Pokemon 4-ever

The Phantom Zone Anime Review Site.

Pokemon 4-ever

Distributor: Miramax, 4-Kids Entertainment
Original Story: Satoshi Kon
Volumes: N/A
Rating: G
Anime Code: F

An ancient Pokemon named Celebi is transported from the past to the present along with a boy named Sammy. Sammy joins Ash and his friends and they try to stop a Pokemon Hunter. The Pokemon Hunter has a special "Dark Ball" that can turn any Pokemon evil. He captures Celebi and now Ash and Sammy, along with the mysterious Suicune, must save Celebi and find some way to return Celebi and Sammy to the past.

Review: This is the first Pokemon movie to be headed by Miramax instead of Warner Bros. I don't know the reason for the change, but I think it was a bad move. Miramax didn't seem to put as much effort into the movie as Warner did. They didn't re-do the opening theme as much as the previous three (Mew Two Returns doesn't count since it was never released in theaters). They didn't put quality extras on the DVD version either. Still, the CG effects of the giant wood monster that Celebi controls was pretty cool. Plus, they did something that Warner Bros. didn't, they actually threw a loophole to the audiance at the end. It barely gets my vote.

Action Level: 3/5
My favorite battle was Ash & Sammy against the Hunter's Scizor and Sneezle. As well as Brock's Onix vs. Tyranitar.

Romance Level: 1/5
Call me crazy, but at the beginning, I kind of expected something to develop between Sammy and the woman who gave him the bread (that is until I found out who Sammy really was).

Comedy Level: 2/5
Team Rocket provided minimal quality comedy relief but just the right quantity. The funniest was at the end when Brock says, "Professor Oak is so smart, he knows things that hadn't even been told to him." Of course, this is only funny because we know the truth.

Adult Level: 1/5
Misty twisting her ankle, seems contrived but nice touch.

Drama Level: 2/5
They really beat down the whole environment issue in this one.

Overall Level: 2/5
Miramax's first venture into the Pokemon movie-making was a flop. If you buy it, buy it for the extras.