kenny.dibbert - 2016-03-04 13:33:34

konopelski.celia - 2015-09-25 03:50:09

Critic's Log - Earthdate: January 23, 2013. Review #31: Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance.

Now that I've reviewed Evangelion 1.0, Here is Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance, or Evangelion: Break, or Evangelion 2.22. *Hard Sigh* You get the picture. HERE'S EVANGELION 2.0!

Under constant attack by the Angels, NERV introduces two new pilots unto the fold: the mysterious Mari Illustrious Makinami and the intense Asuka Langley Shikinami. Parallel to the incursion, Gendo Ikari and SEELE proceed the secret project that involves both Rei and Shinji.

That's the premise of Evangelion 2.0 and that's all I can explain about the plot. To be technical, this is a Studio Khara production and this is obviously a sequel to Evangelion 1.0 and this sequel does not disappoint but it might play with your expectations if you haven't seen this but have seen the Original series. I can tell you one thing is that the animation in this movie is absolutely gorgeous and some of the action scenes are just epic and a visual treat to animation buffs out there. The 2-D and 3-D integration doesn't disappoint either. The animation alone will simply not disappoint

The music by Shiro Sagisu is another thing that does not disappoint. The soundtrack is EPIC! But I think it's a little too epic, he may have overdone the epic factor in the music because nearly every fight theme sounds like a final battle theme, "The Final Decision We All Must Take" is the highlight song in the movie and it's a great theme that compliments the scene greatly. Besides that, the soundtrack is amazing.

When it comes to voice acting, I will say this once more... The Japanese cast is excellent as always since the original series. Megumi Ogata is great as Shinji (as mixed reactions are probably involved with his character). Megumi Hayashibara as Rei, what more can you ask for? She is perfect as Rei for the show. Yuko Miyamura reprises her role as Asuka and she is wonderful as always. Kotono Mitsuishi is also great as Misato Katsuragi. Kouichi Yamadera reprises his role as Ryoji Kaji, which he still gives Kaji that cool deep voice. Fumihiko Tachiki is still LIKE A BOSS as Gendo Ikari. Last, but not least there's Maaya Sakamoto as Mari Illustrious Makinami and she was terrific as Mari. Like I said, the Japanese cast is excellent. So what about the dub?

Like the first movie, the dub is a lot more tolerable than the ADV dub in the Original Series. Spike Spencer is pretty good as Shinji, Brina Palencia is okay as Rei in this movie but I think some parts sound a bit off. Tiffany Grant comes back as Asuka and all I can say is that when I heard she was coming back as Asuka, I only had one word to say. Wunderbar. Not only was it nice to have Tiffany Grant back, her performance is good. Allison Keith is once again much better as Misato Katsuragi than the Original Series' dub, Kudos to Ms. Keith. John Swasey is terrific as Gendo Ikari LIKE A BOSS. Trina Nishimura plays a very convincing performance as Mari because as much as I like Sakamoto-san as a seiyu and her role in this movie, Trina Nishimura also gives some credit in screaming her heart out while sounding either pissed off or just going fucking crazy in the heat of battle. Ms. Nishimura did give Mari quite the mouth. Performance-wise, Ms. Nishimura was great as Mari and I look forward to hearing more of her in the movies to follow. So there's the good stuff in the cast. Now I'll mention a few that I think sound off, Colleen Clinkenbeard once again doesn't sound right for Dr. Akagi. As much as I like J. Michael Tatum, I was not in favor of him this time in this movie. Why can't anyone get Kaji right in any of the dubs? Besides the good and bad, it's a tolerable dub compared to the Original Series' dub. Please note that I don't think Colleen Clinkenbeard and J.Michael Tatum are terrible voice actors, they are both great if given the roles just right. I will say this one last time, the Japanese Cast is excellent, the Dub is great too, Mike McFarland's ADR direction is just as good as the first movie. Moving on.

When it comes to characters, Shinji Ikari does whine a bit in this one, but with reasons. Rei Ayanami has resemblence to the plot throughout the movie. Asuka is like her old self except with a few differences. She doesn't have a thing for Kaji and Thank God that's over with. I thought the whole "14 year old girl having a thing towards a man twice her age" scenario to be unsettling (but there was a reasoning to this in the original series). There is also a change made to Asuka. her full name is Asuka Langley Shikinami in the Rebuild instead of Asuka Langley Soryu in the Original. Another difference from the Original is that she has no German in her dialogue in the Rebuild. Her EVA's debut was awesome in this movie though, so she makes quite the introduction in this iteration of the franchise. she is a bit downplayed in this movie compared to the Original Series from Episode 8 to Episode 19. Misato is an interesting character from time to time just in the Rebuild alone at this point. She was also interesting in the original series as well. Kaji is alright, Mari is a nice addition but her character development is a bit poorly done.

When it comes to story, it's very mesmerizing and that's how the movie works. It mesmerizes viewers as well as blowing them away with awesome action scenes to go with the mesmerizing experience. It starts off nice like any sequel would, then it slows down and then you get some awesome fight scenes and the mesmerize factor doesn't let up until the credits roll. The story is actually interesting even though it's familiar to those that watched the original series, for Rebuild alone, The story is great for a sequel.

 I guarantee you that you will not be the only one that finds this awesome. This movie has Michael Bay by the balls, and this is only an animated film. Up yours Michael Bay for royally screwing Transformers up the ass. Anyway, that awesome scene is followed by a visually stunning pre-apocalyptic scene that looks gorgeous and amazing. What really makes the movie mesmerizing is its atmosphere combined with the soundtrack and visuals as well as a story that's good as a sequel even though it's a remake. If I haven't convinced you enough of how this movie kicks so much ass. Watch the following video and see whether you're convinced or not.

 If you got a home theater system and a big-screen TV, you are in for one hell of an experience.

Evangelion 2.0 is available from Funimation

 With that all said, Evangelion 2.0 is a mesmerizing sequel to Evangelion 1.0 which some people felt was nothing new except animation and Ramiel's drastic change. Evangelion 2.0 makes up greatly for some minor nitpicking from the first movie, Evangelion 2.0 isn't perfect by all means because there are some slight bumps in the character writing and the story is great too for Rebuild alone but it isn't perfect and it doesn't have to be. This is a sequel that will play with your expectations if you liked the Original Series, for the most part, it is a mostly satisfying sequel to the beginning of the remake of a revolutionary mecha series.

 I give Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance a 9.5 out of 10, It is EXCELLENT!

 Feel free to leave a comment, and don't run away.

jazmin.wisoky - 2015-01-07 09:56:50

This was the evangelion movie that shook the every foundation of the original series at it's core. (The characters) The MC Shinji is more active and has went from 0 to hero to destoryer of the world. (He became casshern)

Also we get a new character in the series who seems to be even more badass than the supposed badass eva pilot that came before. (Asuka is still a badass mind you)

Damn I did not ever think that they could top this movie until 3.0 came out and proved me wrong.

amparo03 - 2014-12-24 04:36:39

allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar 

hhegmann - 2013-11-13 14:47:37

The story 9/10

The story continues to follow the happy adventures of Shinji Ikari. That means he continues to fight The Angels to save mankind from destruction. Sounds stupid I know (even to a fan like me), but even with that silly setting it delivers an awesome story, with a few nice twists, great characters, a cool romance (be happy Ayanami fans, Shinji picks her, not Asuka). Just like the original show it still delivers a nice amount of philosophical questions like for who do you live, why do you live, is humanity worth saving and similar and such. While watching it I was amazed by the amount of detail delivered in terms of small hints about the whole Rebuild of Evangelion, for example is the whole thing a prequel or a form of twilight zone.

The animation 12/10

The animation…. It is amazing, the best animation ever seen, not open for discussion. Combination of 3-D and 2-D animation worked perfectly; there is no cheap CGI animation. No other anime comes close to it, maybe 5 centimeters per second. The Angel design was changed, for the better. They look massive and terrifying, alien and haunting. A giant meteor with wings, 150 meter high clock with thin legs, a massive thing that shoots crosses, all in all it looks epic. The fights were stunning, the scale and the force that the Eva and The Angels fight with was something truly amazing.

The sound 9/10

The sound was fitting; sometimes it was creepy, sometimes needlessly happy (again for the creepiness). Voice acting was superb, Shinji sounds like a scared 10 year old girl (so basically a perfect fit), Asuka sounds bitchy and Rei emotionless. All in all the sound was great; after all it is a high budged project.

The characters 8/10

The characters are still great, but don’t get the amount of development like in the original show (namely Asuka). Gendo still has his pose, but is given a little amount of humanity, Kaji still likes to manipulate people and Misato still drinks. Only problem is Mari. I honestly don’t see her role in the movie, only thing she does is annoy people. Everything she has done could have been done without her. As far as I am concerned she is here only for the fanservice, and she does that part poorly.

All in all 9/10

All in all watching this is a truly enjoyable experience. Fights, character development, story, music, ending, everything is superb and the movie is very rewatchable since every anime lover I know has seen it at least three times.

corwin.torrance - 2013-09-02 07:04:54

“The world is a nasty place” proclaims Shinji, as even if that is ostensibly true, it’s also apparent that the Rebuild interpretation has allowed for some of those previously sharp edges to have softened somewhat. I personally consider End of Evangelion to itself carry its own positive assertions, though it was delivered from such an oblique perspective, that I hardly begrudge anyone for failing to acknowledge those overtures.

The positive undertone is the main aspect of why I found 2.0 to be an improvement on the work laid down by 1.0, as it signals a point where the Rebuild franchise is starting to shift into new territory, all of its own. Now it casts its gaze over the middle-act, where broader subject matter is wholly embraced, in lieu of the earlier atypical “weekly” format, to which we had become accustomed. The narrative was now fully entrenched in the baroque, standing as something which betrayed its earlier (more palatable) sentiment. Shinji’s outlook was irreparably fractured at this juncture, a point which had been depicted with a certain bluntness about it. We again inhabit this tipping-point of the narrative, which now carries with it a new caveat. Where it had once wallowed in the abject misery that would soon befall everyone; we now see how those same circumstances manifest - when our characters don’t embrace their demons quite so freely. 2.0 goes some way to evoking that earlier spirit, simultaneously retaining that overarching sense of dread, whilst also allowing for the material not to continually flirt with the melancholy, as it had once been compelled.

There is a certain exuberance that pervades the entire feature, and it’s quite surreal to experience Evangelion, without its dogged persistence towards affirming that dissolution of the human condition. If the television series was the wildly irrational adolescent, this is the contemplative rebuttal. Thought it stands to reason, that its outbursts can be just as pertinent, (if not more so) amidst this more balanced outlook. The closing section exemplifies this, where the preceding (almost saccharine) optimism, could almost fool one into forgetting the oppressiveness of the past. It’s something that plays upon its audience quite wonderfully, pre-empting our own cynicism, and somehow lulling us (well, me) into this unfamiliar position. No matter the how austere something is, our expectations are always likely to have a disproportionate effect. In this regard, the preface of 1.0 goes some way to placating these assertions, where the biggest differences had been some minor shuffling of those pre-existing narrative elements. So by the time we reach the pivotal dramatic beats here, it punctuates in an entirely different way than it had done previously.

Viewing it all in binary terms, the familiar broad-strokes are all there, but the film does an effective job of situating it all in an entirely different (and convincing) context. I no longer have such reservations, regarding the earlier subtlety of the series being largely obscured, because it’s now clear they are attempting to convey something quite different from within that framework. If hope was eventually born out of despair in EoE, it is now enduring, in spite of the world around it.

Rei probably stands as a clear testament to this change, as we bear witness to her gradual 'humanizing'. Though It had been something that was touched upon previously, circumstances dictated that it never really became anything other than a means by which to inform future events. Namely, Rei II’s death (her “birth” therein). That role facilitated the overarching plot, but not before diving in a spot of existentialism. Which curiously, served to emphasize how Rei came to barely resemble a character at all, reverting back to type, as the living avatar she was modeled to be. All of this I mention, because of how radically it shapes the course of this retelling.

Shinji and Rei’s relationship is the key beneficiary here, in that it is allowed to come to fruition. Previously used as the epitaph of hope itself (at least in Shinji’s own mind), it formed the crux of what would become his descent into despair. Here, it’s used to outline that, this time, it may be something of a misnomer. His character is barely distinguishable from the crumbled mess he he had once been, having been granted a certain agency about his actions. He carries this signal of intent through to the finale. To say he is a redeemed figure would be a misrepresentation, though he is certainly more affable in this guise. Their inexplicable link is portrayed less obtusely here, and it allows Rei to exist as something more than that lingering epitaph.

Asuka is as conceited as she ever was, though she no longer attempts to hide this behind social platitudes. Her interpretation (at least for now), is one of extreme negativity. In a way, it lends to her being a much more readily sympathetic figure (at least in my eyes). Her actions are much less cynical, and clearly corralled by her own bemusement towards her isolation. She doesn’t understand the world she is thrust into, nor does she pretend to. In a film formed around reconciliation and intimacy, Asuka stands alone as a tragic figure.

Alas, the same cannot be said for the new addition Mari, whose inclusion is so trite and unsatisfying, that it’s difficult not to view her as anything other than a by-product of a marketing meeting. Her role is a periphery one, and inconsequential to the larger narrative here. Which makes her continued presence, all the more egregious. Maybe there are some grand designs for her in future installments, but surely this was nothing that could have been better served by her introductory scene alone? It is firmly established that she retains some earlier characteristics from the series proper, all of which had been exhibited much more clearly through its fully-formed protagonists. Namely, how their humanity (or increasing lack, thereof) was seemingly symbiotic to their own fates within the Evangelion. As it stands, everything only served to exacerbate my resentment for the character, as situations were contrived for her, so that she could awkwardly slide in amongst the rest of the cast. She is a glorified insert character, or at least is being presented as such. Sure, her nihilistic bent is not without merit, but considering how stuffed this particular narrative already was, I could have done without her being, quite literally, parachuted into the story. The fact that she is a new character in an already established fiction, hardly means that we need reminding of her presence. In light of my feelings on most other aspects of this production, this felt conspicuously tactless. She is representative of my fears towards the remaining two parts, which puts a slight dampener on things.

I acknowledged my earlier apprehension over trying to assess an incomplete work, and it looks as though I may have been a little presumptuous. This part of the Rebuild tale succeeds through its conviction to reconfigure with we already know, offering a contrasting perspective on all too-familiar despondency. Frankly, I’m unfamiliar with how people generally regard these films, but I’m starting to foster a begrudging respect for them. Try as I might to divorce my feelings of the original from this experience, I think that albatross is precisely why I think its successes should be commended.

gdonnelly - 2013-07-05 03:43:06

When I heard that Neon Genesis Evangelion was getting a reboot, I was instantly ecstatic. Turned out I was a little bit too late to the party only to find out 3 of the 4 planned movies were already released. This time period was after shaking off the shock of End of Evangelion but nevertheless I trod on and proceeded to once again immerse myself into the wonderful world of Evangelion. Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance continues from where 1.0 left off and builds into what would soon become the one of the best Evangelion related material ever.

Story

The story stays largely the same except for some key differences and the ending of the film. Most scenes are still present in this iteration while some are altered. The story generally flows in the same direction the original did. Throughout the course of the film, you will be able to follow easily provided you had prior knowledge of the show. The story never feels slowed and even though it is a reboot, it still feels like keeps fresh. The scenes that were altered or cut fits in perfectly and did not feel out of place. New characters were introduced in the newer scenes and these always were like an added treat and gave the movie a feel that it was really was trying to do something different. On that note, I'd like to add that the brainchild behind Evangelion, Hideaki Anno is no longer afflicted by the stressful conditions he were when he wrote the original Neon Genesis Evangelion. This means the overall feel of the Evangelion Rebuilds were slightly more uplifting and less claustrophobic. The one big major change that Evangelion 2.0 is its ending. Without giving too much away, this ending strays far away from the anime's set story line and to be honest, I enjoyed this portrayal much more than what the original had to offer. The ending essentially opened another avenue that allowed entry for it's sequel, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.

Animation

Evangelion 2.0's art and animation was a step above the first film and some of the best art I've seen for the time. Released in 2010, it's use of CG was not too suffocating and was used in all the right places. The Angels were displayed using CG and got redesigned. I found their new look very appealing and it left me thinking is this what Anno envisioned had he been given the appropriate funds at the time? Nevertheless, the redesign had a more modern look to appeal to new audiences while keeping that old NGE influence. The scenery never looked more vibrant and backgrounds had careful detail from the animators. The eva's movement were fluid and dynamic than ever before. The animators did a remarkable job in bringing this series to life. In order for me to give a proper understanding of how capable these people are, they are some of the hands behind Ghost in the Shell, the original Evangelion series, Spirited away and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. This alone is a sign of what these people can do and I respect them for it.

The sudden boost in animation quality came as a shock to me because 1.0 was already a stellar film in terms of quality. This only proved Anno's determination to provide a new fresh look on the world of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Character designs kept the same stellar redesign and still looked fresh. In an attempt to nitpick for any flaws in this film, I was unable to as my only hope was that it would somehow get stale however I was too fascinated in the films proceedings.

Sound

The music kept the same flavor as the original and never lagged down. The music was also one of the signature features of the original especially it's iconic opening theme, Cruel Angel's Thesis. My only gripe is that I could not get to hear that theme playing before the start of every episode but that's beside the point, that doesn't make the movie any less great. The music still manages to keep the Evangelion style and still manages to flourish in it's new home. The new pieces that play are all refreshing and comfortably coincides with the visuals. One device the Evangelion series loves to utilize is Irony and in Evangelion 2.0, I'm proud to say irony is not in short here. The brutality of what is occurring on screen is accompanied by ironic and disturbingly "happy" pieces. Depending on the viewer, hilarity ensues as the you look on in horror. Nevertheless, music left a lasting impression on me and is something worth taking the time paying attention to.

Characters

Evangelion would be nothing without it's signature cast of characters. Shinji Ikari makes a return as the main male protagonist we all know and love. Let's get to the point, he's still a wimp but he's far less annoying than his Neon Genesis Evangelion counterpart. This has more to do with the reboot removing the useless scenes and maybe Hideaki's psyche at this time. I'm of the view that this one had a much deserved confidence boost while at the same time keeping the personality that we've come to know. The depression of the first incarnation is put to a minimum and this is a welcome change. Asuka also featured some changes, first of all she now sports a new name, Asuka Shikinami Langley instead of Asuka Langely Soryu. This Asuka is a more stable one who holds most of what Asuka was all about. She is more open to people in this iteration even to the point where she opens up to Misato and gets jealous because Shinji is giving Rei more attention. Her strong affection for Kaji is no longer there and to be honest this was one of the most annoying aspects of Asuka's past appearance. At present, this presentation of Asuka was a step above the originals in every way and manages not to come off as annoying like before. Even though I say this, the original still holds the hearts of many. Rei is largely the same as her Neon Genesis Evangelion counterpart and this is okay. Her relationship with Gendou is the same but with Shinji, her character develops even more. She began to care to the point where she wants Shinji to make up with his father. Though seen to be an emotionless character, in this iteration Rei seems warmer and gives off a bit more expression.

New to the Evangelion universe is Mari Makinami Illustrious. She is introduced throughout the film and joins the cast as an important part of the story. Unlike the rest of the Eva pilots, she enjoys the thrills of piloting the Evas. She is a very flambouyant and confident person, I found her to be very refreshing. While everyone's out there being mildly depressing, Mari stayed grinning whenever she appeared in 2.0. Like Asuka, she has the talent of an expert pilot so she was no pushover. I found her fit perfectly in the Evangelion world and a breath of fresh air. She quickly became a favourite of mine but my only gripe was that I did not have the opportunity of understanding more about her.

The rest of the cast still very much carry the same weight they did in the past. Their contributions to the plot still take precedence in the story. It's a joy to see these characters rejuvenated and take their place in the story once again.

Conclusion

At this point, I'm wondering to myself, am I being a blind fan boy for giving Evangelion 2.0 all this praise? Does this rebuild even come close to the original in it's scope and creativity? Does Gendou even have the balls to tell me get in the Eva in this iteration? The answer is simple, Evangelion 2.0 deserves every bit of praise it has received since it's released. It's nothing short of a masterpiece and there can never be too much praise. Even with my nostalgia glasses off, you would have to be blind to not see the time and love that went into this piece of work. I went into this film expecting a mere rehash of the events that followed 1.0 in the original but I was surprised at how this film did it's business. It blew me away and my hair is blow dried up to this day. You, the viewer owe it to yourself to indulge yourself into the world of Evangelion, you owe it to yourself to treat yourself to a world that was established and still manages to return and bring something to the table. I implore you, now to go and watch Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance immediately. Are you back yet?

I give Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance a full 10 out of 10.