Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Publisher
Manga Entertainment
Director
Hideaki Anno
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Film
Running time
87 mins
Year
1997
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
By Dan S
20th May 04 --WARNING-- Before you proceed with reading, I would like to warn anyone who hasn't seen this animated movie that this review contains spoilers that could affect you impressions of the anime. --REVIEW-- Evangelion is an anime legend. The show was first shown across Japan in 1995, and it took the entire nation by storm. Although at first glance it looked like a typical mecha anime, at it's core Evangelion dealt with much deeper issues, such as the concepts of the human mind, and the perception of others. The series was famed for it's unforgettable cast of characters, sleek Mecha designs, as well as the clever humor and the many mysteries concerning the true goals of the SEELE organization and Gendo Ikari, the commander of NERV. With things looking so bright, fans were devastated when the conclusion of the series left them wanting so much more. Instead of the expected gore induced battle and victory for the much deserving good guys, the viewers were presented with a confusing insight to the thoughts of the main character, Shinji Ikari. Not only that, but the series failed to resolve any of the questions and mysteries concerning the Instrumentality project, or the fate of Adam, the first angel. Hideaki Anno, the director of the series, having received some angry letters from the fans, of amongst which was a healthy supply of death threats, decided: "Fine! If you want another ending I'll give you one!" And that's how the movie: The End of Evangelion came to be. The movie offers an alternative ending to the one presented in episodes 25 and 26 of the original TV series. It's safe to say that the fans got what they wanted, but it was twisted in such a dark way perhaps we shouldn't have asked for this movie. As you watch the movie, when you get to about 1/3 of the way through, you say to yourself: "Hell Yeah! It's what I wanted" We get to see everything the series missed out on. We see a huge battle, lots of explosions, and most of all, Asuka proving that she has what it takes to kick some serious Ass! But then, it all goes wrong... --BIG SPOILERS HERE-- The good guys lose, Asuka is ripped apart by her enemies, Shinji falls in to depression, Misato dies... and worst of all: The World Ends! You ask yourself: "WTF?" As instrumentality continues, Shinji is given the choice of whether he wants humanity to return to a physical existence, and at the end of the movie we see our hero chocking the life out of the beloved heroine (fan fave!) Asuka. This all sounds confusing, yes? Well, you'd just have to see this film for yourself. After watching it a dozen or so times, I do believe that it's one of the best Anime movies ever made, and is a must for fans of the show. Anyone who hasn't seen the series however, will have a very hard time getting to grips with what is going on, so I'd recommend watching the series before indulging in the End of Evangelion. An incredibly well crafted anime, this turned our dreams of a happy ending in to a horrible nightmare. Two words: Mind F**K 10/10
-- Dan S 20th May 04
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