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Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back

Original title: Gekijôban Poketto Monsutâ: Myûtsû no Gyakushû
  • 1998
  • G
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
49K
YOUR RATING
Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
Animal AdventureAnimeHand-Drawn AnimationActionAdventureAnimationFamilyFantasySci-Fi

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.

  • Director
    • Kunihiko Yuyama
  • Writers
    • Satoshi Tajiri
    • Takeshi Shudô
    • Jun'ichi Masuda
  • Stars
    • Veronica Taylor
    • Rachael Lillis
    • Eric Stuart
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    49K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Kunihiko Yuyama
    • Writers
      • Satoshi Tajiri
      • Takeshi Shudô
      • Jun'ichi Masuda
    • Stars
      • Veronica Taylor
      • Rachael Lillis
      • Eric Stuart
    • 292User reviews
    • 78Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

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

    Photos154

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    Top cast51

    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)
    • Director
      • Kunihiko Yuyama
    • Writers
      • Satoshi Tajiri
      • Takeshi Shudô
      • Jun'ichi Masuda
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews292

    6.348.7K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    olc

    This Movie rocks you gata see it if you love Pokemon!

    This movie is "da bomb"! If you love pokemon you will obviously love the movie Quote the tagline "Prepare for the gratest match ever!" so I recommend you see it. And yes James of Team Rocket does rock. But if you want to know the movies plot too bad you will have to see the movie! BYE P.S. this site and every member rock!!!
    7ManWithGoodTaste

    the Japanese version is better, but the translation is decent

    Okay, first, if you will find this movie not making any sense, please note that it is an "English adaptation", not a direct translation. This version is edited and has a changed story, which many viewers found stupid (the reason for low ratings). The Japanese version was called "too scary and not suitable for children", so, 4Kids Entertainment overwrote practically everything, and deleted no less than 10 minutes of the opening sequence. Don't want to spoil anything, but you actually must watch the original opening to understand the story. An even better option is to view the whole Japanese version with subtitles.

    There is ONE good thing about the English adaptation. The original orchestral music that was made by Ralph Schtukett is marvelous. I'm not sure, but the theatrical or the DVD version has some low quality pop songs added to mar an otherwise perfect score.

    Even with the story changes and the inclusion of stupid songs (in theatrical or DVD version, not sure), this movie deserves a 7 out of 10. The animation is wonderful, on par with the best things in anime genre. And the original score is great.
    6AdrenalinDragon

    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.
    9GaryCXJk

    Tell me what we're fighting for

    Well, I liked Pokemon the first moment I saw the series... actually, after a few episodes. Anyways, after I saw the video clip "Don't Say You Love Me" (M2M), I wanted to see the movie.

    Now, finally, after a few years and a DVD player later, I bought the movie, and I gotta tell ya, I regret it that I didn't see it in the cinemas... actually, I don't, because, well, I was "too old" for pokemon. That's the biggest bullpoo I ever heard. Well, sure, pokemon is mainly for young people, but I did enjoy the movie, for an 18 year old guy.

    Well, back to the movie. The movie is great. I've seen the movie in Dutch first (because I'm used to the Dutch voices, and they sound better to me). The way Mewtwo's voice was used, it was as if Mewtwo was really in your head. But you'll need Dolby Surround for that experience. Also, the way the movie reffered back to the series, perfect. I mean, if you haven't seen the series, then that's okey, but don't look weird if you don't understand certain events and jokes and such.

    The most unique thing is that this Pokemon movie really shows how much the Pokemon can care for their trainer. ** ENDING HINT ** You can mostly see it near the end of the movie.

    Pokemon: The First Movie is probably the first movie that succeeded on following up their series successfull. It may not be a great movie, but it sure was fun to look at.
    6GCB21

    Pikachu taught me about pacifism...

    I learned more about pacifism from the scene where Pikachu is being slapped around by his evil clone than from Martin Luthor King and Ghandi combined. That scene alone makes this film a classic and well worth seeing. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll learn, you'll love.

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    Related interests

    Ben Whishaw in Paddington (2014)
    Animal Adventure
    Steve Blum and Kôichi Yamadera in Cowboy Bebop (1998)
    Anime
    Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)
    Hand-Drawn Animation
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
    Animation
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    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

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 12, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Japanese
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Pokémon, la película: Mewtwo contraataca
    • Filming locations
      • Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan(OLM, Inc.)
    • Production companies
      • Oriental Light and Magic (OLM)
      • Shogakukan Production
      • Tomy
    • 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
      • $163,644,940
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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