a closure to the story of NGE , The End of Evangelion is the grand finale to end all grand finales . While it won't answer everything in a nice , neat way ( this is not a show that hands you answers on a silver platter ) , it provides an astonishingly powerful and poignant conclusion to the story and to the NGE series . I can understand the frustration of fans after watching the series and then the final two series episodes , thinking this was the end . In reality , the movie was MEANT to be the conclusion , but because of budget and time problems it couldn't be completed in time . The series finale will still stand on their own as the alternate take , but they're an essential alternate take as this is an anime whose meanings stretch far beyond the mecha-sci-fi , boy-saves-world genre . But the film sets a new standard in the art of closing a series on the perfect note .
* SERIES REVIEW
While the layers of psychology , philosophy , and symbolism would crush most shows under their own weight and seeming pretentiousness , Anno handles them with adeptness and acute direction . He skillfully weaves them into the story to the point where everything makes complete sense in relation to the characters and storyline . In fact , if you really take time to analyze the story , the characters , and the relationship between the dialogue and visuals with the psychological , philosophical , and symbolic meanings , you'll see this series does indeed have more depth than almost all others that have attempted to tackle similar subjects . In fact , this is a series which almost has to be viewed several times , as there are recurring motifs ( both visually and in the dialogue ) which link important thematic elements strung throughout . And if you're not watching carefully , you'll miss them the first and maybe even second time around .
I think the reason these ideas become so important is very simple , and that's because of the characters . Anno doesn't just create a random bunch of soulless , mindless , anime characters . He creates characters that everyone can relate to on some level . Because these characters have such range and depth , we begin to really care about them and their struggles . In the end their struggles become our own and they literally become mirrors of our own psychological profiles and problems . We begin to grieve as we watch them deal with such ( self ) destructive behavior caused by their circumstances and consequential frames of mind . It's because of this that the viewer actually cares about the more portentous moments , no matter how grandiose they become . I think it's very important for those out there to understand that all the elaborate complexities of NGE wouldn't matter without the characters that carry the weight and meaning of it all .
NGE is a show of extremes . Ranging from scenes of palpable , viseral power that inspire shock and awe , to the most quietly surene , surreal , and beautifully touching moments . These scenes are woven together as fine and eloquently as the Beethoven Symphony they play in episode 24 itself . And like that symphony , even though the parts are outstanding , the whole is much greater than the sum .
I believe this is a work of resounding artistic depth . I'd go as far as to say it's one of the absolute greatest pieces of fiction ever made in any medium . This may sound like hyperbole , but there have been few - if any - fictional works that have effected me both emotionally and psychologically like NGE has . If you put in the time and effort to actively watch this series , it will reward as many repeat viewings as you care to give it , as new layers and meanings will be uncovered each time . And I think that is , if nothing else , the first sign of a work of artistic genius .
* DVD REVIEW :
The Platinum Edition is far and away better than the Perfect Collection . The remastered visuals and audio are extraordinary . It doesn't get better than watching the big explosions in 5.1 Surround Sound ! The remastered visuals are equally as striking . The reduced frame shake and jitter is a phenomenal improvement from the previous edition . It seems like they almost went back and re-animated parts of the show , making almost every scene look more vivid , life-like and alive . The Subtitled translations is another thing worth noting , as these translations are , by and large , more accurate . Even though I now hate the English translation of the song doesn't match the melody ( always found it funny why it did on the Perfect Collection ) , this is a more accurate translation . The packaging is the only disappointment . The box is nothing special , the DVD cases themselves contain no booklets or notes , and there's no extras on the DVDs . But you get what you pay for as the price is a bargain . If you want all the other stuff you have to buy the Platinum Collection 1 + Box and the rest of the collection separately .
004 4 * OVERVIEW and EPISODE REVIEWS :
Neon Genesis Evangelion ( NGE ) starts out simple enough . A story about a boy named Shinji Ikari coming to a futuristic city and using giant robot-like Evas ( Unit - 01 himself ) to fend off the invading enemies called Angels . Along the way he meets a mysterious girl and pilot of Unit - 00 , Rei Ayanami , the fiery pilot of Unit - 02 Asuka Langley Soryu , Director of Nerv Operations Misato Katsuragi , the brilliant scientist , Ritsuko Akagi and his estranged father and Nerv's Commander , Gendo Ikari . There's also an intriguing cast of minor characters including friends from his school , Toji and Kensuke and Nerv's Vice Commander Fuyutsuki . But it ends in a completely different place than where it began , with so much filling its creamy center that it's hard to know what to cover in a review .
Yes , it indeed starts out simple enough : Through the first 8 episodes you probably couldn't distinguish NGE from any other giant robot anime ever made . These episodes , while entertaining , are as straight forward as anime gets . Then , slowly but surely from episodes 9 - 13 , the characters are given to more detailing . We get to know them better as more of their stories and histories are revealed . A beautiful example of this is in episode 9 when Asuka falls down , asleep , next to Shinji , who is then tempted to kiss her before something makes him stop . The story is expanded upon as more secrets are revealed , which leads to more questions .
But then , during episode 14 , which starts out as a boring recap , half way through we get the first glimpse of what this series is really about . After the title card we hear the voice of Rei , giving a surreal and beautiful monologue with similar images following on the screen . This bit is practically visual / audio poetry working together , and gives the first hints of what's to come . The psychological and philosophical leanings of this episode would start to become more prominent throughout the series .
Episode 15 is really where the gears shift . The story has slowly built our interest in the characters and the many secrets up to this point , with as much humor and light heartedness as seriousness . In 15 though things takes a more mature , complex , and somber turn - with the end being the catalyst for the brilliant episodes to come . Indeed , episodes 16 and 18 are two of the most dramatic works of fiction I've ever experienced , with 17 being the calm interlude between them .
But then 19 comes along and trumps them all . If I could describe the chills I had when watching that episode for the first time . . . simply put , I don't think dramatic storytelling gets any better . Episode 20 is one of the deepest and complex , further diving into the psychology and symbolism behind the show . 21 ' s back stories are woven so intricately you forget that you're watching an anime as the breadth given to the characters are incredible . 21 ' s finale also serves as one of the most emotional in the series .
22 is one of the most disturbing episodes , diving into the psychology of Asuka this time in a way that will leave you feeling a bit shocked . 23 does what 22 did for Asuka and applies it to Rei . It also has the biggest , most stunning revelation in the series at the end of the episode , as one of Nerv's big secrets is revealed . These episodes also bring much of the bigger picture between Nerv , Seele , and the secrets behind the Angels and 2nd Impact into focus , which leads to the climax . That climax hits with episode 24 , with the introduction of the last angel Kaworu . While one of the most perplexing episodes ( due to its cryptic plot and dialogue ) , its magnificent finale - played out appropriately to Beethoven's final movement of his monumental 9th Symphony - serves as an outstanding closure to the main series before the final two episodes .
The final two episodes completely forego the story that's been building up , and focuses instead on the psychology and philosophy behind the show and its characters . These two episodes are brilliant in their own right . Episode 26 in particular , with its deconstructing of the meanings of reality and freedom , and examining of so many psychological hot points in the show ( one's self worth , for instance ) is an artistic high point in anime . They are not completely un-story related though , as the melding of minds in these episodes are a major plot element . But this works out great for the director Hideaki Anno who probably loved being able to get many of these feelings out through this series and these two episodes in particular .
For those wanting a closure to the story of NGE , The End of Evangelion is the grand finale to end all grand finales . While it won't answer everything in a nice , neat way ( this is not a show that hands you answers on a silver platter ) , it provides an astonishingly powerful and poignant conclusion to the story and to the NGE series . I can understand the frustration of fans after watching the series and then the final two series episodes , thinking this was the end . In reality , the movie was MEANT to be the conclusion , but because of budget and time problems it couldn't be completed in time . The series finale will still stand on their own as the alternate take , but they're an essential alternate take as this is an anime whose meanings stretch far beyond the mecha-sci-fi , boy-saves-world genre . But the film sets a new standard in the art of closing a series on the perfect note .
* SERIES REVIEW
While the layers of psychology , philosophy , and symbolism would crush most shows under their own weight and seeming pretentiousness , Anno handles them with adeptness and acute direction . He skillfully weaves them into the story to the point where everything makes complete sense in relation to the characters and storyline . In fact , if you really take time to analyze the story , the characters , and the relationship between the dialogue and visuals with the psychological , philosophical , and symbolic meanings , you'll see this series does indeed have more depth than almost all others that have attempted to tackle similar subjects . In fact , this is a series which almost has to be viewed several times , as there are recurring motifs ( both visually and in the dialogue ) which link important thematic elements strung throughout . And if you're not watching carefully , you'll miss them the first and maybe even second time around .
I think the reason these ideas become so important is very simple , and that's because of the characters . Anno doesn't just create a random bunch of soulless , mindless , anime characters . He creates characters that everyone can relate to on some level . Because these characters have such range and depth , we begin to really care about them and their struggles . In the end their struggles become our own and they literally become mirrors of our own psychological profiles and problems . We begin to grieve as we watch them deal with such ( self ) destructive behavior caused by their circumstances and consequential frames of mind . It's because of this that the viewer actually cares about the more portentous moments , no matter how grandiose they become . I think it's very important for those out there to understand that all the elaborate complexities of NGE wouldn't matter without the characters that carry the weight and meaning of it all .
NGE is a show of extremes . Ranging from scenes of palpable , viseral power that inspire shock and awe , to the most quietly surene , surreal , and beautifully touching moments . These scenes are woven together as fine and eloquently as the Beethoven Symphony they play in episode 24 itself . And like that symphony , even though the parts are outstanding , the whole is much greater than the sum .
I believe this is a work of resounding artistic depth . I'd go as far as to say it's one of the absolute greatest pieces of fiction ever made in any medium . This may sound like hyperbole , but there have been few - if any - fictional works that have effected me both emotionally and psychologically like NGE has . If you put in the time and effort to actively watch this series , it will reward as many repeat viewings as you care to give it , as new layers and meanings will be uncovered each time . And I think that is , if nothing else , the first sign of a work of artistic genius .
* DVD REVIEW :
The Platinum Edition is far and away better than the Perfect Collection . The remastered visuals and audio are extraordinary . It doesn't get better than watching the big explosions in 5.1 Surround Sound ! The remastered visuals are equally as striking . The reduced frame shake and jitter is a phenomenal improvement from the previous edition . It seems like they almost went back and re-animated parts of the show , making almost every scene look more vivid , life-like and alive . The Subtitled translations is another thing worth noting , as these translations are , by and large , more accurate . Even though I now hate the English translation of the song doesn't match the melody ( always found it funny why it did on the Perfect Collection ) , this is a more accurate translation . The packaging is the only disappointment . The box is nothing special , the DVD cases themselves contain no booklets or notes , and there's no extras on the DVDs . But you get what you pay for as the price is a bargain . If you want all the other stuff you have to buy the Platinum Collection 1 + Box and the rest of the collection separately .
046 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
Its been a few years since ive seen it on Adult Swim it was a GREAT show , but too bad they only showed the series once . . .
060 4 There Isn't Really Much I can say That most people hear haven't said , but Neon genesis evangelion is A g'damn classic ! , I remember when I was younger I thought Dragon ball z was teh best anime out boy was I wrong ! ! ! . . A friend showed me this show about 3 years ago and I forgot about it until adult swim recently aired the show . . . So , If your like me and hate how you gotta wait every week then mid way through a show it doesnt come back on till 4 months later I decided to Buy the perfect collection and boy I wasnt Dissapointed . . . The quality and sound were way better than the versions I remember 3 years ago . . . Plus you get The Director's Cut versions of episodes 21 - 24 . . . Also , The box it comes it with rei and asuka on it will look beautiful next to your other dvd's in your collection
If you buy The end of evangelion the movie and the perfect collection , you get one of the best anime's ever for under 100.00
HIGHLY RECOMENDED ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
076 4 Neon Genesis Evangelion or EVA is a series about three teenaged pilots working for the classified military agency with the duty of protecting humanity from destruction by a mysterious and powerful enemy . Now where I have heard this before oh yes in the two thousand other series with them same plot line , trust me this plot outside of the rough draft is anything but common . What makes EVA different from the rest , it's actually good and different . Though with a somewhat save humanity from extinction at the hand of supposed aliens EVA uses Christian mythology to weave an actually interesting and fascinating plot out of something quiet mundane . Know you wondering why I'm going on and on about the plot , well EVA more then any thing is a plot driven series , a plot that will keep you guessing .
Now then I've only seen the platinum edition which has been full remastered making the entire thing look and feel almost completely new . The art work after the remaster looks like it just got rolled off the press and looks really good . The voice acting is excellently done , some of the best I've heard . The music is first rate and as expected some of the best out there . The plot is interesting and twisting leaving wondering what is going to happen next .
Now then for the flaws , yes I'm going to point out all of the flaws of one of the most beloved series of all time , that most people consider to be flawless . No I do not expect to live long .
The biggest problem EVA suffers from is the near complete lack of character development . Aside from learning each character's past they never really change . This is especially irritating with Shinji , the main character . He's the same winy brat at the end of the series he was at the begining . If you're looking for character relationships , development and growth and the like EVA WILL let you down . The Series is about plot not characters . The second biggest problem is that everything and I mean everything has a double meaning for the plot and also a philosophical meaning . Which you most likely won't realize until the second to last episode . Third is that it almost requires you to have at least a passing knowledge of Christian and Hindu mythology and symbolism or you'll just find yourself lost and hating the series ` cause you don't get it . This is not a series for the timid , the easily offended or the immature . There is gore , the most grotesque gore I have ever seen , some scenes to the point it will make you feel sick . There is plenty of fan fair and naughty jokes and nudity . Pretty much everything that would make a catholic priest condemn you for watching . What else is wrong with the series . The fact that until you have watched the entire series and the two movies twice you won't really know what the hell is going on . But most defiantly is the ending it leave you hanging in the air . The last two episodes is nothing more then the director ranting about philosophy and has little if anything to do with the series's story line . You can skip them or if you're like me who loves philosophy will watch them over and over again . Even with all these flaws the series is still perfect mix just not when you break it down into bits .
Let's review the review , plot is above average , characters are above average , character development is nil , mech fights are interesting if some times boring , art work is dated , music is excellent , is one of the darkest and complex series out there , will give granny a heart attack and last the philosophy is the best you will ever find anywhere . In short if you are not easily offended , have an open mind , like series that require your absolute attention every second and like an interesting thought provoking stuff dark story . Then this is right up your alley . All this aside it is nearly impossible for me to too highly recommend buying this series especially this edition .
103 4 Neon Genesis Evangelion is without a doubt , a masterpiece and a true classic ! With a cast of unforgetable characters , a riveting storyline , and a wonderful soundtrack , Evangelion has truly won the hearts of otakus all over the world . Probably one of Studio Gainax's finest works ! When I found this lying on store shelves , it was the only one they had left . So after a few minutes of long thinking , I just straight up bought the thing . Because not only have I only seen two episodes of it back in my day , but just gotta have it . Boy , was it worth my money ! Now I can honestly say that my anime DVD collection is perfect . You know what they say . . . don't get caught without the classics . In other words , you gotta have Evangelion in the collection !
PICTURE ( 10 / 10 )
ADV wasn't just putting the Platinum name on this boxset for nothing after all . The picture quality of this set is nothing short of amazing . No pixelations , blurry textures , no nothing . It ain't VHS quality like the first Evangelion boxset . The transfer is just perfect ! You can't get any better than this !
SOUND QUALITY ( 10 / 10 )
Beautiful ! Just plain beautiful ! Evangelion has never sounded better . Play this on your surround sound system and you'll know what I mean . Say goodbye to VHS quality sound . This is where it's at ! Platinum indeed !
ENGLISH DUBBING ( 4 / 10 )
I guess during the early years of dubbing , the actors sounded awful than the ones we hear today . The english dub for Evangelion is no different . It was just straight up garbage ! I noticed a lot of the english voice-overs try to sound identical to their Japanese counterparts .
For instance , maybe it's just me or Allison Keith , the english voice for Misato , at certain times , would try to emulate the tone of the original seiyuu , Kotono Mitsuishi . And I can't help but notice that Brett Weaver tried to emulate Tomokazu Seki's voice , when he was voicing Toji . Well like I said , maybe it's just me . Even today , some english voice-overs for anime are known for trying to sound like their Japanese counterparts . Or rather they try TOO hard , period . Sure , we all know that Asuka is German , and it would be unfair for me to say that the actress can't have her speak German . But sometimes , it would come to a point where it's not even necessary .
And one other thing , ( slight spoiler ) when she did the language recognition inside Unit 02 , Shinji was thinking in Japanese and it detected it . What they should've done in the English version , was have them speak one phrase in Japanese after Asuka switched the base language to Japanese . Instead they spoke in english , and Unit 02 was activated . Instead of saying Evangelion Unit 2 , go ! , they should've went with Evangelion ni-go ki , kido ! or something like that . Or what they could've done in that scene was say switch the base language to English , then that would make sense .
So believe me when I say this . . . you're better off watching this with the original Japanese language with english subtitles . Alright , maybe by now you'll be complaining that you don't understand the langauge , and you don't wanna read subtitles . But seriously , what's better ? Torturing your ears with bad voice acting , on the cost of listening to it in your own language , or enjoying and appreciating the original Japanese voices with the subtitles for you to understand what's going on ?
As you know , sometimes when anime is translated into english , omit the bad voices , it's possible that the story will be ruined or worse , butchered . But I guess the people who translated Evangelion in english , weren't that stupid . They stuck with the original story and at times , their acting can be somewhat okay . . . I'll give them that much .
But still , save your ears ! Well , that sounded harsh , but how else am I gonna break it down ? Watch it in Japanese with english subs , and learn to appreciate Evangelion in its original form , the way it was meant to be watched .
EXTRAS ( 5 / 10 )
Not much here ! Unless you're talking about the directors cut episodes on the sixth disc and trailers of different anime released by ADV , then I guess those are the sought out special features you'd want to see . They should've at least put features like an encyclopedia on the main Evangelion units , character profiles , actor and director interviews , behind the scenes look , bloopers , and documentaries . If this set had any of those , then it would truly be a 100% platinum set . But I'm not gonna take a star down just because of that . Simply because I love the series and the transfer is so fantastic , I guess that simply makes up for the lack of extras . With a series this great , who needs them ?
OVERALL ( 10 / 10 )
Is it worth the money ? My answer is yes ! And at this price ? Definetly ! If you haven't seen this series even once , then you're missing out on one of anime's most treasured classics . It's one of those series where it'll keep you guessing until the very end . Your collection is incomplete without Evangelion , believe it or not ! This series is without a doubt , a masterpiece in every sense of the word . If you ever happen to run into this , and it's the only one in stock , get it immediately ! Sure I paid a huge amount of money for this sucker , but like I said , it's worth it ! And I have no regrets . It's better than paying over $100 for a boxset .
Highly recommended !
120 4 The story has everything you could want : cool fight scenes , a progressive storyline , comedy , and even some scenarios that are frightening and thought-provoking .
Lots of the scenarios are simply hilarious , while many are so sullen that you're not sure if you want to know how it all ends . The characters are fun to watch as they develop throughout the series , although some key characters unfortunately end up right where they started .
Despite that , no movie or series looks as cool or has a more obsession-inducing plot than Evangelion . The storyline pulls you right in , and you really get attached to the characters . So when chaos sets in closer to the end of the series , you REALLY want to know what will become of the characters - and if you're not already familiar with the story , I guarentee you'll be shocked .
I almost deducted one star because the ONE PART of the series I didn't enjoy was right at the ending , which provides viewers with no closure whatsoever about the characters . If you think you'll need that , you'd better purchase Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion along with this series .
122 4 Evangelion , well it's the most famous name in anime , but is it the best ? Well , to be perfectly homsest not say that the series is bad , to tell you the truth I really don't think it's all that great .
Heres the breakdown :
Major Pro's of the series :
Action : I have to say , the show does have some really amazing action sequences . For example , when Shinji goes through his first little psycho vision thingy then rips through the angel to break free from it's body , that was really amazing . Another example when you first find out that the EVA's are actually living creatures and EVA 01 starts eating the angel's face off , once again that was really incredible . Those were some really standout sequences , let's face it they were awesome .
Animation : EVA for the most part , I must say , has some good animation , which really helps carry it along , I mean it's not fantastic but for the time it came out it was very good . It also convey's action very well and they certainly don't skinp out on the blood flow , thats for sure , which is , in a way , very important to a series .
Drama : One thing about Evagelion that I must say is very good is it's drama , it does it very well , and can at times be very stirring .
Major Con's of the series :
The philosophy : I know theres alot of arguments going on on this page about the philosophy , does it make sense , well quite frankily I really don't care that much . To tell you the truth I just think the philosophy is extremely , well , boring to be honest . I sit there listening to all these different conversation's about Shinji , and the fact that in every person's mind there lives a different Shinji , but yet even though all these different versions of him may be different they are all still Shinji Ikari . Personally , I really don't think thats bad philosophy it's just think it's tired and it's really nothing knew . That is an extremely old concept , basically it's philosophy 101 . The same goes for Shinji's whole big character development , all the EVA fans talk about how great it is , and how complex he is , well the whole philosophical concept of trying to run away from reality is once again , a very , very old concept . Honestly , it's nothing that I havn't heard before .
TOO TRIPPY : I know what your thinking , it's sci-fi it has to be trippy well , guess what , theres trippy , and then theres pointless trippy . The first psycho scene with Shinji was good , it was necessary in explaining one of the major points driven throughout the series , and it lookd cool , but then we get another one in the episode after the whole EVA eating angel deal , okay that one was just completely bad . For one thing , if any of you reading this have ever seen the movie AKIRA then you will get what i'm about to say next . The ending to Akira was mind blowing , and it was also very trippy , however what separates Evangelion trippy , from Akira trippy , Akira trippy is much much better . You see in Akira it uses it's imagery to create an extremely profound statement , and puzzles it's imagery together to create an extremely stirring portrait of life and the philosophy hat is contained with it . But then you have that second trippy scene with evangelion , it was just so pasted together . It's like , okay lets take a bunch of old animation and crunch it together , with a bunch of psycho babble by Shinji that's apparently for some reason supposed to impress us . Then you have the message it's supposed to forshadow , the message that involves Gendo's plans for humanity with Misato , Asuka , and Rei flying it at Shinji one after another talking about becoming one collective mind , and blad , blah , blah , yea . Hers the problem it's main message wasn't conveyed interestingly enough , it was lame , and just so obvious . Also , on another note for any of you that haven't read the Akira manga the scene in which Shinji is a baby within his mother's womb , was basicaly a ripoff of Akira , only it was switched around just a tiny little bit . In the manga , Tetsuo ( the main character ) saw his parents from him point of view as a baby , after he was just born .
Look , read the Akira manga , and you will see what I mean .
Okay , thats about it , the other catagory's such as music , plot , and characters are all somewhere in the middle , meaning that sometimes I like some thing about them , and some things I don't like about them , but the above statements are my main points . Look , I don't think EVA is a bad series I just don't think it's the best anime of all time , not by a longshot . To tell you the truth everybody says this and Fullmetal Alchemist are the two best series of all times , but I think both of them don't even come close . Sometimes I wonder why some people call some anime's they do the best of all time . Some examples would be Rorouni Kenshin , Naruto , and Fullmetal Alchemist , all of them especially Naruto ( come on everybody , it's Pokemon with ninja's , and I'm not juts talking about the dubbed version ) really really stink bigtime .
Like I said , it's not a bad series , but it's certainly not a great one either .
123 4 Ok where to begin . . the COMPLETE in the title refers to it being the COMPLETE series of episodes , nothing more . . no lame communtaries , etc , etc . . The Evangelion series is not based on the artwork , trailers , and or extras , The ' Strength ' and or ' purpose '
of the anime is presented in the EPISODES and it is done incredibly well there'in . . . No one buys a box set to have the extras ! ! ! ( cough ) IMO i see communtaries as SPOILERS they take away the FUN out of figuring things out by ourselfs , and they never tell us what we what to hear . . . ( sigh )
OK im done with WHINNING about the WHINNERS
Well i must admit that i disliked this series at first . . My friend tryed to get me to watch it with him at my house . . And i thought ohhhh ! ! ! another GUNDAM type anime , I was WRONG . . . I would make fun of him for watching it . . . Boy did i feel like a jerk after he left his perfect collection at my house . . . . They sat there for a couple days on my shelf collecting dust , But then i got bored and decided to watch a couple episodes . After i watched EPs 1 - 8 i became hooked to it . . So i apologized and we watch the remaining episodes , and rented the ending movie EOE ( this was 5 years ago ) even after all this time , This is still the BEST anime ever ! ! ! IMO The complexity of this series is its biggest strong-point . i love how the story unfolds just enough to keep u interested , and how the pilots are spirtually tied to there Evas , you cant help but become emotionally tied to the characters and there evas . . . . who cares if shinji WHINES alot , we would too if we were in his situation . . . This series is a MIND GRIPPING EMOTIONAL HEART-POUNDING rollercoaster ride i will never forget ! ! ! ! ! And the picture and sound transfer is the best i have seen . . the packaging for this set is really well put together , the artwork on the box is vibrant and drawn out accurately , and is overall a better box then the bulky perfect collection box . i recommend this for peaple who want the ULTIMATE boxset to the ULTIMATE anime
P.S Dont forget to pick up the Death and Rebirh / End of Evangelion 2 - pack set aswell ! ! ! ! !
139 4 Hi , I first saw the show at age 9 or 10 , so ( if you ask me ) BEST SHOW EVER , DUDES ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I SWEAR ITS THE BEST EVER ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ( If you like these kinds of shows ) . : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) LOVE ,
Z-MAN OF WI ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
140 4 Evangelion is great . It is just simply AMAZING . A bit of warning to parents : If your child is under the age of 15 , I would be a little careful . It does contain violent sequances and some suggestive sceans . But that should'nt stop you from viewing this wonderful series .
PS - TvTokyo theatened to take it off the air due to a violent scean at the end of ep .18 .
142 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
This is not the worst anime , but it is BY FAR the most over hyped and over rated pile of crap ever conceived and put in a nice box .
This series is directed like a lightning bolt straight at the heart of its primary target : 14 year old boys .
Right from the opening sequence the song sings to the boy : ' young boy , so innocent , become the Legend you were meant to be ! ' , while pictures of nude teen girls roll by in sexual poses , giving promise of a sexual encounter to come .
Each episode follows the same tired old plot sequence we've seen in Anime for the last 30 years : Teenagers called upon to save the world from monsters . Yawn . And each episode ends with a Boss encounter , just like the 14 year old boys favorite PS2 side scroller , level up video game .
To further titillate the 14 year old teen boy , his 2 superior officers are 20 something women who like to party and sleep around . His 2 fellow pilots are teen girls , one a brooder the other a flirt . Each episode sets up at least one , and sometimes multiple sexual fantasys . One time they have to pilot their robots naked , you know for , um testing purposes . One time a superior officer is interviewed nude , for no apparent reason . One time he wrestles with his fellow pilot wearing only a towel so he can fall on her prone and naked with his hand on her breast . One time the flirty red head pilot explains heat expansion this way : ' If I rub my breasts and make them hot , will they expand or contract ? ' * insert flirty laugh , tee hee hee * . Finally his superior officer has an out and out sex scene don't insert that in THERE . . . . moan , moan * but they avoid an adult rating by not showing the action , you just hear it while looking at the coffee cup next to the bed .
Evangelion tries hard to take itself seriously , pretending there is some big plot going on . But unanswered questions are not a mystery . Mysteries have clues , shadowy figures and a feeling that you might be able to figure it out if you get one more clue . Evangelion has no mystery , just unanswered questions . Take the big mystery of the Monsters attacking Earth . No clues are given as to why or where they come from . Lots of characters ask , but no clues are given . In fact , most of the large so called mystery's are not resolved by the end of the story .
The graphics are dated and very few fight scenes are memorable . Many , many times they save money on graphics by having long drawn out dialog while focusing on a static shot of people walking , or a cup , or a long elevator ride from behind . The mechs are poorly designed and all look the same . I've been a huge mecha fan for 20 + years and these are nothing more than a humanoid figure with some armor slapped on . To make it worse , the boss monsters ( called Angels for no apparent reason ) are mostly just geometric shapes so its a big guy fighting a cube , or a ball , or a long tube . Oh noes ! Attack of the cube ! Run away !
The characters are not likable on almost any level and they are all revealed to be psychotic in some way by the end of the story . The last few episodes strip off all pretense and go straight for the nude scenes and long drawn out explanations of why people do stuff . Its esoteric and mildly interesting and it would be great to have the characters be more interesting and contemplative in the context of an interesting story , but they finally drop the boring story with no real explanation then spend a couple episodes just recapping Freudian theories about each character .
This is some of the worst crap I've seen in a long , long time and the ratings its gotten make me afraid for SciFi in general and Anime SciFi in particular . It will be a cold day in hell before I rely on Amazon ratings again .
EDIT : It has been said that this series is just too deep for some to understand . They attempt to explain it , using information they've gleaned from Wikipedia and online fan websites . If the show needs detailed explaining , the writers lost their way , not me . Long and pointless discussions online try to explain who the Angels are , where the EVA's came from , etc . Some fans even believe the whole story takes place in one kids head and none of it really happens . They can't even agree on whats going on . . . And if the show really needs a second viewing to understand its greatness , well they better have made it more interesting than this convoluted and boring plot line to justify a second viewing .
Its also been said that the Movie End of Evangelion ties everything together . . mostly . The movie also includes a scene of a teen boy masturbating over the corpse of a teen girl .
I rest my case .
143 4 This is not the worst anime , but it is BY FAR the most over hyped and over rated pile of crap ever conceived and put in a nice box .
This series is directed like a lightning bolt straight at the heart of its primary target : 14 year old boys .
Right from the opening sequence the song sings to the boy : ' young boy , so innocent , become the Legend you were meant to be ! ' , while pictures of nude teen girls roll by in sexual poses , giving promise of a sexual encounter to come .
Each episode follows the same tired old plot sequence we've seen in Anime for the last 30 years : Teenagers called upon to save the world from monsters . Yawn . And each episode ends with a Boss encounter , just like the 14 year old boys favorite PS2 side scroller , level up video game .
To further titillate the 14 year old teen boy , his 2 superior officers are 20 something women who like to party and sleep around . His 2 fellow pilots are teen girls , one a brooder the other a flirt . Each episode sets up at least one , and sometimes multiple sexual fantasys . One time they have to pilot their robots naked , you know for , um testing purposes . One time a superior officer is interviewed nude , for no apparent reason . One time he wrestles with his fellow pilot wearing only a towel so he can fall on her prone and naked with his hand on her breast . One time the flirty red head pilot explains heat expansion this way : ' If I rub my breasts and make them hot , will they expand or contract ? ' * insert flirty laugh , tee hee hee * . Finally his superior officer has an out and out sex scene don't insert that in THERE . . . . moan , moan * but they avoid an adult rating by not showing the action , you just hear it while looking at the coffee cup next to the bed .
Evangelion tries hard to take itself seriously , pretending there is some big plot going on . But unanswered questions are not a mystery . Mysteries have clues , shadowy figures and a feeling that you might be able to figure it out if you get one more clue . Evangelion has no mystery , just unanswered questions . Take the big mystery of the Monsters attacking Earth . No clues are given as to why or where they come from . Lots of characters ask , but no clues are given . In fact , most of the large so called mystery's are not resolved by the end of the story .
The graphics are dated and very few fight scenes are memorable . Many , many times they save money on graphics by having long drawn out dialog while focusing on a static shot of people walking , or a cup , or a long elevator ride from behind . The mechs are poorly designed and all look the same . I've been a huge mecha fan for 20 + years and these are nothing more than a humanoid figure with some armor slapped on . To make it worse , the boss monsters ( called Angels for no apparent reason ) are mostly just geometric shapes so its a big guy fighting a cube , or a ball , or a long tube . Oh noes ! Attack of the cube ! Run away !
The characters are not likable on almost any level and they are all revealed to be psychotic in some way by the end of the story . The last few episodes strip off all pretense and go straight for the nude scenes and long drawn out explanations of why people do stuff . Its esoteric and mildly interesting and it would be great to have the characters be more interesting and contemplative in the context of an interesting story , but they finally drop the boring story with no real explanation then spend a couple episodes just recapping Freudian theories about each character .
This is some of the worst crap I've seen in a long , long time and the ratings its gotten make me afraid for SciFi in general and Anime SciFi in particular . It will be a cold day in hell before I rely on Amazon ratings again .
EDIT : It has been said that this series is just too deep for some to understand . They attempt to explain it , using information they've gleaned from Wikipedia and online fan websites . If the show needs detailed explaining , the writers lost their way , not me . Long and pointless discussions online try to explain who the Angels are , where the EVA's came from , etc . Some fans even believe the whole story takes place in one kids head and none of it really happens . They can't even agree on whats going on . . . And if the show really needs a second viewing to understand its greatness , well they better have made it more interesting than this convoluted and boring plot line to justify a second viewing .
Its also been said that the Movie End of Evangelion ties everything together . . mostly . The movie also includes a scene of a teen boy masturbating over the corpse of a teen girl .
I rest my case .
153 4 once again , hello to all who remember me , kaitie , but anyway this has to be my favorite anime ever well or at least tied with fullmetal alchemist !
1 . FMA & neon genesis tie
2 . fruits basket
3 . samuria chmaploo
4 . fooly cooly
5 . ghost in the shell
6 . other that i forgot
so basically i love neon genesis , but this is a perfect item to buy if you are a fan , it has those really thin cases so if you like those then good , if not then get the perfect collection one , but this one is good i mean you can fit 2 of these dvds in one of the regular sized ones ! ( at first i didnt like it but now its sweeet ) the ending really sucks ! ! like episode 25 - 26 sucks ! ! so get the directors cut of them with this , THIS is a warning , seriously ! Get volume 7 with this or you will be sooo anoyed , hehe.It sucks soo bad becuase you are soo confused , it like doesnt end it , i was all like WTF i need the ending not a freggin thing on shenji and his mind , but like every one is saying , it was because of like the director of this show had to make the ending really really fast becuase it was gonna air or something really soon , ah something like that.but anyway so he had to make an ending real fast so then of course the turtle wins the race and everyone thought it sucked and stuff so he made a better version , wooot : ) lol.Also this comes with all 26 episodes , wich is volumes 1 - 5 , volume 6 is the directors cut of episode 21 - 24 , but i got mine like maybe 2 weeks or so ago and LOVE it.also you have to buy volume 7 seperate , ya i know , that sucks , you wont be able to fit it in your box : ( aww well.but volume 7 has directers cuts of episodes 25 - 26 wich you need to get like i said or else hehe .
the music is awsome plus asuka and rei will look buetiful and nice on your shelf or where ever to . : ) this show is actiony , romantic like ( but without makeing it to emo ) and funny , it is freggin perfect ! ! i like asuka and misato and no one can hate kaji , so this was pritty depressing for me near the end : ( but i wont tell ya , but bring tissues hehe ( it is sad i thought , and even if your tough and never cry like me . . . this will make you shed at least one tear ) thanks guys again oh and my e-mail is animefan @ bellsouth.net if any aime fans like me wanna chat or somethin ' , well thanks again , i am out once again .
well i hope i didnt leave anything out , well hope this review helped you : ) p.s if you are a huge fan of anime and this then BUY this , OMFG you wont be sorry ( hehe i couldnt wait every thursday for it to come on , on t.v , lol i am inpatient , so if you are like me then get it , it is everything you are thinking but me , unless you are thinking of . . . well . . . bad things of course : ) tehehe )
bye , your anime friend ( i hope ) kaitie .
155 4 This was an interesting concept for me . It's basically playing on a lot of obscure hardcore philosophies . Namely that the human soul is a fragmented piece of a greater whole , and that all paths eventually are to reuniting those souls as a single entity . The theme here is what if humanity doesn't WANT to reassimilate ? What if we strive to maintain our independent self ? Now , I knew this from university Philosophy classes , but NOWHERE was it explained in Evangelion . This's an early Christian viewpoint actually , but it fails to provide a method of renewal of souls . If all paths lead to the perfect whole , where do new humans and thus souls come from ? This's a flaw in the philosophy , it's not Evangelion's fault .
Actually , there was a lot of stuff like this , such as subjective reality . The old Greek cave is a good analogy . If you are born in a cave facing the back wall and never turn around , soon the shadows on the back wall become your reality . You're oblivious to the world in the other direction . What they got TOTALLY WRONG here was the fact that just because your reality differs , the physical surroundings do NOT . The universe will not cease to exist because you choose not to believe in it . They make this false assumption in the last half of the series , and it's all downhill from there . Again , hardcore philosophy that was NOT explained well in the series .
Or even gotten right , for that matter . Go right ahead . Truly believe that the door isn't there in your new reality , then punch right where it was as hard as you can . You will break your hand . This is what philosophers call Truth . We feel the door , we see the door , we can't unwill the concept of door from being . So the door IS . We can affect it in the framework of our reality ( moving it , opening it , breaking it , etc . ) , but we cannot unmake it through will alone .
* Spoiler *
Further thing that irked me was all the thrown away characters . Asuka's a perfect example . A likable troubled cutie , she provides the needed counterpart and love interest for Shinji . Yet in the end all past history goes out the window and she's relegated to lying alone in a hospital bed . What the hell ? ! Real people don't act like this ! While Shinji's busy professing his love for some alien GUY he just met , Asuka ( who he spent WEEKS getting attached to and actually kissed ) is lying alone in bed desperately needing someone to prove to her she's NOT unwanted and alone . That's all !
Was I the only one who saw the resolution of the series as totally unnecessary ? Over half the characters are constantly whining about how alone they are . Yet when Asuka NEEDS them , they basically drug her up , strap her down , and tell her to take off . Shinji does the same dang thing to Misato , though she deals with it better . Lame to the max . Totally unrealistic of what longterm human relationships are like . I don't care how cold and removed you are . Robots have more compassion and rational thought .
News flash here , if someone you care about's lonely and YOU are lonely , all you have to do is go and be there for em . Then , amazingly enough , you both aren't so alone anymore ! It's that classic free your mind , your a * * ' ll follow thing . Evangelion totally skirts this simple solution , and in doing so it leaves a gaping hole that makes the end plot totally unlikely to EVER happen as we're supposed to believe it does .
Series finale was executed weakly at best . None of the aforementioned underpinning philosophies were adequately described . What you're left with is a confusing , ridiculous montage that culminates in a lackluster conclusion to an otherwise great series .
It almost seems to me that midseason they switched writers and hired a terminally depressed guy to write the script . Better bust out your psychedelic drugs at the end , cuz that's about the only way the conclusion will be satisfying . Heck , it may even make some remote semblance of sense , then . By repeating what people have been saying to me over and over again , I suddenly come to grips with myself and make the whole universe bend to my whims ! No matter that I deserted my loved ones when they needed me most !
Yeah . Right . Pull the other one . You'll notice the Greeks with their cave never said that the individual could alter the cave or the outside world in any way , merely the individual's PERCEPTION of that reality . They at least understood that .
Evangelion left me feeling confused and unsatisfied at its conclusion , which is sad because I LOVED the first and middle sections of the series . The last half the characters become inhuman and unrational to extremes , and that killed it for me . Classic case of the message ruining a perfectly good story .
My fix for this ? Admit that the Truth of the universe is concrete . Admit it can't be manipulated beyond the limits of our biology and the Truth of a human existence . Have Kaji die WITH Misato rather than stupidly avoiding her . Have Ritsuko date the good looking guitar playin ' tech , the fact she's sleeping with someone her hated mother did is beyond the realm of belief . Have Shinji actually GROW as a character .
And for god's sake , have him walk in after defeating the 13th Angel and plant a scorcher on Asuka for some REAL dang resolution .
To quote Myth Busters , I reject your reality , and substitute my own ! Sorry , but as those guys prove time and again , we humans cannot do that .
3 / 2 / 06
Have recently watched all of RahXephon . From my personal opinion , just skip Eva altogether and get that . You'll end up depressed as hell after Eva , so unless you REALLY like mecha it's like punching yourself in the head . You might as well just stop and feel better . RahXephon explained their underpinnings MUCH better , it looked better ( the Mu are frickin awesome ) , had more likable characters , and the ending was pretty good resolution . Let's face it , after 26 episodes you actually will want to see a closer that shows how it all winds up . From a user friendly standpoint I feel Rah's got Eva beat in all aspects . Eva may've done it first , but RahXephon did it right .
156 4 All I want to say to the people that actually are thinking of buying it is that the service of amazon and ups sucks . Maybe amazon is not responsable and ups is but all I know is that I didn't get my movies that I paid for . I haven't seen NGE but nothing bad I can say about it I still want to see it but with this shipping service I don't know if I will .
Other than the shipping service well is preatty good I guess , do keep this in mind try to think about the shipping . SO WHAT EVER YOU DO DON'T GET ONE-DAY SHIPPING ! ! !
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
Based on the reviews I've read so far it would seem that when one decides to delve into the world of anime they will eventually come upon this series . While I did not give this a full five stars , I can definitely see why it is praised highly . On the flip side I can also see why a few people disliked it , thanks to the way the series ended . Regardless , I personally found it a very enjoyable series , but I don't think it's the greatest thing ever made . Not to me at least . I'll admit that at first I had a little trouble getting into the characters , but once I did I was definitely into the whole series . Shinji is just such a hard guy to like watching sometimes .
Anyway , Neon Genesis Evangelion puts us in a world that is nearly destroyed . The reason this happened is because of these strange beings called angels . The show takes us on quite an adventure centered on a boy named Shinji who has a destiny to fulfill . The series opens with an attack by one of these angels and Shinji is caught in the midst of it , but is due to be picked up by someone . She is charged to bring him back to the secret government base his father works at called Nerv . Needless to say she succeeds , since its episode one and we wouldn't have much of a series if the main character died there . Anyway , Shinji will prove to be instrumental in the defeat of these angels thanks to a machine his father built called the Eva . They are sort of like giant robots , which is why I would class this as a Mecha , but the Evas have an organic / genetic component in their designing ( you find out more about this towards the end of the series and I won't ruin the full breadth of the revelation for you ) . Anyway , Shinji , never having piloted one of these machines before , refuses , but is sort of forced into it and thus his career as an Eva pilot started in the very first episode . Sounds like most everything is explained huh ? Not in the least , there is SO much more to this series and that's one of the reasons it's so great . You see there's more than just one Eva in the world and thus more than one pilot because the Eva has to genetically mesh with its pilot so it's a lot more than driving the machines we see in other Mecha or what we find in things like Battletech . The other requirement is the pilot has to be fourteen . The other pilot already with us is Rei , but she really was too injured in a prior accident to pilot on that fateful day while seeing her so injured and his fathers immovable lack of compassion , Shinji felt the weight of the battle was on him .
As you can see Shinji's father is not a likeable person and we are shown this in the first episode as well . From there we are introduced to an array of varying characters , especially when Shinji gets entered into the school at Nerv headquarters . Shinji is sort of out of touch with reality , but still wants something out of it , so he's kind of in between . Rei on the other hand is completely removed and she's more like a robotic human just going through the motions . We see a couple hints of her humanity show up every now and again , but she does come across as incredibly bright and observant . Later we become introduced to the third pilot from Germany , Ayako . She was one of my favorites next to Rei and she's very in touch with the world . She's very engaged with the world around her and she's very motivated to be an Eva pilot , unlike Shinji who doesn't want to be and Rei who just does as she's told . Despite the action sequences where the Evas have to face the Angel enemies there is a major dramatic component to this series that focuses on how these children have to deal with their very intense responsibility . One wonders how the mind of someone so young can truly cope with what they're doing .
If you're really just in it for the action you might not get as into this because the dramatic sequences are just as necessary and on screen just as much . In fact , on some levels , I felt like there was sometimes too much action . From the way they present the story it seems like an Angel attack is a rare occurrence , but in almost every episode there's an attack . Our characters don't even get a rest to deal with their social problems or the problems they have to deal with in their job . Shinji clearly has the most mental stress because he's now under the command of a father who doesn't even seem to like him and favors Rei over his own son ! Rei . . . who isn't even his daughter ! As you can see there's a lot of strife and struggle for this , but Shinji's father has a lot to deal with as well , especially when it comes to those who control Nerv called Seele . This doesn't change the fact that he seems to be a very immoral person , especially when we see the background episodes .
That pretty much covers the premise for episodes one through twenty-four and if you like a dramatic based Mecha with some decent action sequences you'll love this . However , when we get to the last two episodes things make almost no sense . . . to the point where the creators have actually already tried to rewrite this ending twice ! I will admit that the last two episodes are awesome , especially on a philosophical / psychological level . They are absolutely profound and they really moved me to think about things in a very strange and new light . You can get a lot out of those two episodes if you view them in their own right , however , if you try to put them in conjunction with the rest of the series it makes almost no sense . On the Platinum edition of the box set there are director's cut episodes and upon re-watching those I see hints of the Human Instrumentality Project , which is where I think the last two episodes seem to culminate , but again , it really doesn't mesh with the rest at all . It just leaves us with no sensible conclusion to what was going on with the angels and Nerv in general . The built up such a mysterious world in the first twenty-four episodes that to have such an off key conclusion . . . we're just left feeling unsatisfied . Apparently I'm not the only one who thought these things made no sense , because I've talked to a few other people and they definitely agree . In the end , after watching these two , I'll call them wtf episodes , I'm left wondering if Shinji just made up this whole thing in his head and it never really happened . Apparently that's a very real possibility .
The art and premise of the show is very well done . It just begins to fall apart towards the end and there's no major ending that really turns the light on in our heads to make us understand . I'm not looking for a blatant hand out , but at least a somewhat logical progression would be nice and this show never really ends that way . I think it's good for what it is , but I think it had so much potential that never got truly fulfilled . I realize everything has meaning , I mean they went to the lengths to name the angels and give them REAL angelic names so there must be some relational concept between apocalypse and angels . After the last two episodes I'm less sure of what that concept is , even though I felt like I was on to something to figuring it out at first . In the end if you enjoy Mecha's with very deep concepts and drama then you'll love this . If you like the philosophical aspects found in Anime you'll love the last episodes too , but treating them as separate works seems to make more sense . Both things are great in their own right , but together it just doesn't flow , if you know what I mean . It really is difficult to convey in words , especially if you've never seen it before . I still recommend watching it at least once .
002 4 The changes in the Platinum version of Evangelion from the Perfect Collection are small , with four director's cut episodes and commentary . ( I received an e-mail recently , which noted I left out 5.1 sound and better picture quality , though than anime still looks washed and the sound is only clear in surround sound ) . But , they are changes in what is perhaps one of the best animes ever created , and to fans , that is more than enough to spend their money .
If that wasn't enough for you then , then here is your opportunity . Take it from someone who thrives off of these thin-pack box sets . The value of them is beyond compare . All of them have sturdy boxes with artwork on them . You get entire series for what is usually half the price you would spend buying the entire series , and you save on shelf-space . In this case , where there were seven DVDs in the entire series that go for $27 a pop ( 7 x 27 = 189 plus tax and possibly shipping ) , you'll end up saving big . How can you beat that ?
I recommend this for anyone who doesn't have the original box set and for fans of anime of the highest quality . This is the best giant-robot anime , one of the top ten ever , and will go down as something magical and important in anime in the same way that Akira did . Plus , I recommend this for the value itself ( 7 x 27 = 189 - 48 = 141 = How can you beat that ? ) .
( ADDED LATER ) I've received a lot of e-mail regarding the extra features , inserts , and DVD count , so I'm going to address these issues now . Firstly , there is only six DVDs , but the episodes are condensed into the six so there is no need to worry about that . The final disc contains the director's cut episodes . Also , there are few extras on the disc , and in case you enjoy the inserts that tend to come with DVDs , the DVDs in the box set won't have them .
008 4 Evangelion is a very deep and mystifying series , one you will have to watch several times in order to properly understand . There are many ways to go about doing that , and here I'll give you an idea of the best way to do it . This collection is definitely the one you want if you're buying . First of all it is compact , fitting the entire series and director's cut episodes into six discs , opposed to some of the other sets with 8 discs . Second of all the episodes are remastered , an asset in the visuals department , also very necessary while watching this groundbreaking series . The last advantage ( and it is a big one ) is that this set is among the cheaper of the sets , as opposed to the new Holiday Collection and Perfect Collections for roughly 50 dollars more .
My advice for if you want to get into the series is to get this and the End of Evangelion . It is a much more suitable ending to the series and it's definitely something you should have to go with this set . The best way to go about watching it is to watch the first 4 discs of the set as you usually would , and when you get to the fifth disc skip it and watch the sixth . It contains the director's cut episodes of the first four episodes on disc five and sets itself up for the End of Evangelion . Once you've watched disc six watch End of Evangelion , I found it to be a more suitable and satisfying end to the series . However there is nothing wrong with the last two episodes found on disc five and I do advise that you watch them eventually , because they're very artistic and an interesting variation of the ending . You will likely get the most out of the series if you watch it in the order specified , and then you will have it to watch several times over and fully appreciate . If you're serious about wanting to watch Evangelion , that's the way to go . If you're willing to cough up more cash you may be able to get the same features in the bigger collections albeit with a few bonus features , but you'll have to decide if it is worth the price .
012 4 It was 10 years ago when I first saw NGE . Didn't have the chance to watch all until recently . Despite the few light-hearted moments , the overall story is very dense , very emotional , and sometimes , very disturbing and requires a lot of mental processing . The occasional multiple-stream subtitles makes it even harder to understand . But at least you can understand the first 24 episodes . If not , try to watch the director's cut in the last disc - they make more sense than the standard episodes . But WTFs with episodes 25 and 26 ? And I have to buy another DVD ( EoE ) in order to understand it ? ? ?
( Giving heavy war machinaries with incredibly destructive powers to teenagers who all suffered childhood traumas and are all psychologically challenged is definitely not the way to save humanity )
015 4 It's the whole series . . . ( no movies . . . End of Eva and death & Rebirth ) Last disc has some extras . . . but apparently ADV did not put all the extras from the original Japanese release into the American release . . . maybe they didn't want to spend the $ $ to subtitle or dub all the extras . . . They had musis videos and interviews and making of's . . . .
THE REASON I GOT THIS :
I got it because the original American DVD release was low quality . This is High quality .
016 4 Anyone who does not own the Evangelion series would be well-advised to purchase this set . The original collection costs over $100 , and suffers from numerous mastering defects in the video . This set costs $30 - $40 , features newly remastered video that has removed some of the previous defects , and has 5.1 surround sound .
As far as those who have never seen Evangelion , you are missing out on the best of the best . Many fans consider Cowboby Bebop , Evangelion , and Trigun the best animes ever made . . . While Trigun may be more deserving of a top 10 recommendation than a top 3 , Cowboby Bebop and Evangelion easily compete for the top spot .
One last point . . . For those who have never seen Evangelion , keep this simple idea in mind when watching it : the series is not primarily about giant monsters fighting giant robot looking things . If you remember this as you watch it , I think you will appreciate the ending of the series , which has little to do with the action sequences during the various episodes . I've read numerous reviews where fans indicated their disapointment with how the series ends , but I truly feel they have missed the point of the show .
017 4 I have to disagree with S . L . Burdick Zombie Golf Caddy and his view of the series . As a series itself , you might have noticed that a lot of it is highly metaphorical . The subjectivism implied here ( there's a lot of different things going on from psychology , to philosophy , to judeo-christian imagery but focusing just on subjectivism ) should not be confused with the stance that all is illusion or that there is no such thing as reality . Metaphysical subjectivists hold that reality is real enough , and that physical objects do exist . They conceive , however , that the nature of reality as related to a given consciousness unit is created and governed by that consciousness . Given the usual method of the series this is presented highly metaphorically and not at all in black and white .
If you haven't seen this yet , highly recommended viewing . Transcends anime and a lot of television in general to convey a deep and complex message . 5 stars .
019 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
I recieved my copy today and was a bit disappointed at the lack of bonus features and inserts . . but at this price , I really cant complain .
The foil coated box is very sturdy and well made . Inside are 6 cases each containing a DVD that holds from 4 - 5 episodes . There are basically 30 episodes total ( 26 from the original series + 4 more director's cut ) . Upon watching , you will also notice the visual / sound enhancement that has been done in comparison to the $130 + set currently on amazon .
020 4 I recieved my copy today and was a bit disappointed at the lack of bonus features and inserts . . but at this price , I really cant complain .
The foil coated box is very sturdy and well made . Inside are 6 cases each containing a DVD that holds from 4 - 5 episodes . There are basically 30 episodes total ( 26 from the original series + 4 more director's cut ) . Upon watching , you will also notice the visual / sound enhancement that has been done in comparison to the $130 + set currently on amazon .
021 4 Now I am a long time evangelion fan , and have watched all of the possible versions of NGE series from Perfect collection to Platinum , from Import box sets to bootleg sets , from individual releases and to the resurrection / genesis reborn directors cut DVD . On I have one thing to say : Platinum Collection has all .
Sure you can say its missing a few ad ons ( previews don't count ) and maybe the booklets or some poster but for the price it hangs in and the fact that it brings not only the original 26 episodes but also the director's cut ( known resurrection and genesis reborn releases , also they have the best possible sound quality and video quality when compared to every possible release makes it a must buy for those who don't have the series and wish to get it .
The only possible thing that you can be mad about is the fact that the dvd set doesn't bring the commonly knows true ending to evangelion : death and rebirth / the end of evangelion . Something that is easily solved by buying the movie at a bargain price .
So if you are looking for a cheap and great way of getting into NGE you should buy this edition and the end of evangelion movie as there is nothing better out there since you basically get it all in one neat and clean package
023 4 It's actually alittle more complicated then that . It may seem strange to certain people from different worlds , but it would make sure sense to a few . The Thing about Evangelion and Anime by nature , is the fact that they're made in Japan , and catered to people living there . We may not have been to Japan , or know it's Culture much at all , so it is very subjective .
Now , let's get on to that part . It is true , the writer or writers of this Story were terminally depressed . It's burnout , traditionally associated from artists , writers , and other things . The Philosophy of the Story is not here to truely innovate , it's just there to reflect itself unto a specific kind of people .
Once again , I must emphasive this was made by a different culture then those that we may live in . Reality will Smack you back in the face , only if its allowed to . In the story , Reality does not choose to Smack itself back at the Characters , as often .
If I take Art to be a reflection , then perhaps it is not difficult to see that this could happen . This story is certainly not that in the true threshold of the mainstream , afterall . The People that made it , can be seen alot like the characters . People who run , and because those close to you also run , they all just keep running ?
It's perhaps a logical fallacy to look at it that way , and philosophy can only tell one side of a story . If Reality is true that its so harsh , then the mind can make defensive barriers to protect itself . It could even go as Far as to become Comatose or completely deluded . A Paranoid Schizophrenic was what became of the Main Character in the last section , completely deluded by the outside world . It was probably a Dream .
. . . Japan is a very respectful Culture , where filial piety still has some lingering effects . People would not be so rude to just talk to someone else that is right next door to them , in fear of offending them . A conversation between a Girl to a Boy , is nigh unheard of there . However , it is also westernized or supposely individualized . The effect of the commercialism on the traditionally eastern culture had a negative effect . What happened was a growth of isolated youth , that literally ran . That is the Creator of this Artpiece , and that is the Philosophy . It is also highlighted in a specific episode , where the Child keeps saying Sorry to Asuka . If you don't understand where it's from , it may not be so wise to assume too much . Even though we're only human .
. . . Or maybe I got into this alittle too far . Oh well , what a waste of time .
024 4 The main critiques I seem to notice are Shinji is whiny , same message , and wth happened at the end of the series . I think I agree with the director in saying if you've never experienced desperation , detachedness , other feelings associated with existentialism , and basically all those growing up , you probably won't find anything at all in it , or anything useful . I watched some of this a REALLY long time ago ( middle school ) . . . for the most part completely went over my head . I only got the giant robots bit which is the first layer of understanding . Watched again second year of college , but while doing homework so I didn't catch many of the nuances of the plot . I would read later on a site some plot points which I did not even pick up on . . . I watched it again recently and got SO much more this time around .
The whole focus of Evangelion , I would think ( this is my interpretation of it , don't bash me if it's different than yours > ) , is on the varying degrees of connectedness between the characters and the quality / number of those connections . . . more so than robots ( YES I know they're not ) , religion , and monsters . It's sort of ironic how all these dysfunctional characters are supposed to be the representatives and saviors of humanity . I think this fits in nicely with the synchro rate , because as I see it , the synchro rate is a measure of the connectedness of the soul in the Eva with the pilot . . . it would explain Shinji's high synchro and Asuka's falling synchro . This strong connection Shinji has with the soul in EVA 01 was the reason why , I think , 01 was so important ( versus 00 or 02 ) . . . it was a good representation of the connectedness / relationships between people that could be used to save humanity . It's supposed to be our unique thing that can help us survive ( in the sense that it makes humans worth keeping alive ) unlike the singular angels / Adam . This is supposed to be ironic because Shinji is terrible at connecting with everyone else .
I also think the characters are grappling with identity , as shown by the identification of who they are in relation to everyone else ( in the series I think that was exemplified by the adding rules / restrictions like gravity and ground to define who you are . . . ) .
So , before I go on some weird tangent with my analysis , a short review . See it for the relationships . Has cool action sequences as well but that's an aside . Great characters , somewhat confusing but engrossing plot ( I am not sure if he meant to give so few hints as to what happening or not ) , very existential , if you like that sort of thing . It's somewhat along the lines of The Stranger ( L'etranger ) , if you've read that . I think some of the fan service is actually a part of the story as the main character IS a preteen and preteens DO go through puberty . It's a part of life . While it seems like it may be for teens ( I think the director geared it that way , what with the few silly situations ) I don't think you can have a good appreciation of it , and a good handle of the philosophy and story until you're older . I think this was a mistake of the director as children ( yes . . . I think as preteen I should have been called a child ) wouldn't possibly be able to understand some of the other things going on besides battles .
( By the way , Shinji cries because he IS a weak character . But I also think it shows a certain weakness to deride others because they are weak . While I know this is just a character it's very disrespectful . I'm a girl and I love strong characters too as I'm fiercely independent , but saying someone is a wuss when they have emotional problems is a low blow . )
025 4 Probably one of the biggest obstacles in storytelling is creating an utterly despicable character and making the audience still care about his plight . Shinji is aguably the biggest weenie in the history of television , and yet I still cared about him . It's part pshychological analysis ( especially at the end ) and part typical anime mecha ( but done extrmeely well ) . The angels are all innovative and unique , and there's a sense of real danger with them all , though they do folow the video gamish formula of growing successively more powerful .
The origins of the angels , and the political maneuvering , and the helpless characters manipulated by it , really steals the show . The fourteen year olds really have no say in what happens , and are actually helping bring about humanity's demise while thinking they are saving it .
Misato and Asuka steal the show , and Gendo is stunning as the cold , heartless father of Shinji .
The animations isn't very good , and looks cheap even by TV anime standards , hence the four stars instead of five .
Just a warning , the last two episodes , though entertaining , don't give proper closure . It's recommended to watch End of Evangelion to get a more thorough ending .
027 4 I had heard bits and pieces about this anime since I started collecting cels . I always recognized them because they are probably some of the most expensive anime cels out there . Even so I had never seen the anime , but I heard from many others that it was a great timeless anime . Now I don't have a specific genre of anime I like , just whatever happens to come my way , which seems to be giant robot ones and sci fi ness . So I took a chance when Best Buy put the series set on sale and bought it . It actually sat on my shelf for several months until recently .
Spoilers may be below .
The anime is about a boy named Shinji who is selected as the third child to pilot the Evangelion ( robot ) 001 . He is pretty depressed about it but pilots it anyway . He and 2 other pilots Rei and Asuka all fight these monsters called Angels . During the anime Shinji goes through a great deal of stress and emotion wondering why he is here and what his lifes meaning is . Despite being an action packed series it is very psycological . The series ends abruptly with Shinji's mind wandering in itself .
I have to say I was never expecting to enjoy this anime as much as I did . It really was brilliantly done in almost all aspects of it . The music was enjoyable and the characters were very human . Shinji the main character is very depressing , but in that aspect of him it seems how a real person would be acting . Even though the robots or Eva's as they're referred to are a big part of the story they don't overshadow the human characters . The only thing I really had a problem with was the ending of the anime . The last 2 episodes got really confusing to the point where I had no idea what was going on . Lots of still images and flashing . I was really happy to see the ending much better explained in the Evangelion movie End of Evangelion .
The dvds in this set are in slim cases which I am not a fan of . But the dvds themselves seem to be of good quality . I'm happy with the purchase . Overall I really enjoyed the anime and am happy that I did . I am really looking forward to the 4 new movies coming out over the next few years .
028 4 neon genesis evangelion is one of the best anime films i have ever seen . This anime has characters that are extremely easy to relate to and have good personalities which suit the plot and making it easy to understand . I love the fact that it keeps you hooked by using a sense of mystery as well as it has almost perfect balance with action , mystery , romance , and emotional needs . The performance of the DVD has sincerely outdone itself by using extremely outstanding artwork and the fact that it uses snippets of the bible to help influence the story line and finally i love the fact that it tinkers with the mind and makes you think while watching it .
On the other hand i have discovered some faults in the dvd . i believe that the anime is a bit too creative and sometimes the use of flashbacks and things like that make the plot complicated and hard to follow . i personally don't agree with some of the moral codes . i recommend to anyone that wants to buy or watch this should pace themselves into watching it so that you can fully enjoy each dvd or episode . This DVD has an extremly reasonable price and may take a while to get to you but it is so worth it . i wrote this review with my friend to help people to buy or not buy this box set . Rob and Stefan
031 4 If you are just interested in viewing this series , then this is the set to go with . Not only do you get all 26 episodes marvelously transferred , but there is an additional disc containing director's cuts of four of the concluding episodes . The audio is also of equal quality , which was re-recorded for this renewal release in Dolby 5.1 ( for both English and Japanese audio tracks . ) If your prefer to go with the Japanese audio , than you should find the English subtitles to be decent . I did catch one or two errors , but it wasn't detrimental to the overall viewing experience . There is very little in the extras department , just a small selection of ADV trailers , but if you don't care about such things its not an issue ( get the 120 dollar set if you want it all . ) But the price is very reasonable for so much quality content , and I would say you'd get more for your money with this set . The series itself is quite good ; containing an interesting plot , great ( relatable ) characters a good amount of great action scenes . The animation style is also very clean , with a good amount of attention to detail ( but not without occasional mistake ) . It's about the most mainstream Anime series out there , but there is a reason for that .
Oh , and if you end up enjoying the series , do your self a favor and grab End of Evangelion , which makes episodes 25 and 26 work , in my opinion .
032 4 Simply an outstanding series and my personal favorite anime ! I won't spoil the plot too much , but I will mention that this show may be nothing like you expect , but just watch it with an open mind and you may just be blown away by its story and unforgettable characters . I know I was ! Also , the packaging is gorgeous as well and the remastered video makes this anime look more phenomenal than ever .
If you're new to anime I'd like to mention that although series is marked TV14 , I myself would give it an R rating , especially for the later half of the show . There is definitely some pretty adult content in there .
I want to address a few things besides these though :
Cons :
- WAY too much fanservice for my tastes , especially in the first half of the show
- At times , quite silly , even stupid ( again , only in the first half )
- A plot that is ridiculously hard to follow
- An Ending that will please almost no one
Pros
- Utterly phenomenal character development
- Battles are very engaging
- Deep , complex , and emotional throughout
- Extreme replay value
One more thing , if you enjoyed this series , you MUST also watch the End of Evangelion . It's a semi-alternate ending that is much easier to follow ( well , kinda ) .
035 4 Considering the price of this slimpak is only slightly more than the cost of two of the Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Edition releases , I think it's crazy for anime and mecha fans to not buy this . First of all , it's Neon Genesis Evangelion , a modern masterpiece through and through . ( . . . ) With digitally cleaned up video and a kick-butt Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track ( sorry , I don't much care for dubbed anime ) , this is the best presentation of Neon Genesis Evangelion ever . PLUS - we get the director's cuts of episodes 21 - 24 !
Personally , I don't think it is a major factor to lose the audio commentaries and brief featurettes that were part and parcel of the initial Platinum Edition release , especially since this slimpak release has such an affordable price tag .
037 4 Physical appearance : Beautifully and simply packaged , without a lot of fluff . Bright silver box and six slim DVD cases , with well-reproduced artwork on all . Five to six episodes on each disk , with synopsis of each on the back of the dvd case .
Series : This is a thinking-person's anime . It starts out as an average giant-robot , shoot - ' em-up series , then gradually gets deeper as more about the characters and the situation they find themselves in is revealed . The characters are well-thought out , each with their own motivations and psychological quirks . A lot is left to conjecture and speculation - not everything is laid out , even in the last episodes . It allows the viewer to draw his or her own conclusions about the intent of the series creator .
NGE is rated TV - 14 for good reason . There are adult situations included , and younger viewers likely wouldn't follow the complex psychological twists used .
039 4 I purchased the Perfect Collection last summer , watched the whole series in a matter of two days , and felt like I was going to have some sort of breakdown . Strange ? Yes , but this series * definitely has that effect on people . * It's phenomenal , it's gorgeous , it's frightening - - and most important of all it has a purpose behind it . ( I've since watched the series through once more since then , along with the film End of Evangelion ; the impact is has on me has not lessened with subsequent viewings )
I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Platinum Collection ( a two week wait ! ? I may die from anxiety ) , but from what I understand the changes are worth the patience : additional scenes , commentary , Director's Cut episodes - - most of what an Eva fan could wish for , based on how thought-provoking and confusing the series can be .
Hopefully Eva can transcend the stigma of anime being for kids or creepy fanboys / girls , because trust me : Eva is no Inuyasha , Sailor Moon - - hell it's even no Cowboy Bebop . It's frightfully smart and intuitive , and if you give it enough thought , it can change you .
042 4 I am a huge fan of this show , but as with buying any anime series , it's a big investment . This new Platinum Collection of Neon Genesis Evangelion is a far more pratical solution to both buying the original box set , or buying each DVD separately . It's perfect for long-time fans of the show , or newbies who are worried about putting a lot of money down . ( You're already saving well over $100 with this set . ) And as someone who has limited shelf space , this thinpack takes up much less room .
While a little short on some of the special features you'd expect from such a big name title , you're still getting your money's worth . Besides the series in full , there is also an extra disc with director's cut episodes . While Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion are not included , this isn't much of a problem .
The only warnings I would give would be to those who are new to the series . It's a popular anime , but there's a lot of violence , blood , religious themes , angst , dark themes ; definately not for the faint of heart . However , there are also a lot of deep themes that the show touches on . Shinji Ikari , one of the main characters , isn't the most popular anime character of all times , but I found I could really identify with him .
Putting a great show in a box like this was a good move , and definately worth purchasing .
043 4 People I got sucked into buying this collection last year because everyone said Neon Genesis Eva was the best anime period . . . so I bought it cold . . . with out even seeing it first .
To put it simply , the animation , initial character development , and general overal concept are great . But the characters and story really never go anywhere . The first half of the collection is solid but you get bored with them trying to overcomplicate the plot . I love a complex story but by the end of the series you really could care less what happens to any of them !
056 4 Dated production quality , solid story ( up to the end if you read between the lines ) , and a cast of characters with . . . well . . . character .
Shinji ( agreeing with others who have posted here ) is pathetic . . . but arguably lovable . . .
Closure on the story is not what ends this work . The close of the story is something like a statement of life . . .
Life is . . . what you make of it . . .
Plain and simple . . .
For overall anime quality , I like it .
For overall delivery , the message was clear to those looking for the message .
For overall story , it has a definite apocalyptic / rainbow at the end of the tunnel feel ( Though like a rainbow you only see it but can't touch it ) .
I would buy it again if I lost my copy .
057 4 Neon Genesis Evangelion is a re-release of the original series in an economy thin-pack box set . It is the original episodes , plus the last four having an additional showing as Director's Cuts , meaning a bit longer in the tooth .
The story takes place in the future of planet Earth , years after a catashtrophic attack by aliens has melted the polar ice caps , flooding a large majority of the world . Society has been in upheaval and is now regaining stability .
Enter Shinji , the son of the man running the organization known as Nerv , and responsible for the Mech units known as Evangelion . The Evangelion's , or Eva's for short , are Earths only line of defence against a new wave of alien attacks . Shinji , along with German Asuka , and Silent but Steady Rei , are the only ones who can pilot these war beasts . Not to mention , they also go to school , given that they are only fourteen years old .
This is not an anime for those looking for a quick fix of comedy or panty-shots . While their certainly are some comedic moments , this is primarily a serious anime , and those willing to really watch the series will be rewarded in the end .
As far as special features go , there isnt much , their is commentary on the directors cut episodes , and the picture quality is much improved over the original , and it has 5.1 sound quality . Not much else .
However , the value of this box set more than makes up for a lack of special features .
Bottom line , if you desire mecha fighting , a deep and twisted plot , excellent character development , and of course , aliens , than this is the series for you . Just rememember , this is a series meant to make you think , so don't blame me if it makes your head spin : it did mine .
061 4 Certainly this is cheap . Indeed you will save your money bigtime and you will have all 26 episodes . However , the quality of these episodes is very different from the episodes that ADV originally released , and not for the better . Pay no more attention to the advertising gimmick of the remastered video and jaw dropping 5.1 surround sound , because this is the first way that the series has been ruined in this format . All that has been changed is the sound effects are louder and at times the voices echo . On top of that , the 4 director's cut episodes have been redubbed , with a few characters voiced by completely different actors .
The other problem with this item is that the pacing of nearly every episode has been changed . Where there were pauses in the older versions between dialogue , now there are none . The characters sound like they have been drinking too much coffee . Even though Ritsuko is bummed out in Episode 24 , she is babbling like a baboon . I suppose in order to fit 6 episodes on one disk , this must be done .
Finally , there are no extras , none . The perfect collection which runs at about $130 contains character descriptions , Spanish and French language tracks , plenty more artwork on the covers and protect the discs much better than the flimsy , thin covers on these DVD's . I think quality rates a little higher than the low quantity for which this item runs . This great series has been raped .
064 4 First of all , this series for the most part is about robots ( not really but looks it ) vs monsters ( called angels ) . Christian terms are used in many places yet this is not a christian show . Anyways , I found out about the show when it was being aired on cartoon networks adult swim . I at first thought it was a normal anime with the lame fantasy stuff all the nerds are into . Not true completely . This show digs past that in some of the show , showing develpment of a world thats falling apart on the outside and from within each character . Thats what started drawing me in to the show . Ep . 22 Don't Be , struck a cord with me as Asuka starts turning for the worst into this mental breakdown that is beyond painful and odd . The whole crew is showing signs of battle damage so to speak towards the end in Ep.s 23 and 24 . But Nothing was more weird than what happens in Ep's 25 and 26 .
Basicly After the final angel is killed Shinji is dealing with the factor he killed someone that he seemed to get very close with . Then in Ep . 25 Do You Love Me ? We are greeted with the introduction of the Human Instrumentality Project , which is more like some sort of mental helping device . Anyways , this show spins off to understand the characters and they pasts and what makes them who they are . Most shocking being Asuka remembering her birth mother hanging from the doorway . Its desturbing and very deep . All comes down to the basic feelings of : being lonely , being hurt , and wanting protection and companyonship .
Ep . 26 Take Care of Yourself is without a doubt weird . Still In the Instrumentality machine , now the issue is perspective and what makes all man and what drives one self and how to know ones self . We see in one part Shinji in very basic drawn animation form as he gets perfect freedom , but finds out is still awkward and lonely and he still can't understand himself . After going thru a possible reality that is very funny , shinji decides he can find a way to move on and keep living .
Anyways Mind blowing Ep's at the end . Too deep appeantly for Anime folks based on these reviews I've read . So to those outside of the anime belt reading this , if your looking for something truely deep , and more personal , get something with these 2 Ep's on it .
But the box set is so cheap , and other ep's are darn good as well , so why not this box set . The english subtitles are great .
The only reason I didn't give this a 5 star perfect review is because the lack of interviews and extra content . All that's specal is eps 21 thru 24 have had extra animation and * story * added . Still get this .
067 4 I've been an Eva junkie since 2001 . However , as a poor high school student ( at the time ) I could not afford the original boxset . What is an Eva head gotta do to watch the rest of the series ( as buying the first 4 DVD's left me broke ) ? That is ofcourse to pirate them .
No . . . . . don't pirate anime . It was wrong of me at the time , but now anybody can plop down $45 and get this pinnacle anime series without the need to download it illegally . With these thin packs you : save space , get great eye candy , get 5.1 surround sound , and you get the satisfaction of owning there series .
I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good philosophical argument , mech anime , or fans of Shakespearian tragedies . People who are more into pokemon or Naruto may find this anime a bit too boring ( as it is a mature anime ) , but $40 is worth a shot .
Rei Ayanami is teh awesomeness .
074 4 Excellent box for the lovers of this magnificent series : there are no extra whatsoever , but I have the first platinum volume and I can say they were not that great in the first place .
The only valuable extras in the original edition were the booklets , and if you search carefully the net you might find a way to compensate this loss . . .
As for the episodes , I did not detect any change in pace ( I watched eps 21 - 24 in DC version ) , nor in image quality ( compared to the first volume I already have ) , so I would say that this thinpack ( which is very sturdy ) is the only reasonable choice for the new fans .
Enjoy !
077 4 There's some very interesting opinions on the series as you can tell from this page , but philosophy aside , this is a very entertaining series . You don't have to be a university genius in social science to enjoy it and the characters are great . Yes it's made in Japan and its a different culture , but i watch series that are made in the US and France and im from England , a suprisingly different culture from the US .
What i feel is the most controversial underlooked element of this series is that they are using teenage children to fight a war . Something that unfortunately goes on in some parts of the world today .
Though this series is labeled in the ' sci-fi ' genre , it's not for you if you're after non stop robot action , as the best parts of the series are the human drama elements . I'd get something more like Gundam if you want more robot action .
Contreversial subjects such as religion and culture aside , Neon Genesis is a very entertaining anime which is well recommended , no matter what religion , culture , etc . You will no doubt develop your own opinions on the series .
078 4 The only actual extras , per say , is that disc 6 has the 4 , Director's Cut episodes , which is nice to have , but that's it .
After stupidly purchasing and hastily opening this box set , to check out the shape of the discs ( as I tend to find at least one scratched disc , or broken disc tray / case , per box set , so I like to do an inspection ASAP , so that I can exchange the damaged parts to the store of purchase , right away , before they run out of stock and I have to wait several weeks until they get new stock in ) I then discovered that the disc didn't carry the episode commentaries that the individual ( and higher priced ) DVD's did .
This sucked , because had I known this , I would never have bought the set .
Oh sure , that annoying frame jiggle , when the scenes change , has been removed , but other then that , the 4 disc , Asian import set that I have ( which includes all 26 ep's plus the two movies ) would have been just fine , and would have saved me the $74.99 Canadian that I plunked down for the new set .
So , my advice is , if you're looking to buy the remasters for the extras , then get the individual discs , but if you don't own the original series and could care about the extras , then this set is much cheaper then the regular box set , and worth the buy .
079 4 Neon Genesis Evangelion is my favorite anime series . I had heard of the series before , and I started watching it in August or september when it started airing on TV . I watched the series up until episode 17 and I just had to buy it . I was able to find it at Best Buy , where I bought it for around 60 dollars . It was worth every penny !
Since I bought it , I have watched the series 5 or 6 times , and I always manage to find something new in one of the 26 epsisodes .
Now to the reviewing . There are 6 discs , each about 125 minutes , and there are about 5 episodes per disc except for disc 5 which contains 6 episodes and is 150 minutes and disc 6 which contains the directors cut versions ( added scenes ) of episodes 20 - 24 , and it runs about 120 minutes . The entire box set contains 650 minutes of episodes . Being the platinum box set , the sound quality has been improved and and the images are much clearer ( if you have seen it on tv , you will be pleasantly suprised at the greatly improved quality ) . Also , the opening credits plays a very slightly slower paced version of the opening song ( A cruel angel's thesis ) , and at the end of every episode , it plays a different version of fly me to the moon ( the closing song ) . There aren't commentaries on any of the episodes .
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a great anime series . It takes place in the year 2015 , where the world has been greatly changed due to an event known as second impact ( that took place in the year 2000 ) that melted the antartic , causing a lot of land to go underwater due to the severe flooding , starting many wars over territory , making the earth lose about half of its population . As if that isn't enough , creatures known as angels are attacking mankind for unknown purposes and humans have to use giant robots known as evangelions to combat them . The series centers around the pilots of these evangelions .
But if you think that the series is all about giant robot fighting , you are mistaken . There is much , much more to the series than fighting robots , so much that you'd have to watch the series to find out it all .
Pay very close attention when watching this series , because there is so much going on if you don't pay attention you may be lost . There are so many great things about this series that you'll only know if you watch it .
The seires starts out slow , and it brings up many , many questions for the viewer , questions that aren't answered until the end of the series and even the movies ( that both take place and should be watched , after the series ) . The series really picks up around episode 16 and the rest of the series and movies are extrordinary .
One complaint that I find a lot of people have , is the whininess of some of the main characters ( particularly shinji ) . Well , a key part of enjoying the series is to try to identify with ( or if you can't do that just ignore ) shinji .
I found watching this series very enjoyable and rewarding , I highly recommend it . ( not for kids , some nudity , some sexual content , a little bad language , and lots of blood )
081 4 Now before you go directly to the Was this review helpful to you ? section and click no solely based on the title of this review , I hope that you read it first .
When I first started watching the series , I was intrigued . It had good characters with a range of emotions and depth that could help you feel for the characters . But as the show went on , it became convoluted and pretentious . Now I don't mind shows that make you think , in fact , I'm all for cerebral entertainment . The show took depth to far and made a black hole . Depth is good , black holes anywhere near me , bad . The use of evangelical symbols and names was a genius move ( or rediculous move in this case ) on the part of the creator . The relationship between characters and symbolic meanings makes for a more interesting show . Unfortunately , there was barely any relationships to be had . I have read that during an interview , the creator was asked about all the religious symbols , in which he answered that he threw them in because it was cool ( if you need clarification , search the hundreds of anime and NGE forums ) .
I have read countless threads on countless Anime forums where people try to decipher and make sense of NGE . Most of the time , these individuals go so far over the edge to convince others ( and themselves ) that so and so meant this or that .
As far as characters go , Shinji was the most annoying . I went from feeling sorry for him to hoping he would sustain a fatal wound . How much whining and crying do I have to listen to before he commits to any action .
The lets all watch what we've seen already episodes dulled the series down even more for me . It is the one thing I dislike the most about many a anime .
Lets not leave out the last episodes . I'm sorry , were the artists and writer on some sort of hallucinogen . Episode 25 and 26 certainly provided closure for me in the sense that I ended up not caring about what happened to the characters . Now I know why the movies were made ( which I have not and will not see ) .
This anime is over-analyzed and overhyped . For me , reading all the hype and interpretations before hand made the viewing all the more difficult .
So why give this two stars after my tirade above . Unlike many animes I have viewed , NGE did a great job at hooking me at the beginning ( not much could be said as the series went on ) . Secondly , I have seen anime much worse ( although not as hyped ) .
And finally , I gear a lot of my anger towards the people who made NGE what it is today . If it wasn't for all the hype surrounding NGE , it might have made for a semi-decent anime .
As for what you get for the price , It's about right on par . Not much in the way of extras . The animation is very crisp and the packaging is to my liking . I have never been a stickler for packaging or extras unless the price of the DVD ( s ) should reflect it . Considering what it cost a couple of years ago , this is a great deal .
086 4 There is almost no possible way to describe this series in words , but I'll try my hardest .
The plot seems simple enough : teenager finds out that he's destined to pilot the Eva , a giant humanoid robot , and that he has to defeat enormous aliens known as the Angels . Wow , what a typical plot , right ? Wrong .
After about the 3 ' rd episode , the characters slowly start to develop as you find out more about their pasts .
The remastered version has more clarity , and the new dub helps the story make more sense .
All-in-all , if you are an otaku ( like myself ) , or even if you're not , you need to see this show .
088 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
If your interested in giant robot anime with a story this is for you . Other reviews as well as search engines can help you with the story line and deference's between the platinum and perfect collection . . .
If you saw it's original basic cable US run on adult swim ( late night Cartoonnetwork ) you missed some things ( not many though ) . For one reason or another certain parts where edited out , I'm not sure if it was for content or time ( that or I can ` t remember them all : p ) . Little tidbits that may not really mean anything unless you've seen it up to that part were for some reason left out . Never the less if you have seen or own anime such as Coboy Bebop , FLCL , Samurichamploo this is good price to add it to your collection . Also the subtitles can clear up a few things as well .
This is one of the most realistic sci-fi anime I have seen . There are times you can really relate to the things going on and find the utter stupid-ness of real life in this series . It's vary deep , not for light thinkers and if you wonder why you watched it all the way through after doing so you've probly missed something . It's no doubt that the characters in this have some problems upstairs , but you come to understand why later on ( they kind of breakdown the wall ) . Most of the scientific content they talk about is lip service ( I.E . esoteric and probly incorrect to those that don't know of it ) but it can allow the viewer get sucked in at times .
Note :
The directors cut's of episodes 21 - 24 are here and help with some things and considering your only paying about $7.70 per disk new as of this date ( and a nice box to put it in ) your almost steeling it compared to other sources .
089 4 If your interested in giant robot anime with a story this is for you . Other reviews as well as search engines can help you with the story line and deference's between the platinum and perfect collection . . .
If you saw it's original basic cable US run on adult swim ( late night Cartoonnetwork ) you missed some things ( not many though ) . For one reason or another certain parts where edited out , I'm not sure if it was for content or time ( that or I can ` t remember them all : p ) . Little tidbits that may not really mean anything unless you've seen it up to that part were for some reason left out . Never the less if you have seen or own anime such as Coboy Bebop , FLCL , Samurichamploo this is good price to add it to your collection . Also the subtitles can clear up a few things as well .
This is one of the most realistic sci-fi anime I have seen . There are times you can really relate to the things going on and find the utter stupid-ness of real life in this series . It's vary deep , not for light thinkers and if you wonder why you watched it all the way through after doing so you've probly missed something . It's no doubt that the characters in this have some problems upstairs , but you come to understand why later on ( they kind of breakdown the wall ) . Most of the scientific content they talk about is lip service ( I.E . esoteric and probly incorrect to those that don't know of it ) but it can allow the viewer get sucked in at times .
Note :
The directors cut's of episodes 21 - 24 are here and help with some things and considering your only paying about $7.70 per disk new as of this date ( and a nice box to put it in ) your almost steeling it compared to other sources .
090 4 I have just become an anime fan and have only just started purchasing through Amazon.com . Although many places seemed to offer better prices , they often didn't list the particulars of the video , region , dubbing or subtitles , or the like .
NGE was all that I expected , and more .
The basic delivery service of Amazon.com is Extremely good . When I ordered it , it was shipped within 48 hours , and arrived two days after that , well ahead of the projected arrival date . I wish that all other online businesses that I have purchased through were that meticulous about customer satisfaction . I will have no qualms about making future purchases with them .
PS I have a suggestion to a lot of other reviewers , use spell check or a dictionary .
093 4 What can I say ? Almost one hundred severely brain deprived people have rated this 5 stars . I will admit , this is entertaining , and barely so .
First , the protagonist , Shimji , is quite possibly the most awful character ever . He spends valuable minutes whining and complaing that his father doesn't love him , all while friends and innocents are being killed .
The story portrayal was horrific , most of those who rated highly were not aware of the show's true theme . Basically there are two beings of creation : Adam and Lilith ( not Eve ) . Adam ( the big light creature ) goes around making beings shaped like the Angels . Lilith ( the Eva shaped creature ) goes around making man shaped beings . Something happened and whoops they both ended up on the same planet : not supposed to happen I guess . Only then the angels begin becoming human . Then the Evas are human , oh and the supercomputers named after the three wise men in the Bible , only the Bible is meaningless because there is no real God , only these aliens spawning creation on various plants . Oh did I mention they have big robots ? And they get kids to pilot them ? And they actually send these kids to public school instead of military training ?
Get a grip people : watch Gundam , at least their plots don't spiral to dismal failure , even with the release of the THIRD NEW ENDING . . .
Like I said , entertaining , but not much else .
Pros : Actually I like Shinji's dad , some great animation for its time .
Cons : Pretty much everything else .
Viewing Preference ; Japanese with English subtitles
098 4 Hmmmm , okay this is what I think .
Okay , first of all I have to admit that I do not like Evangelion very much , not because I think the philosophy is flawed , I actually kinda liked some of it's ideas , I just think the characters are really annoying , that's pretty much my main argumment . But thats not the argument in question now is it ? Well who's side do I take , Cigar or Everbody else well I have to say that in the end I'm sort of split down the middle on this one . Can your own reality be manipulated around you to the point in which the universe could not exist ? Also added on to that could it all be done just by mere thought ? Once again yes and no . I do belive that reality can be manipulated through a person's thoughts . If you want to grab something off a table , what do you do ? You stretch out your hand to take that item . I know that may be a very simple example , but that is an example of you manipulating your own reality , you wanted that item and it became your's based on your thoughts . However even though something as simple as that can no doubt be manipulated , can thought go as far as to change your surroundings based on what you want . I belive to an extent it does . If your sitting in your bedroom and you decide you want a glass of water you think to yourself I want a glass of water , i'm now going to the kitchen , ( well you don't really think exactly that , but you get the point ) and then the next thing you know youv'e already walked into your kitchen . Think about it were your surroundings changed just then , because of a thought ? You wanted to go into the kitchen and you went there , are your surroundings now different ? So in a sense you have changed your surroundings with thought and free will . You have manipulated your reality to your liking through thought . However many may argue with this statement based on the fact that many would say that it was a physical reaction that changed your surroundings , not a mental one . This is where I think Evangelion is flawed . Even though I do think that thought is the main core of these manipulations , your physical actions also play a part in your reality . Like I said if you wanted to leave the room to go to another one but had no way of getting to that other room , then your wish would be obsolete , your reality would not be fufilled . In the end of Evagelion ( I'm not refering to the movie here I'm just refering to the end of the TV series ) Shinji's thoughts shaped his reality into nothingness , he did it alone on thought . That's were the problem is , there was nothing physical there , and even though thought is what inspired you to do something there must be a messenger , such as the human body , to carry out that thought , but in the final episodes of the series there is no messenger , just the initial message .
In a nutshell heres what I think . It is possible to change reality , I also think it is possible to manipulate your surroundings . But I belive this can only happen with help from both consciousness and physical reaction . Thought alone can not recreate surroundings , without physical action it seems downright impossible . But still , hey this is how I intepreted this whole mess , and I think it is opinion related . Like I said I'm pretty much stuck between the middle of this whole argument , I really tried to see the logic of both sides . I gave his review 3 stars to be fair , and I think I was somewhat fair . Well thats it I guess , thank's for reading .
099 4 First and foremost , I am not a huge Anime Fan , to me there is way to much junk i.e One Piece , or any Tenchi , but to me I have always been partial to the darker pieces of Anime . . . Akira , The Vampire Hunter D Films , Ninja Scroll , Beserk , Wicke City , Ghost in the Shell . . . . And Evangellion Fits in that Mold perfectly .
I disagree with the close but no Cigar Review because to me , they just did not get the whole premise , but thats totally my opinion . The Characters for one are not simply throwaway , if they were , they were not have the development that they did . . . Heck even minor characters like Kaji and Dr . Ritsuko are given back stories .
The Thing abou Evangellion is that , it is meant to be seen the way you see it , some see it as a pyscho drama , some see it as a christian metaphor . . . . what comes down to it , is Evangellion is what you make of it . . . Personally I think its blend of both , but watch this series . There is no doubting the excellent chararization which is not rivaled by any other show ( Well maybe Lost ) but the characterization is very heavy . Also please note this series gets very disturbing towards the last few episodes , where as the first few episodes have a bit of lighter tone . . .
Defintaley donot miss this ! !
101 4 Out of all the Anime I've watched , none have stuck with me in the same way as Neon Genesis Evangelion . With a directing style and plot line that resembles something from a Stanley Kubrick film , this show felt more real and dramatic to me than most other shows I've seen , both in animation and live action .
The plot takes place in the year 2015 , after a global-altering event called the Second Impact took place in the year 2000 . In this post-Apocalyptic future , 14 year old Shinji Ikari is summoned to Neo Tokyo - 3 by his estranged father , the leader of an organization called NERV . He soon learns that humanity is under attack from a strange breed of aliens codenamed Angels . Mankind's only hope for surivial is for Shinji and a group of other teenagers to pilot his father's creations , gaint human shaped cyborgs called Evangelions .
Although the plot sounds pretty straightfoward , it is anything but . Around episode 14 , things start to get weird as NERV and the organization funding it , SEELE , are revealed to be involved in a much deeper conspiracy . Meanwhile , the conflict with the Angels starts to take it's toll on the main characters , who begin to crack under the pressure . By the end of the series , most of the characters have a complete breakdown while the Apocalypse rains down around them .
This set includes remastered versions of the original 26 episodes , and the 4 New Production cut episodes . Unfortunately , the real conclusion , the End of Evangelion , is not included here , but it is available from Manga Entertainment . It is vital that you get that DVD as well for the full experience .
If your interested in watching something light hearted and straightfoward , than this is not the show for you . The plot is complicated , and things get increasingly disturbing as the series continues , and it doesn't always answer some of the mysteries of the plot , giving the viewer enough clues to come to their own conclusions . However , if you're a fan of films such as 2001 : A Space Odyssey , than is right up your alley .
102 4 NGE is impossible to describe in its entirety , but I will say this . If you dont mind working for this anime it will reward you with a sense of gratification , enlightenment and ( at least in my case ) nirvana . . . . obviously the answers wont be droped on your lap , you will have to do most of the analyzing and work yourself , if you do suceed even minimaly you will feel some satisfaction . There are other works of similar caliber . I praise NGE for being the first in my experience . I will say that its quite possibly the best anime out there . Like they say minds are like parachutes , they only work when they are open or something in that fashion .
P.S if you already have experienced some anime I suggest you drop all your previous notions and experiences of animation and entertainment in general . If you have ever seen seen something in the lines of 2001 a space odessy you will be in good shape . Purchase End of Evangelion , that is a must .
kind of a long P.S wouldent you say . . . . .
112 4 This is arguably the best anime series ever created . Its themes have resonated with fans of the genre for a decade . At first glance merely a Giant Fighting Robots anime , it evolves quickly into something much more . What that is depends on personal interpretations , but that is irrevevant . It is , simply , unbelievable .
The entire series has previously been released in various forms . The original 8 DVDs were compiled into the Perfect Collection a few years ago , priced at about $150 . The set is gorgeous , but shortly after its release Director's Cut editions of several episodes were released . Shortly after those releases , Platinum Editions were released , with remastered sound and enhanced audio .
This new Platinum Collection contains those most recent , Platinum versions of the series . The set is comprised of 6 Thinpack DVDs - which are held in a very sturdy , high-quality cardboard case - taking up roughly the space of three normal-sized DVDs . The first five discs contain all 26 original episodes of the series on very attractive , simple silver discs . The 6th disc contains the Director's Cut versions of episodes 21 - 24 . There are no special features on this set .
Yes , this is a seemingly shameful double-dip of the series , but it is , like the series itself , simply the best there is to offer as far as Anime box sets go . It is simple , attractively designed , and most importantly inexpensive . It is certainly not recommendable to buy this if you already own the Perfect Collection , but otherwise this is the set to buy . The only flaw is the absence of the two films - The End of Evangelion , an alternative to the disappointing final two episodes of the series , and the vastly inferior Death & Rebirth . While hard-core fans will be disappointed by the lack of special features , which were undeniably sub-par in the Perfect Collection anyway , most will likely prefer this set , both for its atractive packaging and incredbily reasonable pricetag .
114 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
If you like Anime and Manga , I don't have to tell you about this collection ! It's a cult classic . . . you'll love it .
117 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
Based on the reviews I've read so far it would seem that when one decides to delve into the world of anime they will eventually come upon this series . While I did not give this a full five stars , I can definitely see why it is praised highly . On the flip side I can also see why a few people disliked it , thanks to the way the series ended . Regardless , I personally found it a very enjoyable series , but I don't think it's the greatest thing ever made . Not to me at least . I'll admit that at first I had a little trouble getting into the characters , but once I did I was definitely into the whole series . Shinji is just such a hard guy to like watching sometimes .
Anyway , Neon Genesis Evangelion puts us in a world that is nearly destroyed . The reason this happened is because of these strange beings called angels . The show takes us on quite an adventure centered on a boy named Shinji who has a destiny to fulfill . The series opens with an attack by one of these angels and Shinji is caught in the midst of it , but is due to be picked up by someone . She is charged to bring him back to the secret government base his father works at called Nerv . Needless to say she succeeds , since its episode one and we wouldn't have much of a series if the main character died there . Anyway , Shinji will prove to be instrumental in the defeat of these angels thanks to a machine his father built called the Eva . They are sort of like giant robots , which is why I would class this as a Mecha , but the Evas have an organic / genetic component in their designing ( you find out more about this towards the end of the series and I won't ruin the full breadth of the revelation for you ) . Anyway , Shinji , never having piloted one of these machines before , refuses , but is sort of forced into it and thus his career as an Eva pilot started in the very first episode . Sounds like most everything is explained huh ? Not in the least , there is SO much more to this series and that's one of the reasons it's so great . You see there's more than just one Eva in the world and thus more than one pilot because the Eva has to genetically mesh with its pilot so it's a lot more than driving the machines we see in other Mecha or what we find in things like Battletech . The other requirement is the pilot has to be fourteen . The other pilot already with us is Rei , but she really was too injured in a prior accident to pilot on that fateful day while seeing her so injured and his fathers immovable lack of compassion , Shinji felt the weight of the battle was on him .
As you can see Shinji's father is not a likeable person and we are shown this in the first episode as well . From there we are introduced to an array of varying characters , especially when Shinji gets entered into the school at Nerv headquarters . Shinji is sort of out of touch with reality , but still wants something out of it , so he's kind of in between . Rei on the other hand is completely removed and she's more like a robotic human just going through the motions . We see a couple hints of her humanity show up every now and again , but she does come across as incredibly bright and observant . Later we become introduced to the third pilot from Germany , Ayako . She was one of my favorites next to Rei and she's very in touch with the world . She's very engaged with the world around her and she's very motivated to be an Eva pilot , unlike Shinji who doesn't want to be and Rei who just does as she's told . Despite the action sequences where the Evas have to face the Angel enemies there is a major dramatic component to this series that focuses on how these children have to deal with their very intense responsibility . One wonders how the mind of someone so young can truly cope with what they're doing .
If you're really just in it for the action you might not get as into this because the dramatic sequences are just as necessary and on screen just as much . In fact , on some levels , I felt like there was sometimes too much action . From the way they present the story it seems like an Angel attack is a rare occurrence , but in almost every episode there's an attack . Our characters don't even get a rest to deal with their social problems or the problems they have to deal with in their job . Shinji clearly has the most mental stress because he's now under the command of a father who doesn't even seem to like him and favors Rei over his own son ! Rei . . . who isn't even his daughter ! As you can see there's a lot of strife and struggle for this , but Shinji's father has a lot to deal with as well , especially when it comes to those who control Nerv called Seele . This doesn't change the fact that he seems to be a very immoral person , especially when we see the background episodes .
That pretty much covers the premise for episodes one through twenty-four and if you like a dramatic based Mecha with some decent action sequences you'll love this . However , when we get to the last two episodes things make almost no sense . . . to the point where the creators have actually already tried to rewrite this ending twice ! I will admit that the last two episodes are awesome , especially on a philosophical / psychological level . They are absolutely profound and they really moved me to think about things in a very strange and new light . You can get a lot out of those two episodes if you view them in their own right , however , if you try to put them in conjunction with the rest of the series it makes almost no sense . On the Platinum edition of the box set there are director's cut episodes and upon re-watching those I see hints of the Human Instrumentality Project , which is where I think the last two episodes seem to culminate , but again , it really doesn't mesh with the rest at all . It just leaves us with no sensible conclusion to what was going on with the angels and Nerv in general . The built up such a mysterious world in the first twenty-four episodes that to have such an off key conclusion . . . we're just left feeling unsatisfied . Apparently I'm not the only one who thought these things made no sense , because I've talked to a few other people and they definitely agree . In the end , after watching these two , I'll call them wtf episodes , I'm left wondering if Shinji just made up this whole thing in his head and it never really happened . Apparently that's a very real possibility .
The art and premise of the show is very well done . It just begins to fall apart towards the end and there's no major ending that really turns the light on in our heads to make us understand . I'm not looking for a blatant hand out , but at least a somewhat logical progression would be nice and this show never really ends that way . I think it's good for what it is , but I think it had so much potential that never got truly fulfilled . I realize everything has meaning , I mean they went to the lengths to name the angels and give them REAL angelic names so there must be some relational concept between apocalypse and angels . After the last two episodes I'm less sure of what that concept is , even though I felt like I was on to something to figuring it out at first . In the end if you enjoy Mecha's with very deep concepts and drama then you'll love this . If you like the philosophical aspects found in Anime you'll love the last episodes too , but treating them as separate works seems to make more sense . Both things are great in their own right , but together it just doesn't flow , if you know what I mean . It really is difficult to convey in words , especially if you've never seen it before . I still recommend watching it at least once .
118 4 Based on the reviews I've read so far it would seem that when one decides to delve into the world of anime they will eventually come upon this series . While I did not give this a full five stars , I can definitely see why it is praised highly . On the flip side I can also see why a few people disliked it , thanks to the way the series ended . Regardless , I personally found it a very enjoyable series , but I don't think it's the greatest thing ever made . Not to me at least . I'll admit that at first I had a little trouble getting into the characters , but once I did I was definitely into the whole series . Shinji is just such a hard guy to like watching sometimes .
Anyway , Neon Genesis Evangelion puts us in a world that is nearly destroyed . The reason this happened is because of these strange beings called angels . The show takes us on quite an adventure centered on a boy named Shinji who has a destiny to fulfill . The series opens with an attack by one of these angels and Shinji is caught in the midst of it , but is due to be picked up by someone . She is charged to bring him back to the secret government base his father works at called Nerv . Needless to say she succeeds , since its episode one and we wouldn't have much of a series if the main character died there . Anyway , Shinji will prove to be instrumental in the defeat of these angels thanks to a machine his father built called the Eva . They are sort of like giant robots , which is why I would class this as a Mecha , but the Evas have an organic / genetic component in their designing ( you find out more about this towards the end of the series and I won't ruin the full breadth of the revelation for you ) . Anyway , Shinji , never having piloted one of these machines before , refuses , but is sort of forced into it and thus his career as an Eva pilot started in the very first episode . Sounds like most everything is explained huh ? Not in the least , there is SO much more to this series and that's one of the reasons it's so great . You see there's more than just one Eva in the world and thus more than one pilot because the Eva has to genetically mesh with its pilot so it's a lot more than driving the machines we see in other Mecha or what we find in things like Battletech . The other requirement is the pilot has to be fourteen . The other pilot already with us is Rei , but she really was too injured in a prior accident to pilot on that fateful day while seeing her so injured and his fathers immovable lack of compassion , Shinji felt the weight of the battle was on him .
As you can see Shinji's father is not a likeable person and we are shown this in the first episode as well . From there we are introduced to an array of varying characters , especially when Shinji gets entered into the school at Nerv headquarters . Shinji is sort of out of touch with reality , but still wants something out of it , so he's kind of in between . Rei on the other hand is completely removed and she's more like a robotic human just going through the motions . We see a couple hints of her humanity show up every now and again , but she does come across as incredibly bright and observant . Later we become introduced to the third pilot from Germany , Ayako . She was one of my favorites next to Rei and she's very in touch with the world . She's very engaged with the world around her and she's very motivated to be an Eva pilot , unlike Shinji who doesn't want to be and Rei who just does as she's told . Despite the action sequences where the Evas have to face the Angel enemies there is a major dramatic component to this series that focuses on how these children have to deal with their very intense responsibility . One wonders how the mind of someone so young can truly cope with what they're doing .
If you're really just in it for the action you might not get as into this because the dramatic sequences are just as necessary and on screen just as much . In fact , on some levels , I felt like there was sometimes too much action . From the way they present the story it seems like an Angel attack is a rare occurrence , but in almost every episode there's an attack . Our characters don't even get a rest to deal with their social problems or the problems they have to deal with in their job . Shinji clearly has the most mental stress because he's now under the command of a father who doesn't even seem to like him and favors Rei over his own son ! Rei . . . who isn't even his daughter ! As you can see there's a lot of strife and struggle for this , but Shinji's father has a lot to deal with as well , especially when it comes to those who control Nerv called Seele . This doesn't change the fact that he seems to be a very immoral person , especially when we see the background episodes .
That pretty much covers the premise for episodes one through twenty-four and if you like a dramatic based Mecha with some decent action sequences you'll love this . However , when we get to the last two episodes things make almost no sense . . . to the point where the creators have actually already tried to rewrite this ending twice ! I will admit that the last two episodes are awesome , especially on a philosophical / psychological level . They are absolutely profound and they really moved me to think about things in a very strange and new light . You can get a lot out of those two episodes if you view them in their own right , however , if you try to put them in conjunction with the rest of the series it makes almost no sense . On the Platinum edition of the box set there are director's cut episodes and upon re-watching those I see hints of the Human Instrumentality Project , which is where I think the last two episodes seem to culminate , but again , it really doesn't mesh with the rest at all . It just leaves us with no sensible conclusion to what was going on with the angels and Nerv in general . The built up such a mysterious world in the first twenty-four episodes that to have such an off key conclusion . . . we're just left feeling unsatisfied . Apparently I'm not the only one who thought these things made no sense , because I've talked to a few other people and they definitely agree . In the end , after watching these two , I'll call them wtf episodes , I'm left wondering if Shinji just made up this whole thing in his head and it never really happened . Apparently that's a very real possibility .
The art and premise of the show is very well done . It just begins to fall apart towards the end and there's no major ending that really turns the light on in our heads to make us understand . I'm not looking for a blatant hand out , but at least a somewhat logical progression would be nice and this show never really ends that way . I think it's good for what it is , but I think it had so much potential that never got truly fulfilled . I realize everything has meaning , I mean they went to the lengths to name the angels and give them REAL angelic names so there must be some relational concept between apocalypse and angels . After the last two episodes I'm less sure of what that concept is , even though I felt like I was on to something to figuring it out at first . In the end if you enjoy Mecha's with very deep concepts and drama then you'll love this . If you like the philosophical aspects found in Anime you'll love the last episodes too , but treating them as separate works seems to make more sense . Both things are great in their own right , but together it just doesn't flow , if you know what I mean . It really is difficult to convey in words , especially if you've never seen it before . I still recommend watching it at least once .
124 4 While I do not want to talk to in depth about the plot because I know I would start to describe seens to in depth , I will just say that this is an amazing and thought provoking series .
The story follows the path of three pubecent teens who have undergone tremendous stress in their lives , suffering from abandonment anxieties , self hate , mental instability , amongst countless other issues . Sadly these children are the only people capable of piloting giant robots known as evangelions . The reason for these mecha is an enemy called the angels , giant creatures with varying powers and appearance , that exist to enact the biblical apocolypse . The story line follows these basic plot keys , but is much deeper and philisophical .
For the most part the ideas in the show are easy enough to follow , but the last two episodes require some deeper thought and a mind that is used to thinking philisophically . A lot of people would say that episodes 25 - 26 ( the last two ) are terrible and that you should just watch the movie End Of Evangelion instead , but those final episodes are probably my favorite ones next to #22 .
This set in particular doesn't really contain anything in the way of extra features , except for four directors cut version episodes ( 21 - 24 ) which are amazing . I would also suggest some parental discretion maybe , there is partial nudity and some adult themes , but really if you plan on enjoying this anime your probably old enough for that stuff anyway .
Well I'm gonna go watch some more of this show obsesively so buy the DVD's and fall in love with this deep anime .
P.S . Buy End Of Evangelion it rules just as much as the show ROCK ON ! ! !
I am adding this section at the bottom because I have recently read some of the other reviews for this series and would like to address and explain what many people call weak points . The most common one was how unlikeable the characters are , but it is because the characters are so unlikeable that you love them so much you want to help them and when they never get better you realise that not everyone can be saved . Another common complaint is that the creator was having severe mental problems during production , and he came up with ideas on the fly , but great authors such as Edgar Allan Poe suffered severe mental stress , and Lord of the Rings were just bed time stories Tolkien made up for his kids then wrote down later .
Thats all for now if you've got any question my e-mail is JCMDmassett @ aol.com
Have a good one .
132 4 This review is from :
Neon Genesis Evangelion : Platinum Collection ( DVD )
There's only one word to say about this : Superb ! !
This is a milestone marker series in the anime world , this is what true anime fans watch . Don't think about getting it , just get it . You won't be dissapointed .
133 4 There's only one word to say about this : Superb ! !
This is a milestone marker series in the anime world , this is what true anime fans watch . Don't think about getting it , just get it . You won't be dissapointed .
134 4 Hi , this is the reviewer from Help for Datko and as it turns out I made a mistake . The four director's cut episodes are on this box set .
Sorry for the mistake .
135 4 . . . However , only partially understading it is good enough for most to enjoy it . As a guide post - The more you prefer the original ending as compared to The End of Evengelion ending , the more you understood it .
Here's a hint , though :
The body does not live . The soul lives . The body is simply animated by the soul . You have never seen anyone in your life ( with your physical eyes ) . You have only seen their body , or rather , an electrical image of their body . Our bodies are not that different from Eva's at all . The human body is basically a high end animalistic machine designed by Nature for the expression of the Spirit by way of the Soul .
Peace
136 4 I just got this series a few days ago and I'm sorry to say it left me feeling disappointed , frustrated , and annoyed.The storyline would take to long to explain all I can say is the ending was so confusing and open-ended that I wanted to take this set back to the store.The series does have good anime , good voice actors in both english and japanese audio and you will get you're dose of mecha battles but I say for you're sanity try another anime series .
Just Recently some people were wondering why I disliked this series so much.As I said it was very confusing point is on one episode one of the characters Rei is killed off an a battle and all of her clones ( She is clone meant to be the best to battle the invaders ) are destroyed yet an episode later you see her with a couple of other pilots during a training
session another point is where it got confusing was during a battle it goes from the personal alive to dead and dying for no apparent reason it doesn't show any enemies attacking them head on so you wondering what the hell happen.I also say the ending they gave was so frustrating that you become so disappointed with it's outcome you want to snap the dvds in half.You have some hard-core fans for this series and I say thats fine but lets be realistic and just say if you have any reservations about this series try watching it on tv or online tv and make you're choice . . .
137 4 In this latest release of the Neon Genesis : Evangelion series , both the visuals and audio have been improved . Unlike in previous releases , the picture quality remains almost flawless throughout all 6 DVDs , and in certain scenes the character's voices have been given an echo effect . The last DVD even contains director's cuts for the last few episodes , all of which contain a couple added scenes . Sadly , however , there are no extras to be found in this set .
The plot is , at face value , a surprisingly original science fiction story , in which aggressive creatures that turn out to be Angels attack human cities in order to make contact with the being known as Adam , an Angel that is now a military organization's captive . To combat the Angels , several young men and women are selected to pilot the monstrous bio-weapons called Evangelions .
The episodes making up the first portion of the series are shamelessly light-hearted , and the characters are often placed in comedic situations . However , that all changes at about the midpoint of the series , when the show takes a shockingly dark turn . It was at that point during the production when director Hideaki Anno suffered a nervous breakdown and attended numerous psychotherapy sessions . He factored his own pain into the series , in which the leading characters all began to suffer through their own private episodes of breakdown . Their feelings are expressed well , and it becomes increasingly easy to identify with the characters .
In a unique trend , more time becomes devoted to the characters themselves than to the story in motion . Eventually the characters become so well-explored that they can entertain on a blank stage ( and they do , in a sense ) . Unfortunately , this devotion to character development puts a lot of strain on the basic plot , and many key questions go unanswered .
My final advice to you : buy this set . It is well priced and the quality is top-notch . If you are totally confounded by the last episode ( as I was ) then watch the movie version , The End of Evangelion .
144 4 This series began with a simple , almost stupid concept involving giant mecha-Angels attacking New Japan and little kids who can sync up with Evas to fight them .
The mere logic and mechanics behind these battles is infuriating in how ridiculously off-the-wall bat * * * * insane they are . It seems like in every single battle with every single angel , without fail , one or all of the Evas is brutally and gruesomely damaged almost beyond repair , and every little scheme or superweapon developed by NERV has a chance of success dangling near the 1% mark . It started to become a running joke for me to laugh when a gigantic super-laser that would suck up half the country's power supply to fire one shot had something like a 0.00000018167% chance of success , and they just go fire it anyway , and it somehow works on the second shot .
But the real shining star of the series was the character interaction , particularly between Shinji , Asuka , and Rei . They had adorable moments together , and lots of school-aged sexual tension that never got raunchy or disgustingly over the top .
Then around the early-middle of the series , this sort of interaction started to lessen , as the characters became less well-rounded , and more stereotypical caricatures of their sex , and then later of mental illnesses .
Shinji went from a shy , sweet young boy desperate for his father's attention , to something resembling a schizophrenic who lives only for praise , and then when he receives said praise , he accuses the praisers of lying to him just to make him go and fight in the Eva .
Asuka was my favorite character , and she was most like me with her sassy attitude and hitting people-ness . Then they start digging up this backstory of her mother going insane , and beginning to think a doll is her actual daughter Asuka , and ignoring the real Asuka as that other girl , culminating in Asuka coming home from school to find her mother has hanged herself and the doll .
It would have been interesting to explore this effect on Asuka IF and ONLY IF it had been properly researched and gone into minor psychology from which Asuka could overcome this problem or fall to despair from it .
Instead , she just goes crazy , moping around like Shinji , and generally acting decidedly unpredictable , in that her actions seem to be only motivated by plot convenience .
Rei Ayanami had a chance to be someone who would stand out , who would somehow , despite not being an individual ( spoiler alert ) would somehow break out of that shell with Shinji's help and establish herself as her own person . This entire subplot was being established every time Shinji tried to emotionally connect with her .
Misato Katsuragi was humorous and interesting enough on her own , but then they give her an unresolved-relationship-end thing dealy with that other guy . This had the makings of a typical romantic comedy-drama , but since the whole series devolved into a series of caricatures of mental illnesses , she becomes insane and obsessive and a cliche ' stereotype of a hysterical woman .
The Blonde woman ( whose name I forgot ) simply goes insane , and thinks her mother's spirit lives on in the Three Magi machines , and starts to talk to them like they're her mother . Also , she was apparently raised with traditional japanese values , which means she believes women are a completely different species from men , and thus somehow it is impossible for them to relate .
Everyone else who was formerly a real character simply becomes a canvas upon which a depressed artist paints what he believes to be real and relevant portraits of the worst of humanity , but only show that this artist has not done his research , and has no experience with the human condition to understand how a person falls to their bad experiences , and what they do to overcome or get run down by them . Everyone in this series is simply a convenient prop piece for the artist's bitter message on how humanity is trash .
But that is including the End of Evangelion ending .
The original show earns one star from me for its ending , one which should have been kept . In it , Shinji , in a surrealist sort of place , struggles with his internal demons , and eventually overcomes , realizing that he has control over his life , and he is suddenly surrounded by all the characters of the series , applauding him overcoming his whiny man-child emo shell and becoming a real , well-rounded person once more .
The messages in this series had great potential , but were poorly executed by a storyline which seemed to have been either written by entirely different people mid-way through , or was being steadily transformed by a depressed director who was probably not involved in the final episode , judging by how he went and changed it in End of Evangelion .
Either way , despite the good character design , initially great character chemistry and development , and initially interesting concepts and philosophy , it completely fell apart from its message , and became gratuitously overbearing and pretentious , with a severely narrow-ranging view of the sexes , and rather childish sexism you expect in disillusioned pubescent adolescents without a proper guiding hand in their development .
149 4 I am sorry to say this , I know every one is entitled to thier own opinion , but how on earth could anyone give NGE anything higher than a one ? I actually wish they had an option for minus stars as I would pick that . . .
I am obsessed with animation , especially anime / manga , but I was thoroughly dissapointed by this show . . .
Dont get me wrong , the animation of it was very well done , and the fact that they got teenagers to go into mecha angels risking thier lives unwillingly was a great direction to go in , but the character development was not there and the constant whining of sinji , oh my god , the way he was , i felt like a two year old had designed his characteristics .
The show dragged on forever , and what i thought in the first episode was going to be an interesting series ended up making me wanting to stab my eyeballs out so something exciting would actually be happening . . .
If you really want good anime , try Alfen Lied , Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 , Cowboy Bebop , Hellsing , anything but this . . But what do i know ? Most everyone seems to love this series . I would have loved it if it was never invented as it was the biggest dissapointment and waste of time ever .
150 4 I have to say , in the past , before the show aired on Cartoon Network , I rented the first two discs of the series and well I really didn't like it that much . However now that I started watching it more on Cartoon Network , I have to say that it is a fairly entertaining show . But still everybody says this is the Best anime of all time , but to tell you the truth I really don't see whats so great about it . I'm not saying it's bad , it's just that I have yet to see the greatness presented here . I mean , the animation is not that great , the design is alrigt , the plot is entertaining enough , but there's still the wow factor thats missing . I don't know , then again maybe that comes later in the series . Still there are quite a few things about the series that bother me . For example , Gendo's whole , big , plan thingy with humanity was kind of a ripoff . Of what exactly ? Well lets just say Anno , or whoever wrote the story ( I'm not 100% on that ) took a few pages from the Akira manga . That's all I'm saying , and the key word there is MANGA . Also the show can get a little repetitive at times , but I guess thats not too big a deal .
Thats all I have to say , like I said I'm not at all saying that the series is bad , that's not what i'm saying at all , I just think it's no where near as great as everybody says it is . Like Akira , Ghost in the Shell , Spirited away are all examples of what is reffered to as Classic Anime , but what makes them different from Evangelion is that they really are Classic Anime . Evangelion , in my opinion does not reach that statis . But still I encourage anime fans to give Evangelion a look , its definitely a fun show that everybody should see , and enjoy .
162 4 Well . Where do I start ? Characters are annoying except for Ms . Misato , that exhibitionist drunken girl really made me laugh .
Artists who drew the so called Angels exhausted their creativity in chapter 02 , where the only nice battle takes place , the rest of the Angels and the battles are exponentially more ridiculous with every chapter ( It seems japanese had no more creativity and included some children's drawings ) .
Why do japanese have an obsession for nuclear explosions ? I liked them , however , along with the audio effects .
The Eva pilots : Teenagers in too tight clothes , which might be a certain sort of fantasy for some people or the source of anger for others . Do Power Rangers wear so tight cloths ? I don't think so , I should've noticed . Nudity ? Sexual content ? Violence ? OK , a bit of white underwear from time to time , nothing to be afraid of , very brief , inoffensive compared to what people can see nowaday in a TV ad , an MTV / VH1 video or the Transformers movie .
The plot is not too bad , all the story could be told in a single tiny chapter , or could be either be written in the back of the box .
The use of certain Christian / Catholic symbols / names / references may be annoying or disgusting for some people , I had no problem .
Fan service ? Hey , where is it ? At the end of each chapter the narrator ( Miss Misato ? ) says the next chapter will have fan service too , perhaps I bought the Censored Platinum Collection or the translation is wrong , or , will there be an Uncensored Director's Cut Platinum Collection ?
The soundtrack : you end loving the intro melody and is now part of your karaoke collection or you end hating it , as well as the song at the end of each chapter while the credits roll .
The audio , sound effects and image quality are good .
Well , this series is not too bad , I mean , I've seen worst things : Disney movies and Cartoon Network series for instance , they still overshadow this Evangelion series in that respect by far .
So , this series is actually for children . If you are 13 + years old and really enjoyed this series , then , your adulthood is a very very long way ahead .
the subtitles sometimes don't work on Xboxes or Computers ( I find 3 / 10 work on xbox and 8 / 10 pc ) . They work fine on regular DVD players but I don't know about PS2 or Xbox 360 . Another note , the opening song is incorrectly subtitled . ADV films took so many liberties altering it so it would follow the beat of the song that they changed it altogether . These are the real lyrics obtained from
Like a cruel angel ,
young boy , become the legend ! [ 2 ]
[ Short Instrumental Intro ]
A blue wind is now
knocking at the door to your heart , and yet
you are merely gazing at me
and smiling .
Something gently touching - -
you're so intent on seeking it out ,
that you can't even see your fate yet ,
with such innocent eyes .
But someday I think you'll find out
that what's on your back
are wings that are for
heading for the far-off future .
The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window ,
with surging , hot pathos , [ 3 ]
if you betray your memories .
Embracing this sky [ universe ] and shining , [ 4 ]
young boy , become the legend !
[ Instrumental ] [ 5 ]
Sleeping for a long time
in the cradle of my love
The morning is coming when you alone will be called
by a messenger of dreams .
Moonlight reflects off
the nape of your slender neck .
Stopping time all throughout the world
I want to confine them , but . . .
So if two people being brought together by fate
has any meaning , [ 6 ]
I think that it is a bible
for learning freedom . [ 7 ]
The cruel angel's thesis .
The sorrow then begins .
You held tight to the form of life
when you woke up from that dream .
You shine brighter than anyone else .
Young boy , become the legend !
People create history
while weaving love .
Even knowing I'll never be a goddess or anything like that ,
I live on .
The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window ,
with surging , hot pathos ,
if you betray your memories .
Embracing this sky and shining ,
young boy , become the legend !
Translator's Notes :
[ 1 ] TE-ZE is the Japanese spelling / pronunciation of these , which is German for thesis .
[ 2 ] The word shinwa actually means myth ( legend would be densetsu ) , but I think it sounds better as legend .
[ 3 ] Atsui ( hot ) can also mean intense , passionate . Pathos is the quality or power in life or art of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion ; pity ; suffering ; sorrow .
[ 4 ] Sora ( sky ) is the reading given for the kanji for uchuu ( universe ) .
[ 5 ] In some versions of this song , there is singing in this part . Unfortunately , I can't tell what they're singing ( there's too much overlap ) . I think the last thing they sing could be ai ga fusei , which can be roughly translated into Love is a sin ( wrongdoing ) . If you have any idea what they're singing , please e-mail me . Arigatou !
[ 6 ] The kanji used for the a in aeta is not the normal kanji used in au ( to meet ) . It's the first kanji in ouse ( encounter , tryst ) and has more of a connotation of meeting by fate or being brought together by fate , not just meeting . ( Interestingly , a dictionary I have gives the meaning of au , when written with this kanji , as to meet ( with drama or pathos ) )
[ 7 ] The watashi wa sou is probably watashi wa sou omou . And bible in this case isn't referring to * the * Bible . Bible can also mean guide book , how-to book , a book valued for its use as a reference , like in a handyman's bible , or a bird-watcher's bible .
NOTE : Yes , this translation is different from the one presented on the Evangelion videos & DVDs produced by ADV . There's a reason for that : mine is more literal and correct . When ADV translated this song , they decided to change the words so that the English translation could be sung to the beat of the original song ( this is commonly called dubtitling ) . But in the process of changing the translation to fit the beat of the song , they had to take rather big liberties with it , until their translation was no longer correct . The essence of the meaning remains , but it is largely incorrect . I , on the other hand , did a true translation , not a dubtitle , so my translation on this page is , indeed , more literal and correct than AD。 's translation that they put on their Eva tapes and DVDs .
This is not my translation and was obtained from
Thank you and I hope you like Evangelion !
100 4 Among my group of peers I am notorious for hating everything about anime series
But this series , however confusing it may be , is , without a doubt , the only anime I've ever liked
This set contains the entire series ( Episodes 1 - 24 ) on 5 disks , then 4 Directors Cut episodes on the 6th , in all , about 13 hours
I highly recommend it to ANYONE who actually wants to think about what they're watching , it is well worth the price
111 4 This is an economical way to buy a superb series . I've not seen the previous releases of the series but this version is fantastic , if you're just interested in owning the series , and foregoing the commentaries / extras .
The box set itself looks excellent featuring 2 of the eva pilots . The sound and video quality are fantastic .
Considering everything , this box set is a steal , great series , fantastic quality , Great price ! ! ! !
113 4 does anyone here have the resources to compare this to the other dvd releases of evangelion in terms of content and quality , or do you all just want to shoot off philosophical and psychological theories in an obviously inadequate forum for them ? your banter has done nothing to help me decide whether this version is the one i want to invest my money in . i've seen the series , i know the issues at stake , and i know that there are plenty of message boards to debate them on . tell me some useful product information ! i give it 5 stars because even the poor copy of evangelion i downloaded was well worth that rating .
