Rating: 
Summary: The Evolution Begins
Review: This 4-DVD collection consists the following four DVDs: 1. UnXpected Changes, 2. Xplosive Days, 3. X Marks the Spot and 4. Xposing the Truth. All 13 episodes from the first season of the X-MEN: EVOLUTION anmiation series were included. Many of these episodes were done with the aim of establishing the foundation for the X-Men story. Of course, the origins of different mutants are altered slightly from the comics, yet they're acceptable changes needed to be done for a primarily kids-oriented show.
The first few episodes introduced the core of PROFESSOR X's X-Men team. While CYCLOPS, JEAN GREY, STORM and WOLVERINE were already members of the team, the early episodes brought in the likes of NIGHTCRAWLER, SHADOW CAT, ROGUE and SPYKE. Spyke was never a comic character, but coincidentally, he has the powers of the comic character MARROW. The bad guys, like TOAD, AVALANCHE, THE BLOB and QUICKSILVER were also quickly introduced, with MYSTIQUE and MAGNETO secretly forming the BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS to counter Xavier's team. There're plenty of comic references in the show. The creators of X-Men: Evolution took time to explain the various technical jargons associated with the X-Men. For example, in the episode STRATEGY X, viewers were introduced to the DANGER ROOM and the CEREBRO. In GRIM REMINDER, Wolverine gets a blast from his WEAPON X past. In THE CAULDRON, Magneto's base, known to many as the ASTEROID M, was mentioned. Also, several mutants who do not regularly appear in the show also get their first taste of action, for example, FORGE and HAVOK.
The special features of these DVDs are also interesting. The producers have took pains to include EPISODE INTRODUCTIONS for every single episode found in the DVDs. That means 13 whopping interviews detailing the "whys" and "hows" of the shows. Also included are the trailer to the DVDs, and the following documentaries: 1. The Evolution of X-Men, 2. The Art of X-Men, 3. Tales of X-Men and 4. The X-Men Unmasked.
All in all, this 4-DVDs pack will be a nice addition for X-Men lovers. If you've been following the show in Season 2 and 3, you should already know that the plot will thicken in the later episodes. This 4-pack will allow you to start collecting all the episodes sequentially. Apart from great story-telling and awesome artwork on the animation, the special features on the DVDs also make this 4-pack a worthwhile purchase. A+
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good!
Review: When I first saw this series, I was put off a bit by the animation style, especially the noses! I was quickly won over by excellent writing. This is different from the traditional x men, in my mind that's a good thing. Try it, it's well worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as bad as some say, but not as great either
Review: With the X-Men feature films and the hit Ultimate X-Men comic opening the world of X-Men to new fans, X-Men: Evolution takes the established characters fans have loved for years (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Shadowcat) and puts them as high school students living at Professor Xavier's mansion with Wolverine and Storm as grown up instructors, and a new character named Spyke is introduced as well (whose powers are distinctly similar to that of Marrow, a former X-Men member in the comics). Many longtime fans didn't find the series too likeable because of the way it is presented, and X-Men: Evolution doesn't hold a candle to the early 90's Fox show. Nightcrawler's characterization is terrible, and there's too much teenie bopper type mellow drama going on with high school kids. The animation is decent, but it's not as gritty as the Fox series. The later seasons however, in which beloved characters Gambit and Colossus are introduced (and they do battle with Apocalypse), are much better than the episodes contained on these discs, but all in all I'd stick with the Fox series anyday.
Rating:
Summary: Depends on how you like your X-men
Review: X-men Evolution, for the first 3 seasons was "X-men Lite". I was a huge fan of the comics and the 90's cartoon series (which they really need to release on DVD- would be a best seller), simply because it was very close to the original comics. X-men Evolution puts the X-men's updated roster (Jean Grey, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde) in high school and has Logan and Storm as instructors. It also adds Spike, who is a non-starter as a character (I'm assuming he's added in to add more "diversity" to the team). Unfortunately, the first season especially spends more time putting the X-men in to "difficult" high school situations and uses the super hero team motiff as more of a backdrop. Hence the problems, in my opinion. I'll take super hero team over angst ridden teenagers any day of the week. I'm assuming it was written like this to appeal to younger viewers and draw them in butI lost interest after the first few episodes. So in my opinion, the first and second seasons were not very good. As an aside, I had no problem with the art- I think its more "cartoony", simply to appeal to the younger generation of cartoon watchers. However, Fox apparently heard the weeping and gnashing of teeth of its viewers and changed the show considerably by the 3rd season. The series got the X-men mostly out of constraints of the high school and into super hero mode. In order to satisfy the younger viewers, the series began adding the former New Mutants as students (think Cannonball, Amara, BoomBoom etc) and allowing the older X-men to concentrate on more action. THIS worked very well and provided an excellent balance. By the time we reach the season involving Apocolypse (was it the 4th ?), the series is running on all cylinders and the stories meet or exceed the level of excellence set by the 90's series (storywise anyway). The handling of Apocolypse's return and character development was excellent and I can highly recommend the series starting with the 3rd season and beyond.
Rating:
Summary: Depends on how you like your X-men
Review: X-men Evolution, for the first 3 seasons was "X-men Lite". I was a huge fan of the comics and the 90's cartoon series (which they really need to release on DVD- would be a best seller), simply because it was very close to the original comics. X-men Evolution puts the X-men's updated roster (Jean Grey, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde) in high school and has Logan and Storm as instructors. It also adds Spike, who is a non-starter as a character (I'm assuming he's added in to add more "diversity" to the team). Unfortunately, the first season especially spends more time putting the X-men in to "difficult" high school situations and uses the super hero team motiff as more of a backdrop. Hence the problems, in my opinion. I'll take super hero team over angst ridden teenagers any day of the week. I'm assuming it was written like this to appeal to younger viewers and draw them in butI lost interest after the first few episodes. So in my opinion, the first and second seasons were not very good. As an aside, I had no problem with the art- I think its more "cartoony", simply to appeal to the younger generation of cartoon watchers. However, Fox apparently heard the weeping and gnashing of teeth of its viewers and changed the show considerably by the 3rd season. The series got the X-men mostly out of constraints of the high school and into super hero mode. In order to satisfy the younger viewers, the series began adding the former New Mutants as students (think Cannonball, Amara, BoomBoom etc) and allowing the older X-men to concentrate on more action. THIS worked very well and provided an excellent balance. By the time we reach the season involving Apocolypse (was it the 4th ?), the series is running on all cylinders and the stories meet or exceed the level of excellence set by the 90's series (storywise anyway). The handling of Apocolypse's return and character development was excellent and I can highly recommend the series starting with the 3rd season and beyond.
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