Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

Not a fan. Back in the day I used to take it seriously, but now that's long gone. As an experience it does evoke feelings, especially in face of its impressive direction. The problem however arises when it decides to brush the background off until it's needed only to kick the plot forward. It's not a coincidence the series pissed so many people off. Such approach aligns with the premise of having the audience knowing only what these troubled characters do and unveiling shit over time. For me though, when SEELE starts doing its voodoo there is no way I won't question their methods, intentions,and whatnot. Anno built a shady environment while focusing on something else, but shit eventually hits the fan and so they needed to expand into another fucking entry just to make sense of some stuff. That would be far more justified had such focus been more rewarding. It's not like Eva blows my mind with its subtext. It's very simple and Shinji finally getting his head out of his ass isn't particularly extraordinary. When I think of how much time was wasted on reiteration it tests my patience. It's no novelty Anno isn't a great writer, but I think even he could do something far more effective, or at the very least, less time-consuming. Various segments and occurrences are suspicious to say the least, which undermines its muh serious tone a lot, especially in the latter bits. I remember thinking the series is superior to the movie cause it treated its subject matter with delicacy instead of blowing it out of proportion. However, after realizing all of Eva is far from being actually insightful, deep, mature, and you name it, the movie became the only part I can thoroughly enjoy as a piece of spectacle. It's fun to see Anno teaching 'em kids self-worth through a hell of a bloated storyline, I can give it that.