Pokémon Mewtwo contraataca: Evolución

Growing up watching the original seasons of Pokemon, now known as the Indigo League, and quite enjoying films like Pokemon: The First Movie and Pokemon The Movie 2000, even though not great in retrospect, I've always had a respect for this universe. While the films themselves do not age very well in comparison with the show itself, I always figured a cool new idea could be done for an original premise or live-action adaptation. When Detective Pikachu recently hit theatres, it wasn't even close to what I would've expected them to do for a first live-action feature, but it was enjoyable. This brings me to the newest feature film in the Pokemon world, but it's not all that new, at all really. Here's why the newest film, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution is not worth your time, even if you're a big fan.

The premise is simple. An organization clones Mew, the most powerful Pokemon on the planet, forming what they refer to as Mewtwo. Hellbent on destroying everything in its path, Mewtwo decides to clone every Pokemon he can find, making them even stronger. Ash Ketchum and his friends Misty and Brock, the central characters for years, track Mewtwo down and attempt to stop his plan. Does this sound familiar? That's because it's the identical premise of the first feature Pokemon film back in 1998. Nearly shot by shot, that film has been recreated, but the animated has been updated to 3D. Being the exact same run time and only making a few minor tweaks to improve on the original, I watched this film wondering what the point of it truly was.

If you're not very well-versed in the Pokemon world, I'm sure you've seen that this review probably isn't for you, but that's also the problem with this movie. It can't have been made for fans, because it's exactly the same thing they've already gotten in the past. It also can't really be for newcomers, because it's completely different than the new Pokemon series' that children have been watching nowadays. This was a very strange idea through and through. Maybe if they chose to make a live-action trilogy and started with a story that was similar to the 1998 version it could've worked, but this movie just had me scratching my head.

On a more positive note, I have to admit that in remaking this film, they did change a couple elements that would've made the original better. There are some very odd song choices that randomly pop up and overdo certain moments in the original movie and those are completely taken out here, replaced with a new, very subtle score. The song choices and scoring cues are what stood out to me here, which in turn felt pointless because it was for a movie that was the same as a film that was only average to begin with back in 1998. Still, it was some nice music and a fresh change, so I commend them for that.

In the end, I only found the original film to be okay and since this is exactly the same, with all the same shots and story beats, I'm finding it hard to give it any kind of praise. Yes, the animation is well-done and feels fresh for Pokemon, but again, it should've just been an original story. The voice talent has completely changed, but I will say that the new cast sounds very similar and does some great work. To reiterate, I'm honestly not sure who this film was made for or why it was even greenlit in the first place. For these reasons, I'm not really positive or negative about it. It is what it is and if you want to see the same film in a new light, then it's now streaming as a Netflix original.

For a "Netflix Original", it sure lacks originality!!

I would have to re-watch the original, but this seems to be an exact copy in plot and content (some Giovanni scenes might differ, from what I remember).

Still, it is visually impressive!! The lightning, effects, camera work.. Even the CGI presentation of the Pokémon is very good! Specifically their textures. Their movement and expressions are also very good. This is the way the Detective Pikachu movie should have looked (instead of those hideous creatures some people actually like). I'm glad it exists for that reason alone. It's a good way to re-live nostalgia (specially when it's FREE on Netflix and not a cash grab in cinemas).

Not much to say.. If you like the original, you will definitely like this alternate movie with a fresh coat of paint.

Long story short, this is a CGI remake of the first Pokemon movie from late 90's (January 2000 here in Brazil). There is no improvement, in my opinion. The CGI does not impress.

Same old, same old. I'd rather stick to the fond memories the first movie brought me when I first saw it at the movies 20 years ago.

In 1998, for reasons that may be better left unknown, Gus van Sant released upon humanity his parvum opus "Psycho". One of the many questions pondered was "why?", as in why would you release a remake shot-to-shot, identical to the original?

The first Pokémon movie is far from being a landmark of cinema and the arts as a whole like Hitchcock's "Psycho", but it has its place among fans, and is still one of the most popular Japanese anime films outside Japan, if not the first. The Western release unfortunately was handled by 4Kids, infamous for their "americanization". This can be mild such as changing character and location names, understandable like removing substance use, questionable as in changing food, and infuriating when they decide to change the plot.

And oh boy, they changed the plot. The three most egregious are Mewtwo's characterization, Mew's motivations, and how human characters react to the copies vs originals fights. In the original, Mewtwo had a philosophical crisis about who he was, what was he purpose, and if his existance and life had the same meaning as natural beings. They changed him to this unidimensional villain bent on evil, because it would be simpler for young children to understand and, in contrast, sympathize with Ash. Mew is painted as this messianic savior, appearing out of the blue to fight against Mewtwo and saying that "real strength comes from the heart", while the original Japanese was pretty much "copies aren't deserve of living, and must be wiped out".

Both parties were to fight to the bitter end. The human characters realize this is pointless: they are all living beings, worthy of being here and all that. Then, 4Kids used "American Beam", and suddenly characters are shouting that fight is bad. Very contradictory with the whole Pokémon media being based on fights.

Lastly, I never understood as a kid why would a bunch of tears can revive someone. This was actually covered in a prologue released along the first film that covers Mewtwo "infancy". It also covers the scientists motivations behind the cloning, why Giovanni was involved, why Mewtwo decided to create his first clones as the final forms of the Kanto starters, and also explains that tears carry lifeforce. Granted, this prologue wasn't part of the original movie, but since is part of it and actually fills plot holes of the original, they could easily included it.

Plotwise, I would like to include that Mewtwo is said to be the "greatest trainer". But in a Venusaur mirror match, he commands his to use Leaf Storm. The greatest trainer is using a 4x resisted move, which also drops the Special Attack. And somehow, he wins. Guess his clones were that overleveled.

I rarely write reviews on here, im only writing this to give my opinion. I grew watching the original, it was my childhood and i loved it. This remake isn't as bad as everyone says, at some parts I would get goosebumps on how closely it is to the original, scene for scene, word for word. Animations look beautiful and it's nostalgic. I'm glad they remade even though nobody asked for it. I felt like a kid again watching this movie. I would give it a chance if you really love Pokémon movies especially the older ones. My only complaints is that they didn't get the original voice actors for ash, misty, and team rocket. Mewtwos voice actor was convincing and smart. Really enjoyed this movie.