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Feature Presentation:
I got two words for you, "extremely awesome". See the Evangelion series like never before! Here it is, one of the best Anime classic releases of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion. ADV Films have release this series before a few years back, but the only different that this version is totally remastered, both video & audio (for both the English & Japanese audio in 5.1). The first volume has the first 5 episodes of this wonderful series. Shinji is summon by her father, unknowing what he will be facing when he gets there. He meets up with Misato & head off to NERV base, the last hope for mankind. His task, to pilot the giant-bio-mechanical construct known as an Evangelion. His decision must be hasten as an Angel have attack the city & he is the only hope for stoping him. Then, he as to adapt to his new life as a pilot, living to a new environment. However, he is having a hard time, making any friends or getting along. One of my favorite episodes when you get to know about the mysterious Rei Ayanami & her Evangelion Unit 00.
Video:
ADV Films did a very great job releasing the remaster version of this awesome series. I found no problem, the image are clear & the color looks perfect. There is some watermarks done for the introduction & ending credits (they are translated in English). However, that only been done to those part of the episode, but within the episode remains untouch, unlike the original first release. Each episodes are separated into 5 parts: introduction, part A, part B, ending & the preview for the next episode! The episodes are on a different track, so there will be a small loading time when you move on to the next episode. I do note that you can skip all those warnings & logos when you first load the DVD by just pressing the "Menu" button on your remote control.
Dubbing: English:
There isn't really any new dubbing, it's actually the original release dialogue from the first release that ADV Films has done. It's about 80% of the original Japanese.
Audio 01: English 5.1:
Unable to test it, since I don't have a 5.1 surround system, I can't really say much.
Audio XX: English 2.0:
Just letting you know, there isn't an English 2.0 audio track on this DVD. This is artificially made from the 5.1 audio track, that's why I noted it as "XX". I also want to know that the audio was taken from the original release, but remastered to 5.1. Not only it's way more clearer then ever before, you can hear everything! I found no problem with the audio, but I bet it would be alot more interesting with the 5.1.
Audio 02: Japanese 5.1:
Unable to test it, since I don't have a 5.1 surround system, I can't really say much.
Audio XX: Japanese 2.0:
Just letting you know, there isn't an Japanese 2.0 audio track on this DVD. This is artificially made from the 5.1 audio track, that's why I noted it as "XX". The Japanese track was also remastered to 5.1, but this one has been release already in Japan for a while. The only thing strange that you can hear some voices in the background that was never dubbed in the English release, for example, during EPS05, during Unit 00 reactivation test at the beginning, you can actually hear something about LCL. I found no problem with the audio, but I bet it would be alot more interesting with the 5.1.
Subtitle:
ADV Films have selected a great font, very easy to read. They use yellow for the introduction, ending themes & the Japanese dialogue & white for Japanese signs & text. There are two tracks of subtitling. One track is for the sign subtitling & the other one is for the Japanese dialogue. I might note that every odd numbered episodes, the intro & ending subtitles are in English, while the even numbered episodes are in Japanese on this volume.
Menu Option:
The menu is pretty simple. As since this is the Platium series, the menu reflects that. There is a little animation of the flowing water that yuo see in the opening theme in the top right corner. There isn't a "Play All" feature, just a selection of one of the 5 episodes, "Screen Access", "Set Up" & "Extras". The background music playing in the background is when they entered Tokyo-3 & the other section varies from different background throughout the series.
DVD Extras:
There isn't much to see in terms of extras, but there is actually two audio commentaries, one with Matt Greenfield for EPS01, explaining the history of the dubbing that was done when it was first release a few years back. It's pretty interesting to know. The other one is with Matt Greenfield again, but with Spike Spencer, who did Shinji, with EPS02, with more history on the dubbing process, with a little good old memories for them too. It's pretty funny, but a little warning, it might be a little disturbing! There is also the non-credit opening & ending.
Packaging:
With a remastered release, you need a remastered packaging & wow, it's awesome. On the cover, you see Shinji, manga style, with a very big title along with the list of episodes in this volume. In the back, there isn't a summary for what's in the volume, but for every single episode. Not only that, ADV Films even put the original Japanese title & the original airtime release date in Japan. There is so much information on the back, there isn't enough room to actually put what's the extra are. The insert is actually got lots of information on it, an in-depth commentary for each episode, along with a bio of the Angels that you see in this volume, with many more screenshots & an episode list. On the DVD disc itself, it's jsut a grey background with the title & the episodes listed. Just a little note, as a bonus, for the first time release only, you will get a metallic DVD slip case.
PC Viewing:
Watching it on the PC is the same as watching it on the TV. Very clean, no problem at all, very little pixel (little squares popping in & out), both normal mode & full screen mode. The sound is just great. Since the episodes are on different tracks, it will take time to load when you move on to the next episode. Like on your regular DVD player, you can skip the warnings & logos when you load the disc, just use the "menu" option to go to the menu screen.
Overall DVD Rating:
ADV Films have release this series before a few years back & if you already owned that version & love the series, this is a very good upgrade. If this is your first time watching this series, then get your hands on it ASAP & join in the action & mysteries that make this series so hot!
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