Evangelion 2.0 – A mind blowing experience
It’s now two days after watching Evangelion 2.0 in Munich and time for a few words.
Note: I’d like to keep this post mostly spoiler free, as it would be a really cruel thing considering the plot of the movie.
Starting off with a battle between EVA 05 (Provisional Unit), piloted by Mari Illustrious Makinami fighting against the third angel. (It’s hard to recall the first few minutes, cause if you aren’t used to watch anime in a cinema it’s just too overwhelming at the beginning.)
This initiating battle scene is actually representative for the direction of the whole movie, as you notice that it is much more than a rebuild of the original series.
Evangelion 1.0 was merely a refurbished version of several episodes of the original series. You noticed most of the differences to the series in 1.0 but it’s sometimes hard to spot them in 2.0 as Evangelion 2.0 rewrites the storyline. With rewriting I’m not only referring to obvious stuff like introducing Mari as a new Character, reshaping EVA 05 (as it was a completely different model of the mass production units in EOE) and a lot of different things happening in the movie (which I won’t tell you here) but because of the overall atmosphere.
You might be thinking “Different atmosphere, eh what?” but that’s one of the things I noticed throughout the movie. For several reasons Evangelion 2.0 feels warmer and by doing so more realistic.
One reason is that the characters show much more of their characteristics than before. Yes, they are more sociable in some way and therefore acting “more human”.
No, not like that… Sry, but I had to post this pic. ^^;
Even someone who didn’t talk much before starts to interact with people out of a very “fuzzy” feeling. (For those who have already seen the movie too: Yes, I’m referring to the elevator conversation. xD)
Another thing rarely seen before is that the city seems to be more lively now. There are schoolgirls, businessman and such walking around on the streets which gives the impression that daily life goes on in Tokyo-3.
As for the animation: Breathtaking. Not only because I saw it on 92m². Fluid animations, great scenery which is beautiful even when the scenes are sometimes terrifying.
Pictures of destruction have never been that great! It might sound harsh but I was catching up on some currently airing anime yesterday and it was… awful!
If you ever thought about downloading one of the cam rips out there… DON’T DO IT! Wait for the Bluray version!
The soundtrack is great, especially the epic instrumental tracks with the choir. They used some remixed old tracks which sound a little bit wacky though. But I guess you can’t use any other songs for certain scenes. Could you imagine Misato getting all warm und fuzzy with her beer cans without that comedy like music? I can’t.
The ending song was a real disappointment though. Don’t get me wrong, Utada Hikaru’s songs are great, but they just used an acoustic version of “Beautiful World”, which was the ending song of Evangelion 1.0.
I can’t help but look at this one as the real ending song:
Overall it was the best movie I have seen in a long time, maybe the best ever so far.
The credits where followed by the trailer for Evangelion 3.0: Quickening. One scene in there amused the audience quite well… unfortunately it spoils 2.0 in some sort.
Hopefully I motivated you to watch this movie too. It’s a piece of art every anime addict out there should watch at least once in her/his lifetime.
Last but not least I’d like to thank my friend docbey who nearly sacrificed the front side of his new car for this movie as well as comrade Raito-kun for the great time we had. I’m looking forward to 3.0 ^^;
Now some picture spam for those interested.
In front of the cinema (Gloria Filmpalast) a few hours before watching the movie.
And that’s how you feel like after the movie. Completely nuts. ^_^
(Using a different camera for the first time can be hard.)
[Enter name of this building here] Munich is a beautiful city, would be great to stroll around and take a ton of pictures.
We couldn’t resist and visited the Apple Store there.
Unfortunately this temple of Fanboyism had a completely different effect on me. I can’t stand this! And I don’t want a new iMac. Those things are iMirrors.
My next PC won’t have an incomplete fruit on the case!
-hikky off
“My next PC won’t have an incomplete fruit on the case!”
WTF? What happened with you?
Well, 2.0 looks only more interesting now for me. Can’t wait to see it.
I think I will buy the German Blu-Ray ^^
Btw:
I was in Munich there too.
But in Summer the atmosphere is total different. And I did not went to the Apple Store. I was not interested in them in 2006.
(I went trough this gate to the Saturn and spent on the first day 150€! xD)
Question:
Did you not used a tripod or why is the picture a bit bad in quality?
@GREW
The only reason why someone should choose Apple is the design and I don’t approve of their shiny madness.
I will buy the Bluray for sure. And it’s soon time for the TV Tinbox I guess…
No tripod and not my camera. A poor event coverage but I was so completely focused on the movie. Sry.
I see you enjoyed the movie, are you happy with the new character development for Rei and Asuka?
Fuck Bluray! Fuck Blueray fanboys!
Sorry, I couldn’t stop myself
Hm. I am not fond of that picture of Mari you posted. Sure, the atmosphere, dark and with hints of fire is great, but her eyes are too flat, her face is too flat and devoid of humanity. Also, if you frame her face so you don’t see her hair, and only see up to her eyebrows, she looks sort of like a boy
I can’t wait for 2.0. I understand 1.0 was to catch up all the kids born after NGE, but as someone who’ve watched NGE years ago, and several times since, I wanted something, not just new, but more, as the first movie is seriously lacking on characterization and depth.
And the city getting more depth was something I noticed in the first movie. Notice how Shinji comes to the ruins, which make us think where Asuka ended at at the end of the first movie is not Tokyo-3 ruins from the Angel fights, but Old Tokyo…
Hmm…Im not that much into Evangelion to go to the cinema now and watch it.Ill wait until the bluray pops up and then ill watch it.
Its quite interesting that you are that flashed by the movie since I dont expect anything great from it.The first movie was simply a rehash for me and the only thing thats interesting me is how the new character will affect the storyline.
its interesting to know that Mari doesnt seem to be the only change ^^
Going to catch my share this Friday in the cini-complexes too. ^^;
@hikky
“The only reason why someone should choose Apple is the design and I don’t approve of their shiny madness.”
While I do like their designs, I choose Macs because of OS X, if OS X wasn’t there I’d go with something else any day.
@Wolfheinrich
I didn’t know if I’d like to see a different “Asuka arc” first, but turned out quite well. A certain scene was quite a brainfuck… the one where Kyou no Hi wa Sayounara was playing in the background. Argh…
But the “warmed” up Rei isn’t a bad thing either. ^^;
@Guy
Bluray not wan’t? Why?
Sry for the pic… Mari is a trap?
Yah the first one is like the opener for those who have no idea waht NGE is about, for whatever reason.
@Blowfish
If you have the possibility to watch it it would be awesome. You won’t regret it.
@zh3us
Hehe, yah it’s great that you folks can met up there. Have fun!
@yonasu
OS X isn’t really worth that much money anymore in my opinion since Windows 7 is around.
Looks like you had a great time. Hope to see some decent DVD (or Blu Ray) releases soon of the Evangelion movies so that I can catch them all once they’re all out.
Hoping this comes to theaters around here in the near future, give me a good reason to get out and go for once. Munich looks interesting, I like old architecture like that building. I really need to drag my butt out of the house more often.
It’s not your fault, the picture, it’s just too flat, their fault.
Bluray? No reason. Just being a hater
And the first NGE movie wasn’t very good, the episodes were considerably better there. But there you have it.
I Want Future? Does band English know no borders!
(Also, Blood the Last Vampire sucked as a live action movie. Sucked. I liked the animated version, but the live action made me want to scoop out my own eyeballs with a spork.)
Oha! I was there too!
Didn’t know that we austrian guys nearly ruled the cinema
I’m linking your post in my own, new blog (created yesterday ^_^’) – okay? =D
Sensenmann
@Joshua Zimmerman
How did you like the anime series adaptation, Blood+?
@Smithy
1.11 and 2.01 will be released in May here. And 1.01 is available since months but only on DVD with German subs or as Region 1 DVD with English subs. http://bit.ly/3KyeB
@Persocom
Hm, do US cinemas show anime usually?
@Guy
Hm, I have no idea why someone would not like improved quality…
@Joshua Zimmerman
Lol, finally someone who mentioned the Engrish. They had a flyer lying around too with more Engrish btw. ^^
And yes I agree. Blood was a desaster. Expected much more, the 2D version was way better. Saya didn’t look that bad though…
@Sensenmann
Oho, a fellow Austrian! How many of us where there?
Wir sind sozusagen die ersten Österreicher die den Film gesehn haben schätze ich mal. Hehe.
Unfortunately I was already spoiled with some goddamned blog post containing all happenings of 2.0 just after the Japanese premiere… I don’t remember what it was, but I know I didn’t like it. In the ‘nooooo!!’ meaning. Still, I’ll wait for the DVD.
Sicherlich waren es nicht viele Austrianer *g*
Aber kann es sein, dass das Asia Filmfest marketingtechnisch versagt hat?
Immerhin gabs den Abend davor noch Kinokarten… und das bei ner NGE Premiere, die schon 2x (?) geplant war, aber immer wieder abgesagt werden musste? *g*
I dislike propriety formats.
I shoooooooould be watching it if I catch the 1st movie at home first. Hahah!
I love the photo of that building in Munich, nicely!
never seen any of the Evangelion anime series or previous movies but your review and pictures made me very interested.
i’ll wait for the blu-ray because i am a blu-ray fanboy. and hater of half eaten fruit.
Hello hikky,
Please, can you tell me the name of the character on your avatar ?
thanks in advance
@Jamaipanese
You should give it a try. Quite epic.
@louki
Mari Illustrious Makinami named after the British carrier HMS Illustrious Japanese destroyer Makinami and as mentioned above a new character in Evangelion 2.0.
Avatar created from this wallpaper: http://bit.ly/2hM6X5
well if you are not interesting on apple computers then we ‘re on the same boat!
just perordered a alienware desktop from dell with blurayR&W drive last week!!
this is my final decision between the new imac and window pc
and it even cost me less than a new imac with almost the same feature!
think about it when u wanna a new pc
I was watching the movie in the same cinema than you. Why havent you talked about the amazing audience in your article ? After every Anime-Slapstick everyone have laughed and after the Movie there were standing ovations. Is it usual that people apllauses three times after a movie ?
in my opinion, its not
Seen it and it’s really mind-blowing!
Great xtuff. austrianotaku.com is great.