Don't know if ya'll are a good resource, but I'd rather ask here than wade through a bunch of other anime-weirdo sites. I'm familiar with a few anime works (Paprika/Perfect Blue, Miyazaki stuff, Akira, Ghost in the Shell movie), but I have not seen Neon Genesis Evangelion. It seems to be very well received, and I'd like to.

But how am I supposed to watch it? The wikipedia article says not only is there a series, but also bonus episodes after the end of the series, and then a movie recutting the series, and then a movie redoing the ending, and then like four extra movies. (!)

Is there like a single, definitive, authorial vision which I should watch? Some stuff I should leave out? Should I watch it all, but in a particular order?

I wasn't trying to get too much spoiled, but the wiki article seemed to imply that there was an original, "artistic" ending, which got remade/recut because fans threw a fit because there wasn't enough robo-fighting. If the additional shit is just robo-fighting slop thrown to dumbdumbs, maybe I don't need to bother. But if the additional robo-fighting really enhances the work, and is quality, I'm down.

edit: appreciate ya'll's input and the clarifications. i look forward to getting felix's references now, at the very least!