Summary
Hideaki Anno offers a fourth version of the controversial and widely debated ending of his 1995 watershed series. The most significant addition is a meeting between the sinister cabal SEELE and Kaworu, the mysterious Fifth Child, in episode 24. Although unmoved by their statements about humanity's future, Kaworu assures SEELE, "All will be as the "Lilim" (humans) direct it." The final two episodes include only minor changes to the subtitles; the complex collage of images that suggests Shinji's descent into schizophrenia remains unaltered and intriguing. The "sneak peek" at the live-action "Evangelion" film largely consists of design sketches for the Evas and settings. It's odd to see Rei, Asuka and Misato as ordinary humans rather than stylized drawings. (There are no visuals of Shinji). The live-action imagery is more realistic but not more interesting than the original animation artwork. (Rated 15 and older: violence, nudity, grotesque imagery, alcohol and tobacco use) "--Charles Solomon"