This prefecture isn’t big on movie theaters. The nearest multiplex from where I live is two hours by train, and my home city has a tiny two-screen affair that seems perpetually several months out of date. Who knew that there, of all places, I would stumble onto a special showing of Rebuild of Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance?
What to say? Well, you know, I try to maintain a certain voice on this blog, but this time I can’t help breaking character to gush.
Holy crap, it was SO COOL.
Remember when we thought this was Mana from Girlfriend of Steel?
The best part, and probably the most defining, was Makinami Mari Illustrious. I liked her character design, and I heard some descriptions of this new character (hot-blooded, gets a thrill out of piloting Evas), but that was it. I didn’t really know what to expect. But then the moment she said “Uuah, kitaa!” in the opening scene, everything clicked. My god, she’s actually having fun. She is fun. What a fabulous girl.
I think that’s a bit of an influence on this Rebuild series. Because if I had to peg how this movie feels different, I would say that it’s very clearly about passions. Shinji without love (as we see for most of the first film) is frozen. But when he realizes his desire to protect someone, damn, the boy can fight. Everybody just feels more alive in general, especially Rei, who has developed a more inquisitive, even playful personality. Whether or not this is due to the advent of Mari in the redesign process, I can’t judge, but I don’t think she was envisioned as a member of the cast without making waves.
Asuka’s character suffers a bit: Most of the physical fanservice is centered on Asuka, her feelings for Shinji take precedence over her self-worth issues (which are still there, just played down in favor of the relationship), and she just doesn’t get a lot of time to be somebody distinct from “the rival love interest.” As a case in point, I can’t help but feel like this is partly due to being introduced at the same time as Mari, thereby time-sharing our attention. But it’s not a bad start, and there’s hope in the next film for her to play a bigger role.
She was still quite cool, mind. Her introduction, with the help of modern CG and a theatrical budget, was breathtaking.
I have some more involved thoughts related to Rebuild of Evangelion, which I might do in a few days. But to conclude, Eva 2.0 was worth every yen, and it will be worth it again when I buy the exorbitantly priced Japanese DVD once it comes out. Even when I didn’t understand the dialogue, which was true for pretty much all of it, I was riveted.
That said, I admit thinking about how I was going to blog this RIGHT when I got home, coherence and planning be damned.
December 5, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Glad you were able to see the movie while it’s still in theaters ^_^ I think it was out when I was there but I didn’t see it. Reading this post has gotten me even more excited about seeing it when the DVD comes out! Eva 1.0 was just episodes 1 through 6 with updated animation and some new scenes, so I’m glad 2.0 has mostly brand new stuff =D Since you seem pleased with her, I’m also interested in seeing what Mari is like.
You’ll still be in Japan when the Haruhi movie comes out it February, right? You should see that one too. I’ll be totally jealous (as will thousands of other fans =P)
December 6, 2009 at 4:03 am
Mari was definitely a pleasant surprise.
A friend of mine also mentioned the first Eden of the East movie. I don’t know if I’d trek all the way to Tokyo for that. But for the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, supposedly the best book in the series full-stop… you know, I just might. It would make for one hell of a blog post, that’s for sure. Thanks for the heads-up.
December 5, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Gah I want to see this!
The last anime I saw in the theater was a compilation movie (a local hack edit) of Choudenji Machine Voltes V around 82/83(?) — I was so young but I loved it!
December 6, 2009 at 4:00 am
From what I understand, Voltes V is THE giant robot of every Filipino’s childhood, so it makes sense.
This movie is worth the wait. I wasn’t nearly this excited over You Are (Not) Alone, but I’m pretty sold now.
December 5, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Hmm. Didn’t know the new Eva movies were adding new characters. I thought they were just going to be remakes or retellings of the same story. Interesting…
December 6, 2009 at 3:57 am
It’s interesting that you didn’t notice. Mari caused quite a ruckus when she was unveiled. Even more so once people saw the film and the first doujins started popping out.
The first film was pretty much the same material as before, but it’s safe to say that 2.0 is almost entirely different. The next film promises to be an even bigger departure. I was skeptical years ago, thinking this was another milking strategy (and it probably still is), but it looks like Gainax has made good on this idea.
December 6, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I’m not actually much of an Eva fan, so I don’t keep up with the latest news like cast additions. Mari looks like a fun character though – not angst-drenched like the other Eva characters.
December 6, 2009 at 1:30 am
Hmmm, I’ve never watch Evangelion EVER, but it seems you thought it was pretty good
So on that note, should I just watch the original first…? Or 2.0…? Orrr? Which series should I do first because I want to get the best experience.
December 6, 2009 at 3:54 am
Well, 2.0 is only the second film in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, which is apparently going to be a four-film set. It just came out this year. So it would be great if you did Rebuild first (bigger budget, tighter storytelling, less manic-depressive director) but you would have to be very patient.
The original TV series hasn’t held up for me very well. But when I watched it for the first time as a teenager, I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. So maybe try that: Watch the show, fall in love, then start the movies and see how the characters have changed after a decade.
December 6, 2009 at 4:49 am
Ahhh, ok, because with all these re-animations, i wonder which ones I should watch first. Like brotherhood from fma for example. GREAT “remake” I think people should see first
December 6, 2009 at 4:08 pm
If Mari is that great to make you lose your character, then I can see myself enjoying the 2nd Rebuild movie a lot. The rawness of this post is its own charm. o/
December 7, 2009 at 12:40 pm
You can probably tell that I tried to reign it in towards the second half of the post… But I am definitely in love with the new hotness. My only complaint is that she didn’t appear enough. But she stole the show in every scene she was in, that’s for sure.
I think you would like the movie in any case. The robot action is pretty amazing.
December 7, 2009 at 10:54 am
Hmm I actually loved the unemotional Rei from the original series. She reminds me of the silent characters from the films of kim ki duk, where they don’t utter a single word throughout the entire length of the film. It’s not that they don’t know how to speak, it’s just that most of these characters are hurt from relationships, and they build barriers (A-T fields if you will) around them and avoid talking to other people, avoid connecting with them. That is why when the main character in the movie ‘Bad Guy’ finally does speak, that much more powerful, as each one of his words make a howling cry for loneliness. Similar reason why, when Rei finally does show emotion by crying and saving Shinji by sacrificing herself, it is that much more emotional.
December 7, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Rei’s quick development might be a function of theatrical length. After all, how long did we have to wait in the show until Rei’s first smile? Because this time it only took one sitting, and she only grows more lovable with this second film. I’m just hoping they don’t do Rei III in this retelling, because that would be terribly depressing.
December 7, 2009 at 8:09 pm
>>Even when I didn’t understand the dialogue, which was true for pretty much all of it, I was riveted.
Everything that wasn’t techno-babble seemed pretty easy to understand IMO.
2.0 is pretty much Hollywood-action-movie Evangelion, which most likely came about from a change in attitude towards the story which is reflected in the less emo-cut-cutty characters and the overdone action scenes.
Yeah, I agree with Asuka’s characterization, but it’s pretty unavoidable.
December 8, 2009 at 9:11 am
There were some things I was surprised to understand with perfect clarity. The fact that Mari was complaining about her tight plugsuit, for instance. But the rest of it was pretty much lost to my six-month Japanese-pickled brain.
You’re right about it being like a Hollywood action movie. But the recurring scenes with the train in twilight make me suspect that Anno still has some of the old devil in him. Time will tell.
December 7, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Oh, I wrote a review of the movie when it dropped if you care: http://blog.mistakesofyouth.com/2009/06/27/evangelion-new-theatrical-version-division/
December 8, 2009 at 9:07 am
Never fear, I read this review when you first posted it.
December 8, 2009 at 5:03 am
I didn’t even realize there was a Eva 2.0. Not an Eva fan…
That illustration is extremely beautiful though. I never realized plug suits and glasses are so hot.
December 8, 2009 at 9:15 am
Glad you appreciate it.
The fandom has been around long enough now that some people have never even SEEN Eva. So in that sense I’m kind of glad these films are being made.
February 22, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Nice blog post – I was interested in what the Eva movies were like, and being australian wasn’t able to see them myself unlike the original series, but it looks very interesting with the new character(s).
February 23, 2010 at 10:49 am
Oh yes, quite interesting. I think you’ll be pleased come April, or whenever the DVD comes. Thanks for reading.
May 31, 2010 at 6:13 pm
[...] to deny that Makinami Mari Illustrious was totally my favorite character in this movie. As 2DT put it, “I liked her character design, and I heard some descriptions of this new character [...]
June 11, 2010 at 8:31 am
[...] every bit as gorgeous as I remember, and a little more. Aside from how great Mari is (have I mentioned that yet?), I find myself quite impressed by the facelift Gainax has done on the Angels. [...]
August 20, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Well, I see Rebuild as another part of the big artwork. Not in the way the sequel theorists think, but… The Original and EoE showed and analized the Problems, Rebuild is Anno telling us the Story of how he overcame his own problems so we might profit from that. I think Asuka, who always represented the twisted, sexual side of love, had to be tones down for this – more than that, I think she started out pretty much as jerky and ambitious as in the series, but then, Rei makes her realize that others have feelings too.
I’ve always hated Asuka, but in Rebuild, she did something that made me respect her and set her apart from other characters: She realizes that her love intrest isn’t the only Guy in the universe.
I really loved Rei in this movie, because we finally got to see her fully defrosted self. She doesn’t get talkative or start to complain about stuff like she does in bad fanfiction; She remains our quiet, mysterious Rei, but some of her previously not that apparent character traits became more visible… Traits that already shined through in the original episodes, mostly in 16-18, but fully manifest in Rebuild.
Rei Ayanami(Version II) is quite a caring, determined little person on the inside.
The Idea of her trying to get the Ikaris to reconcile is so brilliant, only her original creator could’ve thought of this.
If she gets killed and replaced in Q, expecially after Shinji told her that she is ‘the only Ayanami that exists’, I’ll CRY SO MUCH.
Rei III didn’t seem to particulary enjoy existing anyway, let the poor girl stay in the tank for Rebuild XD
Now onwards to Mari. I thought I was the only one who loved her, but I guess u luvd her, too. She is so badass, quirky and absolutely restraintless, speaking simple words that still hold a deep truth within them.
August 22, 2010 at 12:41 am
I, too, am not looking forward to any iteration of Rei III. Somehow it seems like it would hurt more for that development to happen here.
Personally, it seems to me like everybody loves Mari to death. Even if they didn’t, though, that’s okay– more for you and me.
Thanks for reading!
July 12, 2011 at 1:13 am
[...] to deny that Makinami Mari Illustrious was totally my favorite character in this movie. As 2DT put it, “I liked her character design, and I heard some descriptions of this new character [...]