Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)

Scientists genetically create a new Pokémon, Mewtwo, but the results are horrific and disastrous.

Directors:

Kunihiko Yuyama, Michael Haigney

Writers:

Satoshi Tajiri (creator), Takeshi Shudo

Stars:

Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Veronica Taylor	...	Ash Ketchum / Female Scientist / Computer / Fuji's Wife (voice)
Jay Goede	...	Mewtwo / Dr. Fuji (voice) (as Philip Bartlett)
Rachael Lillis	...	Misty / Jessie / Wigglytuff (voice)
Eric Stuart	...	Brock / James / Squirtle / Weezing / Scyther / Hitmonlee / Tentacruel / Magneton / Male Scientist / Squirtletwo (voice)
Madeleine Blaustein	...	Raymond / Meowth / Alakazam (voice) (as Addie Blaustein)
Ikue Ôtani	...	Pikachu (voice) (as Ikue Otani)
Ted Lewis	...	Giovanni / Corey / Male Scientist (voice) (as Ed Paul)
James Carter Cathcart	...	Fergus (voice) (as Jimmy Zoppi)
Michael Haigney	...	Psyduck / Venusaur / Nidoqueen / Blastoise / Dewgong / Venusaurtwo / Blastoisetwo / Raticate / Spearow / Charmandertwo (voice)
Kayzie Rogers	...	Vaporeon / Vileplume / Ninetales (voice)
Rodger Parsons	...	Narrator (voice) (as Ken Gates)
Hirotaka Suzuoki	...	Sakaki (voice)
Lee Quick	...	Officer Jenny (voice)
Ayako Shiraishi	...	Joi (voice)
Chinami Nishimura	...	Junsar (voice)

Storyline

When a group of scientists are offered funding into genetic research if they agree to try and clone the greatest ever Pokémon, Mew, the end result is success and Mewtwo is born. However Mewtwo is bitter about his purpose in life and kills his masters. In order to become the greatest he throws open a challenge to the world to battle him and his Pokémon. Ash and his friends are one of the few groups of trainers who pass the first test and prepare for battle. However they soon find out about further cloning and Mewtwo's ultimate plan for the earth.

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Plot Keywords:

clone | pokemon | scientist | battle | cloning | 

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Taglines:

MewTwo vs Mew

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Of the Pokémon seen at the gathering, only Misty's Togepi was not captured and cloned by Mewtwo due to Misty hiding it in her backpack.

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Goofs

In two very similar shots at the beginning and end of the movie, as Officer Jenny warns the Trainers about the storm, the backpacks of Corey and Fergus drastically shrink in size.

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Quotes

Misty: [after Pikachu defeats three Pokemon with a lightning attack] Well, that sure was a shocking ending.
Brock: Shocking that Ash moved so fast!
James: [Team Rocket are watching the gang from a clifftop, with binoculars] There's another credit on Pikachu's 'charge account!'
Jesse: We've got to grab it!
Meowth: I know we gotta grab some rare Pokémon for the Boss... but it wouldn't be such a bad idea if we grabbed a litte bite to eat.
Jesse: We didn't come here to steal a meal!
James: I'd settle for a taste of that Pika-chow.
Meowth: I'm starving.
Jesse: I can cook ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, we see Mew fly away into the sky.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Clones (2015)

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Soundtracks

Free Up Your Mind
Written by Rhett Lawrence, Melanie C and Emma Bunton
Performed by Emma Bunton
Published by Rhett Rhyme Music/Warner Chappell Music (ASCAP)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
Produced by Rhett Lawrence
Emma Bunton p/k/a Baby Spice appears courtesy of Virgin Records Ltd.

User Reviews

It's not THAT bad!

I'm a bit shocked at the low ratings of this movie. It's no way near a 1 out of 10. I think its because if you were an adult when you saw this, you would give it a 1 out of 10 straight away. Like when I saw it when I was 8 or 9 years old originally at the cinema, all the kids enjoyed it, including myself, whilst the adults were just snoring away! They didn't even give it a chance! As of writing this review, at the age of 19, the movie is still OK in my opinion. The sequel was better, but I think Mewtwo was pretty cool in it, and its not that long either so don't just completely bash it just because it has the name "Pokemon" on it. Season 1 of Pokemon was awesome, and I wasn't even a huge fan of the anime! Finish it first, and sure there are some plot holes in it, but hey I still think the movie is entertaining. Overall, a 6/10 at best (as a teen/adult), but that means its passable.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

10 November 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back

Filming Locations:

Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,036,678, 14 November 1999

Gross USA:

$85,744,662

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$163,644,662

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oriental Light and Magic (OLM), Warner Bros., Shogakukan Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 85 min (Extended Cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1