Pokémon: The First Movie Movie by Warner Bros (Kids WB) Reviewed by Adrock adam@dmgice.com Total Running Time: 99 minutes Rated: G Released: 1999 (SOME PARTS OF THE STORY AND MOST ALL OF THE ENDING INCLUDE SPOILERS! HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE? IN STORY AND ENDING, PLEASE READ ONLY THE PARTS UNDER [SPOILER-FREE!]) **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: This movie is actually TWO movies... the first, a small little mini-movie about Pikachu and friends called "Pikachu's Vacation". Most of this mini-movie is in Pokétalk (Pika? Chu! Bulba! Charrr! Chuuu!) with the accompanyment of the Pokédex voice. You meet some new Pokémon here, Snubble, a pink bulldog type character, and Marill, the creature that everyone thought was Pikablu (not anymore!) Anyways, this thing has no story. The Pokémon want to start a fight, Togepi gets in trouble, Cubone has a heart and helps save Charizard. That's about it. Almost all of the Pokémon are somehow featured in Vacation, in the pool, or just standing on the shore... there won't be many that you will miss. Lots of weird scenes inbetween that feature one Pokémon or sometimes two similar types, just popping up and talking in rhythm. With weird, trippy, psychedelic Earthbound type backgrounds. The whole time I'm sitting there thinking "Did someone drug my popcorn?" Anyways that is the mini-movie. But um... this review is mostly about the bulk of the film, "Mewtwo Strikes Back". **************************************************************************** Story Descripion: The movie starts out very Akira-esque... Mewtwo is to Pokémon what characters like... Goku... are to DBZ. Mewtwo's portrayal is something the television show rarely does. In a way it is even kind of dark. Anyways he is the result of a lab test, the being of Mew, except supercharged. After he begins to contemplate that he is merely a lab experiment made to do the humans' biddings, he uses his psychic powers to blow up the lab. After this, humans try to convince him that he is the ultimate fighting machine and give him armor to "focus" his power. He also soon defies humans once again, breaks the armor, and sets off solo. The intro ends. Mewtwo hosts a large trainers meeting, and ends up introducing his super-powered Pokémon clones. Ash, Brock, and Misty get invited, and brave the storm that Mewtwo makes. Most of the movie is inside Mewtwo's huge gym. [THIS PART IS SPOILER FREE] _______________________________________________________________________ The plot of the movie seems like a big, one hour plus version of the television show. Of course finding Mewtwo is a huge, theatrical event, but it just doesn't seem to live up to that... there aren't many plot twists... and you basically know what to expect. But, the movie is targeted at kids, and I expected that. I think the whole point of the movie was to introduce the new Pokémon and let kids watch the Pokémon on the big screen... not plot... just action and special effects... So in conclusion I guess the story is what can be expected. _______________________________________________________________________ **************************************************************************** Special Effects Description: Hmm... there were lots of camera tricks and CGI stuff going on. I'm not sure if a lot of this was added from the Japan version, but I think WB did have the desire to spice things up a bit in the eye candy department. Doors opening and closing and dynamic camera angles set the mood. The movie isn't loaded with tons of special effects to the point where that's all there is... you shouldn't expect Akira from this one. The look of the movie for the most part is still true to the show. **************************************************************************** Music Description: The music played in the movie features artists such as Billy Crawford on a redone version of the Pokémon theme, Blessid Union of Souls, and lots of artists that young children and teens will recognize. I wasn't sure if "Brother, My Brother" was suitable during the big fight at the end. I think it's a good song and everything, but maybe it should have been saved until the sadder parts come at the end. Doesn't really fit the theme that is being put across at that time. Wait til they are all tired and crying... to play the sad song. Unlike movies like South Park: BL&U, this movie has not turned into a musical of sorts. It stays true to the show, and if there is music playing, at least stuff is still going on while it is playing. **************************************************************************** Ending Description: SECOND WARNING, HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, DON'T READ THIS PART, UNLESS YOU WANT THE MOVIE RUINED FOR YOU! Ok, so with that aside, here goes. Mewtwo and Mew are in each other's necks, about to kill each other basically. It's a pretty detailed fight, but you wish there was more. Ash jumps into the middle of the fight and gets so knocked out by the psychic power he is turned to rock, petrified. Like the legend says at the beginning of the movie, all of the tears of the Pokémon revive our hero, Ash, from his granite demise. Then Mewtwo realizes, "Oh yeah, how about not fighting and opposing humans." And flys off with Mew. Mewtwo somehow does a little brainwashing/timewarping thing, and Ash and company are back at the Pokémon Center, when all of a sudden, the chain of events has been reversed and the storm stops! The End. No, he doesn't catch Mew or Mewtwo. [THIS PART IS SPOILER FREE!] _________________________________________________________________________ C'mon, go see the movie. How am I supposed to tell you the ending without spoiling it? All I will say... it's a pretty... weird... and even sad... ending. So bring your Kleenex. _________________________________________________________________________ **************************************************************************** Final Words: Do you like your anime action, full throttle, non-stop battle, with a deep plot and stunning CGI?! Well, this might not be for you. Mostly it's for the little kids who watch Pokémon as well as cartoons like... Bugs Bunny... and not... Ghost in the Shell. Oh... if you can't take screaming kids... wait til this one comes out on video. Because the theaters will be packed full of screaming kids, if it's anything like my experience was. The humor of the movie is definetely geared towards kids... teens and adults will be pretty much gagged by the movie's "morals" and excuses for Pokémon fights. But, overall, if you like the show, and you're a fan, Pokémon: The First Movie should be worth the money... you get to see the new Pokémon, the Bulba-bye, and a lot of new Mewtwo action. **************************************************************************** Final Score: %70