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Feature Presentation:
We're back once again with another volume of the most popular Anime of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion with another set of 5 awesome episodes. Again, this series have been remastered, both video & audio (for both the English & Japanese audio in 5.1). As we left off with a dramatic ending, Shinji was strike by the 5th Angel with a high energy beam & wounded during battle. As he recovered, Misato have a bolding plan to stop this fortress like Angel before it reached NERV headquarter. Shinji is adapting well to his new life, but Misato is driving him nut at times. However, we get to find out a bit about the truth on the Second Impact case. Now, Misato & Ritsuko is off to a convention for a new prototype "Jet Alone", another competition with the Evas. However, something really goes very wrong & Eva Unit 01 has been called to the rescue. With Eva Unit 00 up for repairs during the last battle, someone is coming to help & join NERV, Asuka Langley Sohryu, the Second Child. Misato, Shinji & his buddies, Toji & Aida are off to meet up with the fleet escorting Asuka & her Eva Unit 02. However, here comes trouble when an Angel attacks. Back in Tokyo-3, another Angel attacked. Shinji & Asuka must work together to defeat it. During a research team up on Mt. Asama, NERV discovered an larva form of Angel & they planned to catch it, alive! To be honest, all these episodes are my favorites, fill with high action, explosions & lots of fun all together! Oh, you got to love the music, too.
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. There is a little soemthing different. In EPS08, "Asuka Strikes!", the title is different in the Japanese, marking it as "Asuka Arrives in Japan". That's very strange, maybe that's the original title, but I perfer the change. I might note that every even numbered episodes, the intro & ending subtitles are in English, while the odd numbered episodes are in Japanese on this volume.
Menu Option:
The menu remains the same as the previous volume. 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:
Oh, here we go with another audio commentary, this time with Tiffany Grant (Asuka) & Allison Shipp (Misato) for EPS08. Oh, those two are fun to listen as you can actually related them to the characters. It's like another trip down memory lane. There is also a full-length original animatics for EPS09, which is pretty interesting to watch. The only thing that is kinda silly is another set of the same non-credit opening & ending. I wonder why they didn't included the orignal Japanese credits.
Packaging:
It's pretty much the same design as the previous volume. On the cover, this time, you will see the beautiful Rei, 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! Once you start, you won't want to stop until you finish it!
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