It's time once again to take a look at Pokemon movies through the years. This year, we deal with the Advanced Generation, the generation of Ruby and Sapphire. This was after the spike in popularity Pokemon had in the late 90's. This was also the time, when the mythology of Pokemon was retooled to extend the world beyond the borders of "two creatures fighting each other." And this involved the soft reboot. New region away from Kanto-Johto, new weird Pokemon, new mechanics. But, the business of making the anime, and the Pokemon movies continued, with intrepid Ash Ketchum as the protagonist. So, let's take a look.
While travelling in the Hoenn region, Ash and his friends, Brock, May, and Max come across a carnival celebrating the arrival of the Millenium Comet, which, as the name implies, comes every one thousand years, . They enjoy the sites and sounds of the carnival, but find particular enjoyment in the magic act of a magician named Butler, and his lovely assistant, Diane. They hold a mysterious crystal, whose voice cries out to Max to come to him. This prompts Max to come on stage, and meet Butler, who incorporates Ash and Max into his act. After a disguised Team Rocket tries to kidnap Pikachu, and Butler is able to subdue them, Max asks about the crystal. We learn the crystal is actually the legendary Pokemon Jirachi, who can only be awakened every millennium, in the presence of a best friend chosen by destiny (and I realize how odd that just sounded.) Anyway, sure enough, Jirachi hatches from the crystal, and Max bonds with it. However, then, an Absol ( a Pokemon well known for coming before disasters, which the anime exploited extensively) comes, and attacks the group. Shortly after, May find Butler secretly bringing Jirachi to a strange device. We flash back to Butler presenting that same device to the nefarious Team Magma, in hopes of resurrecting Groudon, who will extend the land. However, the device fails, and Butler is humiliated. Back in the present, the device explodes again, and Max saves Jirachi. However, Butler then sends his Pokemon to attack Max and the group. However, Diane is able to save them. She reveals that Butler wants revenge on Team Magma for denying his genius. They intend to go to Jirachi's home in Fiorna, while Butler continues his pursuit. Can they get Jirachi to his homeland, before Butler is able to harness his power.
I'm just going to spoil the ending a little just to describe the best thing about this film. The fake Groudon at the very end looks incredible. The design looks great, a blobish sort of entity which vaguely resembles a Groudon, but also the fact that it literally feed off the energy of life and the Earth. That was a great concept for a villain. It is easily the highlight of the film. Also, the fact that normal, non-Legendary Pokemon actually help the protagonists was also a nice touch. The occasional use of 3-D was seamless.
The relationship between Max and Jirachi, while occasionally heartwarming, is not very well developed. It's fine, but it really doesn't hit the emotional nerve that the film wants it to. So, it really isn't effective. Also, the Team Magma connection with Butler really doesn't make sense. If he believed in their message, why does he want revenge for them scorning him. Perhaps it was just a hurt ego, but it doesn't make much sense in the context of the film.
I can't say much about this. It is very much a meh film. Not very bad, but not incredibly good. It's worth seeing if only for the fake Groudon, for it really is the most interesting part of the film. Otherwise, unless you want a complete run of all the Pokemon films, skip this.
While travelling in the Hoenn region, Ash and his friends, Brock, May, and Max come across a carnival celebrating the arrival of the Millenium Comet, which, as the name implies, comes every one thousand years, . They enjoy the sites and sounds of the carnival, but find particular enjoyment in the magic act of a magician named Butler, and his lovely assistant, Diane. They hold a mysterious crystal, whose voice cries out to Max to come to him. This prompts Max to come on stage, and meet Butler, who incorporates Ash and Max into his act. After a disguised Team Rocket tries to kidnap Pikachu, and Butler is able to subdue them, Max asks about the crystal. We learn the crystal is actually the legendary Pokemon Jirachi, who can only be awakened every millennium, in the presence of a best friend chosen by destiny (and I realize how odd that just sounded.) Anyway, sure enough, Jirachi hatches from the crystal, and Max bonds with it. However, then, an Absol ( a Pokemon well known for coming before disasters, which the anime exploited extensively) comes, and attacks the group. Shortly after, May find Butler secretly bringing Jirachi to a strange device. We flash back to Butler presenting that same device to the nefarious Team Magma, in hopes of resurrecting Groudon, who will extend the land. However, the device fails, and Butler is humiliated. Back in the present, the device explodes again, and Max saves Jirachi. However, Butler then sends his Pokemon to attack Max and the group. However, Diane is able to save them. She reveals that Butler wants revenge on Team Magma for denying his genius. They intend to go to Jirachi's home in Fiorna, while Butler continues his pursuit. Can they get Jirachi to his homeland, before Butler is able to harness his power.
I'm just going to spoil the ending a little just to describe the best thing about this film. The fake Groudon at the very end looks incredible. The design looks great, a blobish sort of entity which vaguely resembles a Groudon, but also the fact that it literally feed off the energy of life and the Earth. That was a great concept for a villain. It is easily the highlight of the film. Also, the fact that normal, non-Legendary Pokemon actually help the protagonists was also a nice touch. The occasional use of 3-D was seamless.
The relationship between Max and Jirachi, while occasionally heartwarming, is not very well developed. It's fine, but it really doesn't hit the emotional nerve that the film wants it to. So, it really isn't effective. Also, the Team Magma connection with Butler really doesn't make sense. If he believed in their message, why does he want revenge for them scorning him. Perhaps it was just a hurt ego, but it doesn't make much sense in the context of the film.
I can't say much about this. It is very much a meh film. Not very bad, but not incredibly good. It's worth seeing if only for the fake Groudon, for it really is the most interesting part of the film. Otherwise, unless you want a complete run of all the Pokemon films, skip this.
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