Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End Of Evangelion Movie Review
- Jack Sheldon
- Oct 10, 2018
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 31, 2018
I wish that I could describe how I felt at the end of this film, it was a strange mixture of confusion, anger and sadness. The End Of Evangelion or EOE was released in 1997 after the mixed response that Gainax received about the original ending to the television series.
While some fans call this film the definitive ending to the series others see it as more of an alternative ending and that the true ending lies in the mystery of episodes 25 and 26.
So what is EOE, well in simple terms its a feature length film which gives a more detailed look at what was actually going on during episodes 25 and 26, its split into two forty five minute episodes which I'll look at individually because trust me a lot happens in both of these.
Spoilers from here on...
Episode 25: Love Is Destructive
Episode 25 opens with NERV and SEELE breaking up their relationship as Gendo tries to start the third impact using Rei and Lilith located in Terminal Dogma, SEELE seizes control of the Japanese Strategic Self Defense Forces (JSSDF) and uses them to attack NERV's headquarters. Its a massacre, random employees are shot in the corridors as they beg for mercy, characters we've known from the start are killed in what is one of the most haunting scenes Evangelion has ever produced.
In order to protect the catatonic Asuka, she is placed into the cockpit of Unit 02 once it becomes clear that SEELES's true intentions were to wipe out the three EVA pilots and leave NERV defenseless against them. Unit 02 is deployed and placed at the bottom of a lake, the JSSDF begin dropping depth charges into the lake, Asuka manages to wake up long enough to confront herself and her fear of dying at that moment, she realizes her mothers soul was in the EVA all along and she uses Unit 02 to attack the JSSDF forces, she appears to be winning until the JSSDF fire at Unit 02's umbilical cable, severing it, with Unit 02 now relying upon its internal battery system, SEELE deploy the completed Mass Production Evangelion Series, Units 05 to 13, to destroy Unit 02.
Meanwhile Shinji is at his lowest point mentally, he's essentially crippled himself with his own depression, and even as the HQ is assaulted he refuses to pilot Unit 01 as he is afraid that he will kill someone else who means so much to him.
Shinji is rescued by Misato, who fights off a group of JSSDF commando's in order to take him to Unit 01's launch bay, however while making their escape Misato is shot from behind and is mortally wounded. She manages to get Shinji to the launch bay but he still refuses to pilot it, she manages to convince him to pilot it by kissing him and telling him " That was an adult kiss, we'll do the rest when you get back". Shinji is sent into the launch bay leaving Misato behind, with her last breaths she wonders if Kaji believed she'd done the right thing. We see briefly see an image of Rei above her as the area is bombed destroying her body.
Asuka is forced to fight against the nine MP EVA's, she calculates she has enough time on the internal batteries if she can beat each one in twenty seconds, she is able to temporarily disable the MP EVA's but they are more resilient that first thought and they are able to reactivate. Shinji finds that he cannot enter his Eva as Unit 01 has been encased in Bakelite however his bond with the Eva allows it to break free allowing Shinji to enter.
However he reached the Geofront too late since Unit 02 has already been eviscerated by the Mass Production Eva's, he screams in horror as SEELE's version of the third impact beings.
Episode 26: One More Final; I Need You
The episode opens with NERV's collapse as Gendo brings Rei to the chamber holding Lilith in Terminal Dogma but find that Ritsuko is already waiting for them, it is revealed that she tried to reprogram the MAGI system but to her horror one of the MAGI, Caspar, betrayed her, Gendo shoots her and tries to initiate his version of the third impact by merging the embryo of Adam, bonded to his right hand, and Rei Ayanami, the current vessel of Lilith's soul. However Rei takes over the process and reunites with Lilith who finally regains her soul and creates a planet wide anti AT field which negates the AT fields of humanity causing their bodies to dissolve into LCL. The souls of all human beings are then absorbed into the egg of Lilith, a giant black sphere cradled by Lilith/Rei as she grows into a supreme being comparable to the size of the earth itself.
As the souls form a single complemented existence, Rei/Lilith gives control of the process to Shinji, at first Shinji's emotional suffering and loneliness prompt him to accept his new form as he believes that there can be no happiness in the real world, however through a series of mental visions and internal monologues he recognizes that it is necessary to exist with others and that to live life is to experience both joy and pain. This results in a rejection of the goal of the Third Impact/Instrumentality and Rei/Lilith dies and decays releasing the anti AT field, allowing seperate beings to potentially come back into existence. In the final scene we see both Shinji and Asuka have rematerialized from the sea of LCL and are together on a beach looking out over the severed head of Rei/Lilith.
Shinji, still in an emotionally fragile state, chokes the seemingly catatonic Asuka, but stops himself when she reaches up her bandaged arm to touch his cheek. He then breaks down completely, sobbing uncontrollably as he hunches over her. Asuka looks at the sky for several moments before turning her gaze towards the weeping Shinji. Regarding him coldly with her one good eye, she faintly mutters "How disgusting.". The story ends at this point, with the message "Fin" appearing at the bottom of the screen, leaving the fates of Shinji, Asuka, and the rest of humanity unresolved.
So, once you've watched this its a safe bet to assume your first thoughts are what the hell did I just watch. And while I might understand the events of EOE, I can't say I can explain everything. EOE is a very draining experience and I don't recommend jumping into this right after the series as it might actually break you.
Most of the scenes in this will stay with you for a long time after the credits roll, especially the third impact sequence which may be one of the most haunting scenes in anime, but in my opinion this was the best way to end Evangelion, from the first episode we knew this wouldn't end well and EOE delivers, for some the ending may be a bit too dark and depressing but if that your take away from the film take a step back and look. Its a message of hope delivered in a dark, twisted way.
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