jaclyn.abernathy - 2016-03-04 13:32:39

hessel.ruben - 2015-11-26 19:36:13

The movie version of the first few episodes of my favorite anime ever. It makes me choke up on the verge of tears every few minutes... 
Shinji has the same element of authenticity that Madoka (PMM) posseses. Shinji reacts how any kid would feel in that situation, but he still cares more about others than himself.

#IkariShinjiProtectionSquad

ritchie.nannie - 2015-09-24 17:29:25

NOTE: This is an archive from my Anime-Planet account, the intro of this review is outdated

Critic's Log - Earthdate: January 21, 2013. Review #30: Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone

Today is my birthday and I have just turned 22. With Evangelion 3.0 being released a while back and the fact that Evangelion: Final is slated to be released this year. I decided to tackle the Rebuild of Evangelion series since I already have seen the original classic. Since it's my birthday today, I will call the shots on what I want to review today, and here's the review for Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone, or Evangelion: Beginning, or Evangelion 1.01/1.11, OH JUST GIVE IT ONE FRACKING NAME ALREADY! Here's Evangelion 1.0

It is the year 2015 A.D. and Shinji Ikari is summoned by his father who works at a secret organization called NERV and his father requests him to pilot a giant humanoid (or Giant robot if you like to call it that) in order to defeat a giant being known as an "Angel". Did I already mention this in my review of the original series? Yes I did, so what's the damn point in me mentioning this? Well, this comes as to no surprise that this first movie of the remake is a retelling of the first six episodes of the original series. So that's pretty much the premise of Evangelion 1.0.

To be technical, this is a Studio Khara production and this is their first release. Studio Khara was founded by Hideaki Anno himself and this is probably why this movie is his first release under the studio name Khara. Putting studio technicalities aside, The animation is eye candy from beginning to end and it's really hard not to look away either because it looks gorgeous for the most part. Allow me to clarify something, The animation is great. Even though it's mostly done on computer, the CGI integration is also great and should put Studio Gonzo to great shame. The action scenes are spectacular and are much better than the original series. I should point out that when the movie first came out, it had a big problem, it was dark and certain scenes were hard to see everything to. This is only in the "1.01" release of the movie. A second release of the movie which is simply called "Evangelion 1.11" fixes the darkness issue and adds a couple minutes than the original and is easily the preferred version of the movie. This absolutely has nothing to do with the animation, I just thought I'd point that out.

The music from the original series is mostly heard in this movie, which is totally fine considering this is a retelling of Episodes 1 - 6, which the story is pretty solid for its first act. so was the music for those episodes, so I have nothing to complain about too much about the same music being used in particular scenes. The music sounds slightly different in the remake compared to the original. The only scene I didn't like the music to is when Shinji is told by his father to pilot the Evangelion, why? Because the music playing in the original scene was pretty effective. I didn't find it effective that much in the remake. That's just a minor nitpick. The music by Shiro Sagisu is what you would expect, it sounds epic at times, and there are some tracks that compliment certain moments greatly. The "Angel of Doom" track is simply a great song, too bad it's overshadowed by the themes in the remake's sequels.

When it comes to voice acting, The Japanese cast is excellent as always and since the seiyus have aged since the original, some characters do sound a bit older than what they sounded like in the original series. Megumi Ogata is pretty good As Shinji even though she had to act nearly the same way she did in the original series. Megumi Hayashibara is terrific as always as Rei, Tomokazu Seki is great as Toji. Fumihiko Tachiki is great as always on playing the role of Gendo Ikari LIKE A BOSS! Kotono Mitsuishi sounds a bit older as Misato Katsuragi and she's great in the movie. So the Japanese cast is great here. When it comes to the Dub, I was skeptical when the dub was announced because I was not a fan of the dub in the original series which was done by ADV films, it's listenable to some extent but I think it had some moments that were not performed right, also The End of Evangelion as well as Death and Rebirth has some of the worst dubs I've ever heard and they shatter continuity between the show and the movie. The director's cut dubbed episodes also do this too for some unknown reason. After hearing the dub of the remake, I can say that the Remake's dub is more bearable to those that did not like the dub in the original, but it still has some problems though. Spike Spencer is more experienced this time and he plays Shinji just fine, but whether you like his voice or not is up to you. Brina Palencia is pretty good for the most part as Rei, Justin Cook was the perfect choice as Toji and he deserves props for being the best voice of Suzuhara-san in any of the dubs. John Swasey is great as Gendo Ikari for the most part. Kent Williams sounds a bit too young as Fuyutsuki but I'll let this pass. Allison Keith reprises her role as Misato and to my surprise, she's great in Rebuild compared to her role in the original. Colleen Clinkenbeard is a voice that gives me a bit of a mixed reaction when she was the voice of Ritsuko Akagi. Ms. Clickenbeard has done better but I just can't see her pulling off Dr. Akagi, she's not terrible in this one, I just think someone else could've voiced her and done it better. The low point in the dub for me was Greg Ayres as Kensuke Aida (The nerdy friend of Toji) His voice really doesn't fit the character at all, I know they were trying to give him a nerdy voice but it doesn't stick to me at all. The Japanese cast is obviously the superior one, but the dub is great too to some extent, and much more bearable to the ADV dub from years past. Mike McFarland's ADR Direction is much more better than the original show's dub and that's saying a lot. Also, Mr. McFarland was the ADR Director for Fullmetal Alchemist and its remake and he doesn't disappoint us with his direction of the dub, even though not every single voice is spot-on though.

The characters are pretty much the same like the first six episodes. Shinji is interesting if you've only seen this movie, he's a bit of a mixed bag since the end of the original series. Shinji is not too bad of a character in this movie because even though he whines and gets angry in a couple of scenes, there's a reason for it. The way Shinji reacts and develops is actually not bad and gets overlooked. If you didn't like Shinji Ikari in the original series, he is more tolerable in this movie. Rei is still a bit mysterious and there's not much to say about her in this movie. Misato is actually interesting in the first movie for a specific scene which I'll get to in a minute, Gendo Ikari is LIKE A BOSS and STILL DOES HIS POSE! 'Nuff said. The characters are good for the most part.

When it comes to story, It is very faithful to the original source material from the first episode to the 6th, I will say the same towards the animation. The only problem I think some otakus will have is that this looks nearly just the same as the first 6 episodes its based on. Honestly, I have no problem with this because the animation is ten times better than the original series, The earlier episodes didn't look so great at first but the episodes are ok for the most part. If this problem I'm referring to annoys you, then allow me to convince you on one thing. That last third of the movie makes up for that. That third would be when Ramiel shows up. Ramiel had a drastic change compared to the original series. Ramiel went from fighting like a Death Star to...well, find out for yourself.

If you got a home theater room with good speakers, turn the speakers as much as you want because this film is worth having a home theater experience.. This last third is undeniably the highlight of the movie. There are some differences between the first six episodes and this movie, even if this movie seems like a repeat of stuff from the original series, The intent for this series of movies is for both fans of the original series and to those that are new to the series. I guarantee this movie won't disappoint.

Evangelion 1.0 is available from Funimation.

With all that said, Evangelion 1.0 is a wonderful experience with gorgeous modern animation and visuals. This first act of a promising remake of a revolutionary classic is proving itself that the first 6 episodes are solid in terms of visuals and so forth. This was made to make it look better and show people that this is something they could've done if they had the budget for it. The Rebuild movies do have a higher budget to make this possible. It doesn't disappoint but it has some bumps which is why I don't deem it to be perfect. For the most part, Evangelion 1.0 is a solid first act.

I give Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone a 9.3 out of 10, it is EXCELLENT!

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

yherman - 2015-01-07 09:52:47

A rebuild to the most controversial anime in history, Evangelion 1.0 sets the stage of rebuilding this great franchise.

This first moovie however is mostly recap form the original series, with better animation and a few new things that are important.

ferry.mya - 2014-12-24 04:34:10

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 

mernser - 2013-08-31 23:05:18

Evangelion 1.0 plays like a cliff-notes version of the opening section of the series, which is probably fine for some, but I found myself wanting perhaps a little bit more. It feels grander in scope, which is no doubt a benefit of adapting this introductory arc as a feature, but I think that its failings are the intimacy it sacrifices as a result. This isn’t just a factor of the interpersonal relationships, but also the established universe.

To put it simply, it leaves almost no detail to conjecture, and instead seems intent to fill in the gaps for you. It's evident almost from the offset - this extends as far as establishing shots of the world towards the beginning. This may feel superfluous to many, but one of my favourite aspects of 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' was seeing that gradual drip-feed of information, particularly as it related to the world. That mystique was something that was originally impressed upon me whilst watching the television series. And for the most part, these minor world-building details were often revealed through character interactions and dialogue, rather than explicitly laid out for us. It allowed for our world-view to be built up over time, rather than rapidly established upfront. Though, it's certainly a luxury of a more long form medium, so it’s understandable that these sort of concessions would be made.

A similar tact is taken with the NERV itself. They were always villainous to a degree, but to what extent were always partially obscured. Their dealings are discussed and displayed in a much more overt manner here. For someone who has only recently finished with the series, it’s certainly jarring to see multiple scenes were Gendo is discussing his plans in such a forthright manner. Even in these private moments, I’m used to him being withheld. I guess for the sake of brevity, patience isn’t a virtue. Couple this with the fact that Misato has such free-access to Adam, it’s all quite weird when you already know all the implications of such details. These had previously been revelatory moments, which are now being shuffled around the narrative.

The characterization is also affected as a result, and where I had previously felt as though we were seeing events unfold from Shinji’s perspective, (along with all the uncertainty that brought with it) we’re now much more privy to the bigger picture. I wouldn’t say that the emphatic strain of this arc is lost with this, but when considering the main narrative crux of the arc is Shinji’s begrudging acceptance of his role, it isn’t something that is conveyed all that well. It works in as much that it successfully evokes scenes from the series, but it hinges too much on that prior knowledge, and I wouldn’t be surprised if newcomers felt this development was a shallow one. We know (and are told) that Shinji’s problems manifest on all fronts, his personal life, his school life, his professional life; but we only ever glimpse these here. The audience is left with nothing much to dwell on, rather, we are instead informed of these developments, and this exposition, though succinct, isn’t anywhere near as illuminating.

It may be something of a hurdle, particularly as Shinji is such an obtuse character to begin with - hardly one that lends himself to endearment. Some may find this truncated narrative more palatable, but I personally like the way in which the series meandered between the mundane and frantic. This critique itself may seem oblique, because I understand it is somewhat presumptuous of me to assume the remainder of the Rebuild franchise will slavishly adhere to the source like 1.0 does. So if Shinji remains the main emotional tangent, I’m curious to see if the depiction develops into a more flattering one.

It’s enjoyable all the same, but it feels bereft of certain deftness. The broad strokes are certainly more easily discernible, but It’s difficult to get a feel for all the internal strife, especially when we are being hurled from once set piece to the next. But with all that said, the ending seems to allude to certain plot elements perhaps getting a bigger focus here. Kaworu certainly cast a large shadow over the series proper, but his inclusion was so brief and dramatic, that it’s difficult not to want glean more from his role. His early arrival suggests quite a big divergence, and along with many other plot elements getting dropped much earlier, I’m keen to see whether 2.22 decides to pull further away from what we know.

The animation bump is certainly noticeable, though I did appreciate the personality that is inherent to older animation. This is emphasised in the Evangelion scenes, where that earlier mechanical animation is now supplemented though CG. Clearly it is a bone of contention. But I think this is really effective in the case of the Angels, whose distinct appearances are lent other-worldliness by the dissonance of their CG compositions. If anything, I appreciate that Rebuild allows for the entire story to be given a more…consistent presentation, because although I really have affection for how it looked (and still do), the series obviously had a few problems in that regard.

Summary:

This serves as a curiosity to me, and by no means do I expect it to supersede the original, nor has it. At this point existing as an odd retread, it’s all pomp and circumstance, mimicking its predecessor, just without much of that nuance. It stands as an amalgamation of various elements, all sitting uncomfortably under a shiny surface.

I think the scope to be able to give a different interpretation of this world is a compelling one, so I hope that it carries on in the vein that 1.0's conclusion promises.

geovany38 - 2013-08-28 18:28:13

So what happens you have a guy in a bout with depression direct a supposedly children’s super robot show? What you get my friends is what we call Neon Genesis Evangelion. Now flash-forward a few years and now said man is an accomplished director who is credited for making one of the most influential mecha anime to date. So of course he is happy as can be. Now said man intends to revisit his magnum opus yet again. What will became of this revisit soon to be called the Rebuild of Evangelion. The Rebuild of Evangelion was intended to introduce viewers previously unfamiliar with the series while at the same pleasing veterans. So how exactly does this first in this tetralogy measure up?

I will start off by saying that this first film is almost verbatim the first eight episodes of the original television series save for few minor changes here and there. This may frustrate some and may not bother others I am just saying this film isn’t particularly treading new ground for the franchise. This didn't bother me however since I haven’t seen the original series before watching the film. I probably should get around the watching the original show though. Personally, I feel that the film does well to welcome those who haven’t seen the original though they may be walking out of it with more questions than answers

Anyways, another problem with the film is that doesn't really feel like that it is simply one story but instead a string of interconnected stories that don’t really flow well into another. To elaborate upon this even further, you know how you have the basic story structure; Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and the Resolution? Well, this film does in so often that it feels like they just crammed eight episodes into a measly two hours instead of being an actual two hour film.

The movie looks phenomenal giving the show that already good for its time a much needed face-lift. I like the visual throughout the film, with the emphasis on mixture between traditional line animation and computer animation, gives the movie a sense of scale. Everything is a sight for sore eyes from the intricately detailed backgrounds to the choreographed robot fights. This movie does well to bring you into this post-post apocalyptic world as I call it. The music is nearly as phenomenal though many of the tracks used in film were take straight from the television series which isn't totally a bad thing I might add.

I can’t say too much about the plot or characters without going into spoiler territory but I will say the characters are human. Much of the film is devoted to Shinji’s plight and so far fares better than his original series counterpart. The story is riddled with many common tropes found in Super Robot anime however as with the original series tries its best to deconstruct them. By the words of TvTropes, a deconstruction usually means applying a more real-world causality to an idea or concept. This I feel along with its colorful cast of character lies the film’s greatest strength.

Overall, I liked Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone despite its flaws. The movie looked and sounded great but too bad that can’t help how the movie paces itself. I would definitely recommend to who haven’t seen the show but ultimately I just tell you to watch the original show as to better appreciate these new films.

esmitham - 2013-07-19 20:50:42

Seeing as how I am a fanboy of the original series of Neon Genesis Evangelion, you will have to take everything I say with a grain of salt. That said, it is pretty much inevitable that everyone watching this is already a fan of Evangelion anyway. So let's begin by making this clear: This is not Evangelion. It may look like Evangelion, it may claim to be Evangelion, but it isn't.The movie covers episodes 1 through 6, beginning in much the same way as the series did, and ending with the 5th Angel's attack. We see much of the scenes faithfully recreated, up until Misato comes to pick up Shinji, and they begin talking as fast as they possibly can. The dialogue moves by ridiculously fast, in an incredibly thinly-veiled attempt to cram as much of the series as they can into the space of a single movie, with horrible results. Their sacrifice of quality for the sake of quantity thoroughly destroys the pacing, which, upon retrospect, was a big part of what made Evangelion what it was. There were a lot of long, atmospheric shots that helped to build the tone of the series, and here, they're gone.In fact, even the overall style feels different. It seems to opt for darker, richer colours than the original, which honestly doesn't suit the style of the original series at all. It could be argued that animation has since moved on from the original series, but then, look at End of Evangelion. That was fantastically animated, and kept with the style of the series perfectly.Another thing it seems to have lost track of is the soundtrack. Another interesting part of how the original series was directed was how rarely they used background music, often opting for silence punctuated only by the cicadas. Here? Pretty much every scene has a musical score behind it. This is how normal shows function, not how Evangelion is supposed to function. And even then, some of it actually seems like something Gainax would have used in Gurren Lagann, as opposed to Eva. Even with their choice to use more music taken into account, it still feels like they could have done a better job, although this is a comparatively minor nitpick.Another major point is that the dub is very badly done. Aside from the fact that all the acting is forcibly quite bad (although this is less the actors fault and more the fact that they have to talk very fast to keep up), one particularly noticeable thing is that most of the original cast has been replaced, mostly by much less fitting voice actors. Whilst some changes are welcome, for example Touji sounding considerably better than he ever did in the main series, most are very distracting. And even the ones who stayed don't sound remotely similar to how they did 14 years ago. The most noticeable example is Spike Spencer's performance as Shinji. For the first half of the movie, I was thoroughly convinced that they had replaced Shinji's voice actor. With a female one, no less. Shockingly, Spike is still in the role, but sounds absolutely nothing like he should. How this could happen is an absolute mystery, considering he's been playing nothing but Shinji and Shinji knockoffs for the last 14 years, but somehow he botched his performance quite badly.Now, I know that a fairly basic argument against this is that it isn't trying to be like the original series. This is somewhat thwarted by the facts that A: Pretty much everyone who watches this will be judging it by the standards of the series, and B: It doesn't stand up very well on its own either. The pacing and dialogue have ruined any chance this had of being a replacement Evangelion in its own right, as well as the plot and directing being skimmed over. Considering the series always had a habit of throwing you in without knowing what the fuck was going on, imagine how that works when everything is thrown at you at a mile per minute. Hint: NOT VERY WELL. I can't imagine a newbie to the franchise would have the slightest clue what the fuck was going on.All in all, I was somewhat worried that Hideaki Anno might have lost it, what with being sane now. And to my surprise, I was right. This has completely failed. It doesn't capture anything that made Evangelion a loveable series, and while it does clear out some of the faults it had, it doesn't balance things out nearly well enough. The only redeeming features are a handful of new scenes, all of which are quite good, and strangely more in the vein of the show than anything else in the movie, most notably the final scene that raises an enormous amount of questions about Kaworu, and promises that the single greatest reason to watch this movie is the promise that the next one will do things very differently.Final Words: What a disappointment. Let's just hope 2.0 makes it worthwhile.Animation/Graphics: 8/10Story/Plot: 5/10Music/Background: 5/10Voice Acting: 2/10Overall: 4/10

shaylee96 - 2013-05-30 23:39:55

I didn't watch the Evangelion anime before starting the movie. Its kind of old and I assumed just watching the movies is good enough for me. The story is interesting and a cool take on mecha anime. The art and sound are good enough to make the show presentable but nothing too special. The main problem I have with the show is the horrible main protagonist. All he ever did in this whole film is whine and complain on literally anything and everything. Any conversation he has with other characters, anything he dose, anything he thinks about, nothing but whining and complaining comes out. It really enraged me and made it difficult to connect to the characters of the show. Despite that, its a great film and I wouldn't dissuade anyone from seeing it. Just beware of the terrible protagonist. Hopefully he gets better in the next film.

stroman.thaddeus - 2013-03-12 21:51:40

What a great movie. even if you haven't seen the series don't fret, these movies are essentially a rebuild of the series, and great ones at that. they stay faithful to the original show while still adding some new content, whether your new to Evangelion or have seen the series, you owe it to yourself as a fan of anime to get involved in one of the most classic (and confusing) animes ever.