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.
