Pokemon The Movie 2000: The Power of One Pikachu's Rescue Adventure short film Kids WB, Warner Brothers, TV Tokyo, and Pikachu Project '99 Reviewed by DMG ICE's resident pokemon trainer, PTT! Opened in Theatres: July 21, 2000 Free Goodie: Ancient Mew Version 2 double sided holographic game card, While supplies last. ***************************************************************************** Opening Remarks: It's a New Pokemon movie! I loved the first one, so of COURSE I'm going to see the much hyped sequel! The Ancient Mew game cards are certainly a reason in themselves to go pay your $4.25 or so admission fee! I'm expecting another great movie! ***************************************************************************** Impressions, Pikachu's Rescue Adventure (Spoiler Free): Pikachu's Rescue Adventure short started up on the movie screen a few minutes after I sat down, and I was excited to see what the sequel to Pikachu's Vacation would present to me. As usual, the pokemon trainers as are only seen at the beginning and end of the film, letting Pikachu and gang take center stage, as they journey through a dense forest to rescue the ever-lost Togepy, as well as others, as a deep storm rolls in... You will see numerous new pokemon, including Hoo-hoo the owl, Elekid, the ever-lovable Bellossom (Also known as Kierahana, a new evo of gloom), and our very own Foy makes a few appearances in swarms, in one scene even carrying Pikachu on its back! Who cares if the characters call him Ledyba? We know in our hearts who he REALLY is. But back to the review... The animation is much the same quality of Pikachu's Vacation, except for the fact that there is a lot more computer animation techniques in this one, mixed with the animation. Since this was a forest, most of these effects involved scrolling and panning about 3D Tree limbs with 2D pokemon animations on them, either just sitting there or doing some sort of activity. In my opinion, it would seem that Pikachu Project 99 is relying way too much on the stuff, as it kinda distracted me from the story, and the way they mixed the two styles seemed unneccessary. I would rather have had it completely 2D backgrounds and save the computers for coloring, and minor effects. Aside from my slight distaste of their 3D effects, The animation quality is as good as the last short movie was. PRAdventure also has a good score, all the tunes match with the atmosphere. And who can't resist the sugary song of the Bellossom? Seeing the Bellossoms dance was quite arguably my favorite moment in this very cute, wonderful addition to the pokemon short film family. I totally reccomend it. Liked: 2D animation, good electricity effects, The cute storyline, Chansey makes a great cameo plot point at the end, BELLOSSOM! Hated: reliance on 3D animation during every scene change. In the bellossom scene, the 'Poliwrath' is actually a PoliWHIRL. Teach them dubbers how to ID Pokemon! Improve: Make it all 2D with minimal computer effects. I'd also like to see the animation even more fluid than it is. Score: 80% ***************************************************************************** Impressions, The Power of One (mostly Spoiler Free): I had no clue what to expect from all the hype, and mixed opinions by people who've already seen it somehow. The scene starts on Ash, Misty, Tracy, and a new character, a green haired girl named Marin, sailing around the Orange Islands in a sailboat, rather than Lapras's back this time. Marin is ferrying our heroes to one of the Orange Islands to take part in an island festival. A neat little opening scene happens, and the movie progresses into the main storyline. The dialogue and story is surprisingly more targetting older pokemon fans. How so, you ask? One of the main conversations in the movie revolves around Misty's affection towards Ash, as ANOTHER WOMAN (GASP!) shows a soft spot for him, an islander girl named Melody . All you speculators, be in confusion no more! How Misty feels for Ash IS shown! But I'm getting too far in plot summarization and spoilers here... The story doesn't actually rely on pulse pounding action and pokemon fights, but rather more of a legendary feeling, standing in awe of power. The 'villain' most of you saw in the trailers, the weird looking guy with the humongous airship, actually doesn't play too big of a role in the whole scheme of things. The Movie has a very mystical feel about it, since the plot is centered around an old island legend about Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos, and the balance of the earth's elements. The music is very soothing to listen to, and helps push this legendary feeling along. For the action fan though, expect to see a lot of Mystical Bird goodness, as they show off their spiffy powers. The 3D animation I didn't like in Rescue Adventure is a lot more proffessionally integrated here, so the feel of the world isn't lost, and is beautifully done. Oh yes, new pokemon to appear: Slowking (He TALKS! He has Eyes in the back of his head! LOVE THIS GUY!), Lugia (He talks too!) Cast of Main Characters: Ash, Misty, and Tracy: You all know them by now! Marin: name inspired by Link's awakening? mebbe! Anyway, she ferries Ash and gang around, and isn't directly involved in the plot, but I count her as main char anyways Melody: The 'Other Woman!' SHE KISSIE ASH! SHE KISSIE ASH! :D In conclusion, I would like to say to everyone: ***"CRAIG HARRIS IS AN IDIOT TWICE NOW!"*** He was wrong about Perfect Dark GBC, and now he's wrong about Pokemon the Movie 2000! While there isn't as much pokemon battling as mewtwo strikes back, The moving story, mystical music, and some well placed (very funny!) jokes, WAY more than makes up for it! A great addition to the Pokemon saga! I would tell anyone interested in pokemon to GO SEE IT IMMEDIATELY! So take THAT Craig! *Sticks out tongue* Liked: Moving Storyline, Fantastic score, Lugia!, Misty's love CONFIRMED, brief appearances of BROCK!, great jokes, more mature target audience, and mystical birds. Hated: Small role of the 'Collector', I think his part could have been expanded near the end. Score: 95% ***************************************************************************** Goodies!: Ancient Mew Game Card This card is extremely nice, WAY better than last year's promos. It is printed on great quality card stock, so it should withstand most normal abuse. This is the first (and only) Pokemon Game Card to feature Hologram effects on BOTH SIDES. The back can be described as a circuit pattern, featuring all 7 current energy spheres of the card game, with a pokeball in the center. The border and circuit pattern are a kind of Gold-Brown color, which gives off a Brilliant Holographoc sheen, which usually appears as Green, yellow, orange, or red. The main side is a VERY shiny (Mirror reflective shiny!) and Fully foiled even to the border, which features a gold circuit pattern. For those pokemon card collecting enthusiasts, this is known as version 2 of ancient mew, the 'sparkle' one, as opposed to 'shimmer'. The Holographic spheres of Japanese cards make this card sparkle, instead of the dimmer American 'stars' which USED to adorn our American cards, up until base set two. This card even makes an appearance in the movie itself! how? See the movie and see, silly! The card's stats itself is written in Egyptian Hieroglyphics, which I'm glad they didn't change. However, you have to go to one of those Pokemon Card League things to decipher it. HOWEVER AGAIN, I shall now write the translation of Ancient Mew, as best I remember, so you don't have to go through all that! :D Name (Upper Left): Ancient Mew HP (Upper right): 30 (Triangle = 30, because it is the universal symbol of 3) Type (Also upper right): Psychic (The eye says it all...) Attacks: Psyburst (or Psyburn): 2 Psy energy, 40 damage. (Triangle = 30, the column looking thing = 10) Weakness (Lower Left): Psychic (EYE!) Resistance (Lower Right): Nothing Retreat Cost (Bottom Center): 2 energy (2 black stars = 2 colorless) The Text above the Retreat cost section is its pokemon info flavor text, but I can't remember what it says. At least I gave you all the important stuff though! Speculation on CCG Usage: Ancient mew definitely isn't something you'd want to bring out late in the game, with its low HP. However, if you could get him out there on early turns and chuck a few energy at him, he'd be a heavy hitter, perhaps knocking out the only pokemon your opponent has that early in the match. Defenders and potions would be a good idea to have around too. Mew's not going to be discreet about itself either. With it's Brilliant sheen and Bright Holographic effects, as well as a different design on the back, your opponent's sure to see when one is coming his way. It might be a good idea to stick him in a deck with those plastic sleeves with Colored in Backs if your aim is to be secretive about it. If you can keep it alive, Ancient mew is a good card to have in a game. Liked: Shiny Shiny Shiny! Exact same as Japanese card, only with Wizards text at the bottom, and perhaps sturdier cardstock! Hieroglyphics! I got 7! (Gave three to my pokemon loving friend, but that leaves me with 4!) Oh, and I was near the front of the line to get em too. Hated: The only thing you SHOULDN'T like is 30 HP! Oh, and waiting an hour for the box office to open, in the sun, in line to get it. Improve: You kidding? LOVE THIS CARD! Score: 99% (1 point off for low HP :D) ***************************************************************************** Secrets: Noone likes a spoiler. Also, noone likes little kids who sit right behind you in the theatre and talk nonstop throughout the movie, bashing Ash, and saying "WHOA! Whad he say again? This is the part where blahblahblah" >:| BELLOSOM~! ~PTT 07/21/2000