Pokémon: The First Movie (Review Revisit) - Nostalgia Critic

0:00 This episode brought to you by Factor, America's number one ready to eat meal kit. Check us out with James Ralph at the largest arcade in the world, Galloping Ghost in Illinois, July 11th and 12th. And check us out at Keton July 17th to the 20th. Use the promo code Nostalgia 10 to get 10% off a single day. Hope to see you there. [Music] Hello, I'm the Nostalgia Critic. I remember it so you don't have to. It's hard to believe I've been doing this for 18 years. It truly has been something watching my hair migra like a woolly willy toy. But seeing how we've jumped from platform to

0:46 platform, yes, there was a time when I was too dangerous for YouTube. The format of the show has changed a lot, too. In the old days, I was limited to about 10 minutes per video, so I couldn't go into as much detail as I wanted or even go scene by scene as I do now. Even when that limitation started to lift, I still kind of stuck to that format until I found a style I was more comfortable with. And even that's changed a bit over the years. Bottom line, there's some movies I already reviewed years ago, but feel like I could revisit and analyze in a more detailed way. Give it a bit more of a fair shake. So, because of that, I'm starting a new segment called Review. Revisit. What was that? You're so out of ideas that you have to go back and do old reviews again. You've become your own liveaction Disney remake. Besides, there's other segments that you

1:32 haven't even gone back to. Bumperto-bumper, arcade adaptations, career dive. I don't want to do this. Do what? I always sum up my insecurities about what people are going to think into a straw man. I don't want to do that. Funny you should mention that. My internal organs are actually made of straw. My father used to be a scarecrow. No, don't tell me your back story. Don't even tell me your name. Why not? Because I'll be tempted to turn you into a reoccurring character. I just want to go over some old reviews once in a while. Maybe it'll be a regular thing, maybe it won't. Maybe I'll do it a lot. Maybe I'll never do it again. I don't know. But I shouldn't presume what the audience is going to think. Either way, you know, I'm very similar to that douchy nitpick character you made years ago. I know. I wrote you to know. Even this breaking the fourth wall within breaking the fourth wall is kind of weird. I just want to talk about a movie I feel like I could go in more detail about. Yeah. Well, which one are you going to

2:18 do that you think won't piss people off? I was thinking about the first Pokemon movie. We are here today to pay respects to our fallen dead. You think this is my first funeral for a video. Let's go. It's been over 15 years since I've reviewed this movie, and since then, people have let me know they really like Pokémon. I've said before, and I'll say it again, Pokémon just isn't my thing. But I also wasn't the target demographic. I grew up in a time where animated shows had toy lines made before any scripts were written. Hell, they made legislation about it. So, I recognize when a series is a commercial first, but can still enjoy it. And as someone who has a soft spot for Ninja Turtles, Transformers, He-Man, and art shows clearly made to sell products first, I know. I would love the hell out

3:04 of this if I grew up with it. I mean, it's brilliant. Literal monsters you can just pull out your pocket ranging from cute to menacing that you use for fighting. if somehow you worked in pizza and robots. 10-year-old me would explode. But as an adult, of course, I snicker at the obvious commercialism of it. The tagline is you got to collect them all. I mean, catch them all. Gee, how'd I confuse those? But like many things that started out as an ad, it can evolve. Ninja Turtles has developed some good stories. Transformers can add some good writing here and there. He-Man has his moments. And Pokémon, I'm told, has some adventures that evolve beyond just selling toys. And honestly, for something to be around this long, I kind of feel like it has to. Yes, it's fun to annoy dieh hard fans pretending I hate it. But honestly, I still don't know that much about it and therefore don't

3:51 have any real strong reactions, which just made pissing people off about it even funnier to me. But today, I'm going to be objective about it. I'm still going in mostly as an outsider, but I'm also going to give it a fair chance. So, as someone who still thinks it sounds like a Jamaican asking if you want to play poker, let's take a look at again Pokemon the first movie. Oh, the film farted. Nice. Actually, we're inside the cell of Mewtwo, a powerful Pokémon created by a scientist trying to make a clone of another powerful Pokémon named, you guessed it, Mew. We use the most advanced techniques to develop your awesome psychic powers. So, I am simply the end result of your experiment. Okay, we'll give credit. That was a really cool shot.

4:39 Am I only a copy? This cannot be my destiny. No escaping that for me. So, I'll just say it. Even though it's probably a coincidence, Mewtwo is basically Shadow the Hedgehog, who was created around the same time. You could easily say they're both just utilizing a lot of popular anime tropes, but the similarities are amusing. He's a clone made in a lab. Breaks out. Doesn't know where he belongs. Is vengeful. Has a Kiano Reeves type voice. Even befriends the daughter of a scientist who ends up dead. Now, that last part doesn't ring a bell. That's because that was in the original Japanese version. You know, f there's an all you can eat buffet of differences between the American and Japanese versions. Some we'll dive into, some we won't. But bottom line, these changes were made because four kids and Warner Brothers thought the plot to the original was too adult. Considering

5:25 anime, that's not surprising. Look how they did the original Escape from the Lab. After he blows up the lab, he's approached by a powerful man named Giovani, who funded the experiment. I'll show you a way to focus your powers that will make you invincible. Show me. Well, that flow naturally. Destroy all scientists. Come with me. I'm a scientist. Okay. Learn to use them to accomplish your purpose. What is that? Patience. Your purpose will become clear. Trust me, it'll become clearer. They train him against other Pokemon and discover he is indeed powerful, maybe even more powerful than the one he was cloned after. But see if this sounds familiar. He doesn't know what his purpose is, doesn't like being controlled by

6:10 scientists, and blows up the lab. Didn't we do this yesterday? So, while in both versions, Mewtwo goes through an existential crisis, in the Japanese version, he feels no value because he's a copy of something else. So, his logic is if he becomes more powerful than the original, maybe he'll justify his existence. Warner said though he was too sympathetic and complicated for kids to see as the villain because blowing a blot not once but twice wasn't enough. So they tossed in as well. He wants to, you guessed it, take over the world. This is already one big call back. Why not? Of course. We then cut to our leads, Ash, Misty, and Brock as a narrator awkwardly reminds kids who know who they are who they are. This was done so grown-ups taking their kids to the movie would apparently get sucked into the story easier. As a grown-up, I can say that didn't work. As always, Ash is

6:57 determined to become a Pokemon master. And as always, he's ready to endure any hardship. And as always, I'm their stalker, hiding in the bushes, saying out loud everything I see. Oh no, they spotted me. Back to my home, where I'll comfortably look up more questionable material from this show. Let's have a match. Okay, so I have to admit I do kind of miss this style of animation. Digital has come a long way and I definitely see the perks in both 3D and 2D, but there's what I can only describe as a vibrant softness to this style that's very gripping. There is something that uniquely stands out about it. And honestly, for 1998, they combine CG with painted backgrounds really effectively. Like half of it you wouldn't even know

7:44 was CG until it starts moving. I'll concede the film does look a little better than I remember it. I'm afraid you're gonna lose this one. They get challenged by another Pokemon trainer and of course they end up playing their theme song while they fight. Yeah, I know this trick playing the intro theme to get kids hyped up. But personally, I don't get invested unless Cobras on Lady Liberty or Robo Orson Wells eats a planet. There's another credit on Pikachu's charge account. They're watched by their enemies, Team Rocket, made up of Jesse, James, and Meowth, who wish to capture Ash's Pokemon, Pikachu. The last time you cooked, you wiped out eight of my nine lives. Timing like a

8:29 So, they get an invite from timing and one annoying call back. That's it. So, they get an invite from the supposed greatest Pokemon trainer ever to just show up to his place, I guess. Greetings, Pokemon trainers. I bear an invitation. She's really small but really pretty. All right, even for a '9s anime dub. That was weird. They decide to attend, but they have to make their way to his house in the middle of the ocean during a storm. Team Rocket snags an invitation as well and tries to use as a chance to capture our heroes. We get you to a new island faster than you can save a farnugan. Okay, fans. Truthfully, are you really shocked grown-ups couldn't get into this? I didn't know Vikings still existed. They mostly live in Minnesota. It's a dumb boy.

9:16 [Music] Team Rocket reveals themselves. And though I don't know a ton about the show, I know even I should be grateful they cut down their longass motto. Prepare for trouble. Forget the motto. [Music] What was that? The three amigos salute. They use their Pokemon to survive the storm as they and other trainers make their way to the ultimate Pokemon trainer, who they're surprised is a Pokemon himself. A Pokemon can't be a Pokemon master. From now on, I am the one who makes the rules. As the scientific fusion of camel and camel toe, I deserve respect. Child's play. It turns out he's hypnotized a girl named Nurse Joy to use her as a vessel to speak, but he has no more use for her.

10:02 Where am I? And how in the world did I get here? Oh no, she's still under a spell. No, that's just how I sound. Meanwhile, Team Rocket sneaks in and discovers HR geekers care a lot. I was hoping there'd be a party. I'm aroused. Sent on me again. It turns out this is a machine that clones Pokémon as they symbolically reenact how Nintendo shits them out. Which of you will oppose me first? The Pokémon fight their clones, but Mewtwo's batch are more powerful. I now claim my pride. Your Pokemon. You are my Poke [ __ ] Hurry, wait. I will extract their DNA to make clones while my storm destroys the planet. And yeah, like I said, that destroy/takeover the world thing was

10:49 added in English dub. And it is pretty funny that a very average looking storm is suddenly supposed to destroy the planet. Like, hey, see the snowstorm? That's the whole world. The whole world's going through that. You're just going to have to trust us. We're not showing it. You two can't capture them if they're already inside their Poké Ball again. Double. The Pokémon are captured, including Pikachu. That must be the easiest role for memorizing lines since Vin Diesel as Groot. But Ash follows them to the cloning machine. Vile Bloom. Why don't you just put their price tags next to them while you're at it? The clones are made as Ash releases the originals, taking them back to the stadium to fight the copies.

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13:52 Is he cooler in the show? Cuz he's an idiot here. And the original Pokémon himself, Muse, shows up. Finally, we meet. Now I will prove that Mewtwo is better than the original. Hey, listen to me. I'm the only one who doesn't have to match mouth movement, so I can give an okay performance, and you will respect that. Mew and Mewtwo. So Mewtwo was cloned from Mew. Yes. I haven't been this surprised since I found out Terminator 2 was a sequel to Terminator. Did you read any of these lines after you wrote them? So I think Mew is supposed to be like a Tom Bombadil type where he's super powerful but doesn't like doing anything violent. I think again they don't explain it that

14:37 well. With that said, it is pretty funny seeing this cute little thing slam you two into the bleachers. MW says you don't prove anything by showing off a lot of special powers. Pokemon's real strength comes from the heart. That's a good point. Oh, sorry. Counter from a minute ago. Ah, well, let's hope no other hypocritical dialogue is to follow. Yep, I think you all know what's coming. And just about everybody's biggest problem with the movie, even the people who like it, the bizarre anti-fighting message in a franchise that is primarily fight-based. Pokemon aren't meant to fight. Not like this. This just proves that fighting is wrong. And it isn't like they just mention this in a passing line. They repeat their message in the last third almost as many

15:23 times as the Barbie movie does. Now I can see how horrible fighting really is. What can come out of it? Nothing but pain. It's not right to force Pokémon to battle this way. Someone's got to take a stand and refuse to fight. Maybe if we started looking at what's the same instead of what's different. Who knows? There's a solid 5 minutes of nothing but that. And in a movie that's an hour 14 long, that's a fair amount of time. It doesn't help either that while this is supposed to be emotional, a lot of it is very unintentionally funny. Like the pop song that so doesn't match it sounds like it should be played at a mega church. We got to end this war. All this violent chaotic destruction

16:08 being interrupted by a duck slapping another duck [Music] while the megaurch music is still going. And I'm sorry, all these years later, Pikachu beating the crap out of himself is still one of the most laugh out loud things I've ever witnessed. Kittyh. I don't care if you were three when you saw this, and maybe you were even falling for the force message, but somewhere deep down inside you, you knew this was hilarious. She's my sister. She's my daughter. My sister. My daughter. My sister. My daughter. Those Pokémon look like they're ready to fight to the death. That's a fight that nobody's going to win. Now, while this is clearly not what they were saying in the Japanese version, I

16:54 will admit their lesson is a little weird, too. The trainers see that clones are also alive and should be valued. [Music] I guess this could be a commentary on when they first achieved cloning in 96. And seeing how this came out in '98, I guess the dates do kind of add up. So, um, don't take clones for granted. Japanese children. Oh my goodness. This probably is a good lesson over there. They're so advanced are probably prestiging their magic shows even as we speak. Ash says the fighting must stop, so he runs into the middle of Mew and Mewtwo's blast, turning him into stone, which I'm just being told at this moment was one of their powers.

17:42 [Music] Somebody please find a video of that actress recording that line. She sounds like Sneezer from Tiny Tunes. But fear not, the tears of marketability restore all life. Actually, I'm only half joking as this was supposed to be the finale for the entire show, but the film made so much money, Japan decided to make a ton more. And they say America has no influence over there. Pikachu. [Music] Again, to the credit of the original, they do at least say earlier Pokémon tears are full of life, so there's at least a hint of an explanation there. But in this one, that's never mentioned. So they just cry and that Frankensteines them back to life. Oh, they might also combine with magic moon beams to understand dolphins, but that's common knowledge.

18:27 Not until they set aside their differences did I see the true power they all share deep inside. Let us utilize this new discovery to create groundbreaking medicine or we never mention it again. Also an ethical option. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are. You is so touched by this display that he decides maybe he won't take over the world. It was more of a side hobby thing. Anyway, you too. Where are you going? Where my heart can learn what yours knows so well. How to be a hypocritical franchising tool. You two, I guess, as a gift takes them back in time and erases their memories of any of this ever happening. Because that is also a power he has now. Pokemon treatment center will be open as a shelter. Anyone who needs a place to

19:15 stay should come with me. So, not only could he have gone back in time to not kill all those scientists, but that half-assed message about fighting being so bad is now completely forgotten by everyone. I guess I should be upset, but let's be honest, they weren't going to stick to that lesson even if they did remember it. Highest grossing anime in America, y'all. Hey guys, how did we wind up in this place anyway? Well, I guess we're just here because we're here. Even if their memories weren't wiped, I'd be like, "Yeah, that sounds like typical dialogue from this team." Many strange legends surround the mysteries of Pokemon. Just as many adventures await our young heroes as they continue on their quest. Oh, and uh something about fighting bad. I don't know. Check out Mewtwo on Super Smash Brothers. A literal fighting game.

20:00 Fighting bad by our fighting game. Fighting bad. This is still not a good movie. Big shock. I'm not the only critic who thinks that. I guess the fan reaction is kind of mixed. There's people who like the nostalgia and fond memories of it and how bright and colorful it is. But there's others who are still pretty pissed they changed so much from the original because they felt like their audience wasn't smart enough to follow it. I certainly can't say I hate this movie by any means. Like I said, if I grew up with it, I would probably like how creative and odd and wellan animated it is. There are elements of an existential struggle in there, but the commercialism and hypocritical message overrides all that without enjoyably embracing its commercialism like some other product movies. The Japanese version seems a little all over the place, too, but at least there's an

20:47 attempt at ideas and complex emotions for a kid show adaptation. It's not a good flick, but I can see a few decent things in it at least. I don't think anyone ever took it too seriously, so I'm not that concerned about kids getting mixed messages. But I think it's pretty clear this is an American adaptation of a Japanese movie we're clearly not catching all of. And sorry we didn't get to do too much with you nameless character. Straw Man. Damn it. That's your name, isn't it? Yep. Now it's in my head. You have an identity to me. See you in a Minecraft review. I'm doing a Minecraft review. I think you have to now. You're right. I talked about too much not to. Good luck with that. I think I hate you, which means you'll use me more. I got to end this. I'm the Nostalgia Greg. I remember doing the Snow White remake. Absolutely not. Damn it.

21:33 We get you to a new island faster than you can say Noogan. We're still doing cameos for charity, but I'm going to switch things up a little bit. As many of you are probably aware, I got chronic fatigue syndrome about a year and a half ago. It's still with me, and while it's not nearly as bad as what other people have, there's still very little known about it. not much research or anything. And it probably goes without saying it's really spiked after co. So rather than change up the charities every month, I think I'm just going to give the money to one charity. Solveme CFS. There are so many people suffering greatly from this. And like I've said in the past, I'm not suffering nearly as bad as so many people out there. Yet it's still getting in the way of how I live my usual life. So I can't even imagine what so many other people must be going through and the toll it must be taking on them. So,

22:18 if you want a video of me saying happy birthday or congrats, good luck or whatever, click on the link below and be giving to a good cause. If you're like, "No, your face is a butt and I don't like you." Well, consider giving to this wonderful organization. Anyway, like I said, there's a lot of people suffering from this and we don't really know the reason why. So, maybe we can all come together and help them help many more.