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Following his own personal feelings, Anno Hideaki decided to make the last two episodes of Evangelion in his own personal vision of the series (25 and 26). After the episodes aired on Japanese television, there was great dissent. The fans were unhappy with the ending. And rightfully so, the ending concentrated on the completetion of Shinji's character, and never resolved any plot elements. Even after the amazig climax in episode 24. The ending was also completely in the dream like format we've saw in episode 20. So therefore, the fans demanded a new ending, and Anno responded... He created two movies to finish off his work. The movies are very dark. Very, very, very dark. There is a lot of rather graphic violence, much more than used in the series. Also, more mature topics like sex and pleasure play a big role. They should not be view by anyone who isn't ready to be shocked and disturbed by Anno's bleak ending. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The majority of the first movie is a recap of the first 24 episodes put into a semi-entertaining prespective. However, at the end is about a half hour of completely new footage. Having outlasted its purpse, Nerv is invaded by the JSDF on Seele's orders. Depressed beyond all hope, Shinji has given up on life. But Asuka finally awakens, and begins to turn the course of the battle in her all powerful Eva Unit 02. However, Seele unleashes a new weapon. Eva Units 05-13! To be continued... Compared to the second one, this movie is tame. There's really nothing particuarly disturbing about this one. Except of course the hospital room scene. But i'll discuss that later. On to the grand finale.
End of Evangelion This is it! the moment you've all been waiting for all your life, or at least it seems that way. The final conclusion to Neon Genesis Evangelion! Third Impact occurs, and everything goes to hell. Asuka is destroyed. Nerv is killed. And the entire fate of the human existence relies on the emotions of Shinji Ikari. What will be the outcome? I was shocked and apalled. How could Anno do this? I hated this movie. Not only was it still confusing like the TV ending (more plot conclusion though) they depressed the hell out of me! It was sick and extrememly disturbing. How could anyone prefer this atrocity to the TV ending? Were they all perverted sadists? Apparently so. But then i watched the movie again. And then i read a different translation of the script. And soon i realized, this isn't quite as bad as i realized... If you throw away any attachments to the characters, and watch the movie, you'll find it quite interesting. There is so much philosphical and sociological content, that it severly damages the entertainment value of the movie. But if you watch it from a analytical point of view, its quite a work of art. Never have i seen something that has so much commentary on our lives. Other shows/movies try to obtain subtle commentary through discreet symbolism, but End of Eva hits the topic full force. Its not afraid to tip toe around a subject, it brazenly brings it to the foregroud using scenes that shock and amaze. Quick note: It has been awhile since i've seen End of Eva, since about a week after i got the tapes, i lent them to a college student, and they were never seen again. I'm trying to relace them so i can do a more in depth analysis. .....and THIS IS ALL MY OPINION! JUST MINE! The Characters: By the time the movies are shown, the characters portrayed in them have fallen so deep into a well of depression, they are hardly the same characters. Anno has managed to strip down all the layers of modern humanity inside them and just left the raw emotions exposed, in order to to make his points more direct. I still like to think that Shinji is a good person, but its wishful thinking at this point. Hospital Room Scene: I admit when i first saw this, i never noticed Shinji's unimaginable deed. and in fact, i haven't had the chance to go back and look. but after so much testimony on the net, which i refused to believe at first, i was convinced. It seems throughout the moie, Shinji has this complex about pleasure. In the conversation with Kaji in ep 19, Shinji stated he was quite familiar with pain. Kaji responded by asking him if he's found what gives him pleasure. Obviously, Shinji has not. His father abandoned him. Asuka hates him (for all intensive purposes she does) and Misato is not sure how to handle him. He is confused, and realizes the only way to achieve pleasure, it to administer it to himself on a physical level. Despite a strong natural reaction to, i do not believe Shinji is a pervert. He is a normal 14-year boy, who has had the worst possible experiences in his life. And recently, its been worse than ever. He killed Kaworu, Asuka has completely shut herself off, he found out the truth of Rei's existence, and Misato is too depressed herself to help. Shinji has no ability to deal with this, and like all humans he trys to find ways to make himself happy, if only momentarily. And remember, later in the movie, Shinji will have to deal with the topic of pleasure, this scene is like a prolouge. Grown Up Kiss: It seems that Misato doesn't know how to deal with Shinji. She treats him like a son, or a friend, a co-worker, or just another kid. She wants to help him, but doesn't know how. So its my theory that the kiss is the cumulation of all the pent up emotions. She knows that she is dying, and realizes that its time to stop treating him like a kid. Although she may be twice his age, it is brought up in the series a few times that Misato's character is emotionally immature ("I'm no better than Shinji is!") So this is a way of expressing her feelings at the same time as realizing they have so much in common. Ok, this is as far as i go until i see the movies again. i'll try to do an in-depth and detailed anaylsis then.
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