Brief Summary
In this episode of the CGDannyB podcast, the crew reviews "Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution," a CGI reimagining of the first Pokémon movie. They discuss the animation, voice acting, and overall message, comparing it to the original. The team also talks about the changes in dialogue, music, and character portrayals, ultimately ranking the movie within their existing list of Pokémon films.
- The CGI animation was a point of contention, with some finding it plastic and lacking detail.
- The changes in dialogue and music were seen as detrimental, diminishing the emotional impact of key scenes.
- The movie was ranked low on their list, primarily due to its close adherence to the original without significant improvements or fresh elements.
Intro
The podcast team introduces the episode, announcing their review of "Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution." They clarify that this movie is a reimagining of the first Pokémon movie, originally released in North America in 1999. The team expresses their excitement and readiness to discuss the film.
Synopsis and Initial Reactions
The team reads the synopsis from the Pokémon website, which describes the movie as a modern look at Ash and Pikachu's original adventure. The synopsis details the creation of Mewtwo, its resentment towards its human creators, and its quest for revenge. Initial reactions are mixed, with some expressing love for the animation and message, while others are critical of the CGI and overall execution.
Critiques of the CGI Animation
The team discusses the CGI animation, with one member expressing strong dislike, describing the characters as plastic-looking and lacking texture. They note that while some Pokémon, like Squirtle and Staryu, look good, the human characters appear awful. The lack of detail and the shiny, plastic feel are major drawbacks compared to the darker, grittier feel of the original movie.
Differences from the Original Movie
The team points out differences in the movie's rating and tone compared to the original. The original movie had a darker presentation, while the reimagining feels less intense. They also discuss specific scenes, such as Mewtwo's initial destruction and Ash's physical feats, noting inconsistencies and a lack of impact in the new version.
Sound Effects and Lip Syncing Issues
A significant issue raised is the use of squeaky hammer sound effects during heavy impacts, which detracts from the seriousness of the scenes. Additionally, the lip syncing is criticized as being poorly done, which is more noticeable in 3D animation than in traditional 2D anime.
Mewtwo's Character and Visuals
The portrayal of Mewtwo is discussed, with some feeling that he is less sinister and more blindly complain in this version. The visual effects, such as the storm and waves, are considered less impactful than in the original. While some visual aspects are good, the overall quality is inconsistent.
Human Characters and Pokemon Designs
The team discusses the quality of the human character designs, with most agreeing that they do not look great in 3D. Team Rocket and Officer Jenny are exceptions, with their designs being better received. The main trio (Ash, Misty, and Brock) are considered the worst in terms of visual appeal. The designs of the Pokémon are generally praised, with flying or hovering Pokémon benefiting the most from the 3D animation.
CGI Comparisons and Expectations
The team discusses the potential of CGI in Pokémon movies, referencing other CGI films like "Dragon Quest: Your Story" and "Monster University" as examples of well-executed CGI. They express disappointment that "Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution" did not meet the same standard, especially given the Pokémon Company's resources. The lack of effort is attributed to the assumption that the movie would sell based on the Pokémon name alone.
Dialogue and Story Changes
The team discusses changes in dialogue, noting that the story is told worse in the reimagining. The absence of iconic lines and the altered delivery of key phrases diminish the emotional impact. The team also notes the absence of the "Brother My Brother" song, replaced with generic drums.
Reimagining vs. Remake
The team discusses the movie's identity as a reimagining, noting that it sticks too closely to the original without adding enough new content or taking sufficient liberties. They compare it unfavorably to remakes like "Resident Evil 2" and "Final Fantasy VII," which successfully reimagine the original material. The lack of Pokémon from later generations is a missed opportunity.
Specific Scene Changes and Character Portrayals
The team discusses specific scene changes, such as the altered dialogue of the scientist at the beginning of the movie and the removal of jokes from Brock's character. They speculate that these changes may be due to a desire to make Ash less of a "dumbass" and to avoid potentially offensive or culturally insensitive portrayals.
Gyarados and Target Audience
The team discusses the portrayal of Gyarados, noting that Ash's comment about it being the "atrocious Pokémon" feels unnatural. They also speculate that the movie was primarily aimed at playing on the nostalgia of older fans rather than appealing to a younger audience familiar with later generations of Pokémon.
Box Office Performance and Future Reimagining
The team discusses the movie's box office performance, noting that it did not perform well compared to the original. They speculate that the CGI costs and the decision to release it straight to Netflix contributed to this. They debate whether reimagining Pokémon movies is a good direction, suggesting that future attempts should incorporate more elements from later generations and improve the storytelling.
Visuals and Choreography
The team discusses specific visual elements and choreography, such as the extended fight scenes and the use of energy ball by Venusaur. They critique the way Charizard's flamethrower is depicted and the lack of variety in the clone Pokémon designs.
Pikachu's Crying Scene and Clone Battles
The team compares Pikachu's crying scene in the reimagining to the original, noting that while the visual is better, the lack of music diminishes the emotional impact. They also critique the clone battles, noting that the non-starter Pokémon clones lack distinct features.
Voice Acting and Music
The team discusses the voice acting, noting that the new voices do not capture the tone and familiarity of the original cast. They also discuss the ending credit song and the opening intro credit scene, which references Pokémon Stadium.
Ranking the Movie
The team ranks "Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution" within their existing list of Pokémon movies. They struggle with the placement, debating whether to judge it as a standalone movie or in comparison to the original. Ultimately, they decide to place it low on the list, with the majority voting to put it at number 22, above "Pokémon Black and White" but below "Mewtwo Returns."
Poll Challenge
The team announces the Pokémon for the poll challenge related to the next movie, "Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle". The team members pick their Pokémon: Arcanine, Nidoking, Wingull, Blastoise, and Mewtwo. They encourage viewers to vote in the Discord server.
