Story: Here we are, fourteen years after the third impact and the world has gone to shit. That changes things drastically and removes something i always loved about the show entirely: Realism. You could relate to these people, simply by the way they acted so realistically. Yes, the frame of the Show still consisted of giant, organic robots battling abstract Alien-Organisms, but at it's core, at it's heart it was simply a story about humans. Not anymore and how could it if you introduce so many fantastical elements? Teenager, who won't age anymore, Space ships and space battles, the movie literally left the grounded approach of the original and soars to the sky, where i simply cant follow emotionally. I'm not even sure i want to. And at the same time, there is a lot we already went through, Rei struggles with her origin, Shinji doesn't want to pilot Eva, Gendo wants to bring about the Human Instrumentality Project. Nothing really changed, except for Misato's motley crew trying to stop Gendos Ambitions. Even by copying the same old, they are still so many plotholes. How is Gendo even able to live for 14 Years, alone save his advisor in the abandoned Geo-front. How can they find food, why are they still able to build another Eva-Unit? In the past multiple countries had to work together to create one of these monsters. But suddenly, despite the utter destruction of the world and all it's resources, technology advances into a futuristic state, with flying ships and admittedly badass cyber-goggles. Give all that, the story is actually terrible and i am sad that i have to say that about an Evangelion-Entry. I rate it poor, that wasn't decent at all.
Art: Doesn't mean that his review will be a trainwreck, the art for example is fantastic. I love most of the new character-designs (most, what the heck did you do to your hair, Ritsuko?). They are subtle, but still show us a drastic change. And in contrast i also love the designs that didn't change, how Kaworu and Shinji still wear their old uniforms. The Animation is just as good, the fights, though i dislike them for story purposes, the piano playing, it all looks really well done. Some images are jarring, really creepy and strange, but not in a bad way. If they split the giant thing in Gendos Basement in half, i might have lost my mind (loop-theory confirmed) Great Art, that is all that's left to say.
Sound: They changed a lot of the classic Ost and i can't say i like that. It just adds to the feeling of watching something else. Something that's only wearing the skin of your beloved franchise, waving and grinning while it still drips blood. Jeez, this went dark. Um, anyway, the Piano playing i liked, i think that's my favorite scene of the whole movie. The rest is pretty orchestral, but only that, nothing left of the variety we heard in the show way back. Voice acting also didn't really left a lasting impression, in Evangelion of all places... I think the sound was good, the step away from the original really didn't sit well with me.
Character: I liked what they did with Suzuharas sister, best girl right there. I didn't like what they did with Suzuhara. I start with these two, cause there is nothing much to say about the main cast. Nothing happens characterwise, Shinji is actually insane by now and i can't even blame him, Rei is gone or rather, her character is reset, completely and Asuka is just pissed, but also slightly more mature. Obviously, she is 28 now, its not weird anymore guys, praise Anno! Misato is a badass now, so is Maya and i outright hate her new crew-members. What the hell are those tropes doing in my deconstructing Mecha-anime?! They are bland and easily forgotten, i hope the writers forget about them too for the next movie. Gendo is doing Gendo-things. It's still nonsense that he lived years alone with Fuyutsuki, are they even human at this point? Mari is actually useless to the point where i don't understand her character. Did they just need another pilot for the Mecha-battles? Maybe and in that role she is pretty entertaining. Watch her be the big Bad in the end...i'm joking of course. Last but not least, Kaworu. I really liked him, ironic enough, he seems to be the most human, with all his emotions. More screentime than he ever had before, maybe thats why he is so interesting all of a sudden. I give this section a fair, that's really all it was. Funny how we went from a 12 to a 6.
Enjoyment: Yeah, was okay, i was pretty entertained. That's all, i already talked about everything in the other categories. Just release the last Movie, either bury it already or surprise me and save our souls. I give it a seven, the fights looked cool and Shinji and Kaworu are a cute couple.
So what's left to say? I spent a long time now, watching and reviewing Evangelion. It started at a really high point, one of my favorite Anime and now it slowly sinks. Will the last movie surface the franchise before it drowns. But when i see that ugly ass merged Robot in the preview i already want to puke. Man, i wish it all would come tumbling down again.
