Evolver Vol-2 (2004)
Production: West Power Production/Gaion Label
Official Website
Episodes: 3-4
By Kage & Tomoko

DVD Notes

- Released 2004, Aug.6
- All Region DVD
- Full Screen Picture
- English Subtitled feature
- Bonus Materials (not subtitled)
- Trailer for the final chapter

Introduction

This is my first completed review of something other than a song collection. So be kind if this doesn't help much. By all means though, I'm trying to get those undecided people who may want to see Evolver and haven't to take a leap and check out this series.

Before I get the ball running on this introduction, I'd just like to thank my
baby girl Tomoko for keeping me company and watching this disc with me while I reviewed it. I shouldn't mention that she slept through most of it, but hey...she's only a little over one week old. I'd also like to thank our friend Justin Buck, who happens to be in this DVD...I'll get to that in a bit though. Here comes the REAL intro now.

Evolver is the latest series produced by Jungle's West Power production company for the Gaion label. It is a far cry from bigger Tokusatsu productions as most indie heroes are. Sometimes it's best to get away from the super-CGI laden shows on television and check out what the little guy has to offer. In the case of Evolver, you'll most likely find yourself refreshed after a viewing.

Evolver Vol.1 had been released at the end of June of this year. This disc picks up where the previous left off. The DVD set is supposed to set up much in the way of a movie. Vol.1 is the story. Vol.2 is the action. It's safe to say that Vol.3 is going to be the awesome pay-off to the entire series. Vol.2 contains some pretty nice action which many people have said Vol.1 lacks. So don't give up yet! Vol.2 takes the series to the next level. You'll definitely want to know how it ends after watching this disc!

Things to look out for: Martial arts enthusiast, Dragon. Neo, composer of the BGM and singer of the Ending song, as the stalker. Justin Buck as Dirty Hammer.

Review

Episode 3

The once five member Evolver team has since been reduced to three members. Efreet is still an unknown force to the Evolvers. A mysterious creature has been killing schoolgirls who travel down a seemingly secluded road. Rei decides to investigate. Meanwhile, Fubuki has just left the hospital due to her injuries in the previous episode. She is visited by the "Mystery Girl". All this while Go begins to regain his memory! Many things seem to happen all at once. So how does it all tie together?

Rei investigates only to have a creepy hobo mug her. As it turns out, the mugger is not the killer, but infact gets killed himself. With Rei conveniently tied up, the monster takes over where the mugger left off.

Will Go be able to find and save Rei in time? What happened to Fubuki? You'll just have to see how this action filled episode ends!

Episode 4

After Fubiki's glorious return to the battlefield in the previous episode, Go and Rei are left wondering who that man on the motorcycle was. The Evolver team is now armed with the Moto-Garuda which was given to them by the government.

Go seems to be haunted by the Mystery Girl. She appears in a flashback of his. Did he kill her? He is seen holding her. Rei is investigating a warehouse. She finds thugs and is also attacked by an Efreet creature. The injured creature flees after a brief fight, while Rei's suit was damaged in battle. Now she is left alone in the warehouse with an unknown amount of thugs. Rei walks about, wondering what exactly is going on in this warehouse.

Go confronts the Mystery Girl after chasing her down. Meanwhile Rei finds herself in an intense gun battle while walking in the warehouse. She finally finds the leader of the thugs and gets him to spill the beans on the warehouse operation. The creature from earlier silences him once and for all and proceeds to advance onto Rei, who still cannot transform. She falls into the grasp of Maya and the creature.

Where are Go and Fubuki? Has Efreet been figured out? What exactly IS the Mystery Girl?? You'll have to fine out how this ends.

Conclusion

The action in both episodes is leaps and bounds above Vol.1. I did not expect a motorcycle chase! The acting is much better in this volume as well. It's as if the actors were now broken into their roles. Both episodes here have bits of comedy that don't drown out the mood or entirely grab your attention to the point where things get confusing. Between the silly and quiet Dragon and the suave yet sadistic Dirty
Hammer, the comedy is well placed and in taste. If there is one great object to be had in the DVD, it's the action. The sword fights, the gun fights, the motorcycles. It's quick and it can pass itself for something you'd see on Sunday morning, done by one of those big guy companies. Support the little guy by checking out this DVD. You really won't be disappointed.

Kage