Evangelion (series) | My collection of short anime reviews

Jun
08
2010

Review: Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：破)

This early scene in the movie is just the beginning of more deviation from the TV series by this movie.

As mentioned in my previous review, today’s post will contain my review of the second installment of the Evangelion movie titled Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. This movie is the second of four movies (if the ANN is to be believed) and my review of the first movie can be read here. This is a 2009 anime, but Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei will keep its throne for the time being.

The story in this anime has been heavily altered, and so are his role.

Story:-
An excerpt from my review of the first movie:-

A teenage kid was forced to become a child soldier pilot for a robot by his own father to fight some monsters called ‘Angels’. Things become difficult when it becomes clear that the boy has some ‘problems’ and his colleague-pilots don’t seem to be sane either. Can a trio of problematic robot pilots save the world from devastation?

While there are only 2 pilots in the first movie, there is another 2 added in the second, instead of one like what the TV version of this series portrayed. This early change in pilot numbers is just the beginning of many other changes, additions and omissions that this movie undergo through compared to what you can see in the TV version.

As I also predicted in the review of the first movie, the sequel indeed has deviated further away from the TV version, even more than I first thought. Unlike the two-gear pacing speed that the first movie has (early part of the movie has very fast pacing, the latter part is far slower), this movie’s pacing is more stable, but it is still fast. Let’s just say that the general pacing of this movie is in-between the first movie pacing in its first half and the pacing of the first movie’s second half. In general, if you want to make comparisons, the pacing of this movie is by far is the fastest compared to all the movie titles I reviewed before this movie, listed here.

Another obvious fact that you can observe in this anime is that the movie omits plenty of contents/stories/plots that is available in the TV series in their comparable time-frame, even more so than the first movie. This may not affect you if you haven’t watched the TV series, but if you do, some of the omissions may have a negative effect. For me, the complete omission of the arc where Shinji and Asuka fought the two-core Angel with synchronized movements is a bad decision made by whoever wrote the adaptation into this movie. That actual battle itself is not so important, but the training before the battle provides great value for character developments of both Shinji and Asuka (and their relationship too I suppose). The writers probably tried to compensate for this by modifying the original infected Eva Unit 3 arc plot by putting Asuka in it (Eva Unit 3) instead of Toji (as it is in the TV series), but it failed. IMO, if the aforementioned missing arc was included in the movie unaltered, before the altered infected Eva Unit 3 arc happened, the latter arc would have generated more impact that it currently does in the movie.

The fast pacing and many omissions (I think there are at least another two Angel arcs in the TV series removed from the movie, amongst other things), allows this movie to rapidly reached at least episode 22 or 23 of the TV series time-line. For comparison, the first movie spanned only the first 6 episodes of the TV series, but the second movie spanned the next 15 episodes or so. The next two movies is definitely going to be original stories not seen in the TV series. And I would also want to add that none of the reconstructed arcs in this second movie has surpassed their originals in the TV series, unlike the reconstructed 3rd Angel battle in the first movie that I think is better than the one in TV version.

Just like the first movie, there are some changes too happening in the movie, like the Asuka’s name change (why this happened, I don’t know), her lack of infatuation for Kaji, her obvious attention toward Shinji, her changed roles like the one in the aforementioned infected Eva Unit 03 arc and many more. Additions that was made in the second movie includes the extra additional pilot (also from Europe just like Asuka is), some original plots like the visit to the artificial aquarium and Shinji’s father visit to the moon and more. These changes and additions doesn’t have as much negative impact compared to the omissions mentioned a couple of paragraph above.

The good ending finished on a cliffhanger, kinda like Code Geass’ first season. Therefore, wait for the review of the third movie somewhere in 2013 or something.

Unfortunately for the main protagonist, so are his sexual preferences…

Character Design:-
My comment from the review of the first movie still applies.

Voice Acting:-
My comment from the review of the first movie still applies.

Music:-
The OST has regressed in quality, and the ending theme is just another variation of the ending theme of the first movie (that I didn’t like).

Animation/Direction:-
The animation quality matches the excellent quality seen in the first movie. Choreography is one of the few things that the second movie has improved from the first, with better fighting scenes in the reconstructed Angel arc and good battles in original ones. The director has stabilized the pacing compared to the first movie, but I don’t think he made a good choice of what TV arc he has omitted compared to what he includes (and made).

Conclusion:-
7 out of 10. Slightly inferior to the first movie. With this movie, the whole TV series has been rebooted, and the next two movies should have original contents. I think Gainax should have made 5 movies, with 3 for the retelling of the TV series, and 2 for whatever original contents they want to have. Too many TV series contents has been omitted for my liking, even more than the first movie.

This area has just been devastated by a nuclear bomb, but our bad-ass main protagonist simply strolled out there as if nothing has happened. Those radiations must be nothing for him.

Shortlink: http://wp.me/prgSo-dj

Written by ranpha in: anime movies,anime review | Tags: Evangelion (series), Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：破)

May
28
2008

Review: Evangelion 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone – ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：序

Our emo poster boy returned, now with DAT player in tow. Compare with the earlier entry here.

Just after posting the Gakkou no Kaidan review, I went ahead and watch the first Evangelion remake. 2 hours later, the movie is finished and here is another review, the 2^nd for this day.

The green one has now become the brown one.

Story:-
A teenage kid was forced to become a child soldier pilot for a robot by his own father to fight some monsters called ‘Angels’. Things become difficult when it becomes clear that the boy has some ‘problems’ and his colleague-pilots don’t seem to be sane either. Can a trio of problematic robot pilots save the world from devastation?

Well, for this movie there’s only 2 of them for now. Based on the first 6 episodes of the TV series (as claimed in the PDF file inside the torrent), this anime still retains the same story for the most part, with some modifications. Those who have not watched the TV series may enjoy the movie, but for those who do, the bad points of this movie readily become apparent.

The first negative is how some important scenes are simply missing. For example, Shinji’s first day at school where he was punched by Touji. For those who haven’t watched the TV series, they will be in a disadvantage because they will not know exactly why Touji is doing that. The explanation given by Kensuke is simply not enough to explain the context of that scene. There are few others like this such as the incident where Shinji is supposed to go home after rebelling against Misato and others, and each and every omission gives different negative effects on the storyline.

As the consequence of the first point above, the second negative would be the ridiculously high-pace presentation of the storyline, especially the ones that deal with the first 2 episodes of the TV series. This was done by omitting some details that was inside the TV series (like the installation of batteries in Misato’s car) and also reconstructions of some parts of the story (such as the meeting between Shinji and his father for the first time in front of the Unit 01). This was made worse by the fact that the pacing suddenly slowed down right after the second Angel was defeated, because it happened just right after I have accustomed myself with the torrid pace with which the movie started. It feels like slamming the brakes of a car that travels at 100km/h before driving at a more normal pace.

As mentioned above, this retelling of the TV series does several things differently relative to the original story; omitting certain parts of the story (some to the detrimental effect of the movie), adding original elements to it and also retelling existing parts in new light. It was the latter part where this movie has largely succeeded without major troubles. The way NERV deals with the third Angel is so original, it is even better than the version in the TV series.

Character developments are not as good as the ones in the first 6 episodes of the TV series, and the main protagonist is the one that suffered the most while the biggest gainer is Misato. It is really hard to judge this aspect for the time being, because it seems that the subsequent movies will deviate more from the original storyline, and I may have to retract some of what I have written above.

The ‘innovative’ monster is still here…

Character Design:-
Basically the same as my entry for this anime late last year. The Angels has also been redesigned, to mixed effect.

Voice Acting:-
Same as above.

Music:-
The OST seems to be better in this version, but Beautiful World is no Fly Me To The Moon.

…but it now has a brand-new drill.

Animation/Direction:-
The part where this movie has greatly improved upon, the animation in this movie is excellent, even in fast-paced scenes. Choreography is the same as the TV series, with the exception of the retelling of the third Angel, which is better. The older animation scenes has been remastered and new cooler animation is done for the scenes that has been retold, like the third Angel incident. The directing is at fault for the horrid overall pacing of this movie, but has done well in other parts.

Actually, if Gainax remake this and change this DAT player into an iPod or even a Zune, I will probably overlook it.

Conclusion:-
8 out of 10. This movie ends well after a bad start. Now waiting for the next instalment this year, hoping that the strong ending that this movie has can be continued.

So that’s how the contraption that Asuka wears all the time looks like.

Written by ranpha in: anime movies,anime review - reposted | Tags: Evangelion (series), Evangelion 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：序)

Dec
18
2007

Review: Neon Genesis Evangelion (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン)

Huzzah for English in Japanese animation! It is not perfect, but a considerable improvement.

I watched this one way before this blog is started from original R1 DVDs, a long time ago. As I rummaged through my DVD collection, I managed to find this one and out of nostalgia, I rewatched it again. A series that is considered legendary by many fans, this Neon Genesis Evangelion anime is just as good as they have said.

The poster boy for everything emo in Japanese animation.

Those people who say that this anime is legendary are not kidding; this anime has a very good story. The series is really enjoyable and I can’t stop watching the anime whenever I have the time, just like Rozen Maiden did. The story flows freely and has decent character development that allows multiple characters to be strong or interesting enough to also support such a good story.

My only complaint will be the unorthodox ending, which consists of 2 episodes of counselling sessions for the main protagonist instead of a big huge battle against the big boss. The anime ended up with the main character becoming a little bit less emo, and that’s it. It could use some more oomph, that’s for sure.

And lastly I should note that none of the emo characters is as annoying like the main lead in La Corda anime. That’s a very good thing.

Very innovative design for an enemy combatant.

Character Design:-
Being another anime from the last century, the character design is surprisingly very well done. Like Kiba The TV Animation, the hero is sloppily designed but it meets the storyline perfectly (he has black hair too). The other 2 pilots also stand out especially the blue-haired one. All of the other main characters are not bad either.

Mecha designs are excellent too but for some questionable design for some of the Angels. Anyway, it is definitely a plus point of the series.

The scene of a homicide case.

Voice acting:-
Unlike the character design, voice acting here can only be described as generally good. This is to say, there are no screw-ups but no one outstanding either.

Another perfectly good green hill destroyed in the fight between good and evil.

Music:-
The OST is average, the OP if forgettable but Fly Me to the Moon is a very good song.

One of the downsides of being an emo kid.

Animation/Direction:-
For its time, the animation is decent, and choreography and fast-paced scenes is not affected. The directing is superb, a far cry from Armitage III, and probably what makes the series good in the first place.

I have learned from this anime that penguins does not match well with spicy food.

Conclusion:-
I hereby award 10 out of 10 for this anime. Unlike Wolf’s Rain of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, this anime really fulfils my expectations. But if this anime were to compete with Nodame Cantabile for Anime Of The Year 2007, it will fail.

A robot stalking another. Only happens in the crazy world of Neon Genesis Evangelion.