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IMDbPro

Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back

Original title: Gekijô-ban poketto monsutâ - Myûtsû no gyakushû
  • 19981998
  • GG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
43K
YOUR RATING
Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
  • Animation
  • Action
  • Adventure
Scientists genetically create a new Pokémon, Mewtwo, but the results are horrific and disastrous.Scientists genetically create a new Pokémon, Mewtwo, but the results are horrific and disastrous.Scientists genetically create a new Pokémon, Mewtwo, but the results are horrific and disastrous.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
43K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Kunihiko Yuyama
    • Michael Haigney(English adaptation)
  • Writers
    • Satoshi Tajiri
    • Takeshi Shudo
    • Norman J. Grossfeld(adaptation written by: English version)
  • Stars
    • Veronica Taylor(English version)
    • Rachael Lillis(English version)
    • Eric Stuart(English version)
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Kunihiko Yuyama
    • Michael Haigney(English adaptation)
  • Writers
    • Satoshi Tajiri
    • Takeshi Shudo
    • Norman J. Grossfeld(adaptation written by: English version)
  • Stars
    • Veronica Taylor(English version)
    • Rachael Lillis(English version)
    • Eric Stuart(English version)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 279User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Pokemon: The First Movie [Pok�mon: The First Movie]
    Trailer 1:44
    Pokemon: The First Movie [Pok�mon: The First Movie]

    Photos146

    Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Veronica Taylor in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Tara Sands, Eric Stuart, and Veronica Taylor in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Madeleine Blaustein, Rachael Lillis, and Eric Stuart in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Jay Goede in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Rachael Lillis, Ikue Ôtani, Eric Stuart, and Veronica Taylor in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Jay Goede, James Carter Cathcart, Michael Haigney, Rachael Lillis, Ikue Ôtani, and Veronica Taylor in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
    Jay Goede and Masachika Ichimura in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Veronica Taylor
    Veronica Taylor
    • Ash Ketchum
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    • …
    Rachael Lillis
    Rachael Lillis
    • Misty
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    • …
    Eric Stuart
    Eric Stuart
    • Brock
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    • …
    Rica Matsumoto
    Rica Matsumoto
    • Satoshi
    • (voice)
    Ikue Ôtani
    Ikue Ôtani
    • Pikachu
    • (voice)
    • (as Ikue Otani)
    Mayumi Izuka
    Mayumi Izuka
    • Kasumi
    • (voice)
    • (as Mayumi Iizuka)
    Yûji Ueda
    Yûji Ueda
    • Takeshi
    • (voice)
    • …
    Satomi Kôrogi
    Satomi Kôrogi
    • Togepi
    • (voice)
    • …
    Megumi Hayashibara
    Megumi Hayashibara
    • Musashi
    • (voice)
    • …
    Shin'ichirô Miki
    Shin'ichirô Miki
    • Kojirô
    • (voice)
    • …
    Inuko Inuyama
    Inuko Inuyama
    • Nyarth
    • (voice)
    Hirotaka Suzuoki
    Hirotaka Suzuoki
    • Sakaki
    • (voice)
    Ayako Shiraishi
    • Joy
    • (voice)
    Chinami Nishimura
    • Junsar
    • (voice)
    Kôichi Yamadera
    Kôichi Yamadera
    • Mew
    • (voice)
    Yôsuke Akimoto
    • Doctor Fuji
    • (voice)
    Tôru Furuya
    Tôru Furuya
    • Sorao
    • (voice)
    Wataru Takagi
    Wataru Takagi
    • Umio
    • (voice)
    • Directors
      • Kunihiko Yuyama
      • Michael Haigney(English adaptation)
    • Writers
      • Satoshi Tajiri
      • Takeshi Shudo
      • Norman J. Grossfeld(adaptation written by: English version)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Japanese version's Mewtwo is shown in a more favorable light, feeling that it has no place in the world and so wants to "earn" its place. The English dub opts to make Mewtwo an emotionless tyrant who wants to destroy the world, a decision that both fans and critics criticize. In hindsight, the producers felt they made the wrong decision.
    • Goofs
      When watching the Pokemon go through the cloning machine, Jessie and James call the silhouette of a Scyther an Alakazam.
    • Quotes

      Mewtwo: The human sacrificed himself, to save the Pokemon. I pitted them against each other, but not until they set aside their differences did I see the true power they all share deep inside. I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.

      [Japanese version]

      Mewtwo: It's true... that you're a Pokémon who exists just like I do. It might be best if no one knew of this incident. It might be best to forget this.

    • Crazy credits
      After the credits, we see Mew fly away into the sky.
    • Alternate versions
      When shown theatrically and on the original DVD release, Mewtwo's voice while thinking was projected through the center dialogue channel, but when speaking to others psychically, it was projected at a larger volume through all the speakers to overwhelm the audience. The VHS, 2016 DVD rerelease and Blu-ray use a separate mix that does not have this effect on it.
    • Connections
      Featured in Pokémon: The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Mezase Pokemon Masutâ '98
      (Aim to Be a Pokemon Master '98)

      Lyrics by Akihito Toda

      Music by Hirokazu Tanaka

      Arranged by Cheru Watanabe

      Performed by Rica Matsumoto

      Courtesy of Nippon Columbia

    User reviews279

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    It's message is weak but still a nostalgic watch
    Since its introduction to the world, Pokemon is one of the most recognizable and popular animes to ever exist. With TV show seasons far longer than many others, the adventures of Ash Ketchum and co. has captured the imaginations of people of all ages. All this based on the catch phrase "Gotta catch 'em all!". On top of that, with augmented reality becoming more and more prominent in today's culture, smart phone app Pokemon GO further cemented its craze among fans. However before this, Pokemon boomed with success even with its first theatrical film. In retrospect, it might have been bigger than today's excitement. When it started, Pokemon was all about catching the total 150 types throughout its world. But when the trailer made it clear that Ash would be coming in contact with the last Pokemon of the official list, it drove people nuts. Nobody knew what to expect and people were psyched to see what happened. Revisiting it again was definitely a nice little trip down memory lane but it does have a few things that should be recognize that needed fixing.

    Picking up close after the first TV season, the film starts with an introduction to Mewtwo (Jay Goede), the 151rst-pokemon waking up from his initial cloning. Confused and frustrated with his placement, he learns that he is a clone of mythical pokemon Mew but more powerful. After being informed his usefulness will only be for his extensive strength, Mewtwo becomes angry and declares world domination over humans and the pokemon who follow them. It is with that viewers are switched over to Ash (Veronica Taylor), Misty (Rachael Lillis) and Brock (Eric Stuart) doing what they do in every episode. That is until they are invited to New Island to meet the best pokemon master (Mewtwo); but they don't know this. Tagging along is the infamous Team Rocket still looking to capture Ash's Pikachu (Ikue Ôtani). Originally written by Takeshi Shudo and adapted by Michael Haigney, Norman J. Grossfeld and John Touhey, the script is okay but does have its problems. Like many foreign movies, scripts get lost in translation and that's what happened here.

    Shudo's screenplay had painted Mewtwo in a much more innocent depiction. Instead of being hell-bent on conquering the world because of mistreatment, Mewtwo was a pokemon who sought to prove itself to others. As to how that would've gotten worked into the western version of the script is up for debate but apparently the idea of making Mew's clone a tyrant was easier. Hard to say. Yet this is one of the film's major flaws. The overall moral to the story ends up being stated that "fighting/violence is wrong". Yet this is a complete contradiction to the whole essence of pokemon because majority of the way fans play the games is by having their partners fight in battle. So the point was what again? Another odd tidbit was various circumstances various characters had to endure. Sometimes there were times where things weren't as plausible as portrayed. The other problem to this film is for people who are not familiar with pokemon. This did not initiate pokemon so in order to understand the movie one had to watch the show.

    So if a viewer has never watched the show, they won't be as engrossed as other fans because they never met Ash and company or anyone else. For fans however, seeing this was a big deal and looking back on it now can be a nostalgic journey. Surprisingly there are a number of scenes that involve dialog that probably viewers of younger ages wouldn't understand, but now is more clever or funny sounding. It's inside humor that is realized over time that can make the movie all the more enjoyable to revisit in later years. All voice actors involved with this production perform well and do what is required to make it sound more connected to the TV show. As always Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis and Eric Stuart as the main protagonist and antagonists are the best choices for these roles. Jay Goede as Mewtwo although short-lived in his role definitely made the character sound unique enough. Mewtwo would later receive a short explaining more on his backstory with Goede reprising the role. Too bad he didn't do much else other than this.

    One thing that doesn't make sense in this film is that cinematography was credited to Hisao Shirai. Not exactly sure why it was listed because there wasn't a scene of live-action unless accounting for one scene with realistic looking clouds. Other than that, the animation looks great. Much of it looks more polished than that of the TV series, which would obviously have a smaller budget. Especially towards the finale it is at its best quality in detail. The music is thankfully another plus. The soundtrack has several nostalgic tunes from the late 1990s with artists like M2M and Blessid Union of Souls. Very catchy pop songs. Even composers John Loeffler and Ralph Schuckett's film score is another great element. The sound of it does incorporate orchestra but also an equal amount of synths. Although that may sound not so good, the mixture of these instruments sounds natural and really works in a number of scenes because of how much they pull on the viewers heart strings. It is also one of the few pokemon scores to ever be released.

    The ending message is a contradiction of pokemon in general, and for those who aren't fans will have trouble paying attention. But for those who do enjoy it, will love taking a stroll back to the late 1990s and remember when there were only 151 pokemon with the original crew. The animation looks great, the characters are likable and the music is effectively memorable.
    helpful•3
    0
    • breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com
    • Dec 17, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 10, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back
    • Filming locations
      • Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Kids' WB
      • Oriental Light and Magic (OLM)
      • Shogakukan Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $85,744,662
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $31,036,678
      • Nov 14, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $163,644,662
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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