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[ café reviews ]

eva_t010.jpg

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Shinseiki Evangelion
(Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Episode 10: Magma Diver


Copyright: 1995 TV Tokyo / GAINAX / NAS (Japan), 1997 AD Vision (North America)
Length: 30 minutes
Rating: Contains Violence and Mature Situations, Parental Guidance Suggested
Format: Subtitled/Dubbed (VHS)

Screenplay: Satsukawa Akio, Anno Hideaki Director: Tsuyoshi Kazuya, Ishido Hiroyuki Producers: Yamamura Atsuko (TV Tokyo) Sugiyama Yutaka Character Design: Sadamoto Yoshiyuki English Version Executive Producer: John Ledford (A.D.V. Films) Translation by: Kimura Kuni


[ plot summary ]

vhs jacket

Misato, investigating an anomolous reading the Mt. Asama volcano research station, discovers what appears to be an embryonic version of an Angel. NERV decides to send a specially-equipped Evangelion deep inside the volcano to retrieve the Angel intact. Asuka Soryu Langely, with her Type D equipped EVA-02 unit decends deep down the main magma tube in order to retrieve the embryo. But after she manages to snare the Angel, it metamophosises into adult form, changing everyone's plans. Now it's up to Asuka to destroy the specimen -- but that might prove to be a bit difficult, as the extreme heat and pressure have damaged her EVA's 'Type-D' protective suit, and she's without her Prog-Knife...


[ capsule review ]











More silliness (humour-wise, that is) in this episode. That's good, since there's not a whole lot else going on here. We get to see some more out-board equipment, this time in the form of the 'Type-D' external hardsuit for the EVA (which looks like it was modelled after the Alvyn deep-water hardsuit), but better still is the new plug suits for the EVA pilots. Asuka reacts like your stereotypical 10-year old when she finds out how unflattering the up-rated suits are. (And yes, I know she's supposed to be 14. But as I've mentioned before, I get the impression that Anno has no idea how 14-year kids should act.) Perhaps the one highlight of the episode comes when Asuka realises her predicament at the end of the recovery mission, and is resigned to her fate -- one of the few times where we actually see something more than the annoying two-dimensional character she's been painted as so far (with the exception of the awkward 'the night before the battle' scene with Shinji in the previous episode. Yeah, I realize that the writers are trying to portray her as being brash to hide her insecurities. But it ain't working.) But what I find most interesting of all is Rei - just what is going through her mind when she gets passed up for yet another mission?

Technical inconsistancies abound once again -- for example, during the battle with the Angel, Asuka drops her diving ballast to regain positive buoyancy, which allows her to dodge the charging Angel. Yet, when the diving line snaps a little later, she begins to sink... Did someone forget to tell me that the operator in the control room hit the 'Change Laws of Physics' button during the scene? And how does the special heat and pressure-resistant plug suit do any good if your head's unprotected? Overall, this one's the Japanese equivalent of a Saturday-morning special - not bad, but not spectacular. - AN



[ café rating ]

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:
Story: N/A 3 stars N/A
Direction: N/A 3 stars N/A
Acting: N/A 3 stars N/A
Animation: N/A 2 stars N/A
Music: N/A 3 stars N/A
Translation: N/A 3 stars N/A
Overall Rating: N/A 3 stars N/A



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