Funny this thread popped up again, I just watched 3 for the first time. I was.. really disappointed though. :< Like the imagery and art were FANTASTIC, and although it makes many references to the Evangelion mythos, it has little of the philosophical inquiry and nuanced interaction that made the series and EoE so great. I think if they wanted to make such a dramatic time skip like that, then the movie should have been longer to facilitate more exposition - because it dumps a complete setting and character overhaul while also dropping the big reveals, which feel disjointed. Felt a lot of empathy for Shinji, though.