Pokémon 4Ever (2002)

Purely Joyful Movie!

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

The early Pokémon movies sure have their charm. This one is no exception. It's a step down from "The Power of One" and "Spell of the Unknown," but still a very worthy addition to the series.There are a few flaws. There are some stupid scenes which include Ash jumping on the boat while it's leaving, Misty twisting her knee, a pointless berry-picking scene, and a few others. Also, the villain, while certainly intimidating, is as clichéd as can be.However, the film makes up for that in many other ways. Celebi is a very cool Pokémon, and the mythology behind her is intriguing. The forest and the scenery in it is beautiful to look at. The CGI could have been better, though."Sammy" was a likable character, and I liked his relationship with Ash. I hope Ash later learned that "Sammy" is...you know.As to be expected, the final half-hour is action-packed and full of excitement, even if it doesn't quite match the Charizard/Entei battle from #3. Suicune's entrance was pretty awesome, too.While not quite as exciting as #2 or as dark and ambitious as #3, this still has plenty to offer for any Pokémon fan.RATING: B

Young Sam is walking in the forest when he comes across a rare pokèmon being hunted. Trying to protect the tiny Celebi, Sam suddenly finds himself engulfed in a light before vanishing to safety. They appear back again 40 years later in the same clearing just as Ash and his friends are in the area. Sam tells them of the Celebi and the new friends set out to find it again in order to protect it. This will be a task harder than they imagine though as, unbeknownst to them, The Iron Masked Marauder is after the Celebi with his black pokeball to turn it evil and thus into the most powerful weapon ever.I'm not a Pokèmon fan (mainly because I have had sex at some point in my life – a typical clue that one will not be the target audience for this) but I didn't hate the first movie so when this came on and I was very bored I decided to watch it. The first film had potential because the central character had dark value that threatened to actually create a strong narrative (it didn't of course but it had some good moments). With this film the plot seems to be mostly about introducing a new pokèmon for the fans to care about. This means that there aren't even any vague themes to interest me and the story is very much simple characters in a simple story of bad characters and good characters doing bad and good things respectively. It relies almost totally on the monsters and constant "action" to hold the interest and I suppose in this regard it will suit young children ho really just need colour, movement and noise.The animation is reasonably good but the pocket monsters themselves are quite bland with lots of soft edges and no real threat or grit about them – the evil Celebi in its nest is the exception though as it is well done. Meanwhile the human characters are simplistic and delivered in big sweeping gestures and with voices to match. Adults hoping the characters will offer them something to focus on will perhaps not be surprised to learn that there is not.For kids then and has very little for those members of the audience looking for more than just colourful monsters running around the place in a simplistic narrative frame. I'm sure pokèmon fans will love it, but then they would, wouldn't they?

The 4th Pokemon movie made me cry when Celebi died. Don't you dare say that Pokemon sucks! I don't like it when people say that.... I've liked Pokemon for 5 or 6 years, so everyone should enjoy Pokemon, including this movie and other Pokemon movies. So, without further ado, please say that Pokemon is great and should be enjoyed by people for all ages. And also, why do Pokemon-haters give low ratings for all or most of the Pokemon movies? I don't understand.... They shouldn't do that.... There's absolutely no reason why people should just vote without proving that Pokemon sucks besides the fact that: 1) Pokemon is for little kids ONLY. 2) Pokemon is stupid. and 3) People shouldn't like Pokemon. I think this is why people don't like Pokemon.

I just returned from the un-expectantly entertaining Pokemon 4. It is a matter of great wonder to me that others did not find the rich storylines in the film as enlightening as I did. I suppose the unfortunate reality is if a film doesn't cater to the 'lowest common denominator', its success domestically (and more and more in foreign markets) is questionable at best.At first I wish to address the flaws. The animation, as has been pointed out before, is at best sub-par. But where they skimped on artistry in the drawings of the characters, the storyboard simulated camera angles and image composition are superb. The film lover will note the use of techniques from film auteurs such as Orsen Wells (note the second part of the opening scene, which is quite obviously an homage to the master) or Sam Peckinpah (pay close attention to scenes leading up to the first Pokemon Battle and try to tell me you aren't reminded of Straw Dogs). I also thought the sound was pretty crummy.That aside, the film was a pure masterpiece. As in the preceding three Pokemon movies, the story centers on the loveable 'Pikachu'. Pikachu looks like an overfed mouse that can use his powers to fight other Pokemon, sometimes to the death. All Pokemon (Japanese for 'The Monster who lives in the pocket') have special powers. It has been said that Pikachu is the most powerful of all of these, but to find out that one must become a 'Pokemon Master'. As a parent, I am still confused to what that really means, and I suspect that in 10 years, the entire lexicon of Pokemon movies and television programs will be required viewing in the more credible Psychology and Philosophy departments in Universities around the world. Countering the hero that Pikachu presents us is yet another Pokemon, who is called 'Meowth', brilliantly voiced by the multi-talented yet under-rated Addie Blaustein. Meowth, unlike every other Pokemon can speak in English (who only know and converse in Japanese. As a side note, I hope in the DVD version the English translation of the Pokemon's conversations will be provided). Meowth travels with a hapless game of criminals called 'The Rocket Team', who battle with Pikachu and his owner Ash to become Pokemon Masters.Within these two characters lie the classic storyline of the Epic struggle between good and evil, truth and deception, black and white. It is highly recommended that the casual fan revisit the entire running of the TV series in order (including the surreal yet awe inspiring Jhoto Journeys) and the films before returning to this work.Nine out of 10. Near perfection in my book.