Pokemon: Jirachi Wish Maker

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

Ash, Brock, May, and Max arrive at a Pokemon carnival to see the Millennium Comet, a legendary comet that appears in the sky once every 1000 years (original name, huh?). When it does appear, it releases Jirachi from his stone prison.. Jirachi is a Pokemon who can teleport and grant wishes (sorry to spoil it but he mostly just uses the teleporting skill). Max is asked to become Jirachi's friend. But Jirachi is kidnapped by a scientist/magician named Butler who wants to use Jirachi's near-infinite power to awaken the legendary Growgon (don't know the exact spelling). When Jirachi's power awakens a monsterous lava creature who begins to capture everything in sight, Ash and Max must team up with the super-powerful Pokemon Absol and Flygon to save the day.

Review: This felt much like Pokemon 4-ever. Miramax seemed to release it as an afterthought. It was direct to home video, a good idea in my opinion. They should've done a little more work on the American DVD version before they started sending it out.

Action Level: 2/5
The battles were brief and very disappointing.

Romance Level: 2/5
The romance between Butler and Diane was delicately inserted into the movie. At least they didn't keep slamming the notion into our faces. Also, it was interesting to hear Ash make reference to Misty (though we don't catch it at first).

Comedy Level: 1/5
This is one Pokemon movie where I think Team Rocket could've done more comical stuff. It would've raised my rating to at least a 2.

Adult Level: 1/5
I think Diane's skirt was a little high than expected.

Drama Level: 2/5
Diane being pulled between her affection for Butler and her desire to do the right thing in returning Jirachi was probably the only good drama to be shown in the movie.

Overall Level: 2/5
Perhaps if they included it with Pokemon 4-ever, it would've been more interesting. I'm sad that Miramax isn't putting as much effort into it as Warner Bros. did. They didn't even remix the theme song for the opening. Rent it.