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Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution 2019 1h 38m Kids & Family Adventure Action Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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44% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Ash and his friends try to thwart Mewtwo's evil plan to destroy the word.
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Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution

Critics Reviews

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Charles Solomon Los Angeles Times 02/27/2020
The Pokémon battles and declarations of affection provide what fans expect, but after 20 years, it all feels very familiar. Go to Full Review
Megan Williams Battle Royale With Cheese 03/14/2020
In terms of its animated films, it's time The Pokemon Company stopped trying to cash in on nostalgia; it's clearly not working. Go to Full Review
Brian Costello Common Sense Media 03/12/2020
3/5
Cartoon violence in computer-animated remake. Go to Full Review
Leanne Butkovic Thrillist 03/09/2020
It's a triumph on multiple levels, hitting the nostalgic sweet spot that the incredibly fun Detective Pikachu couldn't exactly meet with its one foot in the real world. Go to Full Review
Evan Dossey Midwest Film Journal 02/29/2020
A new coat of paint that detracts from the original film's charm. Go to Full Review
Julia Lee Polygon 02/28/2020
Watching through one of my favorite childhood movies redone with enhanced graphics was a treat. It turns out that watching sad Pikachu slap each other in 3D CGI is just as sad as watching it in 2D animation. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Alex O. @Smoovechoa Jul 13 Absolute gar are you kidding me. The textures of the Pokémon are so weird. This is essentially a fan made "movie" created by video game footage. Let the video games be video games and let the animated movies remain. This actually had potential but the animation was HORRIBLE. Floppy, glazed, copy and paste AI b Voices sd, music was terrible. Some scenes were captivating solely because it reminded me of the far better OG. Don't understand what happened. Pure greed, no love. See more Jun 9 I used to love this movie when I was younger, but this movie looks like live action pokemon mixed with the flasher gremlin from gremlins See more Stephen C @bob25009 May 14 This movie is funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Trafalgar L Mar 28 The Pokémon Company International's attempt to commission and remake a film that defined a cultural phenomenon falls flat on its face. This is due to them trying to cash in on the nostalgia. Not to mention that while Sarah Natochenny made Ash Ketchum her own she fails to convey the same emotion and energy that Veronica Taylor had back in 1999. While the script is for the most a direct translation it is lacking and missing the witty isms of the 4Kids writing crew. Also, it keeps all the Japanese music and at times it doesn't feel right. They should have dug into their archives and pulled out the soundtrack that Loeffler, Lissauer and Schuckett composed. I.E. Tears of Life should have been used for Ash being revived. See more Andrew M Mar 5 When I first sat down to watch Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d seen the original movie years ago, and the thought of a CGI remake had me both curious and a little skeptical. After watching it, I can confidently say it’s a mixed bag—some moments are truly magical, but others left me longing for the charm of the original. The visuals are undeniably impressive. The Pokemon themselves look fantastic in this updated style, especially Pikachu and Mewtwo. The glossy textures bring them to life in a way that feels fresh, but I do think the human characters fell a bit flat in comparison. Their expressions lacked the depth and emotional nuance that made the original animation so memorable. It’s a shame because those emotional beats are such a big part of the story. The narrative, of course, is a near replica of the original, with Mewtwo’s existential journey at the core. I appreciated how they tried to modernize it with enhanced animation, but I couldn’t help feeling like Mewtwo’s character was watered down a bit. In the 1998 version, his dialogue was profound and gave his arc a deeper weight. Here, it felt like some of his complexity was lost, leaving him less impactful. That said, there were still some standout moments. Ash’s ability to connect with Mewtwo and show him what it means to care deeply for others was as heartwarming as ever. I also enjoyed how the fighting scenes were updated; the battles were visually stunning, even if they didn’t quite carry the same emotional intensity. One thing I missed deeply was the original soundtrack. The 1998 movie had songs that hit me right in the feels, and the absence of iconic tracks like "Brother, My Brother" in this remake was disappointing. It’s a missed opportunity that could have elevated the experience. Ultimately, Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution is a beautiful tribute to the original but doesn’t quite surpass it. It’s great for younger audiences or fans of modern CGI, but if you’re nostalgic for the 1998 classic, it might not capture the same magic. Still, as a longtime Pokemon fan, I can appreciate what this film tried to do, even if it didn’t fully land for me. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars—worth a watch, especially if you’re curious to see Pokemon in CGI, but the original still holds the crown for me. See more Liam D @Mediawatcher2003 Feb 8 While it’s better than Pokemon the first movie. It still feels like a retread of every Pokémon movie ever made See more Read all reviews
Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ash and his friends try to thwart Mewtwo's evil plan to destroy the word.
Director
Kunihiko Yuyama
Production Co
Oriental Light and Magic
Genre
Kids & Family, Adventure, Action, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 10, 2020
Runtime
1h 38m
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