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SPOILER WARNING - INCLUDES AND COMPARES EVENTS FROM FILM AND SERIES

The 2nd film of the Evangelion Re:Build series. The true turning point where even events that occured in the original series now have notable differences to them. Probably more than the first film though this can have the feeling of rush at certain points as key character development points from the original series got removed, however this does mean that the original series still stands on it's own and isn't completely replaced as the characters are developed in different ways - for better or worse depending on the version you prefer.

A key difference that we ... get with the film over the series episodes that cover the same events, we have a large cutdown on the number of angel fights, and those that did make it from the series have their fights altered.
The introduction to the film starts off with the mysterious Mari who helps bring a better light to the international scale of NERV and Seele as she faces off against the 3rd Angel in Unit-05, which while interesting in it's design of using treads instead of legs sadly gets sacrificed. However, this sacrifice was highighted to be planned by Gendou to get one over on Seele, so maybe that gets highlighted in the next film.

Second fight is 7th angel. In the series this was the twin one which worked as a great way to show a trial of teamwork for Shinji and Asuka, while also having a moment of showing how in sync he already is with Rei. For Re:Build it was changed out for a clock-looking angel to introduce Asuka in an impressive sky drop sequence - also note that the original 6th angel (underwater whale) from the series was the first to be completely removed in Re:Build. I feel this worked as a better introduction to Asuka and gave a bit more weight to her ego nature as she is able to solo the angel pretty effortlessly in a mere 2 strikes, unlike in the series where the victory was reliant on Shinji and Asuka being in the plug together and hitting that 100% sync. This unfortunately proceeds to highlight a slight issue with the fim runtime. At this point Asuka and Shinji have only just met and in the next scene where Asuka has moved in, Misato is saying that they need to improve their teamwork...even though they've not done a single teamwork fight/exercise at this point.

8th angel is the 10th from the series with the original 8th and 9th being more removals, however the changes to how it plays out means it takes on part of the roles the 9th did for the 3 EVA pilots. It plays out pretty much the same as the series, with a beautiful series of landscape sprint sequences as the EVAs run for the interception. Especially the part where Unit-01 is given raised platforms and a turning slope by Misato. In the original the interception simply had all 3 EVAs use their AT fields to stop the Angel. In Re:Build, they added more technique and teamwork. Shinji obstructed the angel while Asuka was tasked with the kill...but circumstances put the confident piot on edge and requires Rei to hold the core in place for her to be able to get the target. This is used to highlight the part about Asuka feeling she has to be able to do everything alone and not require help. This is the part I feel does a lot better for Asuka in terms of her character for the rest of the film. Sure she still has that bitch attitude, but they actually have her come to terms with being in a team now and others don't just let her get her way. There are 3 main scenes that I feel solidify the improved development Asuka gets in Re:Build over NGE;
1st: The bed sharing scene. Instead of some weird case of going back to the wrong bed in the middle of the night, Asuka actually wants to be close to someone else and admits that. She then proceeds to do something that was sorely needed in NGE...she TALKED to Shinji. Actual normal conversation with questions about him and trying to get a bit of understanding about him. Yeah later on she still calls him stupid, but it's much greater progress much earlier on.
2nd: The elevator with Rei. Much like the scene with Shinji, this scene was massively improved by actual conversation...along with cutting down the stressfuly awkward still shot :P Asuka was trying to understand why Rei was how she was and calling her out on some of her actions, with Rei standing firm. This scene played out changes to the development of both Asuka and Rei in Re:Build. They cut out the stupid rant of Asuka feeling inferior to Shinji (likely because the timing of this scene comes in earlier than NGE), and Rei doesn't allow Asuka to slap her. The difference in the bandaids on their hands in this shot works as a visual cue to the motivation and the effort they're putting in - more than just the homecooking they came from.
3rd: Replacing Toji as the Unit-03 test pilot. Toji being the 4th child in NGE came off as a short-lived throwaway moment with nothing else happening after the Unit-03 incident. Now I haven't looked up any discussion regarding this major change since watching the film, but I think having Asuka as the pilot gave it a lot more weight. It was another moment that was used to bring the more international scale to the plot with Unit-02 having to be placed in storage due to the 'Vatican Agreement'. It also likely served as a replacement for the 15th angel's psychic attack on Asuka as she gets sucked into the depths of the Unit-03 entry plug.

Overall there weren't too many changes to how the fight against Unit-03 played out. Due to the previous events, it was ony Unit-01 to intercept (removing the questionable easy take outs of Rei and Asuka in NGE) with Shinji still initially hesitant to engage due to knowing Asuka was in the entry plug - the hesitancy felt better than not knowing the pilot in NGE. While it still had the questionable choice of Shinji not fighting back even though he wanted to avoid killing Asuka, it was better played out with at least some initial resistance. Then the new visual for the dummy system comes in and manges be even more cruel to Shinji. Instead of just a straight control takeover, the system physically locks his hands in place and blocks his view so he can't even see what is happening - making the follow up change of Unit-01 crushing the entry plug in it's mouth rather than fist all the more brutal.
I really liked how the follow-up to the fight played out. In NGE Unit-01 was already docked in the loading bay with Shinji threatening to go ham on the base, whereas in Re:Build we see he's already broken through some of the base and is standing on top of the main building with a better let out of his anger before he's knocked out.

The finale. We get a straight skip to a variation of NGE's 14th angel to serve as Re:Build's 10th. Just like it's counterpart, it proves to be beyond anything NERV has faced so far - ignoring all attacks and instantly breaking through to the geo-front. Since Asuka is out of action, Mari has somehow manages to get Unit-02 out of storage and performs the role from NGE of intercepting the angel with a mass of weaponry. When that fails, we get see a brand new power of the Evangelions which effectively seems to be controlled berserker mode - guess 3.0 will explain how Mari knows about it. Despite this powerful form, Unit-02 is still knocked to the side where Mari encounters Shinji. Rei then takes to the field and tries to take out the angel with a point-blank missile (as opposed to the N2 mine in NGE), which requires Mari to jump back in to take out the AT field.
This the point where the events change drastically from NGE. Rei's attack fais and Unit-00 is left helpless and Unit-02 half destroyed. The angel then proceeds to eat and absorb both Unit-00 and Rei, leading to a physical change similar looking to End of Eva. This is what spurs Shinji into running back and demanding to pilot Unit-01 again. He wants to save Rei. I feel that Re:Build's version of the following events play out better than NGE (mainly because NGE failed to really follow up on what happens). As in NGE, Unit-01 gets knocked back and runs out of auxillary power. Now instead of another berserker moment, Unit-01 is instead reactivated by Shinji's pure desire to save Rei (admittedly a bit like SAO).
On managing to pull Rei out of the Angel and into Unit-01, we are then treated to a classic case of Evangelion left-field twist. While we were aware Gendou wanted Shinji and Rei to get closer, there was not even a hint of a clue that Shinji and Rei being in Unit-01 together would cause it's 'awakening'. On top of that, just like NGE we knew Gendou wanted Unit-01 to awaken, there was also no suggestion that doing so would trigger the Third Impact - since that would seem incredibly counterproductive, so hopefully 3.0 clears some of that up. Just like with 1.0 though, we were treated to a nice cliffhanger courtesy of Kaworu, Unit-06 and what I'm guessing is the Spear of Longinus. Skewered Unit-01 and seemingly interrupted the sequence of the Third Impact starting. Although looking at the synopsis of 3.0 apparently the Third Impact did happen so......really confused on that part :S

Overall, despite the runtime limitations that shortened or cut some of the quieter parts that I felt were important character development points from NGE, Re:Build once again managed to keep the plot moving with both action sequences and calmer moments. Those calmer moments being the completely original conservation-aquarium visit and slice of life style morning sequences - important as a way of highlighting that life is still ongoing between the angel cashes. Completely original (or at least mostly) version of events after this, so will be interesting to see how it goes.