Rebuild of Evangelion 3.0 - You Can (not) Redo

Forget everything you think you know about what happens in the story of Evangelion, because Rebuild 3.0 - You Can (not) Redo takes things in a radically different direction.

Evangelion is probably one of the most influential anime series of the last two decades. Originally aired in 1995 under the name "Neon Genesis Evangelion," the story focuses on a post-apocalyptic Japan. 15 years ago an event called the "Second Impact" happened, melting polar ice caps and summoning giant monsters called Angels. The monsters proceed to do what giant monsters do best, and ruin things.

The protagonist of the story is one Shinji Ikari, a 14-year-old who is called to Tokyo by his mysterious father. Turns out Dad is the leader of a military taskforce, called NERVE, and is dedicated to eliminating the Angels. NERVE's weapon of choice are giant robots called Eva, and Shinji has been volunteered as the newest pilot.

Now this summary probably doesn't do the series the justice it deserves, but Neon Genesis was probably the series that first introduced me to the medium and it stands out as a shining beacon among so much rubbish.

You Can (not) Redo is the third instalment in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, a collection of four movies ostensibly recreating the 24-episode TV series.

I use the word "ostensibly" because until this film the series had only a few minor inconsistencies - barring the end of the second movie.

This film takes place 14 years after the end of the You Can (not) Advance, opening with Eva pilots Asuka Shinikami and Mari Makinami battling what appear to be Angels in space.

The pair are fighting to recover Shinji, who has been fused with the dormant Unit 01. When Shinji awakens, he finds much has changed, with his old colleagues part of an organisation called WILLIE, who are now trying to destroy NERVE.

Shinji was always an audience surrogate, but this takes things to a whole new level. You Can (not) Redo introduces a slew of new concepts and demands the audience take the information in its stride. To wit, there are giant, flying battleships, Eva-to-Eva combat, apparent immortality for Eva pilots, and much more with little to no explanation.

The film also has a much more sombre tone and pace compared to previous instalments. Shinji spends a lot of time trying to figure out what's happening and discussing his motivations with fellow pilot Kaworu Nagisa, who was briefly introduced in the second film. Kaworu was also a one-scene wonder from the series, although his role is greatly expanded in this adaptation.

3.0 has stunning visuals, surpassing previous instalments. Most of said visuals show off the juxtaposition of the environment and the carnage of the last 14 years. I would have liked to see more Eva-to-Eva combat, which is only really shown off at the start and end of the film.

The character development and direction is intriguing, with Shinji taking an unexpected turn, while still being consistent with the second film. I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Asuka and Mari, as well as some more screen time for the WILLIE personnel. I have no doubt the 14 year interim will be adapted in to a manga or series, given time.

While You Can (not) Redo throws a lot of curve balls and is a lot less action-heavy than the second film, it is an intriguing entry to the series and leaves me curious to see how the final film will turn out. If you've been following the Evangelion series, it is worth a watch, but might be too dense and impenetrable to casual viewers.