Evangelion 3.0 theatrical poster
Review by Mountain Monkey
SCUM Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The third part of the ‘Rebuild of Evangelion’ film tetralogy picks up 14 years after the dramatic climax of Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance.
If like me, you have difficulty recalling what happened in the second part (which was released in 2009), the plot is a little perplexing to begin with, but things slowly settle into place.
Set in a post-‘near third impact’ world, much of life on earth has been wiped out, and what remains of the NERV organization now wants to complete the ‘Human Instrumentality Project’ (through a ‘fourth impact’). Over the years, a hardy bunch of survivors from the third impact have also grouped themselves into an organization called WILLIE and are dead set against preventing the fourth impact, which will annihilate humanity.
Shinji gets a rude awakening from his lady friend, Asuka
Members of WILLIE include EVA-02’s feisty pilot Asuka, who’s switched sides from NERV. Early in the movie, Asuka along with Mari Illustrious Makinami (introduced in Evangelion: 2.0) retrieves EVA-01, which has been orbiting around earth, cocoon-like since the third impact. After a battle with NERV-created ‘Angels’, they discover that EVA-01 contains central protagonist Shinji Ikari, who’s been hibernating inside since the third impact.
EVA-01 is retrofitted by WILLIE to become the fuel source for their flying flagship, the Wunder. Shinji is dramatically kidnapped by NERV, and the two sides are poised for an apocalyptic battle over the fate of humanity.
The Wunder and the armada of WILLIE
The animation in Evangelion: 3.0 is absolutely thrilling and only adds to the intensity of the movie. We wouldn’t have expected anything less than excellence from Studio Khara, which was set up by director Hideaki Anno with the intent of animating this tetralogy.
While certainly complex, the plot of Evangelion: 3.0 is intriguing, especially for fans of the series, who would no doubt want some resolution after the events from the second part. Unfortunately (or fortunately for some), there’s still another installment to go in this four-part series, so things are not completely tied up at the end of this movie.
We certainly hope that director Hideaki Anno obtains the funds to complete the ‘Rebuild of Evangelion’ saga, as it’s been a fantastic extension of the original Neon Gensis anime — we cannot wait to watch the conclusion!
Shinji and Asuka battle it out in their EVAs
