If I were to take Evangelion 2.0, the second of the Rebuild of Evangelion films, at face value, I would say it's akin to a typical summer blockbuster, it has all the essential elements. Take a classic series and give it a big budget, double the amount and scale of the action scenes, inject a helping of silly comic relief, and make the finale an incredible action spectacle.
But of course, this is Evangelion, and when it comes to this series, nothing has ever been what it seemed. The first of these movies was essentially, a shiner, glossier, and streamlined version of the first six episodes, leaving the impression that the rest of the movies would follow suit. Of course, this is not the case, this is new Evangelion. It’s different, it’s big, it’s risky, and it’s also absolutely wonderful.
Covering the time period between episodes 8-19 (known to fans as the Action Arc), the story continues the saga of Evangelion pilot Shinji Ikari, as he and his fellow pilots fend a mysterious race of creatures, referred to as Angels. Among him getting used to life in Tokyo-3, he meets (and begins to live with) elite Eva pilot Asuka Langley Shikinami (fans already will be able to notice a difference there), who’s skill and fiery red hair are only matched by her equally fiery temper and ego. Meanwhile, Rei Ayanami, growing frustrated with the shell she lives in, begins to try to melt the ice between Shinji and his father (who’s kind of a jerk), but as the film progresses, this begins to seem like a unlikely endeavor. Among the mysteries the film provides, are Karowu and his mysterious Eva Unit-06, and a new character named Mari, a confident and energetic young lady, who enjoys piloting the Evas, and seems to know more then she let’s on.
It’s strange that Evangelion 1.0 and 2.0 are even connected to each other, because both films take radically different approaches to how they adapted the source material. While the first had difficulty justifying it’s existence, and played it relatively safe when it came to recreating the story. This one immediately has no trouble in taking the familiar and making it different. Characters who we’ve analyzed to death are now redefined and recontextualized. The story has lost it’s dark, introspective side, in favor of defining it’s story and emotions through the physical actions of the characters. Even scenes that are played beat-for-beat from the original series, feel completely different, thanks to this new approach. The changes are exciting and intriguing, and are not out of left field, and make sense within the Evangelion we’ve grown to know and love.
Are there changes that don’t quite work? Yes, but they’re not major story changes, but how it handles its cast. To be frank, they are just too many characters, the film does its best to try to juggle them all, but the film’s running time doesn’t do it any favors. Asuka, who was my favorite character in the show, is simply not given enough time to breath and is whisked from one scene to the next. The relationship between Misato and Kaji lacks the duality and tension that made it so fascinating, and funny, in the original series, and Mari, a new character made just for the movie, is not given enough time to define herself as a character, and it feels like she’s holding a big sign saying “I‘ll be important in the next one”.
But that’s not to say there are not moments and scenes of great storytelling, heavens no. From Shinji’s and Gendo’s conversation next to the grave of Yui Ikari, to a tender chat between Asuka and Misato, to the subtle actions and movements of Rei. The film continuously shows that 15 years have done nothing to hamper the storytelling abilities of Director Hideaki Anno and his team. Even the subtitle of the film itself has great meaning, Much like how the first film’s subtitle represented Shinji at both the beginning and end of the movie, this one starts with Shinji hoping to make friends and understand people and grow as a person (You Can Advance), but is ultimately set back by what led to his character’s downfall in the original series (You Can Not Advance).
If there is one place where Evangelion has benefited in the last 15 years, it’s pure craftsmanship. The animation is stunning, to say the least, the CGI is subtly integrated with the rest of the 2D animation, and each shot of the film is jam-packed with Easter Eggs, little details, and other goodies. It shows that the people making it cared about it deeply, and it rewards multiple viewings, if just to notice a little something you missed the last time.
The action scenes are of equal praise, each battle is expertly executed and incredible to watch. The battles against the Angels feel like desperate fights to the death, as the film makes no qualms about the stakes of each battle. The last minute miracles and pain the Evas go through in each battle give the fights a gravitas the original series didn‘t have, and for my money, surpasses anything the original series threw at us (with the possible exception of Asuka’s breathtaking battle against the MP Evas in The End of Evangelion).
I think my favorite part about the movie, is Shinji Ikari himself. Detractors of the original series will tell you that Shinji was a whining, self-destructive, and passive shell of a man who was at points unbearable. Not the case at all with 2.0, Shinji is a gentle, kind, and thoughtful young man. It’s ultimately easier to get behind him as a character this time around. We see him in jump-up-and-cheer moments of victory, as well as crushing moments of defeat, and much like the original series, ends up getting worse then better as the story goes on. He is, whether you like it or not, the heart and soul of the story, and this movie has not forgotten that.
I think the biggest change to the story, is the emotional core of it. Scenes of the characters wallowing in self-hatred and bullet pointing everything that is wrong with them are no where to be found, the bizarre pseudo-Christian symbols have been minimized, and the 180-shift in tone the show made in its final third is more gradual then the immediate and abrupt shift the show made. Some people will miss the more introspective and less traditional narrative the show offered, while others will love that the storytelling has been made more cohesive and less cynical. For my money, the story still has the strange mysteries, double meanings in dialogue, and twisted emotions that made the series great, but it feels weird not spending fifteen minutes (at a time) on that godforsaken train with Shinji.
It’s seems now that I have seen the film, I can safely say that the Rebuild of Evangelion is neither Evangelion if it were a cynical cash-in, nor is it Evangelion as it was originally intended, it is Evangelion from an different emotional perspective. The film’s director Hideaki Anno, is clearly not the same person he was when he made the series, happily married, heavily respected, and more experienced as a storyteller. The original series wallowed in it’s own self-hatred and borderline suidical emotions, the movies offer a more balanced, and less negative emotional core.
Evangelion 2.0 is an highly entertaining and excellently made film that nicely take’s it’s place in the mythos of the immortal series, while the narrative would have benefited from an extra fifteen minutes, the movie never forgets that at its core, this is Shinji’s story. We see him in moments of happiness, anger, sadness, regret, and fear. His state as a person at the end is not too different from where he was by the end of Episode 24, and his actions lead to a false happy ending that leaves both the cast and setting with a deep scar, and leaves it’s next chapter more then welcome. Much like the original series, it will divide people and challenge it’s audience, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
FINAL SCORE: 9.5 OUT OF 10
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