"EVANGELION:1.11 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE" [movie]

Review by Dennis D. McDonald

Stereotypical Japanese anime checklist:

• Giant robots √

• Massive destruction of Japanese cities √

• Technoporn √

• Occasional nudity √

• Technobabble √

And yet… I enjoyed the hell out of this (severely) condensed retelling of the original ENVANGELION series, which I also enjoyed.

Much of Evangelion:1.11 will make no sense wthout some familiarity with the series. There are plot holes and loose ends galore. So, why did I enjoy it so much?

Probably for the same reasons I still enjoy a childhood favorite, Ishirō Honda's The Mysterians. That 1959 film features flying saucers, ray guns, rocket ships, huge battles, giant robots, melting tanks, resourceful scientists, and it is very very loud.

Like Evangelion:1.11, The Mysterians is eye-poppingly colorful. Still, movie-making technology and special effects have improved significantly since 1959. Technology and alien designs in Evangelion:1.11 are orders of magnitude more sophisticated than what Honda was working with back in the 1950s.

If you don’t mind putting your brain on hold for a bit and are interested in spectacular eye candy, tons of action, and great sound design, you just might enjoy Evangelion:1.11.

Review copyright (c) 2022 by Dennis D. McDonald

Movie Trailer: