Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!

I was already too old for Pokemon the first time around, and this remake (reboot? remix?) did nothing to convince me I missed anything. It kept the kids' attention, for what that's worth.

I'll admit I did watch some of the original TV series, but even at the time, I thought it was a little hokey and quickly fell off the bandwagon. By the time generation two came out I didn't pay attention anymore. So the inclusion of unfamiliar Pokemon immediately kills any nostalgia. And it honestly doesn't have much more to offer. Seriously, though, Ash randomly brought back to life by the power of friendship? What kind of lazy ass writing is that?

A trip down memory lane but doesn't offer much else of note.

Sort of like a weird condensed remake/reimagining of the first arc of the Pokemon anime, keeping some things (most of the pilot, rescuing Charmander, Butterfree farewell, a few other little things) but changing a lot, like no Misty, Brock, Bulbasaur, Viridian City showdown, St. Anne disaster, etc. I guess I’d have enjoyed it twenty years ago but I’ve kinda outgrown this stuff now... I’m in my thirties now so it’d be weird if I hadn’t.

I'm still not a Pokémon fan, not of the TV-series or the games, but I enjoyed this movie alright. Enough action to entertain regardless if one know the characters or not.

It was fun and I loved the nostalgia factor. I wasn't that big of a fan for the new sidekicks as I was hoping for the original team.

This cinematic reboot plays on nostalgia yet still incorporates Pokémon beyond the first generation, resulting in a mixed bag. The animation was a step up from the original (cleaner, sharper, and more subtle in colour). I watched the English dub in which the dialogue was at times inane (but it's always been). The pacing is weird, seemingly rushing through the nostalgic moments and indulging the abstract ones. The plot is alright, albeit stuffed with moral takeaways and annoying contradictions.

Basically the first episode of the Anime recreated, but simplified, then after that mostly a "Best of" compilation of the early Pokemon Anime episodes. The problem is it doesn't bring anything new to the table and feels super rushed and lacking any charm. Brock and Misty are no longer here and are replaced by bland characters. Team Rocket are in it, but don't contribute anything. To give credit, there are some plot changes, but nothing all that great. I'd choose the early Anime stuff.