Neon Genesis Evangelion - Perfect Collection

Rating:
Summary: One Word, Wow...
Review: Neon Genesis Evanglion is perhaps the single greatest anime out there on all fronts, it's the best mech, the best plot, the best dubbing, the best characters, and the best animation all in one packadge. It starts out simply enough as a above average mech with outstanding characters, but then you start to get confused, most things like this keep the the characters in the dark while the audience knows everything, this will confuse the audience as well, for most the the series you'r not even sure what the mystery is. This is outstanding, the only flaw I can possibly think of is you are still confuses after the last episode, so I highly recomend getting the movie also, it is called The End of Evangalion, otherwise you will never know much of the story unless you are really observant. Anyway, Eva is almost flawless

Just think a work of art and you have Neon Genesis Evangelion

Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Intregration of Animation and Philosophy
Review: Neon Genesis Evangelion is easily one of my all time favorite animes, easily ranking up there with classics like Cowboy Bebop and Trigun. Fans of anime are usually strongly divided about Hideaki Anno's classic. Some view it as a shameless rip off of classic mecha-anime, plagued with clichés and unoriginality that relies too much on spouting mindless idealism instead of strong storytelling. Others hold it as a flawless integration of entertainment, animation and ideology. I stand firmly in the latter group. At the risk of sounding cliché, I believe Evangelion true potential is not in its thrilling and entertaining eight hour running time, but for the hours spent pondering on the series' true meaning.

On the surface, it seems to be a tale of the last days on Earth through the eyes of a young teenager, Shinji Ikari and his two female friends, Rei and Asuka. Earth is under attack from an unknown force code named Angels, monsters bent on the devastation of the planet, and the three teenagers become humanity's only hope with the aid of bioorganic robots, Evas, developed by a military coalition named NERV. This is one layer the series can be interpreted on. We watch as Anno dazzles us with beautifully animated battles between aliens and robots, and develop his characters through entertaining, sobering, and occasionally hilarious events. For the first fifteen or so episodes Evangelion performs very much like a typical anime, designed to entertain, but then it takes a drastic change as things steadily take a turn for the worse as the series comes to an end. Depressing is a mild way to describe the turn of events as we watch the young protagonists' delicate psyche become whittled away by the stress and the enormous burden they're forced to carry. They are hardly the stereotypical heroes, courageous and valiant. Instead, they do not hesitate to show their fears and reservations and through this they become even more believable and pitiable. But suddenly the series come to an abrupt end without any real sort of conclusion, leaving viewers in a state of confused (and occasionally angry) bewilderment. What the heck happened? If the series is only to be interpreted from a storyteller's perspective, Evangelion might rate as only above average. A depressing tale of teenage angst, giant robots, and menacing aliens, but that's pretty much it.

However, I believe Evangelion is far more than that. At first I reacted very much the same way as the casual viewer. This was no way to end a story! It took many subsequent re-views and aid from detailed online analysis for me to come to a better understanding of the series. Evangelion really is not a story about the Evas, the Angels, or even the pilots, but a brilliant analysis of humanity and a sermon on the subjective-ness of truth and freedom, perspective and identity. When looked from a different light, Evangelion suddenly becomes one of those novels I broke down in my freshman year of high school. It becomes another 1984, Lord of the Flies, Catch-22 or Animal Farm, rife with allegorical parallels and theological symbolism. Each character and event becomes a representation of facets of human life, and then slowly does the true genius of the anime become apparent. Deeply enrooted into the anime series is also a series of philosophical queries that question how humanity establishes our identity, and what kind of impact our perspective on life creates. In essence, understanding Evangelion's foundational ideology also creates a better understanding of the story's conclusion.

This is only one interpretation of the story. I have read several other theories on the story's true meaning, but the one I listed is the one I believe makes the most sense to me. And in an anime that puts such a large emphasis on the importance of perspective and interpretation, what I hold to be true becomes the ultimate truth for myself.

So in conclusion, I would recommend Evangelion to nearly everyone. Mech enthusiasts, sci-fi lovers, casual anime fans or even philosophers can find something to enjoy in this classic anime adventure. Those who like happy endings should steer clear of Evangelion because the story is truly depressing, almost a lesson in humanity's flaws. Though I believe (remember so much about the anime is up to your interpretation) there is a positive, hopeful ending to the story, you have to dig pretty deep to find it.

Note: There are also two sequels to Evangelion, which are supposed to replace the infamous episode 25 and 26 with a more conclusive ending. I have yet to see it, but I was disappointed to hear this. In my mind, the ending of the Evangelion series was more than adequate.


Rating:
Summary: -TRUTH-
Review: Well, as a great fan of EVA, I have researched many possibilities as to what Anno means with this series.

1) If one wants to fully enjoy Neon Genesis, one must be familiar with both the Kabbalistic and Christian religions along with basic Jewish mythology.

2) One must also continually ask questions and observe every last detail during the show. Then one must go back and re-watch EVA in order to fully grasp many key points.

3) Many more questions and answers are provided in the movie "End of Evangelion," (not contained in this set) which, contrary to popular belief, should be watched *with* episodes 25 and 26. One who watches both, the show and the movie, repeatedly, will better come to terms with the reality of the situations presented.

4) In order to fully understand every detail of Anno's masterpiece, one must review every aspect of confrontation between characters. There in lies the secret to uncovering the TRUTH!


Anyone with specific questions may contact me at "[e-mail]"

Thank you for reading my explaination of Anno's depth and crativity.
Fitz (^_^)

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional, with an oddly flawed but spirited finale
Review: Before I saw Neon Genesis Evangelion my appreciation of Anime as a genre had been brief. Now I doubt I'll ever witness something as well written, shocking and genuinely fascinating again. First off, I'd like to say the '12' rating is probably a little too lenient, though the minor swearing is nonetheless effective and never gratuitous. If you're looking for an overview of the story you're probably better served elsewhere, and these overviews will most likely emphasise the importance of robots in the storyline; the Evangelions themselves. What really struck me, however, was the character interaction, suspense, and philosophical debate; the main character, Shinji Ikari, provides a likable, realistic protagonist, paired alongside the enigmatic Rei and boisterous Asuka; all pilots of these machines in a battle against a race of strange space-monsters known as the 'Angels'. Many have rubbished the series on its content aside from these battles, as it may prove too complex for the perceived majority of the target audience; 11-15 year-olds and, more cynically, its popular and critical acclaim. After all, what lies beneath is not purely a satire or series of metaphors but a fully-fledged philosophical debate over what it means to be human, one's perceived worth, and coming to terms with our fears. At times neurotic and cringe-worthy, but almost always compelling, the series inside the Neon Genesis Evangelion box set is not, in fact, the Perfect (read: entire) collection because it does not contain 4 other parts of the epic saga, 2 of which are pretty much essential:- Death and rebirth and The End of evangelion. Whilst the final 2 episodes on this box set focus entirely on the characters' mental states, the films lengthen the storyline to a more fulfilling conclusion.

Rating:
Summary: Character Development Sucks
Review: Yes, you may have heard that it was a phenominon in mecha anime, but NO! It isn't all that great. To say Neon Genesis Evangelion is popular would be an understatement. Many feel that with its great cast of characters, awesome art and animation, a deep, evolving story, a great soundtrack, and direction by one of the greatest anime directors of all time, it's the greatest anime ever.

Problem #1: The Cast. Nearly everyone in the series angsts over their dark pasts. The main character, Ikari Shinji, does nothing but angst literally two-thirds of the series. Although I didn't hate him, I did find him to be a spineless [...] who failed to realize that some people actually care about him. But he's too busy angsting over his dad, the creepy Ikari Gendou the man who wants to be GOD??? And when the characters are not angsting, they're yelling. Asuka is a prime example of this, always yelling at everyone being an idiot as she hypes herself above all others as being the greatest of the pilots of the EVA units, when she's probably the most useless. Two episodes after her debut, I began to shrug whenever Asuka appeared on the screen.

I careless if the characters angsted or complained so much, only if they developed over time. Shinji opens up a little, and that's about it. Besides, everyone's too busy being weighed down by childhood trauma to cheer up. While the early episodes of the series are cute and funny, the later episodes are unfunny and boring. No one develops, and no one opens up!

Problem #2: The Script. The story is definitely stronger than the weak characters that are in it. I have to note that you actually have to use your head in this series. SIGH. I was asking questions like Why is NERV attacking the Angels? Why is Gendou so cold to his son? Who created the EVA units? All these questions, and many more, are answered as the series progresses, and some may never be answered at all. Plus, every character's past, at one point or another, is looked upon, giving us insight into that person's life. And the surprises in the final episodes will surprise you, such as that ... well, you have to see them for yourself.

Although the story itself is deep, engrossing, and well-done, I wish the dialogue between characters was of the same caliber. Most of the dialogue between characters consists of either references to religions you'd have to look up in an encyclopedia or online to fully understand.

Problem #3: The animation. The art design of this series is nice, whether it be the well-drawn characters, or the very realistic landscape. Animation is of a surprisingly decent, considering that GAINAX is a low-budget animation company.

Unfortunately, GAINAX's status as a low-budget animation company shows in the later episodes. Later episodes consist almost entirely of still shots, whether it be of mountains, trains, or alarm clocks, and characters barely even move their mouths. Clip shows, flashback footage, recycled animation, etc., are all used in the second half of the series. But if a series is going to be 26 episodes long, shouldn't all the episodes be of the same animation level? I mean, GAINAX did a great job animating Nadia only five years earlier, and that was 39 episodes long.

Problem #4: Music. Music can make or break a series. The theme is good and the background music is sparse with few music pieces, and yet there are at least 2 CDs.

Problem #5: Voice Actors. With a mediocre directing job by Anno Hideaki, and then throw in a mediocre English dub, its decent. Yet, we also have a problem w/ the Jap. dub. The females sound like ill, high-tempured brats.

It's said that Anno Hideaki was depressed when he worked on Evangelion, and after watching this series, I was depressed as well. Depressed about how much better the show could have been if it only had character development and better dialogue between characters.

It had a LOT of potential to really be the best ever, but lost track along the way. Those who don't mind angst, or those who like mecha may like this series, yet I do not reecommend this. Go watch Love Hina or Excel Saga...its entertaining compared to the boring, dull Neon Genesis Evangelion.


Rating:
Summary: box set neon genesis evangilion
Review: Interesting series of kids being mentally tied to thier robot. But the robot is thier own being too. So when the pilot blacks out the robot takes over at times.
The only thing I disliked about the series is the trauma. Father doesn't love me. He would rather work than do anything with me, love me, say anything encouraging to me. It's so full of woe is me stuff.
As long as there were enemies to fight. The woe is me stuff wasn't too bad when mixed with hope and understanding. But once all was done and the last 2 dvd's were full of disappointing woe is me stuff. That's what made this box set very disappointing.
I was hoping for more of an up beat ending. A new hope. All the angles (enemy creatures) are dead and the boy would take his favorate girl or girls and escape from his father. The father that didn't show that he cared.

Rating:
Summary: A series of questions.
Review: The world is being attacked by Angels. Whether sent by God or some other force, mankind refuses to just lay down and die. They fight back with Evangelions. Bio-engineered weapons born from one of the first Angels, these are the last hope for Earth. But the anime is not just about fighting mecha, or alien invasion, it is also a series of questions. What do people want? What do we fear? What is our self? What is truth? What is reality?
These questions are as important to the plot as the Angels. Because unless the pilots, the children to who are the minds of the Evangelions, can find the answers, the final fate of humanity might be to meet its end at the hands of the Angels. Or, if they can reach victory and find their way, a new genesis for man.
Nice music, real problems, gitty characters, lots of blood, lots of pain. Mature in the questions it asks and the answers it finds.

Rating:
Summary: Above and Beyond the Typical Anime
Review: At first I was skeptical because I had heard that Evangelion was some sort of draining emotional saga full of controversy. Well that isn't entirely the case. Neon Genesis Evangelion is an absolute smash hit, from the characters to the animation to the soundtrack to the plot. The show's spotlight characters are Shinji, Rei, Asuka, Misato, and obviously Misato's pet penguin Pen Pen. They all face their own challenges and obstacles even though their physical goal - defeating the onslaught of the Angels - is the same.
Some fans say Shinji Ikari is a tough character to bond to, and that may be true if you enjoy action-crazy animes that lack emotion. Evangelion busts with emotion, and no character adds more drama than Shinji. He is young and vulnerable and yet still a good genuine soul. For him, piloting the Eva is a terror he comes to realize that he must face against his will for the good of those around him, those same people who have often mistreated or misjudged him.
Rei Ayanami is a mysterious and sketchy character. She sports the fashionable blue hair and soft voice, although she rarely speaks at all. She is very determined and loyal; she willingly agrees to pilot Unit 01 in the first episode even when her body is injured and healing. Thankfully Shinji smartens up and she doesn't have to. All in all, Rei is the composed and gentle one who puts work before emotion...if she even feels emotion at all.
And then there is the third major Eva pilot, Asuka Langley. She is wild and moody, very different from Rei. She strives to put Rei down and sees both of the other pilots as her competition. She refuses to warm up to Shinji as well, even though she winds up moving in with him and Misato. Asuka can be tough to like or connect with, but she provides a much-needed balance from the intensity of Shinji and Rei.
As the pilots struggle through their adventures with each other, with their Evas, with the Angels, and ultimately with themselves, all three hit hurdles which they must triumph over. Fans of character-based animes will adore the character development and the conflicts between the contrasting personalities.
Ultimately, Neon Genesis Evangelion is possibly the best example of an anime that curbs the competiton and reigns supreme in utilizing finely-crafted characters, a unique or abnormal plot line, and commendable animation and music to mold a simply fantastic series.

Rating:
Summary: Great series but the ending disappoints tremendously.
Review: My girlfriend and I are big fans of anime and really enjoyed this series up until the end. As many people have already written, you're hoping that many questions will be answered in the final 2 episodes, but most aren't. Or maybe they are and you just have to suffer through those 2 episodes 10 times to figure out what the 'acid trip on film' is really trying to say. It's unfortunate that such a great series could fail so miserably at the end. We also rented the alternate ending and found the first 45 minutes of it to be good and then the last 45 minutes were just more of the same nonsense in the original ending. My girlfriend and I consider ourselves to be fairly intelligent folks, but we sat there watching it saying, "What kind of crackhead would put this crap together?" It was very disappointing. Some pseudo-intellectuals will call both endings 'artistic' and 'thought-provoking', but they're really just a bunch of nonsense.

So, in summary, if you're going to watch the series, just watch the first 24 episodes and then stop. Despite all the whining and complaining from the characters throughout the series, it still is a wonderfully written and rendered anime series. And very original. Just don't bother with episodes 25 and 26 or renting the alternate ending. They kill the whole thing. And this series isn't for kids.