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Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Blu-ray

(9 customer reviews)

Original price was: $49.98.Current price is: $29.98.

Mari Illustrious-Makinami pilots Provisional Unit-05 to defeat the excavated Third Angel. Asuka Langley-Shikinami and EVA-02 defeat the Seventh Angel. The Eighth Angel appears and attacks NERV HQ. EVA-03 is taken over by the Ninth Angel during testing and Shinji deploys to stop it, but learns Asuka is aboard. Gendoh switches EVA-01’s controls over to the Dummy System and begins fighting EVA-03…Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Blu-ray

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Mari Illustrious-Makinami pilots Provisional Unit-05 to defeat the excavated Third Angel. Asuka Langley-Shikinami and EVA-02 defeat the Seventh Angel. The Eighth Angel appears and attacks NERV HQ. EVA-03 is taken over by the Ninth Angel during testing and Shinji deploys to stop it, but learns Asuka is aboard. Gendoh switches EVA-01’s controls over to the Dummy System and begins fighting EVA-03…Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Blu-ray

Bonus Content:

  • Rebuild of Evangelion 2.02
  • Omitted Scenes
  • Remixed Scene
  • Promotional Reel
  • Teasers, Trailers & TV Spots

Additional information

MPAA rating ‏ : ‎

NR (Not Rated)

Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎

6.7 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches; 2.4 ounces

Director ‏ : ‎

Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masayuki

Media Format ‏ : ‎

Blu-ray, Subtitled

Run time ‏ : ‎

1 hour and 53 minutes

Release date ‏ : ‎

October 21, 2025

Actors ‏ : ‎

Allison Keith, Brina Palencia, John Swasey, Spike Spencer, Tiffany Grant

Studio ‏ : ‎

SHOUT! FACTORY

ASIN ‏ : ‎

B0FJMR1VDP

Number of discs ‏ : ‎

1

Best Sellers Rank:

#2 in Anime (Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews:

(4,144)

9 reviews for Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Blu-ray

  1. Jeff

    3.0 out of 5 stars

    Mixed feelings

    I’m a huge fan of the original series, which was an uncompromising personal artistic statement by its director, Hideaki Anno. Despite its enduring popularity, it was not a series that pandered to a mass audience. Those who say it fell apart at the end are sort of right, but the later release of the two movies “Death and Rebirth” and “The End of Evangelion” – which Anno has said restored his original vision for the series ending – redeemed that ending and properly completed an artistic masterpiece.The two “Rebuild of Evangelion” films released so far are kind of an unnecessary update to the original series, condensed to the point of losing much of what made the original story so special and with alterations that in most cases seem gratuitous or even random. This is even more true of Evangelion 2.22 than it was of 1.11.For example, in the original series, the Eva pilots were all matched to a particular Eva unit, and there was a good reason for that (without getting into spoilers). Eva pilots were physically and mentally incapable of piloting any Eva unit other than their own. However, in Evangelion 2.22, pilots and Evas are mixed and matched seemingly at will, and new pilots and Evas are introduced that didn’t exist in the original series, which are then mixed and matched too. Unless both the reason and means for this are explained in later films, this seemingly destroys one of the central plot points of the entire series (the nature of the Evangelions). There are many such examples of changes to the plot that some may not even notice at first, but which drastically alter what the series is all about.Speaking of the characters, they’ve also been updated. The main characters in the original series were all very different but all very rigid in their philosophies, and this lack of self awareness is part of what helped drive the plot forward and also one of the themes of the series. In Evangelion 2.22, the characters universally mellow to the point that there’s not much difference between them. It’s like the end of the Wizard of Oz; Shinji finds his strength, Asuka finds her heart, Rei finds her humanity. That’s nice, and probably something a certain segment of fans wanted to see, but it’s going to make the later films (there are 2 more scheduled) a lot less interesting. Also, there’s a new character and Eva pilot named Mari, who at least in this film is completely disposable. Meanwhile, Shinji’s classmates, who played a major role in the series, play no role at all in the plot of this film and simply take up screen time that could have been used to better develop the plot, or Mari’s character.The film is beautiful to look at – like Evangelion 1.11, it maintains the visual style of the original series while updating almost every shot to CGI. It may not be obvious in every shot, but many shots were created in CG and then processed to look like film, with a judder effect. On the other hand, there are a *lot* of “fan service” shots in this film, which may be good or bad depending on your point of view.I won’t give away any spoilers but the ending of the film also leaves me wondering where they go from here, and how they’re going to manage to fill out two more complete films. They’re basically already halfway through “The End of Evangelion”. I think they simply tried to do too much in 2 hours of screen time.Overall, as a big fan of the series, it’s nice to see these characters again and it’s nice to have something new going on, but if you felt the original series was flawed, the current film series is even more flawed. And while the original series was more or less one man’s artistic vision, the current films feel more like filmmaking by committee with maximum box office receipts in mind.

    34 people found this helpful

  2. RG

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Movie improves on the franchise’s story and sets the bar for sequels to come

    Most times, movie studios choose to make sequels because they either want to make a quick cash-in based on the popularity of a film franchise or continue the story the first installment established. Evangelion 2.22 is both yet it does not feel like a cheap quick-buck film nor does it feel rushed in regards to the pacing in its’ story. The sequel expands on what the first film covered and continues to do so. To keep this review spoiler-free, I’ll just explain what’s already been known. We are introduced to new characters, specifically Mari Makinami, who you see at the very beginning of the film taking on one of the Angels, term given to alien beings that descend from space, in one of the most exciting and well-executed battles in the film. The second “new” character is Asuka Shikinami, who we see battle an angel around the first 15 minutes of the film. Like in the original series, Asuka sees herself as superior to Shinji and Rei concerning piloting an Eva and things don’t start too well when they are first introduced. Meanwhile, Gendo Ikari, Shinji’s father, is still just as secretive as he was in the series and in the last film but as we progress into the film, more details surface concerning what he has planned for Nerv headquarters and to the world population. The film loosely covers episodes 8-19 of the original series. Old fans will notice several references and changes to the story around the first hour but the film then takes a very wild and unique direction near the final 15 minutes. Believe me when I say this, you’ll be eager to know what happens next and wonder how the director and producers will be able to top this. Take note that the film does not have an MPAA rating like the first film did. Evangelion 1.11 was released with a PG-13 rating; this was released unrated so I’ll list what you need to watch for if kids younger than 15 are watching. Concerning content, this film is very violent and the battles between the Evas and the Angels can get quite bloody especially the fight between Eva unit-01 and Eva unit-03. There is some profanity, some of it is audible and some is covered with sound effects. There is [only] one audible F word at the very beginning of the film, before the movie title shows up. There is no sex whatsoever in the film but there are a few scenes with little nudity but it is not presented in a sexual manner. There are thematic elements throughout the film, focused mostly on Shinji’s distant relationship with his father, Asuka’s social detachment from people, and Rei’s attempts to reach Shinji in a emotional method. Overall, this was an excellent film that will attract even non-fans of the series and individuals who are even remotely interested in anime. And blu-ray is the way to go! Highly recommended!

    6 people found this helpful

  3. McSpiffy

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great movie by ANY standards, not just Anime

    I won’t say much about the plot of the movie because it has been detailed here in the two hundred plus reviews, but as they have stated, it is intense, fantastic and you should pick this movie up and the first one, even if you don’t like anime or animation, or just want to see what the medium is capable of. There is some nudity, but I assume you people are mature and won’t have an aneurism over it. Besides, there isn’t much.On the art and animation front; the scenes and characters are well drawn and consistent, with the animation and movement of the characters and sets being fluid and smooth. I didn’t find any one part of the film that seemed lower quality than another. The designs for the Evangellion (the giant robots) are by my standards, cool and interesting to look at.I am going to preface the part about the voice acting by saying I am one of those people who generally prefer subs to dubs, and this movie is no exception. By no means is the dub for this movie “bad” by any stretch of the imagination (it’ won’t make your ears bleed), I just think that the original voice cast with subtitles is the superior version.Honestly if you like a good story, don’t mind some minor nudity, and are willing to give something that is animated rather than live action a chance, Evangellion is the movie for you. Take the plunge, you won’t regret it.The DVD also comes with a pamphlet that details key terms (such as what an AT field is and what the Second Impact was) as well as slight character background. included also is the design process behind the characters, Evangellions, and angels. All in all, it’s a cool little extra that will help you get a basic understanding if you are new to the franchise.(Please note that this is the second movie in the Evangelion series and preceded by “Evangellion 1.11: You Are (Not) Alone), but if you read a synopsis of the first one it will make sense. Well, as much sense as “Evangellion” can be said to make)Tell your friends…

    2 people found this helpful

  4. Gabe

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Worthy of the Praise

    Whenever I see a movie get too much praise, I have a tendency to hate it just because of such–not true for Evangelion 2.22. While the series has been synonymous with the terms “overrated” and “pretentious” at times, that’s not to say that such things are completely true. Partially, maybe, but not completely.I first watched the movie subbed (and in not the best of quality), having to sort through all the technobabble I was reading from the subtitles and piece together a story, resulting in not the best of experiences for me. That said, watching it dubbed made things significantly easier to follow on my part. Though, at the end of the day, both versions are essentially the same, the dub keeping as close to the original Japanese script as possible, while taking some liberties here and there for the sake of better expressing the characters for English-speaking audiences (ie: expressing Mari’s character through stronger swears).As for the story itself, I am glad that things are finally stemming away from the original 26-episode series. The problem I had with the first “Rebuild” movie was how close it stuck to the scenes in the original anime, while keeping the pacing rather slow, especially during the sluggish buildup to the climax. This time around, we get a good mix of old material and new material, keeping oldentime fans as well as newbies on their toes as to just exactly what will happen next.And if the movie itself wasn’t enough, the special features will definitely warrant the buy. Not only is there an audio commentary for the movie, but original Japanese trailers for the movie and DVD release, deleted scenes, and additional behind the scenes work, showing scenes as the make it from the drawing board to animated form. One minor complaint would be the inclusion of a “play all” option for the trailers, but not for other features, such as the deleted scenes. Being sent back to the main menu after 2 or so minutes only to select another 2 minute clip can be a pain after a while.The picture quality is also excellent–one of the few animated movies that deserves to be seen in high definition, what with its mix of 3D-style animation alongside detailed 2D backgrounds. Definitely worth the purchase!

    One person found this helpful

  5. Nick C

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    A good retelling

    [Minor spoilers below]Proceed to the bottom of this review for a short checklist/summary of why I bought it and why you may want to as well.First of all, to acknowledge other reviews I’ve read I’ll say this. Yes, the fanservice is a bit over the top and wasn’t really needed, yes the new character Mari does seem unneeded, yes the cookoff between Rei and Asuka is a tad bit sexist if you look at everything in a jaded, cynical point of view. But just accept Evangelion with all it’s flaws and obscurities, if you can’t do that then I have no idea why you’d want to buy this movie. My enjoyment of the movie wasn’t affected by any of the things I mentioned above, and if you liked the original series as much as I did then they shouldn’t affect you either.-I didn’t care about the fanservice, it doesn’t make me any more or less inclined to watch this movie.-I thought adding a new pilot(Mari) was interesting. I assume they added her in 2.22 to avoid having her look like a last minute add on in 3 or 4. I look forward to seeing her role develop.-Another reviewer said Rei and Asuka’s cookoff was sexist. I admit it can be misinterpreted to be such if you only look at the cooking part, but consider this. Shinji saved Rei in 1.11, and then cooked for her and the others in 2.22. Rei, wanting to return this kindness, wanted to cook for Shinji and the Nerv crew and bring Shinji and his father closer. Asuka, being jealous as usual, must outdo Rei in everything, including cooking. It’s not so much that it’s sexist, it’s just one more thing Asuka must one-up Rei in.As I said before I’m a big fan of the original series, which I own in addition to 1.11, 2.22, and Death & Rebirth/End of Evangelion.What I had to do to better understand the Rebuilds was have the prior knowledge of the original series. If you add your knowledge of the characters from the Tv series to the new plot in the Rebuild series then you should see why everything comes out as it has. I was surprised that people were complaining about some scenes being true to the source material. Usually in anime I see people complain about filler and deviation from the original manga/anime. My point being this. Asuka and Rei were both attracted to Shinji in the original series, but neither were able to express it very well. This would obviously not change in the rebuilds as it’s one of the most important conflicts between the two. Obviously in a barely 2 hour movie you don’t have time to build up a gigantic getting to know you/love you subplot between characters, so the romantic aspect seems rushed, but if you watched the Tv series then you can better understand it.Also about the Unit 3 test disaster, it differs from the Tv series in that Asuka pilots it instead of Toji. A previous reviewer mentioned this, saying it destroyed a major plot point of the Tv series in that only select individuals can pilot select Eva’s. Well I’ll be blunt by saying that you’re wrong in that regard. Technically speaking, anyone can pilot any Eva as long as the Eva accepts that particular pilot. This is stated in the first episode and others when it’s mentioned that Rei can pilot both unit 0 and unit 1 because of her connection to Shinji’s mother Yui(which I won’t go into because of spoilers). Also, the only reason Toji was Unit 3’s pilot in the Tv series was to create the conflict between Shinji and his father, I.E. “I hate you dad you made me almost kill my best friend.” Where was Toji’s special connection to unit 3 hmmm? There wasn’t one. If I had to guess the only thing that makes him qualified is his hatred of Eva’s and Angels for injuring his sister, and that anger could be useful in a battle where strong willpower is required. Also, Shinji and Asuka are able to jointly pilot Unit 2 when they first meet, further showing other individuals that do not have a special attachment to an Eva can pilot one. In theory, anyone can pilot any Eva, but the Eva’s can choose who they accept and who they do not.~EDIT~A previous reviewer mentioned that Shinji’s apprehension to kill Asuka while she was trapped in Unit 3 was a dumb plot point because he barely knows her. So your saying that a fourteen year old child not wanting to end another child’s life is dumb? He’s a scared kid who usually has trouble justifying killing the ANGELS, let alone another human being.THE SHORT OF IT.-Yes, a lot of fanservice, if your into that.-Yes, stunning visuals/sound, good action.-Yes, a new character with a very, very minor role.-Yes, a bit of a cookoff between Asuka and Rei that seems rushed but necessarily so.-Yes, Shinji continues to whine even though he’s got every fourteen year old boy’s dream. A giant robot and more girls then he knows what to do with.-Yes it does seem like a lot of plot crammed into 2 hours, but the original series was a mishmash, often in-cohesive, flawed masterpiece as well.My advice, watch the original series and End of Evangelion before buying the rebuilds, you’ll understand them and appreciate them much more then a newcomer to the series would.

    8 people found this helpful

  6. copaface

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Probably my favorite Anime film, ever.

    Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance may just be one of my favorite films of all time. After watching It I felt like I needed a nap, the Intensity of everything from beginning to end was just an experience I wasn’t ready for! Everything the first film did was outdone by the 2nd, drama, action, animation.. It was all there In a near 2 hour package of pure bliss. The stakes were higher, the action was high octane resulting In third degree burns from fight one to the last, very rarely am I ever so In tune with characters In an animated film, but Evangelion broke that barrier with It’s middle and ending acts.First off, Animation : The animation was simply a thing of beauty, the attention to new details In this film was so spot on that I felt like I was there! Seeing the workings of Tokyo III was engaging and awe-inspiring! The Eva x Angel fights In this film was like clock-work.. textbook perfection!Sound : The film seemed to opt for some Godzilla sound-biteswith the first angel’s screams being reminiscent of Megaguirus and Misato Katsuragi’s ringtone was King Ghidorah’s roar, seems Hideaki Anno had an eye for Gojira long before the plans of Shin-Gojira. Again the sounds of Evas and Angels were fantastic and let off a more animalistic side of the Evas while the Angels were kept at a rather unsettling edge.Story : The story was heartbreaking, there was loss, blooming love, betrayal & then some. It was hard to watch a few scenes In both the action segments and non action segments, they hit really close to heart and.. honestly It was beautiful.Characters : I fell In love Rei and Shinji In this film. They both seemed to crack a bit out of their shells and what lead to the ending of the film had me In tears and yelling at the screen “GO GET ‘EM SHINJI” I was completely Into the scenes with the two and It left quite the Impression. Of corse we were Introduced to a few new characters as well, such as Asuka Langley Shikinami the hot headed captain Eva pilot which the movie opens up with, she kicks some.. well ALL THE ASS and set the opening of the movie up PERFECTLY. Like to a damn T PERFECTLY. While her character did get under my skin a few times, seeing her evolve under the short amount of time was enjoyable! More so with her than your average “tough as nails” characters & the mysterious Mari Illustrious Makinami who came In out of nowhere! This character, she’s Interesting to say the least! And what she was able to do with her Eva (at least before Shinji’s final act) was baffling and left me speechless, Mari has guts and the potential to really carry a series all her own.Over-all : I’m keeping these reviews spoiler free, but leaving enough In them to get those who’ve yet to watch these films to make the attempt with them! I’ve honestly found a top 10 favorite movie by my sheer curiosity and holy hell do I mean that.. holy hell does It mean something. It takes a lot for me to like a movie, but to LOVE a movie.. this film managed to get me to that point at the 40 minute mark, both through characters and the action Implemented. Plus It helps that Utada came back yet again to give us the Acoustic Mix of Beautiful World which only added to the tears after the film’s end. Evangelion 2.0 Is currently my favorite anime film of all time, yes before AKIRA & ALL of Ghibli’s films.. this one just took the cake and ate It too. I can’t help but sing It’s praises.Rating : 5/5Recommendation : Highest I could ever possibly stress. Watch these movies. You will NOT regret It.

    10 people found this helpful

  7. Ray-Review

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Rebuilding A Classic: Part II

    Two years since the U.S. release of Evangelion 1.11 and now we finally have the release of Evangelion 2.22. For those who don’t know yet, this movie is the 2nd of 4 movies making the Tetralogy of “Rebuild of Evangelion”. This movie is a basically a retelling of episodes 7-19 from the original series but instead of minor changes like in the first movie, this movie is a COMPLETE retelling of the series episodes ultimately heading towards a brand new direction in the story. All the scenes in this movie are not replicated from the original series but rather inspired from the TV show. Major changes in the story include a new pilot named Mari from the Euro branch of nerv. While some Angels return, most are completely disbanded and replaced with a few new ones. This movie runs for about 2 hours and I have to say that this is one of the most beautiful Anime’s I have ever seen, I cannot imagine what the last 2 movies will be like.Like I have mentioned before, this movie is a retelling of the series. Familiar scenes from the original series are present and fans of the Eva series will notice them right away, however severely changed in both tone and outcome of each situation. For example the scene where Asuka and Shinji are in bed together was originally Asuka sleep walking and accidently ends up in his bed, but in this movie Asuka voluntarily goes to Shinji and has a little pep talk with him, those little differences can drastically change the meaning and perception of the scene. The Major thing I noticed in this movie that differs from the series is the interactions between characters; in my opinion all the characters in the movie get along rather well, especially the relationship between Asuka and Shinji. All characters seem less insane and more focused, I actually prefer this change of pace and I’m actually loving the chracters more now. However, all characters still act basically the same, Shinji is still the shy one, Rei is still the secrative one, Asuka is still the same outgoing showoff (but actually less bitchy). Misato is actually the one that has changed the most, she is a much stronger character in the movie adaption and less confused probably because she no longer has a love interest in Kaji. The movie’s progression is a bit fast pace but doesn’t feel rushed at all, and that is a very good thing because while only a 2 hour movie, they have managed to cram everything perfectly. I am not going to spoil anything about the plot of the movie but I will say that I cannot wait till te next movie. Although this movie still has its dark and emotional side that made this series infamous, there is a great deal of comic releif that I absolutely love.NOW for the DVD itself. The important aspect of this release for me was the English Dub and how they have executed it. The one thing that dissapointed me with the release of Evangelion 1.11 was the English dub; I was pretty satisfied with it actually, however I could not overlook the laziness of some of the voice actors most specifically the actors for Shinji (Spike Spencer) and Misato (Allison Keith). These are the veteran actors from the original dub released by ADV films and while as a fan I am greatful that these 2 reprised their roles however in the last movie they seemed a bit uninspired, but I can’t blame them since its been a while since these guys voiced these characters. BUT I am glad to say that in this movie Allison Keith and Spike Spencer have finally found their way back to the hearts of the characters and it feels at home again. Tiffany Grant has also reprised her role as Asuka and I’m finding the same problems with her as well but she is still as fiesty as ever and its just nice to hear her voice again, I can’t imagine anybody else doing Asuka. This DVD has a more extras than the last release and that is a MAJOR improvement because Evangelion 1.11 had no extras whatsoever and I am a little confused on why they released it as a 2 disc in the first place. The packaging of this DVD is a bit different than the last relase as well, this DVD comes with a Slip through cover and the texture of the orange cover is pretty cool. The DVD comes with a 20 page booklet (similar to the last DVD) and if you ask me, thats where the real extras lie. The purchase of the DVD is well worth the 20 page booklet that comes with it. I am also glad that there is audio commentary available as well, the director interviews the major cast of the film and their perspectives of the new movies and the creative process behind the dubbing. The only complaint I have is that the 2nd disc (ONCE AGAIN) lacks any real extras that provide true insight behind the movie, but at least the commentary is a bit more informative but I just wished they talked more about he film itself and less about themselves .Evangelion 2.22 is well worth the purchase, it is one of the most technically outstanding animes I have ever witnessed so far and everybody should see it.

    3 people found this helpful

  8. Not Bob

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Exciting Sequel

    Picking up where the first film of the Rebuild series left off, Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance continues the story of NERV’s work in defending Tokyo-3 from a series of monsters known as Angels. As before, EVA pilots Shinji Ikari (Megumi Ogata) and Rei Ayanami (Megumi Hayashibara) battle the Angels under the guidance of NERV head and Shinji’s father Gendo (Fumihiko Tachiki) and Misato Katsuragi (Kotono Mitsuishi). This film also includes the first appearance of the third EVA pilot Asuka Shikinami Langley (Yuko Miyamura) along with the introduction of a new character not present in the original series Mari Illustrious Makinami (Maaya Sakamoto), also an EVA pilot.I thought this film was an excellent follow-up to the first film in the Rebuild series. Much like the first film, this movie is based on the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series. However, unlike the first film, this movie really begins to take the story in a new direction that diverges from the orginal series. While it certainly retains most of the original characters and the basic premise, much is also changed which gives fans of the original series both a familiar and yet new experience in the Evangelion universe. Because of this, I found this movie to be quite more enjoyable than the first film, much of which was just a shot-for-shot remake of the source material.The visuals in this movie are fantastic. The filmmakers did an excellent job putting a lot of detail into everything including backgrounds and environments to the epic battles between the EVAs and the Angels.The sound design in the movie is great as well from excellent music, including some pieces from the original series, and other sound effects. I did watch this movie with both the original Japanese and the English dub. I thought both were pretty good and the actors generally did a good job of giving their roles character. The English cast even includes some who worked on the original ADV Films dub such as Spike Spencer as Shinji, Tiffany Grant as Asuka, and Allison Keith as Misato.As said above, this film takes the story of Evangelion in a new direction that diverges from the source material. I thought the story was interesting as Shinji continues to battle his various inner demons as he tries to do what is right or appropriate. I also really enjoyed how Rei gets some different characterization that takes things in an interesting direction.I think my only criticism of this film would be the addition of the Mari character. I really do not understand the purpose of her. It really feels like the filmmakers added this character and then had no idea what to do with her. With such a well-fleshed out cast, she just did not add much to the movie.Overall, this is a great anime film and, in my opinion, an improvement from the first Rebuild film. I would easily recommend this to fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the first film, or just anime in general.

    2 people found this helpful

  9. Bryan EZ

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    A True Must Have Film. Period.

    Let me start out by saying that this film is just incredible. Dare I say…perfect? Yes I’d go as far as to call it the quintessence of perfection. I was absolutely blown away watching this. When a film can leave you feeling the same emotions of excitement and thrill that riding a roller coaster gives you, you know you’re either crazy or it’s just that GOOD. Hopefully it’s the latter rather than the former. But being completely serious…this film is just ASTOUNDING in it’s own right.The film starts off right where the last one (Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone) ends, but in truth it skips episode 07 of the televised series so episode 08 and continues from there to episode 19. Now since this film was released I’ve picked up the first film mentioned above and loved it, it was enough for me to pre-order Evangelion 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance and also purchase the complete original series. What this film brings to the table is a mix of some new and refreshing plot with a mix of the classic Neon Genesis Evangelion storyline which isn’t a bad thing. The film weaves the new story it’s trying to tell with the old and does so in a way that makes it feel familiar while still being new and just as exciting.There’s several additions to the Evangelion universe that they add in the film. One such addition is the new Eva pilot Mari who makes a great addition at that. The best way to describe her is well…crazy, but a good crazy she’s just a blast to watch piloting and the scenes that do include her feel upbeat and fun. Let’s just say she enters the story with a bit of a bang. Also the film changes some aspects that were pivotal in the series. For instance several new Eva’s enter in the film while still being true to the series. The film also introduces Asuka Langley Shikinami, her surname changed from Soryu for some reason, but it’s never clear why. Other than that not much changes between the main pilots from the original series which are: Shinji, Asuka, and Rei. The only exception is Toji is no longer selected as a pilot, which you’ll later see why. Asuka is still the same old self-centered person who can’t be honest with herself and her feelings, Shinji still needs a reason(s) to pilot the Eva and deal with his father complex, and Rei is still a mystery in her own right who needs help feeling emotions in my opinion. Between those 3 just like in the original show you have the tsundere (love hate) relationship between Asuka towards Shinji and the underlying relationship between Shinji and Rei the latter of which is more emphasized in this film rather than in the series where you have a lot of attention being focused on Asuka and Shinji.There’s some minor changes to the film as well with the enemies or Angels that they face off against. For instance in the series the episode 09 “Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!”, where you have Asuka and Shinji working together to take out an angel that has the ability to separate it’s core into two. Instead you have a somewhat similar ending to the fight in the way that the Eva attacks the lone Angel which does not split it’s core and looks completely different from what the series depicted. But you also have some similar Angels such as an Angel attempting to crush Nerv HQ by dropping itself from orbit which would vaporize Tokyo-III. Other than that there isn’t much change to the Angels they face except for the last one before the film ends. There’s a lot that feels new to this film that makes it stand out while still retaining the original NGE story feel.Another great aspect of the film is the voice acting, now I’ve watched the original series in the English dub and really liked the voices. A few have changed and some aren’t for the better such as Kaji’s voice which in my opinion doesn’t suit him at all. But those that are present a lot in the film such as the pilots, their voice acting is spot on. The actors really came through with delivering each line making the full emotion they’re trying to portray evident in the way they inflict each line. This ties into what I said about it being a roller coaster thrill ride to watch because the actors carry you through the film with such emotion that it gets you excited, or makes you feel whatever each particular scene is trying to convey.Now the film itself is also in my opinion just completely beautiful. The colors, the artwork, the environments, heck even watching an Evangelion run through the city is just amazing to watch. And I mean that last part, watching the simple animation of an Evangelion running was just spectacular. And it should be the development for these films is top notch and a great and honest homage to the series that it rebuilds.So from here my suggestion to you would be check it out or do a little digging and see for yourself. FUNimation has a channel on YouTube where they’ve posted about 8 clips of Evangelion 2.22 in HD of certain scenes in the movie. I’ve watched all of them and they range from anywhere to 2 minutes to 9 minutes. Even still you won’t be spoiling much watching those, they really give you a sense of what the film has to offer without spoiling the plot. I still was surprised as to what happens even after watching Clip 6 *hint* *hint* it almost made me cry…really. Heck you can even purchase the first film Evangelion 1.11 in Blu-ray for around $10. If you do and you like that one then you’ll absolutely love this. Period.Final words…this film is worth it to any long time standing Neon Genesis Evangelion fan for what it offers and what it does for the series. I personally feel as though I’m watching the televised series for the first time all over again as a kid (or really the full series about a month ago). The film has some minor changes but just enough to make it feel original but yet familiar at the same time. It really invokes a senses of nostalgia. The artwork, animation, voice acting, plot, everything about this film is just spectacular. I would recommend it to anyone even if you’re not a fan, I think it’d be enough to turn you into one. So that’s my say on the film.

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