Did on purpose not dive into background info such as storyline, the why and how.
Turned out to be, indeed, a big recut of the series (which I did love fervently). But fairly high speed, taking most of the slow character arcs out of the story. I wonder what I would've thought about it if I'd never seen the series. It felt rushed, and sometimes simply badly cut: if you know the series fairly well, it's obvious more than one dialogue is the result of some fairly creative cutting and mixing.
Shinji's problems with his dad, Ritsuko Akagi's mother complex with the Magi's... it's all merely hinted at. Like the Third Child is mentioned, but never seen.
They manage to crush the first 20 or 22 episodes or so in one film... and then tell you to wait for "Evangelion 2.0 - you will (not) advance". Strangely enough, right in the middle the title flashes over the screen, just like in the series.
What's new: Gendo Ikari saying it's time to "nudge" Shinji towards Rei, though what they want with that, is not sure yet (the scene in which he brings her her new pass and manages to crash them both to the floor, her naked under him, is there). The Last Angel is shown, "looking forward to meet you, Shinji", and you see him speaking to Seele's members.
It all seems they got rid of the metaphysical musings and turn it into a four-piece action series with film-length episodes. According to IMDB, it came out in 2007 and 2.0 is due this year, so we'll see.
I'm not overly excited yet, but it's wonderful to see the familiar visuals in the cinema.
... to be continued, I guess.
