So we have our next film, Pokemon: The Movie 2000. (Yeah, they could not think of a better name for it). Yet again released at the height of Pokemania, and another film I watched on home video a decade ago. However, I have more memories of watching this film, than the First movie. Nevertheless, I don't feel nostalgic for this, and hence my opinion is unhindered by the that. So, here we go,
We start with the film's antagonist, Lawrence III, a Pokemon "collector", who seeks to capture the Three Legendary Birds from their homes in the Orange Islands. He also wants their leader, Lugia. He manages to capture Moltres, the Fire bird Pokemon, (the one before Ho-oh) Meanwhile,during their journeys in the Orange Islands, Ash, and his friends Misty and Tracy, come across an island during a storm. They are celebrating a festival honoring a hero foretold in a prophecy. They choose Ash as their hero. However, soon, mysterious events begin to occur, as the weather all over Kanto has begun to become sour. Pokemon are acting very strangely, and began to gather around. Soon, Ash and Friends realize that Lawrence III's plot is causing the three birds to lock in conflict, causing the bad weather (Where's Rayquaza in this? Who knows.) They realize that Ash is actually the hero who was foretold in the prophecy. Now, Ash, with the help of Lugia, and even Team Rocket, must stop the three legendary birds from destroying the world.
First, I'd be remiss, if I didn't admit I felt this should have been the first movie. It has a more epic feel to it than the First movie. It had a slightly more interesting plot, which actually does invest you in what is happening. There is also no tears resurrecting people, so there's that. It is a better movie than the first film. Also, the animation is still very goods, the voice acting is top-notch, and it was interesting to see Lugia (a favorite legendary, though I like Ho-oh more) in a movie.
That said, it's still not very good. Lawrence is not a very interesting villain. He is like one of those bounty hunter the show occasionally shows. Also, there are several things about that don't make any lick of sense. Like, if he really wanted the legendary birds, why not capture through normal means (i.e. a Pokeball or a Masterball)? He'll still have control over them, and he can even store them. Also, How could that ship of his fly. It looks too large. Also, "The World will turn to Ash." That's really the way you are going to shoehorn Ash as hero? Really? Pokemon fan Dragonfree complained about this particular phenomenon, and I'll also complain about it. Ash is so often shoehorned in as the hero, (even in stories where he is not supposed to be a hero.) I'll probably get into this in later reviews. Also, if the Pokemon were arriving en masse to help, why don't they ever actually help? The plot, whilst epic, is still somewhat bland, with no real surprises. Ash is once again the epic hero who just saves the world all by... Okay that's not completely true: He has help from an Islander named Melody, from a talking Slowking, and his friends, but he single handedly saves the day. I think you see my complaint fairly well.
Honestly, I don't really have anything else to say about this film. Whilst better than the first one, it still suffers from a bland, uninteresting script which is unable to support the epic tone of the film as well as . Still, I would be lying in saying I don't enjoy watching this film. It is enjoyable, and unlike the First Movie, there is no real problems or morals that makes it irritating to watch as an adult. So, if you're a fan, you will enjoy this, as I do. Non-fans might enjoy just a fun kid's film, and the mythology is easy to grasp. I say give it a watch. Next time, I gush over my second favorite Pokemon of all time.
We start with the film's antagonist, Lawrence III, a Pokemon "collector", who seeks to capture the Three Legendary Birds from their homes in the Orange Islands. He also wants their leader, Lugia. He manages to capture Moltres, the Fire bird Pokemon, (the one before Ho-oh) Meanwhile,during their journeys in the Orange Islands, Ash, and his friends Misty and Tracy, come across an island during a storm. They are celebrating a festival honoring a hero foretold in a prophecy. They choose Ash as their hero. However, soon, mysterious events begin to occur, as the weather all over Kanto has begun to become sour. Pokemon are acting very strangely, and began to gather around. Soon, Ash and Friends realize that Lawrence III's plot is causing the three birds to lock in conflict, causing the bad weather (Where's Rayquaza in this? Who knows.) They realize that Ash is actually the hero who was foretold in the prophecy. Now, Ash, with the help of Lugia, and even Team Rocket, must stop the three legendary birds from destroying the world.
First, I'd be remiss, if I didn't admit I felt this should have been the first movie. It has a more epic feel to it than the First movie. It had a slightly more interesting plot, which actually does invest you in what is happening. There is also no tears resurrecting people, so there's that. It is a better movie than the first film. Also, the animation is still very goods, the voice acting is top-notch, and it was interesting to see Lugia (a favorite legendary, though I like Ho-oh more) in a movie.
That said, it's still not very good. Lawrence is not a very interesting villain. He is like one of those bounty hunter the show occasionally shows. Also, there are several things about that don't make any lick of sense. Like, if he really wanted the legendary birds, why not capture through normal means (i.e. a Pokeball or a Masterball)? He'll still have control over them, and he can even store them. Also, How could that ship of his fly. It looks too large. Also, "The World will turn to Ash." That's really the way you are going to shoehorn Ash as hero? Really? Pokemon fan Dragonfree complained about this particular phenomenon, and I'll also complain about it. Ash is so often shoehorned in as the hero, (even in stories where he is not supposed to be a hero.) I'll probably get into this in later reviews. Also, if the Pokemon were arriving en masse to help, why don't they ever actually help? The plot, whilst epic, is still somewhat bland, with no real surprises. Ash is once again the epic hero who just saves the world all by... Okay that's not completely true: He has help from an Islander named Melody, from a talking Slowking, and his friends, but he single handedly saves the day. I think you see my complaint fairly well.
Honestly, I don't really have anything else to say about this film. Whilst better than the first one, it still suffers from a bland, uninteresting script which is unable to support the epic tone of the film as well as . Still, I would be lying in saying I don't enjoy watching this film. It is enjoyable, and unlike the First Movie, there is no real problems or morals that makes it irritating to watch as an adult. So, if you're a fan, you will enjoy this, as I do. Non-fans might enjoy just a fun kid's film, and the mythology is easy to grasp. I say give it a watch. Next time, I gush over my second favorite Pokemon of all time.
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