Evangelion Movie 2: Ha

Let's get one thing straight. Evangelion was the first anime I ever watched (talk about jumping in at the deep end), and so the element of bias is gonna be there. That said, I gave Eva (The original series and End of Eva) an 8, so while I do like it, I don't LOVE it. My problems were three-fold with the original show: The ending sucked (both of them), the animation is dated and shinji was an absolute LOSER. Seriously, that kid needed a slap! 2.0, however, both fixes my problems with the original show, and builds upon the solid base 1.0 set down. Boy, does it Build. . . . STORY You know the score if you've been watching anime for more than 5 minutes! Angels attacking, giant robots piloted by kids are the only hope of stopping them, cue big-ass fight scenes. BUT WAIT! All the characters are messed up, and so a psycho-emotional roller-coaster ensues! Now, the big difference between the rebuild movies and the original series is the plot changes, which are pretty big, and to be honest, a welcome change. The bad ending(s) I mentioned aren't present, instead the creator chose to branch off the plot into new (and better) territory. And I can't say much without spoilers, but DAMN that ending is good *shivers*. ART Probably the best thing about this movie. Seriously, the animation in 2.0 is crisp, colourful and all the Eva's and Angels look absolutely incredible, especially as the film reaches it's climax. None of the shoddy animation that plagued the series near the end is visible here, just 100 minutes of absolutely incredible animation. Oh, and all the angels are super colourful, which I thought would be stupid, but is super nice to look at. "A feast for the eyes" is not an under statement! SOUND I have this soundtrack on my ipod. Shiro Sagisu's orchestral genius shines, adding the much needed score to really give this movie it's force, and making each battle really feel like losing could mean the fall of humanity. Best recommendation goes to the song "In my spirit", which is the best song to play when your faced with absolute destruction, and "Give me wings", which plays in the movies climax and hits you right in the feels. The dub is also extremely good, and I will confess haven't watched the sub, but I can only assume it's good! CHARACTER Remember how I said that Shinji was a problem with the original show? Well the film finally gave him what he always needed to become a great hero, and a great character in general: A pair of balls. Seriously, I had complete respect for him after what he did at the end of the movie, and it almost made up for the End of Evangelion Jerk off scene. Everyone one else is their usual great self: Rei doesn't talk, Asuka's a badass, Misato is oddly humanizing, and Kaji brings the much needed banter to an otherwise dark film. Good times! ENJOYMENT In my opinion, enjoyment is the most important aspect, and if watching 3 kids in giant mech's get the living hell beaten out of them by equally big monsters, be it with lasers, tentacles, more lasers, claws or even more lasers, I don't know what is. More action, drama, and just plain EPIC happens in this 100 minute film then happens in most full series, and that's a promise. And if THAT'S not enough, you see Rei's boobs! No nipples though. . .? OVERALL If you see one anime film this year, see Evangelion 2.0. Well, and 1.0 and 3.0, but most definitely 2.0. Because if you're like me, it's instinct to want to go watch giant robots beat each other up. Or, in this case, Angels! And that's the most important thing of all!

In my last review, I said watching Evangelion 1.1 would be worth it once you get to watching Evangelion 2.2. Now it's time to show you why. This is where the original story of Neon Genesis Evangelion turns a whole 180 and goes full berserk on itself. After Shinji has gotten used to handling the Eva, he continues to fight the angels even while everyone's favorite redhead, Asuka Langley SHIKINAMI (yes, her name is changed into this movie, don't ask why) has entered the battlefield. Soon after things start getting heated between the pilots and while both Asuka and Rei are now starting to have feelings for Shinji, the twists and turns of the story start happening and soon Shinji must figure out that Evas CAN go berserk and he must fight the angel that will set off the one thing NERV headquarters has tried to prevent all this time - Third Impact. Overall, a movielike this only comes along once in a generation and not even other popular shows that got movies can compete with it *cough* Madoka *cough*. The last 30 minutes of the movie is what will make you be on the edge of your seat and if you are like me, you will not be able to hold in what you just witnessed. Studio Khara, in my honest opinion, did a better job handling a Gainax franchise than Gainax did. Jebus gives Evangelion 2.2: You Can (Not) Advance: 5 impacts out of 5.

As a whole I thought 2.0 was pretty good. It starts off as a loose retelling of events from certain episodes of the TV show, but then it starts to differ when it comes to noticeable changes this movie makes, which surprisingly work. Another reason I liked this movie was the fact that they tried to expand upon the characters, for example Rei at one point in the movie she tries to set up a little dinner party so Shinji and his dad can have bonding time together. I thought it was neat that they did that with her, giving her emotion and showing she has feeling for others. Of course there's also a new character introduced Mari. An Eva pilot who is generally positive and enthusiastic considering she's piloting a giant mech. For the most part I thought she wasn't that bad of a character, sure she's not around for alot of the movie, but for the most part I liked her. The animation in this movie is really good here, I like the fact as to the fact that Anno has a bigger budget to work with, we get to see some stuff that wasn't in the TV series, like brief scenes of daily life in Tokyo 3. The animation also shines during the fight scenes, my favorite moment is the "running" scene where Rei, Shinji, and Asuka are running in hopes to stop a collapsing angel, the main I like about is that sense of speed and general thrill as you see Shinji practically in a marathon, jumping "hurdles", it's a really awesome sequence. The sound is also really good, when it comes to the dub, for the most part it was good, some of the voice actors from the dub of the show are back to voice their main characters and they do a good job, the only complaint I have is with the dub actor they got for Kensuke, mainly for his voice, as it sounded too young for him, other than that it was really good. The music is great, most of the compositions come from the show, but in addition there are some new pieces and they're great. The only complaints I have is again, Kensuke's dub actor made him sound a bit too young and that if you're new to Eva, I would advise watch the show first, then the Rebuild movies, because again, the changes they make in the second movie can possibly confuse some who are interested in the TV series. These are only minor complaints, even if you haven't seen the show I would say still look at this movie, as its really good.

Ok let me just say right off the bat this is by far one of the most amazing anime movies I have ever seen. Normally, I do not like anime movies. There are very few exceptions to this rule for example Howl's moving castle, Girl who leaps through time etc, but this movie got me more hyped up than I have ever been in a very long time. The story is fantastic, it kept me engaged through out the entire movie. The are is simply amazing, all of the characters look awesome and the details in the backgrounds, evas, and cities are top notch. The animation is breathtaking, this movie has some of the most amazing animation I have seen in a long while. All of the fights are incredibly well animated. The score for this movie is perfect. Every song fits in its respective place. I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of this OST. As you can see I really really really enjoyed this movie, I don't care who you are or what you feel about evangelion, or anime for that matter I think anyone can find enjoyment in this movie.

You don't always get to see wonderful saga and also story that is so thrilling and leave you with high expects, Welcome To Evangelion 2.0. It continues Evangelion origiinal story with even more little crazy stuff included in it and recaps these episode 8-19 Story - 9 Plot is generously maintained, and new things are unfolded with carefulness. there is actually many changes even this is another recap movie. Now it also has some horror aspects too. It's paced differently like first rebuild movie was paced quicker these has medium pace in it. Another cool thing, which really was nice bonus to story, were that some people talked in English in this movie also. It definitely made clear that EVA is international phenomenon. Art - 10 Like in first rebuild movie, this one goes same path but with more detailed backgrounds and realistic landscapes. Not to mention, that eye candy HD with beautifully animated scenes. CG is used wisely with scenes and not to make it look bad either. Weapons like A.T Field's are more colorful than ever and remodelling some old angels with new designs and symbols that just makes art so unique. Also effects like lasers, flashes, energy balls look really good with various colors they're mixing them with. Finally, all that gory blood really looks like real blood and that's a bit scary part o.O Sound - 9 These movie seems to use a way more different music choices than in previous rebirth and old movies. It's good still but some scenes they played a little weird music. Choristers are still wonderful and is one of the point that need to be in to make it Evangelion. They used again Utada Hikaru's ending theme Beautiful World, what could be better way to describe it than with this song :) The Characters - 9 So let's see characters... First, thing I noticed was Rei talks a lot more and it's not so shy anymore, like she was in Tv-Series. Also Gendo seems to only talking less in each movie haha. Another person who is changed is Asuka, she isn't so angry anymore with Shinji, but actually tries to make "friendship" kind of deal with him. Kaji seemed to be getting most of screen-time here. It's good thing because he didn't show up in first movie at all. The one, who however impressed me were Shinj. I mean his like made into different person and he thinks like different way now, You don't see him crying anymore and even noticing "crybaby" status on him. Which is also nice built up for his character. Now, here is couple of questions: Why didn't they made Shinji like that in Tv-series? was it just to try to prove his status as coward or loser who couldn't solve meaning of his life, or was it because he wasn't ready for it yet, not until right time came for and they changed it in his design and personality. The new character they introduced us, Mari is sweet and kind girl who made big impact in this movie, even she was only support character. Still his influence I could definitely see it, and she made her character to shine. Voice Actor - 10 Definitely, all Voice actors did really good job with this movie, especially Mari's voice actor. You could definitely see that she enjoyed her role in EVA 2.0. Another one that impressed me again, was Shinji's voice actor. OMG! those screams and reactions he get's out with his voice, that's just amazing. Enjoyment - 10 I really loved this movie, it made me feel important and it had just high impact of emotions driven through me. Definitely another masterpiece movie that EVA series has to offer. Highly recommend this movie also for EVA and Sci-Fi fans, or all who wanna get awesome impact through emotions, action and stunning visuals. Overall - 10 Overall 2.0 does everything even better than 1.0 did. Story is now maintained and pace is fixed, but best part is that EVA will be always remembered in our world, and it's thanks to creator and the fans too.

Unlike Evangelion 1.11, this sequel doesn’t stay as loyal to the plot as the last movie, with added scenes, and the alteration of certain personalities and traits of characters. Although some elements of the storyline remain unchanged, the overall plot undergoes uncomfortable twists and turns for the die-hard fans of the original 1996 franchise. With the introduction of the mysterious ‘Mari’, a new EVA pilot, and the redesign of Asuka and Rei, the characters, while different, don’t lose any of their ‘depth’ or ‘spirit’. Visuals: 9/10 The other big story here is the visual upgrade, which varies between being very good and utterly spectacular. This movie take full advantage of CG animation, from depicting the EVA movements, to towering skyscrapers, and animating moving crowds in the background, while it is generally smooth looking, upon closer inspection, some scenes appear stiff. The characters, as was the problem in the first movie, while improved, aren’t completely refined, however, the reimagining of the angels are nothing short of amazing, truly mind blowing animation. Even the dummy system gets a stunningly frightening upgrade. Perhaps surpassing the original, the amount of gore used is impressive, yet not as sickening as other ultraviolent series such as elfen lied. Collateral damage to building and landscape are on a massive scale, with incredible detail, preserving every bit of the originals intensity in picture perfect quality. Despite being rated 15, there is a plentiful amount of fan service, satisfying to a T; even Asuka has her own version of Shinji’s nude scene from episode 2 of the series! Later scenes include more defined fan service, like what was seen in ‘end of Evangelion’, while some of the religious symbolism remain much more inconspicuous than the original, they are present nonetheless. Music: 9/10 The music for this masterpiece is also particularly…interesting. Shiro Sagisu, the director of all the music in Evangelion, (also well known for the soundtrack of bleach) borrowed some music from the original series, revamped them, as well as creating new ones. 2 combat scenes are set to heavily dramatic music back to Latin sounding vocals, while the most brutal and grotesque are set to a gentle, vocalised children’s song, paradoxically, adding to the horror unfolding in front of your eyes. It is this incongruence that sets this movie above the rest, blowing most of the completion out of the water in my opinion. In conclusion, while the choice of music is unique to say the least, it is this that makes this movie great and a must see for any anime enthusiast. Characters: 8/10 Changed, to say the least. While most of them still have their own issues with bonding with others their attitude has morphed the characters into something entirely different. From the get-go, Asuka is less bratty than the original, although she is more anti-social. Furthermore she doesn’t bat an eye at Kaji, someone who she constantly mooned over in the series. Rei also appears more caring, and sociable than the original, even at the infamous elevator scene, her reaction carries weight on her change from the series. Misato hasn’t changed, which I think is for the better. Amongst these minor adjustments, the intro of a new pilot is easily the boldest addition, whose cheerful and outgoing attitude cuts a chasm in the established image of the rest of the pilots, showing such a contrast was to probably shake up the viewer, she played a big part in two main fight scenes, but her screen time was short, leaving us unclear about her motives. Despite this, she is breath of fresh air that the story needed get us biting our nail, anxiously awaiting the next film. Story: 10/10 I’m not going to elaborate that much on the story for Evangelion, for I don’t think I should ruin it for fans. As expected, it runs though episodes 8-19ish, reinterpreting certain scenes. The story is meaningful, and leaves you begging for more, the script is perfect and logical, with some touching scenes, violent, gory, perverted, and downright brilliant. As previously mentioned, the story undergoes twists and turns, but none so dramatic that it leaves you confused, unless you have watched the series and are in the process of trying to piece together what is happening , it isn’t overly complicated. It does however leave some things out, and doesn’t go into that much detail, unlike the original, but it doesn’t have to add unnecessary detail to random scenes, everything is concise, well explained and brief. Overall, the story was, by itself, exhilarating, my favourite anime movie of all time and a must see for anyone…who doesn’t mind the occasional blood and guts. The ending was a bit dragonball Z like… BUT THAT’S OK! Overall The best anime movie ever! There are others sure, but it’s my honest opinion. Superb graphics combined with an excellent story make this a true work of art. Just the right amount of everything, fan service, content, design, thought, etc. will make you want to save it on to a disk and start giving it to people in the street. I haven’t done that though… sure there are some things that fans didn’t like, but the amount of sheer enjoyment you can get out of this movie overwhelms all the mistakes (few and far between). Watch this, you won’t regret it!

I felt a little guilty rating this so high... lately I've been marking things a little lower than I might normally have done before because I feel I'm probably giving them too much credit, but honestly... there's no way I could give them enough credit for this movie. While the first movie centered mainly around setting up the story again, following the plot of the series quite closely, this installment is the first of the series to pull away from the original TV anime, introducing new characters, enemies, dilemmas, and even new sides to old characters. The visuals are just... outstanding. There's nothing more I can say. There's no possible way to describe how things look. The animation is like water, not at all awkward and jerky, not even slightly. It's also very, VERY crisp and clear, and nothing looks out of place at all. I can't say much else. It looks perfect. As for the sound, I haven't watched the English dub but the Japanese voices are top notch as always. The music is also very moving, and... well I suppose I do have one complaint. If you've seen the original series, you'll remember the berserker moment, the chilling scream of the Evangelion... it's not there. I don't even remember if there WAS a scream, it's that forgettable. And if there was, it was rather dull and didn't leave an impression... which is a shame, but, I suppose that makes it even more of a memory associated with the original series alone. Apart from that, the audio is magnificent. I found it really enjoyable to see the revamped versions of the original cast as (in my opinion, at least) these characters are a lot more likable than their original counterparts. It's also substantially easier to track the motivations of each character and why they do what they do - no more "WHY-THE-F**K-DID-YOU-DO-THAT?!" moments, thankfully! There is development in the characters, more subtle (and yet, less fragile) than in the original series, and that's what makes them feel a lot more human. There's nothing more I can say, really. It's definitely not a movie that you have to enjoy Mecha series to watch, nor is it a movie you need to have seen the anime to understand. If anything it probably goes into more depth at times than the anime did, and makes the state of the world a lot easier to imagine. Just... watch it, ok? If you don't like it, feel free to mark this as useless. But if you do like it, why not mark this as a useful review to show people just what exactly they're missing out on, eh? That is all. Enjoy yourselves!

At first, I was extremely skeptical of this movie: Would it even be worth the time to download and to watch it, the 7 gigabytes it still takes up on my hard drive? After all, I watched the original series, and didn't know ow they could make it better. Looks like I missed something In Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, we get to see a retelling of our beloved Neongenesis: Evangelion. This, however, is not really a 100% retelling of the original story: it truly diverges a great deal from the original story, with only really the basic framework staying the same. This costs Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance one of the most important elements from the original Evangelion, what made it truly ground breaking: the psychological development of Shinji. I think that it's a real pity we can't see this facet to its fullest throughout the movie, and many of the changing set ups question the original psych of Shinji, and just how deep his beliefs end up running. That being said, this was still quite the great story line, and a very worthwhile watch. Our other characters haven't had their circumstances changed quite as much as Shinji: we still mainly most of the same development in Misato, Asuka, and Rei. What really ended up bothering main this department, however, in that Rei was made to seem less psychologically damaged, to have more of a humanist personality, and to, in general not fit the character type that was projected in the first Evangelion, although this was not that large of a change. I still feel that this lack of psychological damage detracts from the characters and the originality of the show. That being said, Asuka was made into a much more believable character, with whom we were more able to sympathize and empathize. She indeed showed us more human reasons for her personality, and we no longer had to think of her as a naturally spiteful human, indeed we weren't even once really led to do so. Combining this with a rather static Misato character (in relation to the first Evangelion), and we have quite a great panel of characters. Another great aspect of this show is is its art: it's not perfect. The art often left me breathless, at how well everything was drawn. However, there were also moments when I felt, even in the 1080p that I watched this movie, that the art was slightly fake looking or did not fully convey the full splendor that the scene could have had. These moments, however, were few and far between, and hardly detract from the great art of this movie. On the audio side, the sound in this movie was really... indescribably good. It's probably the strongest aspect of this movie, from voice actors who were able to carry out their job fully, capturing difficult emotions perfectly, to literally hearing typing in the background while you saw someone typing, or even as an indication of typing. The sound was really spectacular, and really contributed to my enjoyment of the movie. My enjoyment of the movie really can't be easily described either.I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see a very much so remake of the Evangelion series, and not because it was the Evangelion series either: I enjoyed it fully for itself. So, you're probably asking yourself, "Why did this still get a 9? Like half the review was hating on it..." or something of the nature. The reason why this gets a nine is because my objects are far and few between to this great movie. The bottom line is that you will like this movie if you're a fan of the original series, as long as you didn't watch it solely for the psychological elements that were slightly reduced in this movie. Even if you did, they still are there, and I would still highly recommend it to you. Goodbye, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. I can't wait for more of you!

Story: 10/10 The story was driven mostly by Shinji Ikari who is the main character in the first Evangelion. Evangelion 2.0 starts right after the events of Evangelion 1.0. The story behind Evangelion is somewhat complex as we see the main character Shinji struggle in making difficult choices which can have dire consequences. The story is unique as it shows the sacrifices humanity makes to prevent total annihilation from the strange alien-like forms called "Angels". I felt the pacing was just about right to represent part of original Neon Genesis Evangelion in 2 hours. Evangelion 2.0 contains some comedy and fanservice at various parts of the movie. It is more prevalent between Shinji interactions with the other EVA pilots. The ending was satisfying but was also little sad as we are left to wonder the fate of Shinji and the other characters in the aftermath. Art: 10/10 The art in Evangelion 2.0 was spectacular like the previous Evangelion 1.0. The visuals have been fully remade from the original Neon Genesis in 1995-1996 to look more realistic and modern which is a big plus for the movie. The art style fits exactly just like the original TV series which works perfectly for the story. The character designs were appealing especially the EVA pilots. The style and visuals were steady through out the movie. The visuals were fluid as the actions scenes is huge part in EVA 2.0 Sound: 9/10 The sounds were decent in the anime and were portrayed in the anime very well especially the main character Shinji, as he displays different emotions and feeling through out the entire EVA 2.0. The ending song used in the EVA 2.0 was the original song used in the first EVA 1.0. There were no opening songs just like the first movie. The only downside to the sound were the few minutes of English dubs that were used along with Japanese voices in the opening scene which sounded odd and displayed no dialogue or emotion. Character: 10/10 All the characters shown in the movie displayed some form of ahuman flaw and strength. Main Character Shinji acts like a normal realistic teenage boy who has to make a difficult decisions while being influenced by all the people around him. The characters in EVA grew anat a decent pace. Which allowed them to make the choices they made while baring the consequences. The alien-like creature "Angel" are the antagonist which are the driving force in the story in annihilating humanity. The supporting cast were fine since they all displayed humanities commitment in preventing total extinction from the "Angels". The narrator in EVA 2.0 is the main character Shinji just like in the first movie which we slowly learn the problems that plague him. Shinji is the big character that I will definitely remember as he is the main character and the protagonist of Evangelion. Enjoyment: 10/10 I think many people will like EVA especially if they saw the original TV series or the first movie. Some however may dislike the Mecha genre or the minor fanservice displayed in this movie. Those who are non-anime or manga watchers may like the film for its story and art. If I had the chance to re-watch in the future, I probably will again as this was a great movie. If I ever see a complete Evangelion Series Blu-Ray set including the new movie 4.0 coming out. I would totally buy it in a heartbeat. This movie was a memorable experience which I will definitely remember.

OVERVIEW (10/10) The most important thing that I can say about the movie, is that it REQUIRES that you know the TV series to get the full experience. I suppose it's a pretty awesome action flick even if you don't know the series, but to really appreciate the mastery of this anime "remake" you need to have some familiarity with the original. If you are already an Eva fan, be prepared to have your expectations blown away. This movie is not the faithful adaptation that the first movie was. Eva:2.0 is a complete re-visioning of the story. I can understand why some hard-core, traditionalist-type fans may not like it, but I think that the changes are very well-done and add a whole new layer of complexity to the already mind-blowing Evangelion saga. The core of the story remains unwavering, but is rather strengthened and expanded by the two alternate interpretations. The visual presentation is phenomenal, and when masterfully pieced together with the story, music and underlying themes, this movie is a mind-shattering work of art. Anno has outdone himself. STORY (10/10) Eva:2.0 starts at a fast pace, and accelerates to its conclusion at an alarming speed. It's really too fast, from a storytelling perspective, but it works because the movie references the TV series to fill in the gaps. There are scenes in the movie, or sometimes just pieces of dialogue, which reference or imply TV episodes. I found this to be a clever, and very effective way of pulling off the pace. Since we know the TV show's storyline, we can keep up with the exponentially skyrocketing action. That is, until the movie deviates from the TV series... Prior to entering the theater, I already knew that an all-new character was being introduced. Because of that, inevitably, the plot would differ from the original storyline, and I was very skeptical. But I think that the big changes were pulled off well, and that they provide a new perspective on things. In fact, the movie plays on our expectations, and then totally twists things around. I could no longer sit comfortably in my foreknowledge of things to come. There was suspense, a new uncertainty. What would be different? And how different? Tweaked? Or completely warped beyond recognition? In addition to pulling in our experiences with the original Eva anime, I like that the movies take the opportunity to expand on it by putting emphasis on things the TV show glossed over, or omitted. One of these is the international nature of NERV. With the scenes in Eva:2.0, you get a better feel of the political maneuvering and distrust between NERV departments in different nations. There is a stronger sense of the global, whereas the TV show focused very narrowly on Tokyo III and Japan. It's subtle, but it adds to the epic experience of the movie. There is also a new scene that gives a rare nugget of insight into Gendou's otherwise enigmatic character. It doesn't really provide us with answers about his psyche, though. ART (10/10) There is nothing to complain about in regards to the art. The high-caliber animation is exactly what I hoped and dreamed of when I first heard these movies were in production. With the use of digital technologies and the employment of several anime studios, this movie's art is unbelievable. Everything from the color to the detail work and motion is right where it needs to be. I was particularly taken aback by the sheer energy and horror of the battles. The movies sought to illustrate the epic proportions of this story in a way that was impossible when Eva first aired, and they have succeeded. Watching the Evas go berserk on the big screen was terrifying. It truly was a visual recreation of unrestrained, hell-bent, human potential for violence and rage. In an animation that tries to visually represent so many complexities of the human existence, the art is really the centerpiece, the crux of the movie. Aside from being stunning, the careful use of scene arrangement, character expression and motion, and even lighting, did a great job of setting the appropriate ambiance for the underlying emotion, revelation, or conflict. SOUND (9/10) The difficulty with rating sound is that I don't know what would warrant an "Outstanding" rating other than exceptional use of music, or some kind of super-human voice acting. Or a well-used gimmick of some sort. Usually, sound is successful if you don't notice it, or it doesn't distract you from what is going on. The music in Eva:2.0 included some new songs, but mostly comprised of the same background songs we heard in earlier incarnations. There are a few moments when the TV music didn't quite measure up to the epic-ness of the movie, but it wasn't major. My biggest concern with music is the use of a couple of sing-songy songs that were juxtaposed over violent visual sequences. I've seen this done, and I understand the intent, but somehow, I just felt that this attempt failed. The music didn't quite cooperate with the visuals. I have a feeling that this was done on purpose to just make the viewer feel extremely unsettled, but it still doesn't work for me. As for the voice acting, I suppose it was noteworthy that the VAs could keep up with the level of energy and drama that the scripting demanded. It was clearly a top-notch professional job. CHARACTER (9/10) Just like how the movie draws on the TV series for plot subtleties, it also relies on the TV series for character development. The movie alone would probably rate a 6 for this category, but because it's impossible to examine the movies independently from the anime, I gave the rating of 9 for the movie's ability to capture the personalities we see in the anime, within a few short scenes. I also wanted to rate character higher because of a weird theory I have. I won't discuss it here, but suffice it to say that in Eva:2.0, you see a slightly different Asuka (with a different last name!) and a very different Rei. I don't think that the movie changed their personality, but rather, they developed their personalities beyond the point they reached in the TV show. This is most notable in Rei who takes big steps towards a more recognizably human personality. Meanwhile, it seems that Asuka swiftly becomes more mature and caring than ever on TV. The only problem is the new character: Makinami Mari. Since she's new, she has no previous development to draw from, and as a result, she is left sadly under-developed. The movie does a good job of giving her a recognizable personality, though. Namely, Asuka's missing fiery and wild personality, fused with a stably independent pragmatism (unlike Asuka's UN-stable independent flair). So far, though, Makinami's role in the plot is clumsily secondary... perhaps one of my few complaints about the story. But I'm waiting to see if she will become a more active player in the next movie. The last point on character I want to bring up is how the movies expand the role of Tokyo III. The city itself becomes a character as we see more glimpses into its daily life, and the struggles of the people (evacuating in gridlock traffic, etc...). I only realized this after I realized how depressing it was to see it get blown away again and again by Angels. The mass destruction, and the details of cars getting tossed like toys with each of Unit 01's steps, elicited the same reaction as watching news footage of floods and massive earthquakes. ENJOYMENT (10/10) I will simply say that the analysis-loving English major in me is ecstatic. But perhaps, more useful for this review is the fact that I was deeply affected while watching this. Perhaps "enjoyment" is not the right word, since this movie frequently invites the audience to sympathize with the characters' suffering, and to become frustrated and disillusioned with the futile clash of philosophies between Shinji and Gendou. And to be disheartened by the endless destruction, corruption, and ethical/moral despair. But that kind of catharsis through fiction is "enjoya…

Anno attempts to make the series better and reboot it for the teenagers who were not born around the time the old series came out. But this was a failed attempt to modify an already flawed series and making it worse by changing some of the characters and the animation while deciding to make a 2-hour long franchise of movies to try to squeeze in all the depth of the series. Asuka has changed from a depressed kid with mommy issues to a wise-talking gossiper with an aloof personality. There is little depth to her and she is now more interested in puppets. All we get is that she is captain and her name has also changed. Misato is more tactful when it comes to arguments. Kaji is more boring as he seems to serve no purpose. And that Spider Girl that is, Mari is not needed. There is some fanservice here which is probably going to please the boys. And Asuka has replaced Toji in being Eva 3.0's pilot. Which caused me to drop it and I had enough of seeing my favorite character tortured. Shinji's face is too goofy-looking for me but other than that, the updated animation is kind of special to watch but the series is a little too old to be remaking so that we can use this style of animation. Unless they can try to find a way to use animation that's closer to the original series. Now, I watched this before I watched Kare Kano but when I watched it, I noticed that its music has been copied onto here, making it unoriginal. The characters' voices are different from what they used to sound like. Anno needs to stop giving this overrated series a new makeover just to please the fans of it.

although it's packed with mouth-dropping setpieces, a riveting pulse-pounding score, and just absolutely gorgeous, gorgeous animation, you can (not) advance is just shackled by contextuality. it's a film that's impossible to stand on its own and judge on its own merits without comparison to the previous installments, because much of the appreciation of the film DERIVES from knowing the content from said previous installments. hell, some of the plot points and even specific shots cannot be truly appreciated/comprehended without foreknowledge of the eva storyline from the main series. as much as i wanted this film to be its own thing, anno repeatedly bogs the film down and anchors that potential of a great new adventure in a brand-new timeline by constantly, constantly just recycling old plot points, even old setpieces. the end product is disjointed and lopsided, and yes, it's still a beautiful mess all the same; but when one expects things to change, something new and different, lots of what anno gives us here is more of the same. only further proof that nobody, not even anno himself, can ever top end of evangelion.

What exactly is perfect? I can tell you, it's not something you find in a TV series. Over the last day I began to watch the Evangelion movies and realize just how superior a full fledged production is compared to a TV series. This segment of the Evangelion movies managed to surpass the former series. __________________________________________________________________________ STORY: 9.8/10 For most of the movie, the events are exactly similar to the TV series, Neon Genesis Evangelion. It isn't until the end where things begin to change. First off, Asuka is put into the role of Toji. This creates MUCH more suspense when the dummy system is activated and Shinji is forced to 'kill' the newly formed Angel/Eva hybrid, because Asuka had not only just started to open up to the world, but she also meant much more to Shinji. They merge a ton of scenes here, and since Asuka had replaced Toji, to replace her role they introduce Mari Illustrious Makinami, who fills the role of badass overconfident Eva pilot even better than Asuka does. Twists and turns fill what could have previously been considered flaws, and the near perfect plot progression will keep all watchers, fans or not, on the edge of their seats anticipating the next scene. Just to put a cherry on top, the ending is probably the most unpredictable and most climactic plot twist I have ever seen in any form of media, EVER. My only gripe with this is that the plot progresses TOO fast at some points, making Evangelion even harder to understand than it originally was. But that's just me pointing out the one piece of litter in the sea of pros. __________________________________________________________________________ ART: 9.9/10 Ufotable, go hang your head in shame. The animation and art of Eva 2.0 is awe-inspiring. Again, you can nitpick that there were some scenes where they purposely cover the character's mouths so they don't have to animate the movement, but it's really trivial in the absolutely overwhelming amount of gorgeous animation sequences. It's the kind of thing where you can take a screenshot of any scene, and it looks like a desktop background. __________________________________________________________________________ SOUND: 9.5/10 You should have seen the look on my face when Shiro Sagisu's first piece of instrumental goodness graced my ears. Composing the music for Bleach, honestly I think he was a huge part of what made Bleach the smash hit it became. His Evangelion soundtrack is no exception. It was a huge improvement to the OST from the original series. Just in case you were a fan of the original OST (like I was) don't fret, because our favorite soundtracks have been reworked and revamped, and sound just as utterly outstanding as they did before. The ending theme to the movie is beautiful and encompasses Evangelion just as well as Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis did, or at least close to as well. ___________________________________________________________________________ CHARACTER: 9.2/10 Lastly we come to the characters. In this case, last but not least would be inaccurate, because the characters are the weakest part of the film. Not because they have bad designs. Not because they don't have compelling personalities. Not even because they're cliche. No, the reason the characters of Evangelion can't hit the level of the original series is that we don't get to see their full backstories in the movie. The aren't explored enough to say that they were all as realistic as they originally were. Still though, the movie keeps most of the important things about them and I don't have to many complaints. Also, Mari is amazing. I need more of her. ___________________________________________________________________________OVERALL: 9.6/10 This film is genius. It appeals to not only Evangelion fans but also newcomers to the series. It posses the things that people love about anime, like cute teenage girls with crazy hair color, amazingly animated fight scenes, and robots of mass destruction, while also having the things anime veterans search for, like religious symbolism and complicated plot twists. This isn't the kind of thing you put on hold or only watch when you're bored. Evangelion 2.0 is a masterpiece that I can recommend to everyone, who will get at least a little enjoyment from it, even if it's just from the animation and sound.

As when I first saw Neo Genesis Evengelion I was really frustrated watching this anime. This could have been a very good experience but (maybe due to my poor intelectual capacity or to the poor quality of the translation (yes I don't understand Japanese)) I messed some really important points of the story that, at the end, makes it impossible to understand. Those points are: - what's really the Seele's plan? - what's the plan of Shinji's father's? - what's the relation between the Seele and the nerves? - why is Shinji's father so stange with is son? There too many questions that come to my mind to plainly enjoy this anime.

---Dcm18's quick reviews--- Story: 10 (Very refreshing twists to the already old storyline) Art: 10 (Beyond perfection - the best I've ever seen) Sound: 10 (Award-winning soundtrack, for a good reason) Character: 9 (I wanted more Asuka in it...Mari is a nice adition though) Enjoyment: 10 (As a NGE fan this was like heaven on earth) Overall: 9.8 (Anno, you've done it again...)

Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance is the second entry in the Rebuild of Evangelion franchise. Unlike it's predecessor, there are some fundamental changes to the story which makes things much more interesting for existing fans. Story - 8/10 Right off the bat we're introduced to Mari Makinami, a new character both to these films and the Evangelion franchise altogether. This opening scene is something new, completely fresh, and opens up plenty of questions as to where Mari is going and how this new character will influence and interact in the plot. This bang that the film opens up on is just a sign of things to come for the rest of the running time. But what else is going on in the world? Shinji is trying to settle into his live in Tokyo-3, and gets a new teammate/roomate in the form of Asuka Langley Shikinami, a catty and obnoxious girl who, like Mari, quickly proves to be both enthusiastic and capable about piloting an Eva unit, something that Shinji finds surprising. It feels almost like being lured into a trap when You Can (Not) Advance gets going. While the first movie was very much a remake of episodes, this one takes far more liberties early on and ends up going into uncharted territory to feel like the start of something completely new. This is what fans have been waiting for, ditching rushing the story and opting to focus on both it and the characters more. Just about everything about this feels different from this point in the anime, giving it a fresh presentation for fans and newcomers alike. There are still Angels popping up on a regular basis, but the mysteries surrounding Nerv start opening up the plot as well. Animation - 9/10 This is every bit the same high quality visuals we got in the first movie. The use of digital animation never feels out of place which is very impressive. Colors are eye-popping, there are even some new designs to wonder at early on, and plenty of dazzling scenes with compelling animation. Sound - 10/10 Shiro Sagisu must have been told that his new grandiose and operatic tracks in Evangelion 1.0 were awesome, because he's just throwing more, and better, fresh material on this OST. It's not without the memorable songs people know and love, and it's not just a bunch of opera sounding stuff either. There's a nice variety and everything finds itself working harmoniously with the moment. Some very militant compositions capture the aspect of this war with the Angels perfectly. The most experimental, artistic, and shockingly effective choice is found in a childlike vocal during the movie's climax, creating a haunting moment of intensity. Characters - 9/10 The biggest improvement You Can (Not) Advance has over both the anime series and first movie right now is the character development. Many of the changes made are in this department making the cast just as, if not more developed at this point then they were by the end of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Shinji's will has to be the most significant 180 turn here. He stands up for himself, and he's not being talked down to constantly the way he was in the show. What we have now is a Shinji that is not without his internal struggle, but is also more sociable and friendly. Seeing him take initiative to make food for Rei was a great touch for both characters. Which brings me to Rei. It was a little bit of a surprise to see her smile and speak with some emotion in Evangelion 1.0, but now she's talking about how Shinji makes her feel warm and actively trying to help him patch things up with his father? I know some fans will hate this simply because it's different but it makes sense, but I loved seeing Rei discover her emotions. She reflects on thanking Shinji for his help, and ends up thanking not one, but two other characters in this movie. This kind of stuff has Shinji developing well, and at the same time, bringing development out of more of the cast as well. Before seeing this I had a feeling Shinji and Rei would stay the same but Asuka would swoop in and take over like she did in the show. This is actually not the case. She gets a pretty even distribution of screen time and development along with some changes right away. Asuka seems much less bratty than before, and even antisocial and troubled right from the start. Her motivations with the Eva and wanting to be a good, reliable pilot are interesting, but it's her interactions with Shinji and Rei that are really juicy. In the series, Asuka bullied Shinji around and she kind of tries it here but it's more of a mutual bickering, and the sense that Asuka likes Shinji and uses her attitude for cover is much more explored here while it was only slightly touched on in Neon Genesis Evangelion. She was also constantly a bitch to Rei, going so far as slapping her in the face. This scene is changed drastically from the anime and it's for the better of both characters, making their relationship much more dynamic. It's time to talk about the new blood. I enjoyed Mari for the time she had. Her character is pure fun and riddle at this point. However, the movie kind of forgets about her after the opening and doesn't explore much with her when she's back on screen. I expect we'll get more from why she's here and what she's doing. It could be great, but what I don't want to see Mari be is Asuka 2.0 or a replacement for Asuka. I mention this because her character is like Asuka without the emotional baggage (which I feel Mari shouldn't get, as it could be too cliche), and she already does a mini-replacement of Asuka in the movie. Mari is a fresh addition to the cast even while she's underutilized here. Hopefully she won't be overutilized in the future as a result. That's mostly it for the characters. Kaji is also introduced but his time to shine hasn't really come. Kaji does have some good interaction with Shinji and helps connect the dots between Shinji and Misato, with some insight on Misato and her desires are revealed as well. One of the other changes was Gendo's meeting with Shinji, being more telling of Gendo's emotions and drive in his work. Overall - 9/10 Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance strikes a chord where the promises of what this rebuild is supposed to be start coming true. This one feels like a much more complete movie than the first as well. You Can (Not) Advance is more than a retelling, going far to surpass expectactions, changing the story, improve on building the characters, while keeping the big set-pieces and city-destroying combat scenes. Focus is not strongly on the action at this point but finds a great balance in delivering badass fights and discovering the pace for establishing the characters. You Can (Not) Advance is awesome.

And so it has finally come, the second of the Rebuild of Evangelion series. The hype of this film has been immense, even more so than the first one. I've seen people claim this is the greatest anime movie in umpteen years, and others in the same breath cursing its very existence. What do I make of the second Rebuild? A great film . . . but only if you know anything about Eva. Story: The war against the Angels continues, and new pilots Mari and Asuka are added to the ranks. They, Shinji, and Rei must fight the terrifying beasts and somehow manage their lives at the same time. Scenes from the earlier anime are featured, but not as much as in the first Rebuild. There are scenes unique to Rebuild 2.22, and they are amazing. The last thirty or so minutes are incredible. The fights against the Angels are even more brutal than before. And that's before we get to the cliffhanger ending. I do like the ending, however, Rebuild does not feel like a self-contained film, but rather, part of a whole. The first Rebuild felt like a standalone feature, but the second Rebuild doesn't. It will leave you desperate for the next part, and no, I don't just mean that in a good way; it feels incomplete. With that said, none of the plot issues from the tv series are present, (no insanely long awkward pauses is a big plus) and nothing ever drags on too long. 9/10. Art: Ah yeah, baby. Seeing this film on blu-ray is a delight, for the visual feast from the first Rebuild continues on from the second. Everything is still utterly top-notch, from the animation, to the backgrounds, to the characters, to the coloring, to the consistency of the artwork, and not only that, this film combines the best of hand-drawn cel animation, and the best of computer animation. No complaints here. 10/10. Sound: This perhaps has the best soundtrack I've heard in Eva yet. Some of the scores are again remixes of earlier scores, (even the ending theme is a remix from the first movie) but it is all out of this world. The personal highlight for me are two vocal songs sung by Megumi Hayashibara; they are beautiful. Again, you get the best enjoyment out of a blu-ray. The voice-acting in Japanese is still glorious. The English dub by Funimation, while leagues beyond the dubs for the Eva tv series, still can't hold a candle to the Japanese cast. This is one I still would recommend subbed. Although to Funi's credit, I will admit; Trina Nishmura sounds just as good as Maaya Sakamoto in the role of Mari. 10/10. Characterization: Oh boy, here's where the controversy comes in. Feel free to downvote me if the following paragraphs rub you the wrong way: The characterization in Rebuild 2.22, much like the first, is still definitely better than the tv canon. Rei actually develops as a character, Gendo shows signs of humanity, Asuka doesn't makes me want to kick her head off, and best of all, Shinji has become an amazing individual. Shinji in the older anime was complex and relatable (for me), but at times, his angst and isolation was forced and exaggerated. Shinji in the manga was funnier, more down to Earth, but sometimes lacked the psychological edge he had in the anime versions. (He's still awesome in the manga, though.) Shinji in Rebuild, while not as humorous as his manga counterpart, feels the most realistic. His hatred of his father Gendo feels very real toward the end, and he, in a sense, finds his own way in the climax. I am anxious to see how this will end. But then there's this; because of the lesser screentime, many other characters aren't as developed. We don't see Misato, my favorite character, as much. The same goes for some other characters, like Ritsuko, Ryoji, the other schoolkids. Asuka is not as complex as her earlier counterparts. I do like her more here than in the earlier anime (where I freakin' HATED her), but she lacks the depth and charisma of her manga counterpart. Also, the new pilot Mari . . . we don't really know anything about her, other then she loves piloting Evas and beating up Angels. I am hoping the next installments fill in the gaps for those who haven't seen or read the earlier Eva canons. Regardless, I am loving the direction Rebuild is taking with Shinji and Rei. 9/10. Enjoyment: Notwithstanding issues, you will love Rebuild 2.22 . . . if you know anything about Eva. If you don't, you will be confused by everything you see. If you ARE a fan of Eva, you will be in for a treat. The fights are powerful, terrifying, and absolutely breathtaking. Most of the characters feel like real people. There are a few scenes that will make you laugh out loud. And even if you don't know anything about Eva, you will surely enjoy the last segment, a segment that will, at the very least, make you go, "hooooooo-leeeeeeeee-sheyiiiiiiiiiiit." And at the most, will shake you to the very core. And it's all set to a great soundtrack. Oh yeah, in case I hadn't made it obvious, the climax of Rebuild 2.22 is one of the best sequences I've ever seen in an anime. And for that, I give this a 10/10. If you try watching this blind, it'll feel more like an 8/10; still good, but you'll be in the dark. Bottom line: Yeah, I scored the enjoyment 10 and overall 9 again, just like I did with Rebuild 1.11. As of right now, the Rebuild series, while fantastic and certainly better than the earlier anime, feels tailor-made for Eva fans. Will the next two films make Rebuild stand on its own legs, as its own canon? Only time will tell.

I just finished watching the original TV series for the first time two days ago and I can safely say that You Can (Not) Advance far surpasses the equivalent episodes, which were by far my least favorite of the series (we wont count 25 and 26). Amazingly, the improved animation, the new characters, and the changes to the story (big and small) all combine to focus the viewer's attention on positive relationships that bring the characters together and ultimately lie at the heart of Evangelion. The original series completely failed to draw the viewers attention to these relationships because it spent so much screen time focused on self hatred and self loathing. In Eva 2.0 ever change, the cuts and the additions, serves to push the negativity to the background. It keeps the pain real without alienating the viewer like the original. I'm almost inclined to say that the improvements make 1.0 look a poorly edited and rushed (of course they've had a decade to get it right). You absolutely do not need to have seen any of the old versions to enjoy You Can (Not) Advance. Whether the viewer has seen the original or not, Eva 2.0 will have a bigger emotional impact on them precisely because it focuses on being together and fighting together as a team. The painful moments are there, but they are no longer the focus. You actually feel good when you finish You Can Advance. Animation: Even on a cam rip, the quality of the animation excellent. When 3d rendering is used it integrates well with the normal animation. The animation does its job and makes sure you don't notice it unless you're supposed to. Sound: It is hard to give sound a fair review when listening to a recording of the actual sound, that said there was nothing wrong with the sound, oh except for that sounds in space thing (nerd). Music: The music takes what would otherwise be a good film and raises it to the next level, strengthening the emotion the director wants you to feel. Characters: Without a doubt the subtle changes to the characters actions from the original make all the characters more real and whole. I had trouble finding anything likable about many of them in the original, but in this rendition one can actually have sympathy for them. Also Mari, but I don't think I need to say much beyond that she will hit you like a rocket powered freight train. Story: Major departures from the original here, but they all work beautifully to develop the characters where the original completely failed. I am interested to see where Anno decides to take us next. Some new viewers may dislike how certain plot points blaze by without much explanation, but it prevents the film from getting bogged down in back story. Editing: Personally I think this is where most of the magic happens in Eva 2.0. The timing of all the scenes is just long enough (no more eternal elevator scene for example) to get the point across without frustrating the viewer. The film flows very smoothly with only one or two brief points of agitation.

This movie marks the transition between the Neon Genesis Evangelion story we know and the alternate story from the trilogy. It takes what the first film established and develops the characters separate from the series, taking new routes and setting up a completely different conclusion. One of the most significant changes in Evangelion 2.0 compared to the series is the pilots’ visit to the aquarium. It’s an important moment since it represents the quiet amidst all of the chaos. The young protagonists are in awe of the vast body of water and the fish which reside in it, despite experiencing otherworldly encounters regularly. That goes to show how much the world had changed since our peaceful era. But is an aquarium cool enough to warrant the amount of time we spend watching them ogle? Shinji controls a giant robot from inside and uses over-sized bazookas to annihilate alien monsters, and a couple of tiny fish impress him? I don’t think he has his priorities straight here. He has too sexy girls in skin-tight plugsuits fighting for his affection and all he wants is a thumbs up from his deadbeat dad? I’m not saying that Shinji should molest Asuka in her sleep or anything but just make a move before the world explodes into angel blood, dude. Another girl joins the harem and basically begs for Shinji to plug his UCC canned coffee into her cockpit, but he is too depressed and socially inept to respond. Time is running out to act on those hormonal instincts and there is only one movie left. This better work out like in the doujins or I’ll be very disappointed. Rated 6/10 for blue-balling me but overall 8/10 for a refreshing revisal of the confusing twists and weird pacing from the series. Although some of my favorite sequences and developments weren’t included, it’s a much cleaner version of the story.

Before I start I just wanted to say that this is my first review on an anime. I just got my copy of Evangelion 2.22 today and I must say, this is past just being a good anime movie, this is a good movie period. The art/graphics are amazing. One thing I liked was how much detail went into facial expressions. In anime (and Neon Genesis Evangelion was no exception) there is usually some stupid facial expression with 2nd grade level drawing. Like swirling eyes, or magically sprouting big lips. That does not happen here. The explosions made me feel like I was watching "Star Wars" in the sense that each explosion was unique even though they were all ridiculously huge. A lot of detail went into destruction in general in this movie. I also like how each of the three main (not counting Mari) pilots all grow pretty much equally. Referring back to "Star Wars" it is also similar to that series because the movie jumps into itself. It doesn't really summarize the previous movie, even though the story behind the previous movie is important (star wars just has like a 5 second "blah blah blah" and then begins). The music is top notch. Even the music for the menu is awesome lol. If you want to buy a good movie right now you should seriously consider buying this one, and it won't matter if you're new to Evangelion or not (just read about the first movie or the first like 10 episodes of the anime).