Neon Genesis Evangelion, Collection 0:3 (Episodes 9-11)

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Brash new Eva pilot Asuka seems to take a sadistic pleasure in deriding shy, melancholy Shinji. When the two of them are required to fight as a unit to destroy an invading Angel, she moves in with Shinji and Misato, complaining all the way. After practicing to music, they win the battle with a mecha version of a rhythmic gymnastics routine. Asuka volunteers to take her Eva into an active volcano to capture an Angel in its chrysalis stage; she's nearly killed when it escapes and has to be rescued by Shinji. After the volcano adventure, the pilots and Misato take a well-earned rest at a hot springs, where Shinji discovers the principal of thermal expansion can have embarrassing personal applications. Asuka also insults Rei, but all three pilots have to work together to defeat a huge, spidery Angel that secretes a corrosive acid in episode 11, "In the Still Darkness." A mysterious power failure that occurs during the Angel attack points to the actions of Shinji's father, Commander Ikari, who ruthlessly pursues his private agenda. All three episodes display the strong storytelling that has made Evangelion one of the most popular anime series. Not rated; suitable for ages 14 and up for robot versus robot violence, brief nudity, and minor profanity. --Charles Solomon

Description

It's triple jeopardy as the Angels continue to attack and the forces of NERV are finding themselves sorely pressed to find new ways to combat the alien invaders. Facing a new Angel with the ability to instantly replicate itself poses problems enough, but when an unborn Angel is found incubating inside an active volcano, the decision is made to meet the devil in it's lair! Can even an Evangelion survive mortal combat beneath a million tons of molten lava? Then NERV is left defenseless as a major power failure cripples Tokyo 3 and Shinji, Asuka and Rei must find their way through an underground labyrinth to the Eva's subterranean launch bays. But even if they get there, will they still be able to launch?

Customer Reviews:

Must have series.......2005-05-12

If you're into Anime, you need this whole series. It's very well written, great score, great fight scenes, character development...

This is only disc 3, so you will need the rest of the series! ;-]

Three Exciting Episodes.......2005-03-03

Neon Genesis Evangelion Collection 3 only contains three episodes (#9-#11), but these episodes have character development, thrills, and surprise - humor! I laughed out loud a couple of times during the last episode of this DVD. Not grim, as were the first two DVD's, Collection 0:3 is the DVD that finally got me to appreciate the simple yet unique animation and music of the series, and that got me to like the series enough to recommend it.

Three more Angels make their appearances. The outcome was truly uncertain in every episode, as the NERV personnel are truly challenged with the ingenuity of the Angels, which learn from each one's mistakes and evolve. Logically, the odds are eventually against NERV and the citizens of Tokyo 3. The angel in the second episode really took my breath away when it made its first appearance - or rather, was discovered.

The bellicose Azusa was annoying when first introduced in Collection 0:2. But here, I could really relate to her as she lashed out at Rei in episode 11, calling Rei an "egotistical b****." You can see she is not as brave as she appears to be. I look forward to learning more about this character.

Look out for the extras. The character profiles are more than informative - they hint so much they are almost spoilers.

Better and Better!.......2004-05-01

This was my favorite DVD until I reached 0:5, mainly becuase it made me feel even more sorry for Shinji. The next Angel appears but it has two "hearts" so Shinji and Asuka must learn to fight as one to defeat both cores at once. This means both children have to SLEEP TOGETHER (what could happen there?) and wear tanktops and possibly short-shorts (I'm not sure on that)! They defeat it eventually with their combined strength but the action doesn't end there (nor does the comedy)!
In the next episode, Asuka is refused permission to go to Okinawa with her class by Misato. Asuka, throughly ticked off, feels she isn't treated right. In a pool, Shinji tries to understand physics. Asuka gives him a college crash-course (seeing how she finished college that year) which is actually a lesson on how when an object is heated, it gets bigger. (...)
During the rest of the episode, Asuka has to defeat an Angel in a volcano and in the third episode, all three Children have to defeat an acid-emiiting Angel above NERV HQ.

In all: this is the continued standard of the first two and doesn't lessen their quality at all. Extras still suck but that's enough to put up with when you're watching the Best Anime in My Humble Opinion!

A warning against the English dub........2003-04-19

First of all, I have to give this DVD two thumbs up, as it brought me back into the anime circle of things. It's an excellent set featuring three (yes, just three -- sad, I know) excellent episodes of an excellent series. You won't regret buying this item.

However, I STRONGLY recommend you view it in Japanese with English subtitles. The voice acting is EXCELLENT (yes, that's my adjective of the day ^_~), and the dub pales considerably in contrast. If you understand Spanish, I encourage you to view the episodes in it -- AFTER you watch them in Japanese. In particular, I'm complaining because of the changes in the characters' voice tones. That alone can kill the essence of the story. It's not that the voice actors did a bad job -- on the contrary, I rather like the dub cast. It's just that sometimes the lines are read... wrong, to put it simply.

And if that doesn't help at all, this will: Asuka's "Back roll entry!" and "Hello! Guten mortgen!" sound MUCH cuter in Japanese. ^_~

"Your innocent eyes as yet have no idea".......2002-11-08

On this third collection of Evangelion (episodes 9 through 11), Asuka commands most of the attention. Which is no surprise, considering that the young woman from Germany is still looking to prove she is the best of the three pilots. Her interplay with Shinji and Rei shows that her overweening pride is simply a mask to hide deeper insecurities, yet her fierce bravery is undeniable in these episodes.

The first of the three tales finds Asuka and Shinji pitted against an Angel (Israphel) who can magically duplicate itself when it is under attack. After a failed first effort, the two EVA pilots must learn to coordinate their efforts perfectly. Considering how little they like each other this may be harder than destroying the Angel. It certainly is funnier.

Next, NERV scientists discover an Angel embryo (Sandalphon) deep in the lava of an active volcano. Asuka, deprived of a chance to go on a class trip, is determined to destroy it on her own... If she can just get over the embarrassment of her special heat-resistant suit. Misato's determination puts Asuka in severe danger and the outcome is in doubt to the very end.

The final episode finds NERV headquarters in darkness due to human sabotage. Without power, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei must break into NERV to get to the EVAs before they can face an acid wielding Angel (Matriel) determined to liquefy Tokyo-3.

These episodes show the EVA pilots at their best and their worst. We do get a tiny glimpse of whatever it is that motivates Asuka's abrasive bravado, and how this balances and contrasts with Rei's calm acceptance and willingness to do whatever is needed. Poor Shinji, cursed with a brilliant but cold and distant father finds himself attracted and bewildered by both. Writer/director Hidako Anno again uses short glimpses, rather than long exposition to build interest. This enables him to accomplish a great deal of layering of story, development and symbol in the sparse context of the Anime medium.

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