Brief Summary
The podcast episode discusses "Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us," focusing on its plot, characters, animation, and overall impact. The hosts share their impressions, discuss the movie's strengths and weaknesses, and compare it to other Pokémon movies. They also talk about the characters, the role of legendary Pokémon, and the movie's themes.
- The movie has beautiful animation but a crowded plot.
- Some characters are well-developed, while others feel unnecessary.
- Lugia's role is underwhelming.
- The movie's themes of unity and cooperation are not fully realized.
Intro and Initial Impressions
The hosts of the "Gotta Watch Them All" podcast introduce their discussion of "Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us." They mention the movie features a young athlete, a compulsive liar, a shy researcher, a bitter old woman, and a little girl with a secret, all connected by the Wind Festival in Fula City. The festival celebrates Lugia, who brings the wind that powers the city. The hosts express initial excitement about a movie not solely focused on Ash, but this quickly fades when Ash appears on the train.
Plot and Character Analysis
The hosts discuss Risa's character design, which they find cool and untraditional for a Pokémon character. They initially thought her story would be about learning to enjoy Pokémon, but it quickly shifts to Ash's involvement. The movie felt a bit like "Pokémon 2000," with the theme that one person can make a difference. The hosts agree that the movie has some cool moments but also feels long and drawn out.
Shared Universe and After-Credit Scene
The hosts discuss the idea of a shared universe among the Pokémon movies, noting that "The Power of Us" doesn't feel connected to "I Choose You." They talk about the after-credit scene, where Risa confronts her brother about how he knew where she was, revealing he was the announcer and had put a camera in her glasses. The hosts found this a weird way to explain things so late in the movie.
Character Introductions and Story Structure
The hosts enjoyed the movie's introduction, starting with Risa, a normal person in the Pokémon world. They compare her to Lillie from the Aether Foundation, who had a phobia of Pokémon. The hosts feel the movie tries to introduce too many characters in a short time, giving them all main character energy but not fully fleshing them out. They draw a parallel to "The Suicide Squad," where multiple characters need to be introduced quickly.
Character Relevance and Plot Issues
The hosts debate whether certain characters, like Kelly (Callaghan's niece), were necessary for the plot. Some argue that removing Ash and one other character would improve the movie. They discuss the old lady's story, which felt too late in the movie to make her sympathetic. The hosts suggest merging characters and giving them more relevant roles.
Ash's Role and Alternative Storylines
The hosts discuss how removing Ash could fix many of the movie's problems. They suggest alternative storylines where Risa has to run and is assisted by Pokémon, helping her understand that she can do things with help. They also suggest having Ash appear at the end for Risa's first battle, which would have been a great way to include him.
Character Arcs and Movie Direction
One host enjoyed the movie and felt that all the characters contributed something to the story. They argue that Ash is the domino that starts the whole effect, leading to Risa catching Eevee and Callaghan learning that Pokémon are friends. The hosts appreciate that the characters have been strong in these last two strings of movies.
Animation and Visuals
The hosts praise the movie's animation, calling it the best in any Pokémon movie. They highlight specific scenes, such as Margot opening the doors to see the city and the festival, and the animation of Zeraora's eyes. They note that Zeraora looks better in this movie than in the games.
Risa's Journey and Movie Themes
The hosts discuss Risa's journey and how she didn't need Eevee to accomplish anything physically, but Eevee showed her that she could persevere despite her injury. They feel the movie highlights that sometimes people can be better because of something else. The hosts also discuss how the title "Power of Us" implies friendship, and they could have used Pokémon that evolve through friendship.
Ash's Inclusion and Character Development
The hosts feel Ash's only inclusion was to say the title of the movie. They suggest that the movie could have taught the power of us without having to verbally say it. They also discuss the mayor and the scientist, feeling that the scientist's resolution was weak compared to the other characters.
Legendary Pokémon and Plot Holes
The hosts discuss how Lugia and Zeraora don't seem particularly important or necessary to the movie. They feel Lugia's role was underwhelming and that he had no purpose. They also point out several plot holes, such as why the catch race was recorded if it was going to be a controversy, and the size of the smoke.
Inconsistencies and Missed Opportunities
The hosts discuss inconsistencies in the movie, such as the town burning down the forest and Zeraora's anger. They also point out weird inconsistencies with characters' memories. They feel the motivations for certain events and catalysts are unclear. The hosts also feel that the movie backtracks on the idea that the world is open and all Pokémon know of each other region-wise.
Zeraora and Hawaiian Mythology
The hosts discuss Zeraora's origins and how he is based on a Hawaiian god called Kāne. They feel that Zeraora should have been the one to do the Lugia thing. They also discuss whether the movies have to use legendaries, arguing that some Pokémon have special abilities that transcend just being a Pokémon.
Wind Power and Human Dependence
The hosts feel that the movie made it less about the power of humans working with Pokémon and more about humans' dependence on a strong Pokémon. They also feel that the scientist gets the short end of the stick because he's just shy and doesn't have a super sad backstory.
Sudowoodo and Team Rocket
The hosts discuss Sudowoodo's random vomiting on the fire and how he gets ripped. They also discuss Team Rocket's role in the movie, noting that they are very much like they can make money if they steal from the scientist.
Ranking the Movie
The hosts rank "Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us" on their list of Pokémon movies. They place it at number 14, above "Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice" but below "Jirachi: Wish Maker." They discuss their personal lists and how they differ from the overall ranking.
Pokémon Poll Challenge
The hosts announce the Pokémon poll challenge for this week. Dante has chosen Growlithe, Chris has chosen Chansey, John has chosen Sudowoodo, and Danny has chosen Heracross. They encourage listeners to head over to the community Discord to vote.
