Rating: 
Summary: Great Show! Horrible Commentary
Review: I really enjoy this show. Its captivating on many levels, believe the hype. The new platinum dvd looks and sounds great but I was a little peeved by the commentary. Is it just me or does anyone else find 2 guys yapping on and on about what other shows they acted on and how the episodes were recorded at all captivating? For such a important show as Evangelion you would expect a commentary that might at least once mention the characters, plot, or design. Perhaps someone who studies anime might have gave us some more depth. Nope. Instead we get two full episodes of completely boring facts. Sorry, Just a small bone to pick.
Rating: 
Summary: Good the first, slightly better the second.
Review: I was one who purchased the original full Evangelion box set on DVD. This great action series still manages to have a large philosophical impact on the viewer. Sadly, most of the time it just leaves you confused but you still have fun. This is the Platinum Edition and if you didn't buy the first box set, this IS the one to buy. The quality of the video is greatly improved and it's from the original cels and not the captured from TV version. In some instances the old cel animation looks like the new CG style that has been adopted. The extras are average. It would have been nice to see commentary on all the episodes instead of the first two. Overall even though I already have the first box set, movies, and the director's cut, I'm going to buy it all over again.
I can't wait to put my NERV parking sticker on my car. ^_^
Rating:
Summary: I Love this show
Review: I wrote a reviews earlier and said this show was horrible, but that's before I watched the show I love it now I am so sorry for saying that stuff before.
Rating:
Summary: So what do you *really* get for your money ?
Review: I've been an Evangelion fan for quite some time and because of that I decided to start collecting the Platinum series in addition to my current EVA collection (Perfect Collection, Death/Rebirth, End of Evangelion and the two Director Cut DVD's) but with all products I see 2 kinds of reviews: in favor of the product or against it. But never something descriptive, so now I'm having a shot at it.
So what is the Platinum collection... Its a re-make of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series. The sound dub's have been re-mastered (and in some cases re-done, for example the Japanese 5.1 dub) and the animation itself has been enhanced. This enhancement consists of a re-creation of the original picture (you can see this very clearly when comparing the original with this version) as well as newly added material. In contrary to what most people (including Amazon) say this DVD does hold new material, even though some of it consists of scenes which only last for 1 or 2 seconds. And if you've seen the original you can see that these small extra's really can enhance the overal experience.
This release also makes it quite clear that its aimed toward collectors. The DVD comes in a (cardbord) box which is shaped in the same way as the "Perfect Collection" box, it only has a different print and uses a different color (silver/grey). The box has room to house all 7 DVD releases. The DVD box is inserted in a silver cardbord box which has some very nice decorations on it. This one features a line-drawing of Shinji standing in front of some powerlines (as can be seen in the first episode) at the front, the back tells you what episodes are on the DVD. The DVD box itself comes with a very nice booklet which explains whats on the DVD and also has some nice Evangelion artwork. And to finish up; you'll get your own "Nerv Parking Permit"; a shine-through sticker which you can stick on the inside window of your car. All in all: its very clear that this isn't just an ordinary Evangelion DVD.
However, although the Platinum collection is a very good DVD its not as good as the original. Its like comparing a book with a movie: the book describes details and leave you to make up your own image of the scenes. In the original Evangelion serie not everything was drawn in precise detail, thus leaving it up to the viewer to form the complete picture. In my opinion this adds a lot to the whole experience. Things don't always have to be perfect in order to be experienced as perfect.
So is the Platinum collection worth it ?
If you are a fan of the series I'd say yes. Even if you already own the original series I'd still advice you to consider this one as well (a bit like Star Wars and the later released extended version) simply because of the extra's it offers and is going to offer.
However, if you just want to get an impression of the "Evangelion experience" then I'd advice you to seriously consider as to what you really want. If you just want a peek then this is a good DVD: cheaper than the original, holds 1 more episode than the original release 0-1 and has some nice collectors items.
But if you're new and plan on getting the whole serie then I'd advice you to start with the "Perfect Collection". Its cheaper, its original material and by the time you've finished that one you can always consider getting the Platinum collection. I'm pretty sure that a whole boxed set will eventually be released, which will probably cost you a lot less than collecting every DVD seperatly.
But... For fans this is really a must have collection.
Rating: 
Summary: how do i say this nicely
Review: Picture & sound are remastered to perfection. This is THE GREATEST ANIME OF ALL TIME buy it. Sadly this is the worst commentary i have ever heard (hey try actually commenting on the film... not just one scream in it...). I was hoping for deep insight, instead i got voice actors recalling better days... anecdotes are fine but not the end all be all... this was the best anime of all time it deserves more.
Rating:
Summary: "God's in his Heaven, all is right with the world."
Review: This is the first disc of the Anime series Evangelion. It is slow at times, but that's what you expect considering this is the beginning. The story is as follows: young Shinji Ikari recieves a letter from his father saying he needs him, but Shinji doesn't know what for. Mysterious creatures known as Angels are attacking Tokyo 3 and when the UN forces can't do it they call on the mysterious organization NERV, who sends a robot called an Evangelion, which can only be piloted by a 14-year old child, (this will probably be explained in later episodes) which is the reason Shinji's father sent for him. Shinji is the only one can do it since their only other pilot, the mysterious Rei Ayanami, was severly injured from a previous battle. Shinji is reluctant at first but he ends up doing it anyway. I'm not gonna reveal anymore, except that it was fairly entertaining and I can't wait to get volume 2. The DVD is okay. Not many Special Features besides Trailers, character Bios and the Japanese language track.
Rating:
Summary: Not a perfect series. A classic nonetheless.
Review: To paraphrase a review in "Animerica" magazine, "Neon Genesis Evangelion" may in fact be the most important modern anime created. "Important," however, does not necessarily imply "best" or "worst" or indication of technical or artistic quality. On the whole, my opinion is that the assets far outweigh the liabilities of this series, but the liabilities are noticable and have been hotly debated ever since the show's ending. The TV show and concluding movie has inspired passion among anime fans and even outsiders (in Japan at least) that is rare for any TV show or movie, let alone an anime. It's easy to see why--while this DVD may start with many of the cliches and conventions of the mecha anime, what is immediately noticeable is the following two things: 1.) The characters are the focus, not the action or plot. And these characters inspire all sorts of emotional reactions in the viewer rare in anime. In particular, Shinji is an atypical hero for this sort of show, and his attitude toward life and those around him has been the cause of no small debate over whether he is a worthless coward deserving of contempt (as he often states that he is!) or a traumatized child who deserves compassion and empathy. Immediately, even in these episodes and especially the fourth, the introverted, psychological nature of this show is established, and Shinji's is not alone in his trauma and inner torment--Misato, Asuka, Gendo, and Ritsuko all have their own issues to deal with that are explored throughly later. In my opinion, when character-oriented and psychological aspect of the narrative was emphasized more in the second half of the series, that's when "Eva" truly shined as a compelling drama and revealing portrait of the modern Japanese psyche. 2.) The direction is idiosyncratic and often experimental. Director Anno Hideaki is perhaps anime's most well known creative iconoclast, and he breaks numerous anime directing conventions and establishes his own animated film vocabulary in the shot composition camera angles (especially still shots of inert objects or certain ways of framing faces), fluid and often brutal action sequences, and later in the series, psychological montages remniscent of Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin" and French New-Wave films. The stark, serious nature of the series is established immediately in this DVD as well, though the idiosyncrasies of the direction are relaxed in the semi-comedic middle parts, and become much more pronounced in the latter half and especially in the endings. And with all this--for the most part, it's not that intrusive and the storytelling is clear and compelling. I love it. Character and style are the great strengths of "Evangelion," and combined with the fact that I can identify a bit with Shinji and not feel the same contempt for him that other viewers often have, I think "Eva" is TV-anime's most important recent work. "Escaflowne" may have the better storytelling, "Serial Experiments Lain" may have more intellectual conundrums, and "Cowboy Bebop" may have the cooler music and balanced, if a bit detached, characters. But art, emotion, intelligence, and drama come together in "Evangelion" in a way that has set the standard for all the anime that has come afterwards--no matter how enthralled or enraged this series has made anime fans ever since.
Rating:
Summary: Its Only Money
Review: Yea, your getting gouged, but if you like Evangelion you have to have it. The image quality and sound make it worth the cost. Besides, what else do you have spend your money on, except food, clothing and shelter.
|
