Anyone who's read my Neon Genesis Evangelion review knows that I'm not the biggest fan of the show. I decided to give the Rebuild series a try, and so far, I've been quite happy.
Story: 8
Once again, we're back with the "Shinji, get in the robot and fight the Lovecraftian horror" plot. As I said before, I love this premise, especially since the Evas hold the risk of serious injury to the pilots. This movie shows it off even better, with some scenes showing damage ACTUALLY happening to the pilots while it's happening to the Eva. Plus, by the end of the movie, you feel that sense of victory that comes from overcoming self-doubt, as well as a giant monster.
Art: 8
Evangelion has a budget this time around, and it shows. While the art direction isn't phenomenal, it was quite beautiful this time around, especially with the sixth angel. All-in-all, it's pleasant on the eyes, and quite the spectacle at times.
Sound: 8
Second verse, same as the first. Sound was what I praised NGE for, and most of the stuff is the same this time around. I noticed a few more soundtracks this time. The voice actors are, for the most part, the same. However, they got Colleen Clinkenbeard to play Dr. Akagi, so bonus point
Character: 8
Hallelujah, there is some growth! Bear in mind, this movie covers the section of the show before everything started to spiral downward, so where the characters go from here could still be less than hopeful. HOWEVER, as of this movie, you get to see growth in the characters. Misato starts to worry about Shinji, treating him like a little brother. Shinji begins to face his fears, and it feels like he's fighting for more than just approval by the end. His growth isn't complete, but hey, first arc. Rei begins to act a little more human, but again, the growth isn't complete. Gendo is still a prick. I'm still accepting of this fact.
Enjoyment: 8
All in all, I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It never once felt like a pool of depression, but rather a tale of "It can get better." If I had to recommend one Evangelion over another, I think it's definitely be the Rebuild universe over the original show.
Overall: 8 (huh, eights across the board. Way to go, Hideaki!)
