Apparently fed up with the traditional system of film distribution — and in particular with the critics who insist, out of spite or inertia, on reviewing whatever opens in theaters — Kevin Smith is taking his new movie, “Red State,” directly to its audience. The film, which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival last January, has been available for home viewing since Sept. 1, via cable television, iTunes and other platforms. For those who insist on seeing it the old-fashioned way, on a big screen from an upholstered seat with a cup holder attached to the arm, there will be screenings in select cities on Sunday night, with Mr. Smith making an appearance to do what he does best, which is rant, tell stories and shoot the breeze with his fans.
Red State unfolds in a small town dominated by a fundamentalist preacher, Abin Cooper. It tells the story of three high school boys who, on their way to an internet arranged meeting with a woman; end up crossing paths with Cooper. The encounter sets into motion a series of events that causes all hell to break loose.
What “Red State” does best, unsurprisingly, is talk. Mr. Parks, as a weirdly gentle psychopath, and Mr. Goodman, as a rumpled avatar of bureaucratic decency, are each able to weave a verbal spell out of Mr. Smith’s words. Their performances — along with Ms. Leo’s — give the film a measure of dramatic gravity. All of which may make you wish for less mayhem and less noise. Come to think of it, Mr. Smith might just wish for the same thing.

In the earliest battles against the monstrous Angels, young Eva pilots Shinji and Rei were forced to carry humanity’s hopes on their shoulders. Now, with the deadly onslaught of the Angels escalating and the apocalyptic Third Impact looming, Shinji and Rei find their burden shared by two new Eva pilots, the fiery Asuka and the mysterious Mari. Maneuvering their enormous Eva machines into combat, the four young souls fight desperately to save mankind from the heavens – but will they be able to save themselves?
It was the best of times, it was the end of times, in other words, since this nerd soap delivers plenty of orgiastically designed battle sequences, futuristic fortress-themed visuals (cool retractable buildings, Tokyo!) and a deep empathy with the confusion and alienation in its adolescent heroes, who are led by Shinji — who seeks praise from his taciturn father — and silver-haired, quiet-voiced loner hottie Rei. Trying to comprehend the jargon-rife storylines and high-minded philosophical talk is a demanding task when the pace is so unforgiving, which suggests that this new concentrated “Evangelion” might best be appreciated by those who remember the psychological nuances of the small-screen version.