TLDR;
In this episode, Evan and Alex review "Pokemon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back," discussing their personal history with the franchise, the movie's cultural impact, and its critical reception. They also explore the extended cut of the movie, favorite Pokémon, and recent news in the animation and superhero movie industries.
- The movie holds up well despite some plot and structural issues.
- The extended cut adds significant depth to Mewtwo's character.
- The critical reception of the movie was surprisingly negative.
Intro [0:00]
The hosts introduce Riverside FM as their preferred platform for recording the podcast remotely, highlighting its ease of use. They then promote the episode on YouTube.
Introduction to Pokemon and the Movie [1:03]
Evan and Alex introduce the topic of the episode: "Pokemon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back." They discuss the confusing title of the movie, with Alex questioning whether it should be called "the first movie" or "Mewtwo Strikes Back." Evan shares his history with the Pokemon franchise, starting from collecting Japanese cards to playing the video games. Alex also shares his deep connection to Pokemon, showcasing a Mewtwo card from his collection and describing the cultural phenomenon Pokemon was during their childhood.
Personal History and Pokemon's Impact [3:46]
Alex shares his extensive history with Pokemon, having played every game and watched the anime. He recalls Pokemon's massive marketing presence, including McDonald's Happy Meals and promotional cards. Evan remembers receiving glossy Mew cards at the movie premiere. They discuss how Pokemon was a cultural phenomenon, with the anime driving interest in the card game and video games, creating a feedback loop.
Movie Impressions and Box Office Success [10:43]
Evan and Alex share their initial impressions of the movie, noting that it holds up well. They appreciate that the movie doesn't disrupt the TV show's plot. They discuss the film's box office success, grossing $172 million worldwide and selling 10 million home video units in the US. Evan notes that Pokemon in the early '90s was on the early side of anime becoming a huge thing in the U.S.
Recent Pokemon Anime and Theme Song [12:51]
Alex shares his recent experience watching the Pokemon anime, noting that he watched it in Japanese for the first time when Ash won the World Tournament. He expresses disappointment that Ash didn't use his best Pokemon from the past in the final tournament. They discuss the iconic Pokemon theme song and its interesting hip-hop remix in the movie.
Extended Cut and Vacation Stories [18:58]
The hosts discuss the extended cut of the movie, which includes the animated short "Pikachu's Vacation." Alex shares details about the short, noting that it introduces new Pokemon. Evan talks about his recent vacation to Spain and Portugal, comparing it to a Pokemon adventure. They briefly mention the continued popularity of Pokemon Go.
Digging into the Extended Cut [22:21]
Evan and Alex discuss the extended cut of the movie, which includes a backstory about Mewtwo's creation and his connection to a girl named Amber. They note that American executives cut this scene because they didn't want kids to sympathize with Mewtwo. The extended cut adds significant context to Mewtwo's character and motivations.
Mewtwo's Origin and Giovanni's Accent [27:36]
The hosts discuss Mewtwo's origin story and his relationship with Giovanni. They comment on Giovanni's strange accent in the movie. Evan and Alex discuss the Dragonite messenger and their favorite Pokemon.
Favorite Pokemon and Island Invitation [31:02]
Alex shares that his favorite Pokemon is Gengar, while Evan says his is Mewtwo. They discuss Mewtwo's compelling character and motivations. They then discuss Mewtwo inviting trainers to New Island and creating a storm to test them.
Team Rocket and Island Arrival [41:45]
The hosts discuss Team Rocket's role in the movie, noting that they are comedic relief. They talk about the trainers arriving on New Island and realizing something is amiss.
Gym Leader and Movie Plot [38:01]
The hosts discuss what type of Pokemon they would specialize in if they were gym leaders. They then return to the movie's plot, discussing the trainers arriving on New Island and realizing something is amiss.
Clone Battles and Soundtrack [43:55]
The hosts discuss Mewtwo challenging the trainers and using clones of their Pokemon. They comment on the unique designs of the clone Pokemon and the missed opportunity for trading cards. They also discuss the movie's soundtrack, noting the strange acoustic guitar song during the clone battles.
Ash's Sacrifice and Mewtwo's Realization [52:52]
The hosts discuss Ash's sacrifice and how it moves the Pokemon to tears, reviving him. They note that Mewtwo realizes that the circumstances of one's birth don't define them. Mewtwo then memory wipes everyone and leaves.
Final Thoughts and Ratings [1:01:38]
Evan and Alex share their final thoughts on the movie, with Evan giving it a four out of five and Alex giving it a five out of five. They discuss the movie's central conflict and Mewtwo's character arc.
Clone Dilemma and Rotten Tomatoes Score [1:05:17]
Alex poses a hypothetical question about what Evan would do if he found out he was a clone. They then discuss the movie's surprisingly low Rotten Tomatoes score of 16%.
Critic Reviews and Letterboxd [1:08:57]
The hosts read some of the negative critic reviews of the movie, expressing their disagreement with the low scores. They also look at some Letterboxd reviews, which are more positive.
Animation News [1:12:32]
The hosts discuss recent news in the animation industry, including Hayao Miyazaki's new film, an Among Us animated TV show, and Warner Brothers' plans to explore more animation.
Live Action Adaptations and DC News [1:17:39]
The hosts discuss live-action adaptations of anime, including the upcoming One Piece adaptation on Netflix. They also discuss the casting news for James Gunn's Superman movie.
Future Podcast Topics and Sign Off [1:25:52]
The hosts list potential topics for future podcasts, including Infinity Train, Pokemon 2000, Digimon the Movie, and Paddington 2. They then sign off, encouraging listeners to check out their other episodes and follow them on social media.