Product Description
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Fifteen years after the Antarctic blast known as the Second
Impact, the world once again faces the threat of the
Angels--super-powered entities with the capacity to bring about a
Third Impact capable of destroying all human life. Summoned by
his estranged her, 14-year-old Shinji Ikari reluctantly
embraces his destiny as the pilot of the bio-engineered vessel
known as "Evangelion Unit-01." Alongside fellow Eva pilots Asuka
Langley and Rei Ayunami, Shinji battles against the host of
invading Angels. But all is not as it seems. Amidst layers of
subterfuge, and the competing agendas of secret government
organizations each seeking to manipulate the children and their
Evas for their own ends, Shinji, Rei and Asuka must each come to
terms with their past and unearth their own identities. Told from
the various perspectives of the tale's primary characters, Death
& Rebirth is a composition of epic proportions. The first half of
the film is an orchestrated retelling of episodes 1 through 24 of
the original groundbreaking Neon Genesis Evangelion saga.
Supplemented with startling new animated sequences, Death offers
a unique in into the personal worlds of the characters as
conceived of by the series' director Hideki Anno. In Rebirth, the
second half of the film, we see an alternate vision of episode 25
of the original series. Seele, the secret international
organization behind the development of both the Evangelion
project and the Human Complementation project, is concerned about
the way the projects' director, Ikari Gendo, is proceeding.
Convinced that Gendo is implementing his own plans, they set out
to wrest control of the projects and capture Eva Unit-01. Using
the nine-production model Evangelions under their command, and a
force of conventional troops, Seele undertakes a full-scale
invasion of Central Dogma - the operation control center beneath
Tokyo-3.
From the animators of GAINAX Studios (The Wings of Honneamise)
and Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell, Blood: The Last Vampire)
comes the most decisive chapter in the Neon Genesis Evangelion
saga. Featuring groundbreaking animated action sequences and
mind-blowing dramatic revelations; Death & Rebirth is truly a
composition of epic proportions. Manga's most technically
advanced DVD to date includes a double-sided DVD, special audio
commentary and an exclusive Mokuji Interactive feature (Mokuji =
"Contents"). Once activated, this feature will allow the viewer
to select from an on-screen, chapter specific index of
Eva-related terms, character descriptions, and other valuable
information while viewing the film. The perfect resource for the
seasoned Evangelion fan eager to learn more as well as a
comprehensive introduction for those new to the story. All key
roles in the English language version of Death and Rebirth are
reprised by the original voice-actors from the Neon Genesis
Evangelion series.
.com
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The bizarre ending of the television series Neon Genesis
Evangelion (1995) pleased no one, including creator Hideaki Anno.
Shortly after it aired, Anno began remaking the final episodes as
an OAV and then decided to release them as a theatrical feature.
At the climax of the series, Shinji met and destroyed Kaoru, who
was both the Fifth Child and 17th Angel--then collapsed into
schizophrenia. Death retraces these events through clips, many of
them set to new dialogue performed by the same English cast as
the series. Rebirth depicts the aftermath of Shinji's victory
over the final Angel: Seele attacks NERV headquarters as part of
their plot to advance human evolution. The feature ends as
inconclusively as the series, with Rei in limbo beside Dr. Ikari,
the traumatized Shinji nearly catatonic, and a reawakened Asuka
fighting Seele. It sets up the final film, The End of Evangelion.
Unrated; suitable for ages 14 and up: Violence, brief nudity,
profanity. --Charles Solomon