Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time

I don't know if I was the only one, but when these movies that forced the plot in numerous moments in order to arrive to a happy ending, feel quite incompetent, unearned, incongruent, and ridiculous.

Plus, This utter of a mess films make me turn around to look at EOE, and it's quite rampage on its own, though, the film surprisingly makes more sense as well as feeling more satisfying than that universe/ sequel/ reboot/ loop/ or whatever you want to call since that plot is nonsense..

Several years has passed since the previous installment and I simply could not remember where the story has stopped. Therefore, I decided to revise the whole thing starting from 1995's original. It took me about 18 hours and I must say it was a good time as always. It took me back more than 20 years, when I watched it for the first time. I was overwhelmed by it. It made me think of my life from a different perspective and I even made some changes as I thought for the best.

Now, two decades later, I can see that most of my dreams did not come true and I am still a little boy trying to find my place among other people, find myself. While watching Eva today, I have remembered my friends from school and university, teachers, family members long gone, colleagues from my very first job - and how they all were really nice to me, though I didn't noticed it at that time. After all those years, Evangelion still resonates in my heart, even more than it was at the first time.

For me 21st century Evangelion movies were something that kept me going through my life. Every time things went from bad to worse I thought that I need to live long enough to see that upcoming Evangelion move. And now, the project that occupied Hideaki's mind for more than 20 years is released. So was it a good movie? Well in a matter of fact - yes. I wasn't expecting any revelations or mind-blowing philosophy, I just wanted to see it all again, and a new movie is quite a good excuse to watch it all from the very beginning. It was pleasant to see old friends, memorable locations, to experience emotions that I felt 20 years ago. I do not care about the plot, action, or CGI - I am just happy seeing Rei smiling again. All the things that I really care are present here. It is a nostalgic movie - it makes you try to remember, try to go back in time to see if you have missed something, not only in the movie but in your life itself. It's also a sad farewell movie, an end of the line, the real end of Evangelion, because there will be nothing more. Evangelion time has passed, now we live in a world without Evas.

I have watched Evangelion when I was just a young student. This is maybe my third time returning to it in more than 20 years. Will I watch Evangelion again? I would love to... Maybe in 10, maybe in another 20 years. But will I live for that long? I am not sure... Most likely, it is a "Goodbye Evangelion" forever. Sayonara old friend. I wish I could see you again for a last time, before I go.

I'm a fan of the series, I watched the TV series decades ago, and now the Rebuild movies, but they are still inherently flawed in that it has always been almost incomprehensible.

So what is wrong with it? Here's what I find myself saying many times:

1. What does that even mean?!?!

It uses unknown terms in a sentence then again several minutes later as if that would help understand what it meant in the first place. Then when it does use a term that is vaguely familiar, it is used in a completely different manner and context.

2. What is that?!?!

It tries to wow us with imagery and animation that is incomprehensible. I don't even know what I am looking at!

3. What is going on?!?!

The main flaw is the story telling. It only allows a portion of it, just barely enough, to understand what is really going on. Frankly, it could lose the audience.

But hey, I am still a fan, love the characters, most especially Rei, distantly followed by Asuka, and I will watch whatever comes next.

Having watched all the films I simply wanted more screen time for Rei and Asuka. Instead I get Shinji again, monopolizing most scenes.

The animation is spectacular and one of the best I have ever seen. The music was also very good, no criticism there. I would have preferred it if the Eva films focused on each character separately.

The ending was OK. I will just go back and re-watch the series.

What what I honestly don't have anything to say. I'm just confused on what I just watched not in it being too complex but seemingly stupid and with 0 creativity and logic. But tbh this was expected since Evangelion 3.0 its prequel was was just horrible. I only watched it cuz I felt like completing the franchise. They took some inspirations from the series while diverging it from quiet a lot. They left us with so many questions in the last prequel and this movie still didn't answer them but instead added some more confusion.

The characters are the same pretty much. Though some of them are completely ruined and the way they were written felt like parodies and fanfic instead.

Pretty good sound effects and music. Visuals are pretty good also though the CG is questionable and a bit aggressive at times.

Don't watch it its a waste of time I only watched it cuz I felt like completing it.