"They fight for an hour, then they have a message that fighting is bad; But then they're going to have a sequel where they fight some more!" _I mean he isn't wrong._
I remember watching this movie with my cousin who was 6 at the time and simply staring dumbstruck at the screen for 90 minutes while all manner of pointless violence happened which was the followed by 5 minutes of self righteous moralizing that means nothing because the "moral" is forgotten in the sequel bait set up at the end.
oddly enough the implication is they did not even not need to forget the "moral" as my understanding is they were just upset pokemon were fighting because mewtwo was frocing them too. like i think it was nurse joy who says pokemon should not fight not like this.
While the franchise still holds a place in my heart, I can understand why Ebert struggles with it. On the surface it SEEMS like a commercialistic, heartless product placement. To understand the story you need to live it, breathe it, see the anime and play the games (especially the more modern ones, which have more story). Not to mention researching the franchise's origins (the creator made it so that people could bond with each other, interact, trade, make and be good friends).
Yeah, the thing about Pokemon is it did all the right things to become a sensation with kids (and remain popular with younger generations while also still remaining a nostalgic touchstone for Millennials), but it was never going to win over adults at the time. That's why this and subsequent movies got negative reviews. As a movie for fans, it's totally fine, but if you aren't invested in the Pokemon phenomenon or its story or characters, I don't see it more than being passable entertainment at best and cynical marketing at worst for someone like Roger Ebert, especially when you compare the animation and story to movies that do have cross-generational appeal. So take it with a grain of salt, and if you like it, continue to like it.
Ebert always saw through cheap marketing. He’s really missed nowadays, where almost every movie is franchise stuff, repeating formulas til it hurts and it’s all about the marketing instead of the stories and characters
I saw this with my older half-sister opening day November 12, 1999, and it was downright amazing, I cried at the theaters during the climax and as an 8-year old, it still gets me teary-eyed, even to this day it still sends a powerful message to fight until creatures go tired, not so they can die.
Brandon Espinoza , I remember I was at a local store, and I was stopped by the electronics Asile, and they were selling TV's, and this movie was on all of them, so I started watching it.
LOOL a never forget that opening movie wit charizard stuck and i never forgot when he shed a tear i was nah not my nigga ZARD!! Damn shit me in the feels to this day LMAO
+Actually Jimmy Fallon I would have to agree with you, because I've still got the VHS of this movie and I've also got the Second, Third, and Fourth Movie, and the rest of them are on DVD's, Including The DIANCE one, I also have every single Pokémon Cards too, all of them in photo albums, and all the action figures, and stuffed animals too.
All i can say about the first movie is that the music is amazing, Mewtwo and mew was a cool pokemon and Pikachu crying for Ash had me bawling out. It may not be the best pokemon movie but it is nostalgic. Its a type of movie that makes me smile
Actually the original version was way different,it was supposed to be the series finale but with money opportunity they scrap it up and made that version
A shame that the full version of the Origin of Mewtwo wasn't included in the theatrical release, because then the movie becomes more about Mewtwo dealing with an anger he holds for a number of reasons, but is rooted in an event that was erased from memory minus the emotions. Mewtwo is a very powerful, dynamic character.
I grew up with pokemon and loved it, but I have to agree with Ebert. The movie's story was minimum at best, the purpose of the movie was to advertise even more about Pokemon, and how awesome they are. Anyone who loves Pokemon is bond to enjoy it despite the large amount of flaws with it.
I never got into the pokemon craze because I knew kids who were obsessed with it and wouldn’t shut up about it. Now with pokemon go and a new movie coming out, I’m just assuming that they never grew up.
I find it amusing Ebert would even imagine something like a Pokemon movie could even be done in the vein of the magic of Miyazaki or Takahata. It's just not the type of material that would be particularly applicable to their style of magic.
When I was a kid, this movie was spectacular! Several years later, as an adult, I still get goosebumps from watching just the trailers. It's still a great film, at least for me who grew up with Pokémon. This film is (like all films) an artwork aswell as a masterpiece in its own right. I'm not really any greater Pokémon-fan anymore, but I still have some great memories, and I still have some favourite pokémons (that is among the first generation of pokémons), including MewTwo on first place, and I still consider this film to be a really great, iconic and nostalgic motion picture with some awesome music aswell. It's a definitive classic from my childhood.
Hans-Christian I would have to agree with you, because I remember I used to rent this movie when it was on Pay-Per-View on my Dish-Network, and it was amazing, I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish, I even cheered at the part where Ash Ketchum (who's my all-time top ten favorite Pokémon People Characters of course) walked out of the smoke, fallowed by the other Pokémon, That was Amazing, If there ever was an Academy Award to give to Cartoon Characters in a Anime Movie, Then Ash Ketchum would win an Academy Award for Best Part In an Anime Movie, I also remember when this AWESOME movie was nominated in the "Kids Choice Awards" (I don't remember what year it was), I remember SpongeBob and Patrick Starfish was the presenters, and I don't remember what happened next, also I remember I used to have this on VHS, and the best part of all, was when Ash was running and got hit by a psychic blast, and was turned to stone, Pikachu started to revive him, but it didn't work, Pikachu started crying, then the other Pokémon and the clones started crying, I was about to cry myself, but then I remembered what that other woman that was with officer jenny in a big harbor building, the other woman was talking to the other Pokémon Trainers who wanted to go to some island, and she (the other woman) started talking about some storm that had destroyed everything including some Pokémon, and how their tears have revived what had been destroyed, and I said to myself, "that's it, that's going to save his (Ash Ketchum) life, That's it, that has to be it", and I won't tell you what happens next, also I remember recording the second one on TV, and I also remember I used to have the third one, and I've seen the fourth one, the fifth one, and the rest too, including the Jirichi, Deoxys, Lucario, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shayman, Arceus, Zororark, Reshiram. Zekrom, Keldeo, Genesect, and the Diancie one, I like the Diancie one, It's AWESOME.
Happy 20th Anniversary Pokemon The First Movie, November 6th, 1999. Happy 20th Anniversary To You, Happy 20th Anniversary To You, Happy 20th Anniversary Pokemon The First Movie, Happy 20th Anniversary To You.
I had extreme Pokemania as much as any kid did in the 90's and early 2000's, but the only version I will ever watch again at this point is the Japanese version with English subs. Despite having once owned the U.S. soundtrack and having the songs burned in my brain, I can't stand the music anymore, and the film is just so much darker and better-written in the Japanese version. Even then, it's a decent film compared to other animated films. Really wish UA-cam wouldn't keep removing it. Not like anyone's losing money.
Antonio D. Actually I rarely watch anime these days, and even back when I was more into it, it wasn't the only thing that revolved around my life. Nice try, though. I'm just a purist, that's all.
Wow I am kind of fascinated at how these people seriously discuss the message in the Pokemon movie. I don't think something like this happens anymore with the new Pokemon movies and all. I think most people don't even take them seriously anymore.
That's nonsense. Ebert acknowledged tons of great animated kids movies throughout his whole career. You're free to have your own opinion on this shitty film, but your little assessment there is seriously off base and overzealous.
If Kids WB and 4Kids would have left alone the script, film, and the original Japanese score. Then the both the kids and the adults will like the film and the critics will give it mostly positive reviews.
@TallBoyBlue That's the American version. The Japanese version, which was the original, was dramatically different. Here is why 4kids change the plot of the US version. Too much to explain, but Mewtwo was angry because it wasn't created by God, and the people who made it didn't care about him. He felt like an outcast, got clones to wipe out all the natural borns. Mew is evil as well in the movie. Mew wanted to kill all the clones because their abominations to it. The message was different too.
I am pretty sure he would of hated Pokemon: the first movie just as much maybe even than Ebert. I think between the two of them, Ebert was a bit more forgiving of animation than Siskel, so if Ebert can not like an animated movie, than I am sure Siskel wouldn't have like it. If memory serves me right, Siskel wasn't even that impressed with Disney's Mulan, where as Ebert did like it.
A valid point is made about not fighting but continuing to catch pokemon against there wills and force them to fight. As a kid I never thought about this since it's a cartoon, but it's fun to ponder now. I think he should have talked about more though; like the soundtrack, animation, sounds, story, ect.
What was the movie all about you ask, Roger Ebert??? Simple, introducing Mew and Mewtwo, but this time, Mewtwo is the one who is the main villian and he is the one creating all the obstacles with the storm to see who is worthy of coming to his island and also he kidnapped nurse joy from the city.
***** Except that's not at all the moral of this when Pokemon as a whole would completely contradict it. It's not to push your friends (read: Pokemon) to their breaking point for your benefit.
something there goal is not to be mean its to do the right thing and the message was very deep and complex. in the movie one kind of has to understand we are seeing this from pickachu's point of veiw.
This reminds me of when I was 9 and this movie came out in theaters. I wanted to see it but my parents didn't want to. I watched it when it came out and liked it. Now that I think about it, I'm glad they didn't because if they did they would have been like the nostalgia critic and Ebert in the first minute. I'm not at all repentant about growing up on this franchise.
Whoever came up with pokemon is a genius: it instills obsessive consumerism in kids. Then they grow up and want to buy 'em all (the purpose made "collectible" stuff)! Company profits through the roof.
Well, Ebert wasn't wrong, it was a marketing thing to push it more to the forefront than it already was, because the world wasn't saturated enough with Pokemania.
This movie is amazing and I watch it every so often. I wish they didn't cut out the first 10 minutes of the movie where Mewtwo is shown as a child Pokemon. without it, it creates a few loops holes and doesn't really keep the movie together completely. stupid America taking it out because it's "too dark." Every time i go to watch this movie, I have to watch the first 10 minutes that were cut from the beginning first :]
Pokemon fighting is intended to be harmless and fun and with Mewtwo forcing them to fight physically instead is much more dangerous and more likely to incite harm. i think that was the intended message and it just ended up getting lost in translation.
Critics just hate the dubbing of a few anime movies. That moral "fighting is wrong", contradicts the series because there are Pokémon battles in almost every episode. Original Japanese versions are somewhat better, but there's almost no way to know if the original is critically good or not. This is just a heads up.
@@LuigiTheMetal64 Ok, but let’s imagine that if Kids WB and 4kids didn’t change the script and music, then the dub would have been more well received and everyone would take Pokémon seriously!
jeez, she clearly did not see what Roger saw. which is "Buy our freakin product!" or what the Nostalgia Critic saw, "Violence is bad, but we're going to do it anyway."
people were always more obsessed with the reaction to people liking the foreign weird pokemon fad then actually understanding that its just entertainment...made from somewhere else oh no!!!!....outsiders wanted know why it was so popular....cause its fun....thats like asking why do kids like disney films princesses mickey mouse and looney tunes...uh cause its interesting ...it just happens to not be made in america...big deal ...get over it....
I love Pokémon to death. The first few seasons of the anime still have it's charm. Also the Game Boy, DS and 3DS main titles are amazing games. Here's the thing with the first Pokémon movie though. I loved it as a child but this has aged so poorly as you get older. Seriously there is just something about it that doesn't make any sense. It tries to convey a message but it doesn't really get it. It was seriously painful to sit through the First Movie 11 years later. Also it seemed useless by the end of it. Simply because of the ending. Also the 2nd and 3rd movies have aged way better but afterwards they get even more awful. The best I can say is that the message within had something interesting and the animation quality was awesome. But everything else was just so ehh...
Even the first few seasons are mediocre. There are some individual episodes from the early seasons that are good. But as a whole it's not like every episode was good from beginning to end.
DraculaXHunter101 The problem I had with it was that the moral of "fighting is bad and everyone should love one another" is forgotten when they do the set up for the sequel at the very end of the story. If they'd wanted to teach something to the audience they should have kept this a stand alone story and had the next film in the franchise take place a few years after the events of the first.
I wish Ebert could have reviewed the Japanese version. Rather than ramming "fighting is bad" down our throats, Mewtwo's rampage is driven by an existential crisis. After Ash is brought back, he understands that if a human can be given life by a Pokemon and still be a human, then the opposite must be true, and thus he no longer needs to consider himself a freak and outcast with no place in the world. Is it good? Better than the dub's message, I'll tell you that.
ebert don't crap on my childhood, although looking back the movie did kind of suck, it was a brand extension, they are still making new movies and new pokemon.
Optimus Prime's death was much sadder because he actually died. And Bambi's mom is the saddest because, she didn't come back. I could also say that both characters had more personality than ASS Ketchum, but that would be overkill wouldn't it?
I don't think the meaning behind this was "violence was bad." It was more along the lines of choosing your own destiny and not letting your past spoil your future.
"They fight for an hour, then they have a message that fighting is bad; But then they're going to have a sequel where they fight some more!"
_I mean he isn't wrong._
Roger nailed it: "It's about requiring Pokemins."
It's shit
Acquiring
he is not wrong.
"It's about acquiring Pokémens" is my new favourite Ebert quote.
well he is not wrong. except for how he pronounces pokemon lol.
That killed me, he's so real
Don't underestimate Ebert. He got to the 2nd level of TMNT on the NES!
It was at this moment that Ebert knew replacing Siskel would be a difficult journey.
it's about acquiring pokemins wahaha
pokemen herpderp
As soon as I heard him say that I scrolled down because I knew there was going to be a comment about it.
I remember watching this movie with my cousin who was 6 at the time and simply staring dumbstruck at the screen for 90 minutes while all manner of pointless violence happened which was the followed by 5 minutes of self righteous moralizing that means nothing because the "moral" is forgotten in the sequel bait set up at the end.
oddly enough the implication is they did not even not need to forget the "moral" as my understanding is they were just upset pokemon were fighting because mewtwo was frocing them too. like i think it was nurse joy who says pokemon should not fight not like this.
Roger gave the film 2 out of 4 stars in his newspaper review.
+C.J. O'Dell stop obsessing over ratings and actually care about the review itself.
***** I'm not. I was just mentioning it.
He didn't pick it as the worst film of 1999, Joel Siegel did.
Honestly, that's pretty gracious. And I say that as someone who loves the film.
"It's about a lot of things, it's about love..."
"It's about ACQUIRING POKEMANZ!"
While the franchise still holds a place in my heart, I can understand why Ebert struggles with it. On the surface it SEEMS like a commercialistic, heartless product placement. To understand the story you need to live it, breathe it, see the anime and play the games (especially the more modern ones, which have more story). Not to mention researching the franchise's origins (the creator made it so that people could bond with each other, interact, trade, make and be good friends).
you really need to watch the anime to appreciate the movie, unfortunately. i still think it was great but i understand their reactions
@@idklol4197 the original Japanese version
Yeah, the thing about Pokemon is it did all the right things to become a sensation with kids (and remain popular with younger generations while also still remaining a nostalgic touchstone for Millennials), but it was never going to win over adults at the time. That's why this and subsequent movies got negative reviews. As a movie for fans, it's totally fine, but if you aren't invested in the Pokemon phenomenon or its story or characters, I don't see it more than being passable entertainment at best and cynical marketing at worst for someone like Roger Ebert, especially when you compare the animation and story to movies that do have cross-generational appeal. So take it with a grain of salt, and if you like it, continue to like it.
He's got a point. It's even mentioned in the theme song.
Roger's "pokemans" line had me laughing so hard I was in tears.
I swear that lady is just somebody's mom who got dragged along.
Roger has a brilliant reaction at 2:58
Ebert always saw through cheap marketing. He’s really missed nowadays, where almost every movie is franchise stuff, repeating formulas til it hurts and it’s all about the marketing instead of the stories and characters
I saw this with my older half-sister opening day November 12, 1999, and it was downright amazing, I cried at the theaters during the climax and as an 8-year old, it still gets me teary-eyed, even to this day it still sends a powerful message to fight until creatures go tired, not so they can die.
Brandon Espinoza , I remember I was at a local store, and I was stopped by the electronics Asile, and they were selling TV's, and this movie was on all of them, so I started watching it.
Awesome
LOOL a never forget that opening movie wit charizard stuck and i never forgot when he shed a tear i was nah not my nigga ZARD!!
Damn shit me in the feels to this day LMAO
That was my 30th birthday.
I will always love this film because I loved it at as a kid but it's really shit. I could never actually defend this film.
No bro, just no.
+Actually Jimmy Fallon I would have to agree with you, because I've still got the VHS of this movie and I've also got the Second, Third, and Fourth Movie, and the rest of them are on DVD's, Including The DIANCE one, I also have every single Pokémon Cards too, all of them in photo albums, and all the action figures, and stuffed animals too.
***** no, you're just stupid
***** you're just mad because you're going to get poked. I'll go easy on you, I handle with care.
dumbass
All i can say about the first movie is that the music is amazing, Mewtwo and mew was a cool pokemon and Pikachu crying for Ash had me bawling out. It may not be the best pokemon movie but it is nostalgic. Its a type of movie that makes me smile
flying black spheres
@I'm Beavis heh heh Sentinel Spheres
Hearing her describe the movie made me laugh. You know she died a little inside.
If I'm being honest, there were PARTS I really liked in this film, but damn do I wish they were in a better movie.
Actually the original version was way different,it was supposed to be the series finale but with money opportunity they scrap it up and made that version
@@Gabelite I always felt Giovanni should've played a larger role
It's about acquiring Pookemans
A shame that the full version of the Origin of Mewtwo wasn't included in the theatrical release, because then the movie becomes more about Mewtwo dealing with an anger he holds for a number of reasons, but is rooted in an event that was erased from memory minus the emotions. Mewtwo is a very powerful, dynamic character.
I grew up with pokemon and loved it, but I have to agree with Ebert. The movie's story was minimum at best, the purpose of the movie was to advertise even more about Pokemon, and how awesome they are. Anyone who loves Pokemon is bond to enjoy it despite the large amount of flaws with it.
I never got into the pokemon craze because I knew kids who were obsessed with it and wouldn’t shut up about it. Now with pokemon go and a new movie coming out, I’m just assuming that they never grew up.
It's funny, as a kid you agree with Joyce
Later on in life, you agree with Roger
This movie was the shit when i was 5
I find it amusing Ebert would even imagine something like a Pokemon movie could even be done in the vein of the magic of Miyazaki or Takahata. It's just not the type of material that would be particularly applicable to their style of magic.
*It's about acquiring Pokemins!*
When I was a kid, this movie was spectacular! Several years later, as an adult, I still get goosebumps from watching just the trailers. It's still a great film, at least for me who grew up with Pokémon. This film is (like all films) an artwork aswell as a masterpiece in its own right. I'm not really any greater Pokémon-fan anymore, but I still have some great memories, and I still have some favourite pokémons (that is among the first generation of pokémons), including MewTwo on first place, and I still consider this film to be a really great, iconic and nostalgic motion picture with some awesome music aswell. It's a definitive classic from my childhood.
Hans-Christian I would have to agree with you, because I remember I used to rent this movie when it was on Pay-Per-View on my Dish-Network, and it was amazing, I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish, I even cheered at the part where Ash Ketchum (who's my all-time top ten favorite Pokémon People Characters of course) walked out of the smoke, fallowed by the other Pokémon, That was Amazing, If there ever was an Academy Award to give to Cartoon Characters in a Anime Movie, Then Ash Ketchum would win an Academy Award for Best Part In an Anime Movie, I also remember when this AWESOME movie was nominated in the "Kids Choice Awards" (I don't remember what year it was), I remember SpongeBob and Patrick Starfish was the presenters, and I don't remember what happened next, also I remember I used to have this on VHS, and the best part of all, was when Ash was running and got hit by a psychic blast, and was turned to stone, Pikachu started to revive him, but it didn't work, Pikachu started crying, then the other Pokémon and the clones started crying, I was about to cry myself, but then I remembered what that other woman that was with officer jenny in a big harbor building, the other woman was talking to the other Pokémon Trainers who wanted to go to some island, and she (the other woman) started talking about some storm that had destroyed everything including some Pokémon, and how their tears have revived what had been destroyed, and I said to myself, "that's it, that's going to save his (Ash Ketchum) life, That's it, that has to be it", and I won't tell you what happens next, also I remember recording the second one on TV, and I also remember I used to have the third one, and I've seen the fourth one, the fifth one, and the rest too, including the Jirichi, Deoxys, Lucario, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shayman, Arceus, Zororark, Reshiram. Zekrom, Keldeo, Genesect, and the Diancie one, I like the Diancie one, It's AWESOME.
Pokemon Silver was my first video game. :D good memories
Happy 20th Anniversary Pokemon The First Movie, November 6th, 1999.
Happy 20th Anniversary To You, Happy 20th Anniversary To You,
Happy 20th Anniversary Pokemon The First Movie,
Happy 20th Anniversary To You.
I had extreme Pokemania as much as any kid did in the 90's and early 2000's, but the only version I will ever watch again at this point is the Japanese version with English subs. Despite having once owned the U.S. soundtrack and having the songs burned in my brain, I can't stand the music anymore, and the film is just so much darker and better-written in the Japanese version. Even then, it's a decent film compared to other animated films. Really wish UA-cam wouldn't keep removing it. Not like anyone's losing money.
+psychedelicpiper Weeaboo spotted.
Antonio D. Actually I rarely watch anime these days, and even back when I was more into it, it wasn't the only thing that revolved around my life. Nice try, though. I'm just a purist, that's all.
"Bomb the harbor!"
Wow I am kind of fascinated at how these people seriously discuss the message in the Pokemon movie. I don't think something like this happens anymore with the new Pokemon movies and all. I think most people don't even take them seriously anymore.
because at this point everyone knows pokemon is about aquireing pokemens.
true dat my friend. And I think we all do cry still everytime we watch that scene. It was, and just still is sooo damn touching
You have got to be kidding me, the film is about a load of things from growing up, to parenting all the way to love.
Ebert's inner child clearly died long ago. Only someone born wearing a suit and tie, and holding a briefcase would dislike this movie.
That's nonsense. Ebert acknowledged tons of great animated kids movies throughout his whole career. You're free to have your own opinion on this shitty film, but your little assessment there is seriously off base and overzealous.
Don't care if nobody likes it. It has a special place in my childhood and in my heart and that's all that matters.
If Kids WB and 4Kids would have left alone the script, film, and the original Japanese score. Then the both the kids and the adults will like the film and the critics will give it mostly positive reviews.
But no it didn’t happened
Could you please upload the full episode that includes "The Iron Giant"?
Pokemon got me apart of anime. I love Mewtwo's voice. It is so awesome. It is so epic and its har to describe how they are great.
It's encouraging to me that an adult stuck up for Pokemon for what we all know it to mean. :3 You go, ma'am! ^^
This is the first time that I have heard Roger Ebert's voice. None of his authority, gravitas is lost.
@TallBoyBlue That's the American version. The Japanese version, which was the original, was dramatically different. Here is why 4kids change the plot of the US version. Too much to explain, but Mewtwo was angry because it wasn't created by God, and the people who made it didn't care about him. He felt like an outcast, got clones to wipe out all the natural borns. Mew is evil as well in the movie. Mew wanted to kill all the clones because their abominations to it. The message was different too.
The message in the original Japanese version is the themes of life and how wonderful it is to be alive.
I wonder what Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert thought about, Pokemon The Movie I Choose You, Pokemon The Movie The Power Of Us, Pokemon Detective Pikachu.
Roger died back in 2013 and Gene died back in 1999.
"IT'S ABOUT AQUIRING POKEYMANZ!!!"
I saw the Japanese version one time and I liked it. It was Darker and Mewtwo asked if he was created by God.
She's smart enough to understand the movie.
2:59 that look alone describes why she wasnt made permanent on the show
I remember when I was hyped, and after I saw it, I was so disappointed.
she's cute and sweet the way she summarizes and introduces the movie.
The movie's message about how fighting is bad, apart from the whole appeal of the franchise is about fighting.
It’s also hypocritical
I am pretty sure he would of hated Pokemon: the first movie just as much maybe even than Ebert. I think between the two of them, Ebert was a bit more forgiving of animation than Siskel, so if Ebert can not like an animated movie, than I am sure Siskel wouldn't have like it. If memory serves me right, Siskel wasn't even that impressed with Disney's Mulan, where as Ebert did like it.
God bless you Ebert.
A valid point is made about not fighting but continuing to catch pokemon against there wills and force them to fight. As a kid I never thought about this since it's a cartoon, but it's fun to ponder now.
I think he should have talked about more though; like the soundtrack, animation, sounds, story, ect.
"It's about aquiring pokemons"
LMAO
If Gene Siskel (r.i.p) was still alive, I wonder what he thought about this movie?, and also about all Seven Harry Potter Movies?.
I'm just gonna ignore their negative criticism...
What was the movie all about you ask, Roger Ebert??? Simple, introducing Mew and Mewtwo, but this time, Mewtwo is the one who is the main villian and he is the one creating all the obstacles with the storm to see who is worthy of coming to his island and also he kidnapped nurse joy from the city.
4Kids screwed up. They wanted it to be like a Disney movie.
***** Except that's not at all the moral of this when Pokemon as a whole would completely contradict it. It's not to push your friends (read: Pokemon) to their breaking point for your benefit.
@@Nitrobotti without knowing that Disney also had mature themes in them.
something there goal is not to be mean its to do the right thing and the message was very deep and complex. in the movie one kind of has to understand we are seeing this from pickachu's point of veiw.
i love it when roger says "THEYRE AQUIRING POKEMUNZ!!"
I hope that Pokemon The First Movie will be re-release on Blu-Ray.
"...in order to capture, not kill, Pokemon creatures..."
she looks like the kind of woman that would freak out if the air conditioning went below 68 degrees
I just saw Pokémon the first movie on 📼 from the library years ago.
This movie almost didn't happen if it wasn't for the porygon incident because nintendo would have shut down this idea down
Hilarious how Ebert said pokemon
This reminds me of when I was 9 and this movie came out in theaters. I wanted to see it but my parents didn't want to. I watched it when it came out and liked it. Now that I think about it, I'm glad they didn't because if they did they would have been like the nostalgia critic and Ebert in the first minute. I'm not at all repentant about growing up on this franchise.
Whoever came up with pokemon is a genius: it instills obsessive consumerism in kids. Then they grow up and want to buy 'em all (the purpose made "collectible" stuff)! Company profits through the roof.
Well, Ebert wasn't wrong, it was a marketing thing to push it more to the forefront than it already was, because the world wasn't saturated enough with Pokemania.
Do you happen to have Roger and Joyce's review of Kevin Smith's "Dogma"? I would love to see it! Please upload if you can.
Too bad we will never find out what Ebert think of the Detective Pikachu movie which is Pokemon's first LIVE ACTION movie.
2:32
This movie is amazing and I watch it every so often. I wish they didn't cut out the first 10 minutes of the movie where Mewtwo is shown as a child Pokemon. without it, it creates a few loops holes and doesn't really keep the movie together completely. stupid America taking it out because it's "too dark." Every time i go to watch this movie, I have to watch the first 10 minutes that were cut from the beginning first :]
Pokemon fighting is intended to be harmless and fun and with Mewtwo forcing them to fight physically instead is much more dangerous and more likely to incite harm. i think that was the intended message and it just ended up getting lost in translation.
Critics just hate the dubbing of a few anime movies. That moral "fighting is wrong", contradicts the series because there are Pokémon battles in almost every episode. Original Japanese versions are somewhat better, but there's almost no way to know if the original is critically good or not. This is just a heads up.
Most of them are 4kids dubs that they hate to the core!
@@dwainsimmons3447 They are bad for not accurately translating from Japanese to English.
@@LuigiTheMetal64 Ok, but let’s imagine that if Kids WB and 4kids didn’t change the script and music, then the dub would have been more well received and everyone would take Pokémon seriously!
If she was no longer uninitiated, then she got something wrong. Those aren't flying black spheres, those are pokeballs.
jeez, she clearly did not see what Roger saw. which is "Buy our freakin product!" or what the Nostalgia Critic saw, "Violence is bad, but we're going to do it anyway."
Lady) "Pikachu is clearly the most expressive of the Pokemon"
Meowth) I'm literally right here LADY!
people were always more obsessed with the reaction to people liking the foreign weird pokemon fad then actually understanding that its just entertainment...made from somewhere else oh no!!!!....outsiders wanted know why it was so popular....cause its fun....thats like asking why do kids like disney films princesses mickey mouse and looney tunes...uh cause its interesting ...it just happens to not be made in america...big deal ...get over it....
They talk more about the franchise premise than they do the plot itself
I love Pokemon, but what Ebert says is true - the Miyazaki movies are far superior than what Pokemon has to offer.
So we can... learn to pick ourselves up?
Wait, that's not right..
you didn't like the movie? give me your 90s kid badge right now
I love Pokémon to death. The first few seasons of the anime still have it's charm. Also the Game Boy, DS and 3DS main titles are amazing games. Here's the thing with the first Pokémon movie though. I loved it as a child but this has aged so poorly as you get older. Seriously there is just something about it that doesn't make any sense. It tries to convey a message but it doesn't really get it. It was seriously painful to sit through the First Movie 11 years later. Also it seemed useless by the end of it. Simply because of the ending. Also the 2nd and 3rd movies have aged way better but afterwards they get even more awful. The best I can say is that the message within had something interesting and the animation quality was awesome. But everything else was just so ehh...
Even the first few seasons are mediocre. There are some individual episodes from the early seasons that are good. But as a whole it's not like every episode was good from beginning to end.
DraculaXHunter101
The problem I had with it was that the moral of "fighting is bad and everyone should love one another" is forgotten when they do the set up for the sequel at the very end of the story.
If they'd wanted to teach something to the audience they should have kept this a stand alone story and had the next film in the franchise take place a few years after the events of the first.
Which makes me think how amazing a Pokemon movie would be if Miyazaki worked on it.
Yeah we had cool cartoons, like the one about the bears that cared about everyone and gave hugs...
I remember going to the theater to see this
Kinda ironic how he thinks Star Wars is ok but not Pokemon, but interesting
yeah, one of my favorite childhood movies. i prefer pokemon 2000 though
Wonder why Roger kept his top shirt buttoned for some of these shows?
I wish Ebert could have reviewed the Japanese version. Rather than ramming "fighting is bad" down our throats, Mewtwo's rampage is driven by an existential crisis. After Ash is brought back, he understands that if a human can be given life by a Pokemon and still be a human, then the opposite must be true, and thus he no longer needs to consider himself a freak and outcast with no place in the world. Is it good? Better than the dub's message, I'll tell you that.
If Central Park Media dubbed it in 1999.
One of the worst animated films ever made.
Um bruh there are animated films worse than this.
@@PokemonBoy-de4jd
I haven't seen a lot of bad films so my choices were a bit limited.
@@ultrairrelevantnobody1862 watch the original Japanese version because the English dub changed things in the movie.
Professional movie critic missed the obvious theme of nature vs nurture?
In 1999 all the "cool" adults were edge lording over Pokemania.
4kids wedged down this fighting is wrong message as a pathetic attempt to stop the craze.
Hey do you have Ebert & Roeper: King Kong?
ebert don't crap on my childhood, although looking back the movie did kind of suck, it was a brand extension, they are still making new movies and new pokemon.
Optimus Prime's death was much sadder because he actually died.
And Bambi's mom is the saddest because, she didn't come back.
I could also say that both characters had more personality than ASS Ketchum, but that would be overkill wouldn't it?
I don't think the meaning behind this was "violence was bad."
It was more along the lines of choosing your own destiny and not letting your past spoil your future.
I'm surprised that for a movie based off of a kids show, this film was pretty dark.