Evangelion: 2.22 You Can {Not} Advance [Blu-ray]

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.

[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.