Genesis (Large Format)

Starring:Malachi Throne
Director: George Casey
Studio: C.A.V. Distribution
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This IMAX presentation wraps up three years of creaky grade school science in a mere half-hour. The film gorgeously envisions (although in pan-and-scan, rather than widescreen) the "voyage of the continents" from the inceptive supernova blast that created the world through the "echoes of chaos everywhere"--the birth of mankind on the planet. Genesis explores how volcanoes and earthquakes continually reshape the earth's crust and how, just as humans shed old cells and gain new, our planet goes through through such cataclysmic events. In the search for answers to the unanswerable, Genesis peers at civilizations--such as that of the Minoans, who created the myth of the lost city of Atlantis--that have been destroyed by the "stretch marks of creation" despite their sophistication and adaptability. A dozen schools of thought merge and converge in this attempt to find answers, and the result is a mix of natural science, anthropology, wonder, and beauty that forms a fascinating, provoking look at Earth and how life fits--and resists--its scheme and grand plan. --Paula Nechak

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum Collection
Average customer rating:

A must have for NGE fans

4.5; a mind bender of a series

Evangelion

so overated its funny

A must see anime

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum Collection

Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Neon Genesis Evangelion - Death & Rebirth/The End of Evangelion Two-Pak

Neon Genesis Evangelion - The End of Evangelion

Blue Gender - The Complete Collection

Elfen Lied Complete Collection

Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set)

ASIN: B000767QTA
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Description

Neon Genesis Evangelion's trailblazing blend of action and philosophy immediately elevated it above the pack and accounts for its enduring popularity. The series, which originally aired in Japan from 1995 to 1996, has exerted a strong influence on anime ever since.

Customer Reviews:

A must have for NGE fans.......2007-06-27

This collection is awesome! when compared to being shown on tv, the dvds had great picture quality. to simply put it, its a must have for hardcore NGE fans and well worth the price.

4.5; a mind bender of a series.......2007-06-19

Despite haters of the show, you can't really escape the influence and impact Neon Genesis Evangelion had on the anime world. Hotly debated yet receives just as much love as it does renouncing, if people are first entering the anime field, this is usually picked as a "starter series". While plot is sometimes confusing and characters speak in philosophy speeches at times, it's still a great although slightly overrated show but it's filled with enough memorable aspects that it at least deserves a viewing.

The year is 2015 and humanity's population has been cut in half. Thanks to an event known as "Second Impact", the climate has changed and people in New Tokyo-3 are living in a city built higher than the water levels. Appearing now and then are weird and massive creatures known as "Angels" where conventional weaponry is useless. However organization NERV has created the Evangelions, giant mech robots designed to fight them back. But things aren't as simple as the designated pilots; Shinji Ikari, Asuka Langley Soryru and Rei Ayanami, have to contend with their own personal issues as well as the real reason Second Impact happened and the potential for a Third.

Evangelion is one of those kind of shows where it does tend to stay with you, whether you liked the show or not. There's enough iconic imagery or scenes as well as characters that even 9 years after watching the initial run, I'm amazed at how much of it I remember. In fact, I even understand the show more having seen it a second time. Of course some things are fuzzy and the more philosophical dialogue characters go on sometimes goes over my head but not once do I feel like I'm being intentionally led around because people think confusion equals depth. At least here it's better written and more existential than the animated online comic "Broken Saints". Talk about pretentious.

Is there some issues with the show? Of course. There's a noticeable pattern in some episodes. Angel shows up when characters whine about whatever, angel does something completely surprising and characters do something completely out of left field to save the day. Having characters repeatedly say something is having no effect or no response over and over can get pretty old. Not to mention some characters don't really grow. Asuka is a controlling, egotistical ***** when she starts and she's pretty much the same when she ends as well as Shinji who is basically doing things because others tell him to but would rather just do nothing yet feel praise for doing something. As for episodes 25 and 26, there's been so much hatred for them that while I don't dismiss them since they're actually well-done, I can understand at how some might not like how the series decided to end.

My one gripe with this package is what's not included. The individual sets came with special features such as commentaries. While some might not completely mourn the loss of these, some might feel cheapened that you're not experiencing the completeness of the set, missing out on what others who buy the single editions get. So it all depends on economy and the amount of bonus features you want: lots of stuff included with the episodes or a relatively inexpensive box set compared to buying them separately.

While many other series might be more advanced animation-wise and had longer seasons, not many have had the impact Evangelion has and it's a series that at least everyone interested in anime should watch at least once.

Evangelion.......2007-06-12

Been looking for this for my kids for a long time, they have viewed it at least 5 times since we recieved it.

so overated its funny.......2007-06-11

I almost bought this set, but when I saw the entire series at my local rental store I decided to rent it first and see if it's any good. It took me about two weeks to get though the whole thing because I rented them 1 at a time, but I have finally come to the end. I just have to say right now that those that say this are the best anime ever have got to be smoking something. Best ever? No way, not ever. Doesn't even come close. This series can be VERY good at times, so good in fact that it rivals any anime I've ever seen. But at other times it's just a silly mech series. We are introduced in volume one to Sinji, probably the wimpiest character you will EVER see in ANY movie, series, book, whatever. I found myself absolutely hating him because he wasn't able to put aside his hatred for his creepy dad in order to save humanity. I mean really, he is the only one who can save the world and he's whining about his dad. What the hell?
And it's not just him I end up hating. Captain Katsoagi (sp?), who is Sinji's guardian, is nothing but a drunken whore the entire first half the show, and is a sober whore for the second half. That's when she's off work, when she's at work however she's a no nonsense commander who yells a lot. And since when is it okay for military personnel to look like sluts in their military uniform? Gahh, shoot me.

Okay, I'll try now to make sense of this series.

---The Good---
Pretty much everything good that happens in this series happens in volumes 2, 6, and 7. Volume 2 is okay, not great, but okay. But volumes 6 and 7 are amazing. They are so full of drama and emotion that I was literally left in shock. They were GREAT, and this coming from a guy who was starting to hate the series before this point. These volumes are pretty much long in-depth background histories on some of the main characters, and they are great. Especially the one for Auska. before seeing her past I just thought of her as a whiny little brat who hated everyone, but afterwards I thought she was a whiny little brat who hated everyone, but with a good reason. I finally had a character who I could sympathize with. Her depression at the end of the series was so well done that I started shaking. Wow, what a story, what a powerful scene. Too bad none of the other characters were any good.
I tried to sympathize with Rei earlier but she never opened up, never changed, never really did anything at all. She reminded me a lot of Lala Ru from "Now and Then, Here and There", but Lala Ru was ten times more interesting than Rei.

One more thing though, nobody told me this series was so darn funny. I mean really, some parts were so funny I busted out laughing and rolling on the floor. A lost is perverted hummer, but it's still funny.
Here's an example. Sinji, Auska and Katsoagi go over to a hot spring after a long mech battle to relax. Sinji is separated from the girls by a large wooden wall. When Auska asks him for some soap or something he throws it over and hits her in the face. Then Katsoagi comes over to Auska (we can only hear them) and then we hear this.
"Here, let me see that"
"No, don't' touch me there, ha-ha"
"Oh, come here you..."
"Ha, no, don't put anything in there. Ha-ha"
"No wait, let me show you something"
The whole time Sinji is hearing all of this. Either you find this funny or you don't, but I found it hilarious.

---The Bad---
Characters. Oh God, where to begin. As I've said before, almost all the characters are either whinny little pieces of (need to keep it G rated, sorry), stupid fools, drunken whores, or insane nuts. All of them fall into one of these categories. It's insane; did the directors of this show WANT us to hate these people? If so than they succeeded.

Repetition. The entire first half of this series is just one cheesy mech battle after another and they always follow the same formula. People going though crises of varies degrees, idiotic looking angle with unbeatable power shows up, angle beats initial defense, people yell, everything breaks down at exactly the wrong time. More yelling. Then everyone takes a 2 hour coffee break as the angle just sits around and the humans come up with an impossible plan that ALWAYS has a 0.002% chance of working. Of course they execute the plan flawlessly and kill the angle, only for the same exact thing to happen the nest episode. I just have to ask, why doesn't anything ever work? Every time an angle shows up the EVA's break down and nothing on them seem to work. This gets old after, oh say, the SIXTH TIME!!!!!!

Ending. Yes, I know, EVERYONE hates the ending. Well so did I. the last three episodes are so bad I almost fell asleep. It wasn't QUITE as bad as I was expecting, but it was still terrible. But there was a really funny sequence in the last episode were we get to see all out main characters in different roles. Sinji has all the self confidence he could ever want, Auska is his childhood friend, Rei is a fun loving loud mouth who doesn't like people looking at her skirt, and Katsoagi is a hot school teacher. Other than these REALLY funny 5 minutes though, the ending sucked.

Unanswered Questions. There are too many questions that are never answered here, like WHY THE HECK WERE THEY FIGHTING ANGLES IN THE FIRST PLACE? What were the angles? Why did they only come to Japan? What exactly was second impact? What was that spear thing? How did a drunken whore get be commander of the most important weapons on earth? I would have settled with knowing why the angles wanted to wipe out mankind, but I didn't even get that.

Naked People Everywhere. Yes, this is a classic example of adult only anime. There are so many shots of naked people its embarrassing. Do these people have any sense of modesty? Their all a bunch of sex freaks who don't own any cloths. Yuck.

Soundtrack. its the same song every time an angle shows up, the same song every time something sad happens, and that's about it. Yeah, it sucked.

i really wanted to like this series but I just couldn't do it. Face it people, IT ISN'T REALLY AS GOOD AS THEY SAY IT IS!!! its just okay, not great.

A must see anime.......2007-05-16

a friend of mine would let me borrow a disk when before he truned them in. i liked it, but i did not understand the series. i got the box set & watched it again & i fell in love with anime all over again. this show will not disappoint you. many will say it is the best anime ever made.

Doctor Who - Genesis of the Daleks (Episode 78)

Average customer rating:

davros at his best
One of the best
A great story line
"Why must we always destroy beauty? Why kill another creature because it is not in our image?"
A blast from the past

Doctor Who - Genesis of the Daleks (Episode 78)
Starring: Tom Baker , Elisabeth Sladen , and Ian Marter
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Doctor Who - Revelation of the Daleks (Episode 143)
Doctor Who - The Hand of Fear (Episode 87)
Doctor Who - The Sontaran Experiment (Episode #77)
Doctor Who - Inferno (Episode 54)
Doctor Who - The Beginning Collection

ASIN: B000EMG918
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Product Description

The Time Lords send the Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah Jane and Harry on a daunting mission to the Daleks' home planet.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

One of the most popular story arcs from Doctor Who's "Fourth Doctor" period (starring Tom Baker as the Doctor), writer Terry Nation's Genesis of the Daleks not only fleshes out the back story of the Doctor's most fearsome nemeses--the megalomaniacal, robotic Daleks--but also serves up a thoughtful storyline that doesn't skimp on the action. First aired on the BBC in 1975, the six-episode story has the Doctor and companions Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen) and Harry (Ian Marter) summoned to the Daleks' home planet of Skaros at a time prior to their rise to power. Hoping to prevent the domination-hungry beings from developing their warlike behavior, they soon find themselves in the middle of a war between two races, the Kaleds and the Thals, and uncover a plot by a Kaled scientist, Davros, to render his people invincible as the metal-encased Daleks. A gripping story with elements that remain topical even today (ancient cultures locked in an endless war, genetic experimentation, eugenics), Genesis of the Daleks is an excellent starting point for first-time Who viewers, and a fine reminder of the show at its best for longtime fans. The two-disc DVD offers a considerable amount of extras, most notably a commentary track by Baker, Sladen, co-star Peter Miles, and director David Maloney. "Genesis of a Classic" is an hour-long featurette about the story, with interviews from all the major (surviving) cast and crew members, while "The Dalek Tapes" explores the creatures' history via rare clips and interviews with performers and production staff. There's also a clip from a vintage episode of the U.K. children's series Blue Peter that's devoted to Doctor Who models and creatures, as well as the detailed photo gallery and subtitled text commentary that are standards on all Doctor Who DVDs. Those with DVD-ROM can access PDF documents of the 1976 Doctor Who Annual and listings from the Radio Times. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

davros at his best.......2007-07-06

featuring the timeless , classic beauty of sarah jane smith and the megalomaniacal davros at his best.

One of the best.......2007-06-09

It's hard for me to make up a list of the best "Doctor Who" episodes. Well, let me restate that. I can make a list from here to Ravalox and back, but it's hard to put them into any order. It's a list the contains things like "The Talons of Weng-Chiang", "Tomb of the Cybermen", and, of course, "Genesis of the Daleks". I'm not sure if it's the best story (what's your favorite? Comment!), but it's definately the best Dalek story.

The story opens with our heroes trying to return to Earth after one of their most recent adventures. They get, essentially, pulled over by the Time Lords. One of them, dressed, for some odd reason, rather like Tim the Enchanter, explains to the Doctor that he's on Skaro and must prevent the construction of the Daleks.

Now this opens up a great many interesting doors, including such things as the grandfather paradox. A lot of them don't get opened, but some do, such as the Doctor questioning the morality of destroying the Daleks. He sites the evil that they do, but also explains that by forcing various species to work together against them they also cause good (in "Good Omens" it's observed that evil sows the seeds of its own destruction. This is a great example).

The story is also notable for the introduction of Davros. Ah, Davros. For some reason, despite the Daleks appearing every-other episode of the new series, he hasn't shown up yet. Probably only a matter of time, as it were.

Both the story and the acting are of quite high caliber here. Tom Baker, who hadn't been the Doctor for long, does an excellent job of developing out the chracter he'd play for seven years. The various supporting roles, especially the Kaleds, are also very well-done.

As is usual with the "Doctor Who" DVD releases there's a wealth of extra materiel. Especially of note is the entertaining commentary. I couldn't help but laugh when there's a shot on the screen of a man wearing a gas mask and Elisabeth Sladen says, "Mummy!" (if you don't get it, watch the new series. Most of it's... well, adequete).

Any "Doctor Who" DVD collection simply must feature this story. If you don't have it, get it.

(as a side note, years ago I, in what I can only guess was a sleep deprived state while attending Norwescon, began to shout out randomly, "We- are- Daleks- of- Borg! You- will- be- assimilated! Assimilate! ASSIMILATE!" Yeah... I'm just that weird)

A great story line.......2007-03-24

This is a great story line except that this story contradicts an earlier story by the first Doctor. It does set the stage for the eventual war between the Daleks creator and Daleks that decide they don't need him anymore.

"Why must we always destroy beauty? Why kill another creature because it is not in our image?".......2007-03-23

It's all too easy to say of anything that it's a classic, to the point that the word almost gets cheapened from overuse. But sometimes no other word will really do, and that really does go for "Genesis of the Daleks" here, for on the one hand it's very typical and characteristic of the show (especially as it was in the mid-1970's), while on the other hand it's a bit of a cut above the rest. It features the Doctor's most popular nemesis, but does so in an unusual way that's interesting both if one's been following the show up until this point and if this is the first time one's ever even heard of a Dalek. And it succeeds both as a thrilling science fiction adventure and as an exploration of some fundamentally important issues.

This is also clearly a transitional moment in the show's history, shifting in emphasis somewhat from a kid's show that grown-ups can also enjoy to a grown-up show that kids can enjoy too. A subtle shift, but noticeable. Really we have a dark and bleak storyline with this one, lightened only by the Doctor's ever-reliable oddball eccentricity, Sarah Jane's lovable feistiness, and Harry's doofishness (always putting his foot in it). Otherwise the themes of genocide, eugenics, militarism, fascist totalitarianism, wars of attrition and genetic mutations, forced labor, suspicion and betrayal, megalomania, stark moral dilemmas and such cuteness all add to the somber lighting and the dull ash-grey sets (definitely a "Death Star" palette here, folks) to make this a compellingly grim adventure indeed. In some ways the moral dilemma faced by the Doctor at the climax is a variant on the old "would you kill Hitler when he was an infant?" conundrum, but it is disturbing enough to him on the spot--and to us, who understand his hesitation and the issues involved but also kind of just wish he'd throw ethics to the wind and nip the Daleks in the bud. Geez. All a little heavy for Saturday afternoon tea time, I'd think. There's a new depth of seriousness here that we hadn't quite seen before in "Doctor Who."

It is also an exceedingly imaginative masterstroke to set this storyline back when the Daleks were first invented or evolved or whatever, though it may be easy to overlook just how innovative this was after the fact. Dalek storylines can get a bit repetitive after a while if the writers aren't careful. They invade, they exterminate, and the Doctor stops them. Instead of a retread, though, "Genesis" succeeds admirably in breathing new life into the concept, exploring their formation in a compelling manner. And the Dalek's inventor, Davros, is a superb villain, a man of science and reason like the Doctor but who puts that knowledge to very different uses--the contrast between them is depicted wonderfully in one of their key dialogues (script-writing at its best). And Michael Wisher probably deserves an award for bringing Davros to life, convincingly portraying a wide range of different evil emotions and radiating creepy charisma all while immobilized in body (except for a right hand), crammed in a lower-Dalek wheelchair contraption, and encumbered by a well-designed and realistic mask that covered most of his face and blocked his vision. Finally, the final scene between Davros and his new creations, the Daleks, is a beautiful example of good old-fashioned irony, or maybe instant karma--a nice touch that also (for what it's worth) serves cleverly to maintain continuity with the many preceding Dalek stories in the series.

Don't get me wrong. Not everything's perfect. The writers lead the Doctor up to the big moral dilemma only to kind of let him off the hook, only to lead him back to the hook and yet pretty much release him again. This makes for some annoying anticlimax. And a few things stretch one's credulity just a little. And yes, the giant clams look fake. But overall, if I were introducing a friend to this show and wanted to find an exemplary story that exemplifies much of what's great about "Doctor Who," this would likely be one of my choices--though probably I'd want to compliment it with another one a bit more upbeat.

A blast from the past.......2007-03-08

Growing up in England Dr Who was a staple part of my television viewing, both as a child and semi adult.

The show obviously does not have all the gadgets and animation associated with todays television but the story line is enthralling and the Daleks are the first trully evil space invader experienced on TV.

A great show.

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Death & Rebirth/The End of Evangelion Two-Pak

Average customer rating:

For The Love Of All That Is Good, Do Not Watch This
Continuation of neongenesis - Evangelion
A must for the Evangelion fan
End of Evangelion is a must...
The Brilliant Conclusion to a Most Profound Series

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Death & Rebirth/The End of Evangelion Two-Pak
Starring: Neon Genesis-Evangelion
Manufacturer: Manga Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

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( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Anime | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum Collection
Neon Genesis Evangelion - Perfect Collection
Neon Genesis Evangelion - The End of Evangelion
Elfen Lied Complete Collection
Full Metal Panic! 1C-THP - The Complete Collection

ASIN: B0009S4J5K
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Amazon.com

Death & Rebirth, the bizarre ending of the television series Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), pleased no one, including creator Hideaki Anno. Shortly after it aired, Anno began remaking the final episodes as an OAV and then decided to release them as a theatrical feature. At the climax of the series, Shinji met and destroyed Kaoru, who was both the Fifth Child and 17th Angel--then collapsed into schizophrenia. Death retraces these events through clips, many of them set to new dialogue performed by the same English cast as the series. Rebirth depicts the aftermath of Shinji's victory over the final Angel: Seele attacks NERV headquarters as part of their plot to advance human evolution. The feature ends as inconclusively as the series, with Rei in limbo beside Dr. Ikari, the traumatized Shinji nearly catatonic, and a reawakened Asuka fighting Seele. It sets up the final film, The End of Evangelion. Unrated; suitable for ages 14 and up: Violence, brief nudity, profanity.

Anno brought his watershed epic to its conclusion in the final installment, End of Evangelion. It begins where the series ended: with the Angels defeated, the sinister cabal SEELE attacks NERV headquarters to seize the Evas and realize their plan for humanity. Misato and Ritsuko fight from inside while Asuka decimates a new Eva series. But when Rei merges with Lilith, and Shinji seems to fuse with Unit 01, the final traces of a coherent storyline dissolve into a protracted collage of fantastic images, played against discussions involving Rei, Shinji, Asuka, and Kaoru. Anno's dazzling apocalyptic vision forms a weird but oddly logical finale that ultimately means whatever the viewer chooses to read into it. This unrated feature, suitable for ages 17 and older, contains considerable violence, profanity, grotesque imagery, and sexual situations.

Extras in this set include a gallery of still artwork, short biographies of the main characters, descriptions of the Angels and Evas, and a glossary of terms used in the series. In the voice-over commentary, Amanda Winn Lee (producer-director of the English dub and the voice of Rei Ayanami), co-producer Jason C. Lee and "anime enthusiast" Taliesin Jaffe make a lot of dumb jokes that suggest a lack of respect for both Anno's work and the audience. --Charles Solomon

Description

Three young pilots are faced with the final fate of humanity and their Evangelion vessels are the world's last hope!

Customer Reviews:

For The Love Of All That Is Good, Do Not Watch This.......2007-07-05

Let me preface this with the following statement: I very much enjoyed Evangelion. Anime typically does not win me over, but this is one of the good ones that I could watch again and again. I ran out to buy this movie, eager to see more, I was so impressed with the series. I spent money I couldn't afford to spend. That said, this movie is the Antichrist of the series. Before I even get to why it was bad, you should know that Death & Rebirth, unless my disc was broken, is no more than a recap of the series. You're essentially buying what you already own.

The first scene in this movie is absolutely symbolic of what the entire movie is. Asuka, laying in a coma, is completely helpless as Shinji masturbates on her. Shinji reprents Hideaki Anno, the director who is ejaculating on you, the helpless viewing audience. Take this imagery in mind as you watch the next two hours; it's essentially an abstract representation of the rape you experience in the first five minutes. Everything you love about the series is systematically bastardized and/or destroyed. I've read that Anno did not make this snuff film of an anime as revenge; I cannot imagine that being true. I want to believe that it simply came from simple rage and is not actually considered by him to be an actual work of art. It is brutally cold in its efficiency. I would urge anyone who reads this and enjoyed the series, or just saw portions of it, or values their own sanity to not open this Pandora's Box, because it is filled with more human agony than the namesake.

Continuation of neongenesis - Evangelion.......2007-05-13

It continues the story, but makes it very difficult to understand what is going on. It has no clearcut answer to all the loose ends from the ordinary series.

A must for the Evangelion fan.......2007-05-12

The two part movies Death and Rebirth and End of Evangelion sum up the television series well. Not visually and intellectually disappointing. Some of what is actually happening between Rei/Lillith and Unit One is a little convoluted as to what actually any of it really means. Seeing the Evangelion Platnum Series Director's cut footage will shine a little light on some of the questions the movie will pose.

End of Evangelion is a must..........2007-04-26

You can do without Death & Rebirth if you own the series. The End of Evangelion is the ending the series, in many ways, needed to have: while the original ending was adequate, Evangelion was never just a story about Shinji and, with all the talk about Adam and Third Impact, it needed something bigger than complete introspection. That said, both this "film" ending and the one occuring in the series do compliment each other and aren't entirely at odds. The difference between Third Impact and Human Instrumentality isn't quite so clear...as maybe it shouldn't be. Nonetheless, we get both. Oh, and Asuka gets a finale worthy of her character. I rate End of Evangelion a 5 star flick; Death & Rebirth, basically the entire series edited into an hour with the idea that Asuka, Shinji, and Rei are "performing/dreaming" this collectively, is beside the point. Still, if you want a proper ending to Evangelion, The End is a must own.

The Brilliant Conclusion to a Most Profound Series.......2007-03-03

For those turning to this film to answer all the questions that the last two episodes of the Evangelion (NGE) series didn't answer, I suggest you look elsewhere. If anything, this film will provide you with precious few answers but a multitude of new questions. For those wanting a highly provocative, thought-provoking, intelligent and most poignant conclusion to the NGE series, then have no fear. I will try to explain some of the more perplexing elements in this film, without giving too much away, as well giving my thoughts and opinions at the same time.

The film is structured to be the final two episodes of the series. So the first half, Ep. 25 "Air/Love is Destructive" is concurrent with the series episode 25 "The World Ending/Do You Love Me?". The second half, Ep. 26. "My Purest Heart for You/One More Final: I Need You" is concurrent with the series episode 26 "The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World/Take Care of Yourself."

Much like the NGE series, the End of Evangelion (EoE) weaves a complex story where images and dialogue are closely related to the philosophy and symbolism. These themes are played out through the psychology of each characters' own mind. It is essentially a microcosm of the entire series. The opening scenes before the "Air" title card of Ep. 25 of Shinji overlooking the ruins of the city, and then entering Asuka's hospital room and, (I'll leave it there) set the mood and atmosphere. Showing effectively and very disturbingly that this is NOT going to be an easy film. As the first half roars out of the gates at breakneck speed, we see the hostile takeover of Nerv by the Seele organization and each Nerv member's desperate attempt to hold it at bay.

We also see the mental states that the two main Eva pilots - Shinji and Asuka - have been reduced too. Shinji is severely depressed after killing the last angel, Kaworu, whom he had formed a close bond with. Asuka is in the same mental boat as Shinji as she sits at the bottom of the lake in her Eva, which she feels she can't pilot anymore. What's interesting is the paths that have driven these two characters to this point. The ideas of finding one's self-worth (examined perfectly in the final two series episodes), and what happens to a person when that is taken away.

At the same time Seele is trying to initiate their plans for Third Impact using Unit-01 and the downright creepy looking Mass-Produced Eva Series, Gendo has his own plans involving Rei and Lilith. As Asuka, (with a little help and inspiration from her Mama) rages an extremely violent battle with the Evil Evas, Gendo takes Rei down to Lilith. He does this to unite the souls and bodies of Adam and Lilith only to find his scorned lover, Ritsuko there. It's interesting that two of the most shocking and violent scenes (the Asuka/Eva battle and the Gendo/Ritsuko confrontation) are played out to Bach's beautiful "Air". The infusion of the music in this film is truly brilliant and a major reason why many scenes are so effective.

However, this is the point in the film where most people will start to become completely lost. Without a really good understanding of the NGE story (and perhaps even with one), it's hard not to. It's very difficult to make the extremely complex simple, however I'll try without many spoilers.

Suffice it to say that Seele were trying to initiate Third Impact and reduce humankind back to its original form - the Primordial Soup of Life where all souls and beings are one. Gendo had different plans and just wanted to see his 'dead' wife, Yui again. Neither Seele's or Gendo's plans go exactly as they were meant to. Unit-01, along with Shinji, ends up becoming the Tree of Life, and the ark in which all souls are ushered through and into Lilith's Egg. Understanding the idea that in NGE, humans - Lilim, as we're called - were born from Lilith, and Rei is essentially Lilith helps make this clearer. What's happening near this point is 3rd Impact is occurring because of the Unit-01 and the Mass Produced Eva encounter. This returns the Geo-Front (the sphere like cavern where Nerv HQ sits) to its original form, the Egg of Lilith (we see this during the "Eye"-like explosion). After the Giant Rei/Lilith forms, Shinji is essentially given reign over the future of the human race by Rei/Lilith herself.

At this point, the tempo of the film slows to a crawl and the most surreal images and scenes begin creeping in. Even the most seemingly simple scenes such as a young Shinji playing in a sandbox with a swing, mountains, and a setting sun in the background is just rife with symbolism (hint: try to relate everything in this scene with something in the show, be it scenes, characters, or themes). Here, the psychological interplay between the main characters is crucial, as Shinji's wishes are played out in the real world. When he feels that everyone has deserted him and essentially says 'everyone can just die' is when the Instrumentality and joining of all souls through Lilith really begins.

What's important to note is Shinji's thoughts after his 'choice' has been made. The place he escapes to - the world of Instrumentality where all souls are one - and his questioning of this choice and all his choices is what we see here. More than just his questioning of the choice, we also hear him questioning the meaning of reality and dreams. This is not just random philosophical ramblings. It's a study of a character's, as well as the creator's, thoughts and feelings. Shinji holds all of humanity's future in his hands or, more accurately, his own mind. When you consider how psychologically scarred Shinji is, the idea that he can completely shape the future of Earth and all of humankind is what makes this so interesting.

Once he is allowed to be in the world he escapes to, he's faced with another choice of whether to stay or come back. As he discusses these things with Rei and Kaworu (Lilith and Adam), we hear his final choice and reasons why. The ending of EoE, titled "One More Final: I Need You" is rightfully confusing to almost everyone who sees it. However, it's also the perfect note to end the series with. Not only does it leave us as uncertain as the characters are about the future, but it also expresses the frustration and realization of Shinji's choice and the culmination of all the struggles that has lead them there.

This film is simply a divine marvel. Much like the series it has to be watched multiple times for one to uncover all of its hidden layers and meanings. But it doesn't lose its ability to invoke emotions and thoughts even after several viewings. There are scenes of immense power and drama in the film - many that match the best of most films I've seen. But I think it's the quiet moments that make this film so moving and memorable. The Sandbox scene is one I've mentioned. Another is the live action shots with the monologue and Bach's magnificent "Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude" (Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring) playing along on piano with it. Even more subtle moments, such as Shinji's SDAT (walkman type) player out of batteries (more significant than many would think), and Gendo's broken glasses in Rei's place. With the vivid beginning of Instrumentality played out to the appropriate sad-song-with-a-pop-beat "Komm Susser Tod" (Come Sweet Death), it's these scenes that never fail to give me chills.

There's a great quote that goes something like "A truly wise man always has more questions than answers." This is a series and film that asks more questions than it provides answers. What it tries to do is make you think about those questions, rather than provide an easily digestible story. Some may call the story incoherent and disjointed, but what many don't realize is that the deep psychological and philosophical leanings behind the show are inextricably linked with the storyline itself. So to distinguish one from the other is impossible without realizing how the two intertwine and effect the other. If you merely try to breakdown the sci-fi storyline, then you will be confused by much of it. This is because the story is so big and so encompassing that many finer details can't be uncovered without diving deep into the inner workings of the series.

In the end, I can only speak for myself when I say NGE did a superlative job of doing everything a great work of art should do. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it gave me chills on more than one occasion.... but most of all it made me THINK. Anyone who wants to enjoy this show as just a meaningless work of science fiction can do so, but will be baffled as they're crushed by the multiple layers of extra contextual meanings. So, if you want to understand NGE, you have to not only pay close attention to the small details within the show (small scenes from many episodes back play a role in the film), you have to really open your mind up to the ideas being presented, and how they effect the story.

However, taken as a film, and the conclusion to the NGE series, End of Evangelion is a staggering achievement and powerful last testament to what is, in my opinion, the greatest visual series of all time.

*DVD NOTES:

Those considering whether to buy just the EoE or the EoE/Death & Rebirth 2-pack, I suggest you go with the EoE unless you don't own the director's cuts of the last several episodes (available in the Platinum Collection). 'Death' is mostly a muddled re-crap of the entire series, while 'Rebirth' is merely the first 30 minutes of EoE. Death also doesn't contain remastered visuals or audio like the Platinum Collection does, so you'll be getting a low quality re-cap at that. Death really doesn't even work as an introduction to NGE, because most everyone not aquainted with previous episodes would be confused by the structure of the recap. The only thing worthwile in 'Death' is something called "The Magi Archives" which provides great information about key people, places, events, and thing in the series. This is very helpful to those who feel completely lost by all the jargon in the series and will help clear some things up, even if it won't answer any of the bigger questions. So just stick with EoE unless you feel the need for completeness to get Death & Rebirth as well.

Average customer rating:

Save Yourself
As someone else once said, "Pray for the Genesis Children"
Save yourself
if you love young boys ...

The Genesis Children
Starring: Greg Hill; Peter Glawson; David Johnson; Jack Good; Butch Burr; Max Adams; Bubba Collins and Mike Good Vincent Child
Director: Anthony Aikman
Manufacturer: Award Films International
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Western Lights: In the Wake of Christopher Columbus
Robby
You Are Not Alone
The Chippendiddys
Chronicle of a Boy Alone (Cronica de un NiÃ±o Solo)

ASIN: B000IFRS66
Release Date: 1991-09-15

Product Description

THE GENESIS CHILDREN (USA, 1970) Director: Anthony Aikman. Cast: Vincent Child, Greg Hill, Peter Glawson, David Johnson, Jack Good, Butch Burr, Max Adams, Bubba Collins and Mike Good. Color. Running time: 84 Minutes. Nudity. Unrated. In the twenty-six-year history of Award Films, no film has generated more public interest, or controversy, than THE GENESIS CHILDREN. The legend began after the film's initial theatrical release was cut short by oil tycoon/producer Billy Byars, who felt his creation was being misunderstood. But perhaps confusion was always his intention, since the original title for this art house hot-potato was "?." After a long search Award Films was able to resurrect the film onto video so that film buffs can once again ponder the mysteries of this visually stunning underground cinema curiosity.

Customer Reviews:

Save Yourself.......2007-07-06

I understand now why people left the theater after 5 minutes into this movie. Disturbing images, and no plot makes it a trash binner. I guess I don't get the artistic value of this movie... or any kind of value for that matter. As a 1st dive into foreign films I was disappointed and can't wait for the trashman to come.

As someone else once said, "Pray for the Genesis Children".......2007-06-10

This review is short and sweet,
And I think you'll find it very neat!
I'm gonna make it rhyme,
Cause I'm at work and have the time!
This movie is so very bad,
Though the scenery is really rad!
The music is decent enough,
And the boys are nicely in the buff!
But avoid, if you will, this awful tale.
You will hate it, without fail.
The plot seems surgically excised,
Almost as if the writer had died.
Really, do not buy this overpriced disc.
Download it, and you've nothing to risk.
BTW: I started article for this movie on Wikipedia,
Which says something about this media.
But again, gentle reader, to you I implore:
Avoid buying this movie! Watch it no more!

Save yourself.......2007-05-14

Normally when you don't like a movie you can give it away, but I had to throw this one in the trash. It was disturbing, and without plot whatsoever.

if you love young boys ..........2007-01-11

this movie is a myth and is very nice to look

Average customer rating:

Sound Problems But Great Performance
Exceptional Quality
Genesis at their Very Best
A stunning show
2nd half of show... amazing!

Live at Wembley Stadium
Starring: Genesis , and Phil Collins
Manufacturer: Warner Strat. Mkt.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0001JXOOO
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Product Description

Filmed at Wembley Stadium during four sold-out concerts to an audience of 2 88,000 during the "Invisible Touch" tour. 14 classic Genesis hits including "Abacab," "That's All," "Land of Confusion," and "Tonight Tonight Tonight. " This DVD includes tour documentary, photo gallery, and tour program. 5.1 audio. 131 mins. ?

Customer Reviews:

Sound Problems But Great Performance.......2007-07-07

The performance is great, but if you listen closely, the volume swells up and down throughout most of the songs. Most evident on "mama" and the beginning and soft breakdown on "Domino". It's as if someone applied limiters to excess on the mastering of the sound, and it's gone crazy.

Exceptional Quality.......2007-05-17

I am something of a fan of concert videos and attended the INVISIBLE TOUCH tour when it launced in Los Angeles in 1987. Of all in my collection, this one has some of the best sound quality of them all. Even a reasonable surround sound system will give an good performance. Camera work and effects are very good, allowing the impression of "Being There."

Genesis at their Very Best .......2007-05-09

I was never lucky enuff to see Genesis live back in the 80's or 90's but i'm Finally going to see them this year (2007) in Chicago and i'm about as excited as a lil school kid on x-mas morning. When I bought this concert on VHS way back in 1990, I was in absolute heaven cuz it's surely the next best thing to being there and flawless from beginning to end. Some of the standouts from the show were - Abacab, Home by the Sea, Land of Confusion, Domino & Los Endos. Now that this concert is on dvd with digital sound/pic & contains extras like interviews with the band, it's even that much sweeter. I own about a hundred concert videos by many popular bands from the 80's, 90's, etc... but this one really stands out from the rest of the pack becuz of it's song selection, location, raw energy, sound & picture quality, camera work and above all else, the superb performances by Phil & the rest of the guys. Basically, This dvd shows Genesis in their prime & is a Must own for any fan.

A stunning show.......2007-02-06

This was an excellent concert, but would you expect anything else from these guys??? I saw the Invisible Touch Tour twice in person, but the venues I went to in the Los Angeles area were no match for Wembley Stadium. Wembley was the perfect place to record this show. Once again, Genesis displayed their superb musical skills and amazing theatrics. The band was in top form here. Genesis was always a band that could effortlessly blend sound and visuals to create a unique concert-going experience. They were so far ahead of their time in that regard. Bands today, even with the current technology, cannot hold up to what these guys did...20 years ago.

2nd half of show... amazing!.......2007-02-04

This DVD is well worth the investment. However, I do wish that the old "Seconds Out" tour 1977 that I attended after Gabriel left was available somehow, somewhere. That's more my style: old Genesis. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the show starting with "Tonight, Tonight" and through "Los Endos." An amazing hour of entertainment (2nd half of the show), where any fan will lose themselves in the sheer spectacle of Genesis at Wembley and, of course, Phil, Tony, the music/show, are first rate!

Average customer rating:

Part Brilliant, Part Disappointing
The Bible ,,,,, In the Beginning
Bible In The Beginning
save your $, read the book
THIS IS THE VERY BEST VERSION EVER MADE.

The Bible ... In the Beginning
Starring: Roger Beaumont , Ulla Bergryd , Angelo Boscariol , Stephen Boyd , and Gianluigi Crescenzi
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005NKT6
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Amazon.com

John Huston adapted the first 22 chapters of the Book of Genesis in this mostly silly film that takes us from Creation through Noah's Ark through Abraham's near-sacrifice of son Isaac. This is one of Huston's more personally distant projects, à la Annie or Victory; and for the most part you'd barely know there was even a director involved. On the other hand, Huston does provide some of the only liveliness on screen, playing Noah. --Tom Keogh

Description

The greatest stories of the Old Testament are brought to the screen with astounding scope and power in this international film which depicts the first 22 chapters of Genesis. This is the spectacular story of man's creation, his fall, his survival and his indomitable faith in the future. From the film's opening amidst cosmic chaos, to its lingering message of hope and salvation, "The Bible" stands as a monumental motion picture achievement.

Customer Reviews:

Part Brilliant, Part Disappointing.......2007-05-18

Long cast aside by "critics" as a cinematic BOMB, this movie does have its moments. Standout scenes are the death of Abel by Cain, Adam and Eve being driven from the Garden of Eden, Abraham's visit from the Angel of God and the gathering of men at Sodom, blinded by the two Angels. The Sodom scene, with all its wickedness, would be considered "politically incorrect" by Hollywood today, but is a directorial masterpiece. The Noah's Ark gathering of the animals is a commendable assemblage of creatures, but John Houston's portrayal of Noah is much too comical for such a strong Biblical patriarch. Adam and Eve seemed too mechanical, in a very pale Eden, in what should have been a beautifully breathtaking opportunity for the cinematographer of Paradise. And according to scripture, Isaac was probably a bit older than the small actor we see in the film. But George C. Scott believably delivers as Abraham; especially when about to give his son as a sacrifice. Not the best adaptation of Bible stories, but at least the Hollywood of old, was well aware of a large audience for sacred things it seemingly ignores today.

The Bible ,,,,, In the Beginning.......2007-05-17

I first purchased this movie when it was on VHS. It is great to now replace the film in DVD format.

Bible In The Beginning.......2007-05-14

It was a great view of the Bible. I enjoyed watching this move very much.

save your $, read the book.......2007-04-22

one of the last of the biblical epics, this was a bomb in its initial release, and deservedly so. the movie doesnt know whether it is de mille or italian realism, and most of the sequences (adam & eve, tower of babel) are either laughable or langorous (george c scott & ava gardner as abraham & sarah). yet stuck in the middle is a fine half hour sequence of the story of noah, with director john huston casting himself in the one strong sequence in the movie: replete with the right mix of humor and awe. that half hour isnt enough to recommend buying or renting the dvd, but if you can catch it on tv some day, its worth a half hour of your life.

THIS IS THE VERY BEST VERSION EVER MADE........2007-02-20

THE ACTING AND COSTUMES ARE EXCELLENT. THE MUSIC SETS THE MOOD PERFECTLY FOR EACH STORY. THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE GREAT. THIS IS A MUST SEE FOR BIBLE ENTHUSIASTS. THE ACTING IS VERY GOOD. YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE PRESENT WHEN THE EVENTS ARE OCCURRING.

Neon Genesis Evangelion - The End of Evangelion

Average customer rating:

Decent conclusion to the show, but not something to watch in polite company
The Brilliant Conclusion to a Most Profound Series
What's so hard about making a real ending?
A baffling end to a baffling series
I still dont get it...

Neon Genesis Evangelion - The End of Evangelion
Starring: Megumi Ogata , Megumi Hayashibara , Yûko Miyamura , Kotono Mitsuishi , and Yuriko Yamaguchi
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki , Hideaki Anno , and Tsuyoshi Kaga
Manufacturer: WEA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Neon Genesis Evangelion: Platinum Collection
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Ghost in the Shell

ASIN: B000068OJ1
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Amazon.com

When the first Evangelion feature, Death and Rebirth, proved no more satisfying than the last episodes of the original series, Hideaki Anno brought his watershed epic to its conclusion in this final installment. End of Evangelion begins where the series ended: with the Angels defeated, the sinister cabal SEELE attacks NERV headquarters to seize the Evas and realize their plan for humanity. Misato and Ritsuko fight from inside while Asuka decimates a new Eva series. But when Rei merges with Lilith, and Shinji seems to fuse with Unit 01, the final traces of a coherent storyline dissolve into a protracted collage of fantastic images, played against discussions involving Rei, Shinji, Asuka, and Kaoru. Anno's dazzling apocalyptic vision forms a weird but oddly logical finale that ultimately means whatever the viewer chooses to read into it. This unrated feature, suitable for ages 17 and older, contains considerable violence, profanity, grotesque imagery, and sexual situations. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

Decent conclusion to the show, but not something to watch in polite company.......2007-03-04

First, I will describe some of the things I didn't like about End of Evangelion, then some of the things I did like.

Things I didn't like:

I thought the degree of violence and nudity were a bit excessive. While I can understand that the series was somewhat more constrained in that regard by TV censorship and Gainax would probably have made the whole series like End of Eva if they could have gotten away with it, I don't think I would have wanted to watch the series in that case, and I dislike having to tolerate a greater degree of violence and fan service just to see how the show ends. I realize this is a matter of personal preference; in general I prefer to watch, for instance, Miyazaki films and dislike movies like Akira or Ghost in the Shell. If you like the latter, then you'll probably like End of Eva.

Regarding the ending, it suffers from being overly mysterious. The trouble with resolving a plot with some sort of magical transformation is that from the audiences' point of view whatever happens seems rather arbitrary, since the writers can make up any sort of rules they want. Lilith, Adam, the Lance of Longinus, unit 01, and a bunch of production evas seem to all play an important role in the end of the world, but what are those roles specifically? I have no idea. It's also hard to guess what would have happened if events had transpired differently. For instance, if things had gone according to plan for either SEELE or Cmdr. Ikari, would the end result have been any different?

This is a minor point, but I thought that Christian symbolism was overused in End of Eva, even more so than the series. It isn't that it offends me, it just seems kind of silly after awhile to see crosses everywhere, and yet, as far as I can tell, there isn't anything substantively Christian about the show. (As a contrasting example, the series Haibane Renmei has comparatively little religious symbolism, but much more actual theological depth. An odd side effect of watching it is that now I think of Jesus whenever I see a crow. I concede that I'm probably a bit odd in that respect.) I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable to understand references to other religions, so I can't really say if they are portrayed in an insightful way or not.

Things I did like:

The audio commentary was reasonably informative and very entertaining. I don't usually listen to commentary tracks but another Amazon review recommended it, so I did. It explained some of the more obscure religious references, and generally helped disambiguate what was really going on. Even better, they make fun of the movie continuously - everything from the pervasive Freudian imagery to Fuyutski's Jay Leno chin. While it's fine to take the movie seriously, it's also a bit of a relief to laugh at it as well. If any movie ever deserved to be an MST3K episode, it's this one.

For some reason, I really like the end-of-the-world "I wish that I could turn back time" song (called Komm, süsser Tod). Though I suppose people might worry about me if I ever sang it out loud where I could be overhead.

I also liked the letterbox format. (I think the "death" part of death and rebirth is just scenes from the series cropped to fit in letterbox format.)

Animation quality is pretty good overall, even though there are still some scenes where it's obvious they were avoiding motion to save on budget (the SEELE meetings for instance). In general, the quality of animation was about on par with the early parts of the series, maybe a bit better.

The major character's stories (with the exception of Shinji's classmates who have all moved or disappeared or died or something some time ago) all reach some sort of a conclusion. We finally get some insight into Cmdr. Ikari's motives. We also get a better understanding of what's going on in general with Lilith, the Evas, the AT fields, and SEELE so the whole series makes quite a bit more sense. Many things are not fully explained, though.

The Brilliant Conclusion to a Most Profound Series.......2007-03-03

What's so hard about making a real ending?.......2007-02-02

It's a shame a good series, arguably an artwork of a series because the themes are so well done before the take-your-pick sets of finales, can't get an ending which is intelligible.

This movie is mildly better than the last two episodes of the TV show, in that it actually describes some of the lead-up in to how the ending occurs. Ok, this is nice, how's are a very good thing to have in coherent storytelling. The only thing is--surprise--this disappears about 1/2 way and you're left with the same psychedelic babble as last time, just with a different direction. The very last scene is a rather ludicrous thing to hang up such a wonderful series on.

I disagree with anyone who says it was a wonderful to make the ending of this series "artsy," and require everyone to come up with their own interpretation. I would accept that if the whole series was like that, but none of it is, it just dumps some half-baked art school masturbation on celluloid stuff on anyone who gave their attention and emotions to a series that previously had a plot.

If you watched the series you might as well see this too for some minor updates on what "theoretically" happens in the end.

A baffling end to a baffling series.......2006-10-14

Having watched the 'End of Evangelion' many times over, I still find it as baffling as ever. Watching this movie is much like watching the climax of 2001 A Space Odyssey where David Bowman enters the 'stargate' at the monolith and undergoes his psychadelic trip to nowhere. After such a bizarre parade of juxtaposed images, events and themes (often splashed around like images in a Picasso painting) you wonder what the hell it means.

The End of Evangelion is the alternative ending to the 1996 anime television series directed by Hideki Anno. Anno produced several works, however Evangelion proved to be the most popular (and controversial).

On the surface the premise of the series is fairly straightforward and similar to many other science fiction anime series; a group of humans living in a post-apocalyptic world are fighting to defend humanity from alien invaders. In Evangelion the aliens are called 'Angels', powerful and dangerous beings who appear to come from another dimension and cannot be defeated except by giant robots piloted by young children.

The main character in the series is the anti-hero Shinji, a cowardly, indecisive, apathetic and introverted character who is frequently depressed and gripped by anomie and acedia and seems to be unable to do the most basic tasks without being forced by other people. As the series unfolds it is clear Shinji and how he relates to others is somehow central not just to the angel-human conflict but even perhaps to the salvation of mankind itself.

Shinji relates most closely to three characters, Azuka, Misato, and his father, Gendo Ikari. As the series unfolds each of the characters is revealed to have a deeply tragic past which has resulted in all having very severe neurotic and psychological problems which border on hysteria and nervous breakdown. Indeed virtually all the characters come to pieces, either mentally or physically, as the series progresses and darkens.

The End of Evangelion seems to complement the interior fragmentation and destruction of the selves of the main characters by telling the 'narrative' of events in the external world. NERV is invaded and destroyed by a human invasion after the last angel is defeated in battle and the main characters are killed, including Azuka (in a rather horrible and gruesome way). Shinji, trapped in psychotic shock at the death of Azuka, enters his evangelion but is then taken by other evangelions who seem to undergo a bizarre ritual which reforms the 'Tree of life', the central symbol of kabbalastic mysticism. This leads to a giant Goddess-figure called Lilith rising to life, who proceeds to bring about the end of the world by merging the souls of all individual humans back into an undifferentiated unity, while Shinji looks on.

For some reason the process seems to fail and Lilith dies, perhaps because Shinji exercises his free will to remain an individual being rather than to re-merge his self into God. Azuka, perhaps also merged with aspects of Rei and Shinji's mother, also reemerges beside him along a deserted shoreline, while the rest of humanity and life remains as a red soup, an undifferentiated unity from which all things began. At the end Shinji attempts to strangle Azuka but relents, and then Azuka says 'How disgusting.'

The ending of the world and the 'recreation' of a new world seems to contain some very complex themes, such as free will, the relation of humans to the Absolute, how we relate to the 'Other' and existence in an incomplete world where the paradox of reality is where we suffer but suffering is also part of growth. Anno seems to draw deeply on Kabbalistic mysticism, Existential philosophy (many of the themes in the end are allegories of themes explored by philosophers like Heidigger, Sartre, Gadamer and Emmanuel Levinas) and Christian symbolism. Why Anno chose to use symbols from the Judeo-Christian tradition (in particular Kabbalah) for the series and the end I am not sure, but perhaps Anno felt the Zohar's profound sense of exile in a world where the divine is deeply hidden and absent and associated existential themes of angst, alienation, being in relation to death and nothingness were appropriate when dealing with psychological themes such as repressed emotions, the unconcious, introversion and extroversion, sexual desire, and frustration of our dreams and goals, and suffering.

I get the sense the ending of Evangelion is open, and I think Anno intended it to be so. To 'close' Evangelion where everyone is happy and gets what they wish seems to negate the deeper premise of the series which pointed to the universality of human suffering in the inner and outer worlds; the extremes of torture and pain all the characters endure to the point of death seems excessive but perhaps makes the important point there is no safe refuge in this world of change where the divine seems absent. While using Christian/Jewish imagery and western philosophical themes, I get the sense in the end Anno's message is Buddhist; we learn to grow through suffering, pain and evil and by accepting ourselves as we are, and we must accept there is evil and pain in all of existence and there is no escaping it, as evil and good exist even in the Godhead itself. In this sense Anno approaches the Gnostic systems of Jacob Boehme and also some of the more radical forms of Kabbalah, where humans must restore a broken world by experiencing good as well as evil.

Certainly the End of Evangelion is a multilayered world with extremely complex imagery, and cannot be watched as most other ordinary movies would be.

I still dont get it..........2006-10-05

ok so the last 2 episodes of the t.v series were not great at ALL! they sucked. so i thought the "end of evangelion" was gonna sum it all up. it did, until the last part of the movie. when Asuka rubs his face to show she loves him, and so Shinji stop strangling her and realizes that she does love him back. Now why would you end the WHOLE thing, after all that just happend, with Asuka saying, "How Disgusting". I almost fell outta my chair. that threw the whole thing off. after that i was kinda pissed off! so if anyone can tell me the meaning behind that, i would appreciate it.

Average customer rating:

So you wanna be a rock and roll star...essential
Best rockumentary EVER!
dysfunction as self-destruction
DiG A HOLE & throw this piece of poop in...
ANTON IS GOD

DiG!
Starring: Anton Newcombe , Courtney Taylor-Taylor , Joel Gion , Matt Hollywood (II) , and Peter Holmstrom
Director: Ondi Timoner
Manufacturer: Palm Pictures / Umvd
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Dandy Warhols Come Down
Take It from the Man!

ASIN: B0007IO740
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Amazon.com

Italian fabulist Italo Calvino observed that there are two kinds of artists--those who are prolific and successful, and the tortured geniuses, each gazing at the other in deep jealousy and admiration. The two rock bands chronicled in the documentary DiG! fall easily into this equation. On the side of the tortured geniuses is the Brian Jonestown Massacre, led by the psychedelic and volatile Anton Newcombe. Portland's the Dandy Warhols, fronted by Courtney Taylor, fulfill the role of the artists who, while unable to plumb the artistic depths of their friendly rivals, achieve a fair degree of popular acclaim (in Europe, anyway). Shot over seven years and containing some astonishingly intimate footage, the film represents a labor of love for director Ondi Timoner, who befriended, lived, and traveled with the bands. DiG! will likely be most remembered for a remarkable scene of rock and roll implosion--a show in LA's Viper Room after which the Brian Jonestown Massacre were expected to ink a record deal. Instead, the band erupted in a fist fight onstage. Among themselves.

Does it go uphill or downhill from here? Depends on your definition of the terms. While dooming their careers, the Brian Jonestown Massacre manage to crank out an insane number of self-distributed albums--including three records in a single year. Courtney Taylor and the Dandies regard the musical output of their peers worshipfully and find themselves virtually ignored stateside but huge stars across the pond. While tens of thousands of fans in Germany and the UK sing along to every word at sold-out festivals headlined by the Dandies, Newscombe leads his crew in a nine-hour set in a dingy club for an audience of ten. Throughout the film there are controlled substances imbibed, clothing shed, sitars broken, punches thrown, arrests made. Taylor performs double duty as narrator of the film, begging the question of whether to accept his assertion that he fronts "the most well-adjusted band in America" at face value. The destined-for-greater-things Joel Gion, BJM's tambourine player, is the thief of every scene in which he appears, playing Flavor Flav to Newscombe's Chuck D. For those who want even more immersion, the DVD includes the option to "zoom," or expand, various scenes--a very cool feature. Those responsible for the hilarious excesses of DiG! have made a movie worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as This Is Spinal Tap, as mixed an honor as that might be.

DVD Features

The second of this set's two discs is practically its own sequel. Director Ondi Timoner had 1500 hours of footage to work with, so there was plenty of good material left on the cutting-room floor that found its way onto this supplemental disc. The deleted scenes include an unintentionally haunting pre-9/11 interview on a New York rooftop with BJM's Anton Newcombe; the twin towers loom behind the singer as he attempts to justify singing about love yet engaging in violence, drawing tenuous parallels between himself and militant prophets throughout history. This, and Newcombe's delight in listening to Charles Manson's musical recordings, is about as heavy as it gets, though. Other extras include various videos by the bands, with the conspicuous absence of the Dandy Warhol's David LaChapelle-directed "Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth." (The omission is understandable in light of the Dandies' sour grapes over the $400,000 video.) The Where Are They Now features find various members of the bands a little older and reflective, with new families and new gigs, reminiscing fondly on the seven years spent under Timoner's watchful spycam. As is the case with the film proper, the mood picks up whenever Joel Gion appears. When is this guy going to get his own talk show? For fans of Timoner's commentary on disc 1 there is--get this--footage of the director and her partners recording that commentary. Why there's no footage of Timoner watching and commenting on the footage of herself recording the commentary is anyone's guess. --Ryan Boudinot

Dig These Discs by the Brian Jonestown Massacre

Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective
Strung Out in Heaven
Bravery Repetition & Noise

And This Is Our Music
Thank God for Mental Illness

Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective	Strung Out in Heaven	Bravery Repetition & Noise
And This Is Our Music	Thank God for Mental Illness