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
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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 "enjoyable" in its own way. To be emotionally engaged by a movie is a sign that it has captured some kind of truth (unless that emotion is disgust that you shelled out $8.00 for that trash).
Oct 26, 2009
Evangelion Movie 2: Ha
(Anime)
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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 ... 
Oct 21, 2009
Dennou Coil
(Anime)
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OVERVIEW (10)
Dennou Coil is probably one of the most artfully constructed anime I've watched and yet it remains light-hearted and fun throughout. There were only a few episodes of "filler" but even these were pretty fun to watch. The opening theme, "Prism", caught my interest right away, but it was the concept and character development that really sucked me in. As the story progresses, it really deepens, and you realize that the digital "layer" of reality is actually an extended metaphor for something much more. This is a fresh take on the age-old "growing up" plot line. The interaction between the kids is very ... |
