Brief Summary
The hosts of the "Pokemon Gotta Watch Them All" podcast discuss and rank the movie "Detective Pikachu." They analyze the plot, character design, and overall impact of the film, comparing it to other Pokemon movies and video game adaptations. The hosts also discuss the movie's strengths and weaknesses, including the ending and the use of legendary Pokemon.
- The movie is praised for its world-building and integration of Pokemon into everyday life.
- Some hosts felt the plot became convoluted towards the end, detracting from the initial enjoyment.
- The hosts debate the necessity of including legendary Pokemon like Mewtwo in every film.
Intro
The podcast introduces the concept of watching and ranking all Pokemon movies, discussing what they love and hate about each one. They mention that they will be discussing "Detective Pikachu," their first live-action Pokemon movie. The hosts are CGDannyB, Dante, Chris, and John.
Synopsis of Detective Pikachu
The hosts explain the plot of "Detective Pikachu," where a kid comes to Ryme City after his dad dies and meets a Pikachu who was his dad's partner. Together, they solve the mystery of the dad's supposed death.
Initial Thoughts on the Movie
One of the hosts expresses initial worry that the movie might not hold up on a rewatch but still considers it one of the strongest video game adaptations. He appreciates how the Pokemon world is naturally integrated without needing a contrived explanation. However, he feels the movie becomes less enjoyable as it progresses due to excessive information being "shoved" at the viewer, particularly towards the end, to explain a specific plot point.
First Time Watching Experience
One of the hosts watched the movie for the first time and felt that a lot of the "wow" factor was lost because images and screenshots had already been shared widely. He liked the fights and the potential for a full-scale trilogy. He also agreed with another host about disliking the payoff.
Trailers and Best Parts
One of the hosts believes the trailers gave away some of the best parts of the movie, such as the Mewtwo reveal and the Mr. Mime bit. He loved seeing live-action Squirtle and Bulbasaur. The hosts discuss the change in Charizard's design from furry in the trailer to scaled in the actual movie.
Pokemon Designs and Human Teeth
The hosts discuss the designs of the Pokemon in the movie, particularly the inclusion of human-like teeth on some of them. One host mentions that his initial reaction to the Pokemon designs was that something felt weird, which he later realized was the human teeth. They also talk about the evolution of Aipom into Ambipom and how it loses its thumbs.
Background Pokemon and Story
One of the hosts liked the movie more the second time because he paid more attention to the background Pokemon. He appreciates that the movie shows Pokemon existing outside of battles and trainer interactions. He disliked the scene with the Torterra because there wasn't a clear shot of them.
Mewtwo Reveal and Villain Reveal
The hosts discuss the Mewtwo reveal and how it was better in the original trailer. One host was confused about why Mewtwo was in the movie. They also talk about the villain reveal and how it was too obvious. One host compares the movie to "X-Men" where Magneto uses Rogue to turn everyone into mutants.
Psyduck and Cast
The hosts point out that Psyduck was a star of the movie. They also mention the actors in the movie, including Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, and Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Pikachu. They discuss how the movie's art direction was inspired by an artist who creates realistic Pokemon art.
Fan Involvement and Worst Pokemon Designs
The hosts discuss how the movie hired a fan artist for art direction, similar to what was done with the Sonic movie. They talk about which Pokemon designs didn't translate well to live-action, with Chansey being mentioned as "nightmare fuel." They also discuss the designs of Ludicolo, Mr. Mime, and Golduck.
Ditto Reveal and Cubone
The hosts discuss the ditto reveal and how terrifying its transformations were. One host didn't see the ditto reveal coming. They also talk about the scene with Cubone and how it sets up Tim's character.
Opening Scenes and Ryan Reynolds' Improv
The hosts discuss the opening scenes of the movie and how they introduce Tim and his friends. They wonder how many of Pikachu's lines were improvised by Ryan Reynolds. They also mention that Ryan Reynolds confirmed there is a rated R version of the film where Pikachu swears.
Ryme City and Pokemon Interactions
The hosts discuss Ryme City and how it's a community where people have partner Pokemon but there are no battles or trainers. They debate whether this is a good or bad thing. They also talk about the potential for a sequel and what it could be about.
Lickitung and Pikachu's Introduction
The hosts discuss Tim's arrival in Ryme City and his encounter with Lickitung on the train. They also talk about Tim meeting Pikachu at his dad's house and discovering that he can understand him.
Aipom Attack and Cafe Scene
The hosts discuss the Aipom attack and how Pikachu protects Tim. They also talk about the cafe scene where Tim and Pikachu discuss what's going on.
Mr. Mime Scene
The hosts discuss the Mr. Mime scene and how it was spoiled by the trailer. They also talk about Tim's ability to play along with Mr. Mime's charades.
Mr. Mime's Death and Ash's Mr. Mime
The hosts joke about Mr. Mime's death and how he killed himself with gasoline. They also discuss how Ash got a Mr. Mime in the Pokemon anime because of the movie's popularity.
Underground Fight and Loudred
The hosts discuss the underground fight scene and the introduction of Loudred. They praise the Loudred's design and how they were used as speakers for a dubstep song.
Charizard Fight and Gyarados
The hosts discuss the Charizard fight and how Tim saves Pikachu. They also talk about the Magikarp evolving into Gyarados and washing everyone out with a tsunami.
Arrest and Greninja
The hosts discuss Tim and Pikachu getting arrested and being told that Tim's dad is dead. They also talk about the Greninja and how cool they are.
Heart-to-Heart and Detective Pikachu Game
The hosts discuss Tim and Pikachu having a heart-to-heart and talking about their dads. They also talk about the Detective Pikachu game and how one of the hosts' wives knew the ending because she played the game.
Villain Reveal and Lucy
The hosts discuss the villain reveal and how Howard Clifford was the bad guy all along. They also talk about Lucy and her Psyduck.
Torterra Garden and Greninja Garden
The hosts discuss the Torterra garden and the Greninja garden. They also talk about how the Torterra scene didn't have anything to do with the main plot.
Bulbasaur and Mewtwo
The hosts discuss Tim finding Bulbasaur and the Morelull. They also talk about Mewtwo showing up and healing Pikachu.
Mewtwo's Plan and Greninja Star
The hosts discuss Mewtwo's plan and how Pikachu helped him. They also talk about Pikachu finding the Greninja star and realizing that the Greninja blew up the car.
Howard's Plan and Ending
The hosts discuss Howard's plan to transfer his consciousness into Mewtwo's body and merge everyone with Pokemon. They also talk about the ending of the movie and how Tim's dad was Ryan Reynolds all along.
Final Thoughts and Ranking
The hosts share their final thoughts on the movie and rank it among the other Pokemon movies. Some hosts felt the plot became convoluted towards the end, detracting from the initial enjoyment. The hosts debate the necessity of including legendary Pokemon like Mewtwo in every film.
Pokemon Pull Challenge
The hosts announce the Pokemon Pull Challenge, where they pick a Pokemon from the movie and put them in a poll for viewers to vote on. They recap the results from the previous week's poll and announce this week's picks: Cubone, Arcanine, Jolteon, and Sneasel.
