Brief Summary
The Media Raptor reviews "Pokemon 3: The Movie," expressing excitement due to his fondness for the legendary Pokemon Entei. He appreciates the film's engaging plot, emotional depth, and well-balanced mix of action, comedy, and character development. He considers it the best of the original three Pokemon movies, praising its ability to the universe and create a surprisingly emotional story.
- The movie has a surprisingly emotional story.
- The animation and voice acting are well-executed.
- It is recommended for both fans and newcomers to the Pokemon franchise.
Intro and Expectations
The Media Raptor introduces the final installment of his initial Pokemon movie review trilogy, focusing on "Pokemon 3: The Movie." He expresses particular excitement for this film due to his appreciation for the legendary Pokemon Entei's design. He mentions his favorite legendary Pokemon are Dialga, Entei, Rayquaza and Groudon. He hopes that "Pokemon 3" will be the best of the three movies, noting that the plots seem to be improving with each film. He also mentions the possibility of purchasing a Blu-ray three-pack of the movies if he enjoys this one.
First Impressions and Initial Thoughts
The movie starts off strong, but the reviewer finds the CG animation of the Unknown Pokemon distracting because it contrasts with the 2D animation used for everything else. The reviewer expresses concern that the film might take a depressing turn. He notes a change in how Pokemon are defeated in battles, finding it odd that they are sometimes taken out in one shot. Despite these concerns, he finds the film interesting, particularly the character of Molly and the emotional depth of her story.
Concluding the Movie and Initial Reaction
The reviewer expresses confusion about the movie's runtime, wondering if the short film shown beforehand was included in the total length. Regardless, he found the ending to be good and the final fight entertaining. He was surprised and greatly entertained by the movie overall.
Overall Review and Story Analysis
Having watched the first three Pokemon movies, the reviewer declares "Pokemon 3" the best, followed by "Pokemon 2000," with the first movie being the weakest. He praises "Pokemon 3" for having everything a Pokemon movie should: Pokemon fights, trainer battles, comedy, an interesting story, new characters, and emotional depth. The story focuses on a young girl named Molly who loses her parents and wishes for her dad to return. Entei appears, believing he is her dad, and later kidnaps Ash's mom to fulfill Molly's wish for a mother. The reviewer appreciates the emotional moments and how well the film handles Molly's realization that Entei and Ash's mom are not her real parents.
Critiques and Praises
The reviewer notes that Ash's character briefly makes some questionable decisions, such as challenging Entei with weak Pokemon. He also points out that Pokemon seem to be defeated too easily in battles, but understands this is likely due to time constraints in a 90-minute movie. Unlike the first movie, "Pokemon 3" feels like a complete film with a full-length story. He appreciates the concept of the Unknown feeding on Molly's dreams and the emotional impact of her attachment to her "family."
Positive Aspects: Writing, Acting, and Animation
The reviewer highlights the great writing for a kids' movie, noting it would still be entertaining even without nostalgia. He praises the voice acting, particularly Amy Burnham, who played Molly, for her ability to portray a child's emotions convincingly. The animation is a step up from previous movies, with bigger and clearer character designs. While the CG animation of the Unknown is dated and noticeable, it's not a deal-breaker. The reviewer also enjoys the music, including a cheesy rap song at the beginning.
Final Recommendation and Thoughts
The reviewer recommends "Pokemon 3: The Movie," giving it a rating of 3 out of 4 Raptor claws. He believes it embodies what a theatrical Pokemon film should be, with action, characters, emotional moments, and Pokemon. He praises Entei's character and Molly's cuteness, noting that the film handles her character well. He recommends the movie to both fans and newcomers. He also gives a recommendation on buying the Blu-ray 3-pack, suggesting it's worth it if found at a good price. The reviewer concludes that while these movies didn't reignite a major Pokemon obsession, they were entertaining, which was his main goal. He acknowledges that these movies were primarily made to sell merchandise but can still be enjoyable.
