Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Originally a collection of clips from the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, Death was created as a precursor to the re-worked ending of the series. Rebirth was intended as that re-worked ending, but after production overruns Rebirth became only the first half of the first part of The End of Evangelion, with some minor differences.
Death and Rebirth is a problematic entry in the Evangelion canon. 'Death' is largely a clip compilation of the TV series, offering little original storytelling value and functioning more as a recap than a standalone film. 'Rebirth' is compelling but abruptly incomplete, cut off mid-story due to production overruns, which severely undermines the Ending score. Acting (voice performances) carries the emotional weight of the source material effectively. Cinematography is serviceable but not as ambitious as The End of Evangelion would later be. Novelty suffers because the compilation nature of 'Death' makes half the film inherently derivative, and 'Rebirth' was ultimately superseded and absorbed into a superior product. As a standalone experience it feels unfinished and transitional rather than essential.