Pokemon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back (2000, VHS)

If you didn't enjoy this movie, you gotta go play on some swings and find the kid inside you! Yes, the animation is primitive, and yes, the messages are simple, but let's face it: Pikachu is cute as heck, and children in single digits love him and his buddies to death. I don't like to use "reinforcement" to control kids, but I CAN get ten rowdy children to calm down a bit with the simple promise that if they listen well, their day will conclude with Pokemon Tattoos, which cost about $2.00 for a pack of 150. "I'm being a good listener, right?" So Pokemon teaches violence, since all of the...

Note: This review is being submitted as part of scmrak's re-write off, a write off in which the participants have all agreed to edit an older review and present something they re happier with today. The participants are 1truluv, adjensen, arada392, bermudabum, bmcnichol, cartman_2k, ChrisJarmick, colldy, ed_grover, eplovejoy, fallyn96, jankp, jcvsmom, jo.com, joubert, korova, lynnzop, machkick, magenta321, msmorvay, naphtalia, nfp, proeditor, quasar, saxguy, scmrak, Social14,

And if you don't like Pokemon, you'll hate it. Parents, be warned. Most of you won't get it. Don't even try unless you've watched the television show and been properly initiated by an eight-to-twelve-year-old. But if you've latched on to the Pokemon craze, don't miss this. Rather short even as animated flick go, it's even shorter considering the fact that the main story is delayed by "Pikachu's Vacation." The almost complete lack of talking may annoy you, but just think of it as an animated picture book. Pikachu and his friends have arrived at an exclusive Pokemon resort, and it's the...

I have a niece who is almost 12. Like most kids her age, she likes whatever TV shows, music and movies that all her schoolyard pals are into. Seeing as children are (by definition) inexperienced creatures (not to mention pretty dumb sometimes), it only stands to reason that on ocassion they will like JUNK. Junk like professional wrestling. Junk like boy bands. Junk like Pokemon. Bottom Line: This whole Pokemon thing is a pathetic and transparent marketing sham, masquerading (poorly) as entertainment. If you choose to look carefully (and I wouldn't recommend it), you may almost see the germ of.