As a seasoned movie enthusiast with a soft spot for anime and a particular fondness for Neon Genesis Evangelion, I find myself at a crossroads regarding this recent decision by Letterboxd to disqualify Evangelion: The End of Evangelion from their Top 250 Narrative Feature Films List. Having spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of anime narratives, I can attest that this film stands tall among its peers as a cinematic tour de force.
It’s not surprising that not all changes will receive widespread approval, as movie review and social cataloging site Letterboxd is discovering following a recent alteration in their list. Previously, the service maintained a Top 250 Narrative Feature list, but modifications to the eligibility criteria for inclusion have sparked dissatisfaction among anime enthusiasts.
On Letterboxd, you can access the Top 250 Narrative Feature Films List compiled by David Vis, which is ranked based on the average weighted rating given by all Letterboxd users. To maintain a position in this list, movies must meet certain criteria. The description for the list reads: “This top 250 list on Letterboxd is determined by the average weighted rating of all users. I excluded stand-up specials, stage plays, concert films, documentaries, shorts, ‘collection listings,’ and other unusual titles, so only feature length narrative movies are included here. To be considered, a film must have at least 5,000 ratings. Recently, there has been controversy regarding an update that disqualified the anime film Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion because it’s seen as a continuation of a TV series rather than a standalone feature film.
After thorough deliberation, we chose to take “Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion” off our official lists. This title was not suitable for inclusion in our Top 100 Animation and, considering this decision, we decided it was best to exclude it from the other official lists as well. One point we agreed upon is that we prefer not to include continuations of series storylines on our official lists, which definitely applies here. This change may disappoint “Evangelion” fans, including myself, since “The End of Evangelion” will no longer qualify for the Official Top 250, but the rebuild movies do remain eligible.
Anime Fans Were Quick to Vent Their Frustration Over the Change
The shift became apparent to anime enthusiasts, who vocalized their displeasure regarding the move on Reddit and numerous comment sections on Letterboxd. Reddit user RG1997 deemed the action “foolish,” expressing that “‘The End of Evangelion’ was screened in cinemas as a movie and released on DVD as its own standalone film. The fact that it is a continuation of a TV series is immaterial.” User SHIIZAAAAAAAA, however, expressed more direct irritation, stating:
The End of Evangelion isn’t a documentary, television series, concert film, or any other type of media. Instead, it’s a motion picture with a compelling storyline. By its very nature, it ranks among the best narrative films. The need to have watched a TV series for context beforehand doesn’t diminish this fact.
Users swiftly agreed that such rule modification might, theoretically, exclude other well-known films from qualifying because they are continuations of television series. Redditor Deserterdragon pointed out, “‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,’ Serenity,’ Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,’ along with any MCU movies that necessitate the context of a TV show like ‘The Marvels’ and ‘Captain America: New World Order,’ could potentially be permanently disqualified from the list, provided they maintain consistency!” Many other comments on the Reddit thread echoed this viewpoint, indicating that the change in rules might lead to some ambiguity.
Given the significant response the rule modification has garnered, David Vis decided to elaborate on the rationale behind it in a comment beneath the ranking list. He mentioned that he will provide further explanation when he has more time. It is important to note that these changes are not final, implying that the rules governing these rankings could undergo adjustments, potentially becoming even more complex if they continue to elicit criticism and bewilderment from movie enthusiasts.
I notice there have been numerous conversations about our recent decision on Reddit and in my comments section. When I get some extra time, I plan to provide more insight into our thought process behind this move. Please understand that we didn’t take this step lightly; it is not permanent. Letterboxd remains a platform for movie enthusiasts, so we’re attentively listening to the discussions and keeping an open mind about potential changes or re-evaluations.
1997 saw the unveiling of “The End of Evangelion,” a groundbreaking Japanese anime movie penned by Hideaki Anno and jointly directed by him and Kazuya Tsurumaki. Generally speaking, it serves as an alternative conclusion to the TV series “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” which was produced due to the controversial reception of the final two episodes, with their abstract direction leaving fans divided. Airing from 1995 to 1996, the show’s success paved the way for this film to become a monumental box-office hit and earn recognition as one of the greatest animated films ever made. I, as an admirer, have always been captivated by its profound impact on the world of anime.
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2024-09-10 21:32