*Spoilers, if you care.
Watching this movie felt like watching the first season while on speed. It’s basically a retelling of Ash’s humble beginnings with long time rodent pal, Pikachu, but in an alternate reality. This time the narrative focuses on legendary Pokemon Ho-Oh and it leaves out Misty, Brock, and Gary, replacing them with three new (not so interesting) characters.
After awhile you kind of miss Misty’s caring persona and Brock’s thirst for the ladies. It would’ve brought more depth into the characters since it would help with balancing out Ash’s bratty and naive performance of wanting to be the best Pokemon Master. He is only ten, so it makes sense.
Ultimately, Pokemon has always been about friendship and the sacrifices people make for their friends. We may say goodbye to those like Butterfree, so he can go get married, invite new friends because their previous friends left them (Charmander), and even sacrifice our own life for the ones we love (Pikachu).
Making friends is basically Ash’s reason and purpose in life and why he battles. I guess in a way, Pokemon in real life associates with that concept as well. Pokemon GO brought together strangers and it even helped people come together when the nation felt divided at the time.
However, the movie in itself is a bit lacking with funny dialog that’s meant to be serious, no character development that made you cared for them, a weak antagonist that seriously wasn’t raised right, and how many times does Ash need to die? With that said, perhaps the ten year old inside of you might see it a different way. But for now, maybe it’s time to choose something else…
5.5/10.
*Team Rocket didn’t need to be in this movie. Total waste.
**Oh yeah, Pikachu talks in this one. That was weird.
***So when a Pokemon evolves, it does inherit it’s predecessor’s memories.
Ramblings of an Introvert 