Neon Genesis Evangelion, Collection 0:8

I've said this from the beginning

THIS IS THE BEST ANIME EVER IT DESERVES BETTER. No one listened so the comentary sucks. Buy it because of the remastered audio rocks or the picture has been cleaned up to perfection. Don't buy it 'cause you were confused the first time around and expect this to explain it all. While seeing extended /alt versions of some episodes has be cool (but we've seen them in the directors cut versions avialable bootleg and last 2 disc in the US now). This edition won't help the rabid fan. Don't expect a deep comentary on the meaning of the anime, evidently the voice actors just don't understand it either (understandable). Sadly no one else tries. 5 of 5 cause it is Neon remastered. September 14, 2005

A slightly satisfying ending

- This review contains no serious plot spoilers -

I admire the Evangelion series, but after finishing watching the entire series, I felt the last few episodes leave a little to be desired.

I highly recommend this series. It set standards for anime and there are few that compare. But, speaking within the context of the Evangelion series itself, I did not enjoy the final volume nearly as much as I did all of its predecessors.

You would expect the characters to have evolved by the end of the series; but Shiinji, Asuka, Rei, etc. do not seem to have learnt anything! Shiinji and Asuka are particularly annoying with their blatant weakness and whiny attitudes. Shiinji, being the protagonist, incurs in me contempt. "I don't wanna pilot the Eva!", "I can't run away!", and many other painfully infantile rants seem to be what make up the character of Shiinji. Seeing him fall to his knees, crying like a baby, does not incur sympathy in me unless he is actually able to overcome. After 8 volumes however he never really does, and, as is detailed in the last two episodes, he becomes even more weak, degenerate and pathetic.

That is really my only problem with the series! That is, the lack of character development by the end of the series. On the positive side, I was surprised at what turned out to be the final Angel; I never would've thought! I thought the final battle scene was well done as well. If you've seen all of the other volumes, don't let my review scare you! You have to finish the series! November 28, 2004

Not quite what I had expected...

Though of my relatively young age, I'm very interested in complicated anime such as Evangelion. During the beggining of the series, mainly episodes 1-15, it seems like your normal anime. Of course, it stands above the rest. Once you get past episode 20, however, prepare for a mindblow...you either gotta be really smart or on drugs to understand some of this. I really despised the original ending to Evangelion.

Congratulations? Don't make me laugh.

I'm a christian, and I felt alot of the biblical references made me understand more to the story than a non-christian would.

The whole mind trip thing was presented well, but that still SHOULDNT have been the ending.

Ah, thank the director for End of Evangelion. My suggestion is that you stop at episode 23, then watch EOE. January 23, 2004

Congraulations!.... yeah right

Not that this is bad in any way. I must say that this ending is not what I was hoping for in the slightest, however. Episode 24 (the true strong point of this finale) could have been the ending had they, for instance, explained the birth of NERV in further detail (more than one episode). But it would have been a happy ending, and that is not what a true otaku to this series wants. Then again, what's "The End Of Evangelion" there for? To bring you an ultra-violent gore fest, not some rubbish-filled psychological trip through our idiot heroes mind. The final 2 episodes were certainly well-done, but ended happily, which just isn't right. Shinji finally realises that he is worth living here, and so everyone gives him a round of applause and congratulates him. Great episodes, rubbish ending. Get the movie instead. August 11, 2003

A Blue Moon

I seem to have developed a belief over the last few years. This belief has something of a basis of it takes a great filmmaker to listen to his fans and give them what they want, but it takes un unparalled creative mind to give them something even better. I have watched many a series through to its end but not a single one of them compare to what Eva held in store.

It's probally important to keep in mind that this ending isn't going to please everyone, not surprising really: there isn't a market for this sort of stuff anywhere, it was totally unprecedented. Eva is many things, I cannot deny that, but all of them were ultimately secondary to the focus of 25 and 26. The catch is this, it handles most of its aspects so well that it could have survived on any single one of them alone and still held a considerable audience, heck it probally did anyway. It's all about perception though, about character, interaction and personal belief.

It's not that hard to understand, really, if you let it grab you for what it is. Certainly, most people will be holding their breath in hope for it to 'return to normal' throughout most of the duration, I know I fell into this catogry. The ending isn't that hard to understand, perhaps it's just hard to actually grasp, I'm not sure, but for the themes that Eva is dealing in and the depth to which it goes they coundn't have made it much easier. I know a lot of people prefer to just sit back and let the action roll by without having to think to seriously from the plot, removed from the film after the aftertaste has worn off, and it's quite a valid preferance. It's also possible to watch a good chunk of Eva in such a manner without even noticing everything else that is building up, but these things are there and will become more prominant. I can only reccommend that if you are ever going to put a significant effort into understanding a story that you choose Eva, things do get left open, but perhaps because there is no deffinate answer for many of them. The important things (themes) do get more closure of sorts however, and if you do take it in then Eva, and this disc in particular, will become something that will likely stay with you in some form forever. April 25, 2003

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