Release date: July 17th, 1999 (Toho-Japan).
Box Office: 133.9 Million
Director: Kunihiko Yuyama
Summary: A mysterious man named Lawrence is floating in a castle plotting to steal the three legendary birds to unlock an even greater prize. Lawrence starts with Moltres. The collector rolls up to Moltres’ spot, forcing the bird out of their roost, eventually capturing it out of the air with these cool electric traps. This guy means business. Ash, Misty, and Tracey Sketchit are sailing on a woman named Maren’s boat in the Orange Islands, they bring their Pokémon out to play in the ocean on the boat. A storm whips up in the sea, and a Pokémon is singing under it, who could it be? Team Rocket arrives on the island as well, escorted by some Magikarp. Even in Pallet Town a storm is brewing, rain and snow and Northern Lights in the summer?! What is going on?! Our friends arrive on Shamouti Island, and Ash has a new admirer, Melody. Apparently, Ash is the chosen one, by the islanders and Melody, our man gets a kiss. Later, he hears Melody playing a conch shell, and gets a bit star struck. Maren offers up a boat to go to all of the islands as the Chosen One should, Pikachu steals Ash’s hat to expedite the process. Slowking bemoans the mess being made by the disturbance of the islands. Melody wants to check on Ash, and she takes Carols’ boat with Tracey and Misty. Underwater currents are being disrupted, all of the problems are originating from the Orange Islands, brock is having trouble corralling all of Prof. Ivy’s Pokémon.
The boat crashes on Fire Island, and Pikachu is hauling ass to the top. Lawrence sets his sights on Zapdos who is trying to claim Fire Island as its own territory. Ash gets to the tip top of Fire Island, but Zapdos is causing a ruckus. Pikachu and Zapdos have a little conversation, Pikachu ascertains that these birds are having some issues over territory. Lawrence captures Zapdos, but also snatches the whole crew as well. Articuno starts freezing everything with the other birds out of the picture, and thousands of Pokémon are flocking to the scene of the disturbance. While Lawrence is distracted with catching Articuno, the whole crew uses their Pokémon to break Moltres and Zapdos free. Once free, Moltres and Zapdos attack each other and Lawrence’s flying machine. The three birds are out now, and Ash runs to collect the fire orb with the lightening orb. They get booted to Slowking’s island, and Ash puts the treasure in a shrine of some sort. Lugia appears out of the ocean, what a bird. Lugia attempts to quell the fighting of the three birds, but they are not having any of Lugia’s shit. Pokémon gather on the ice, and Slowking looks at Ash to step up as the Chosen One. Lugia is strengthened by Melody’s song and Ash realized he must go to the location of the third treasure with the help of his Pokémon. Ash struggles, but Team Rocket uses a fan boat to get him to the Greek. The birds descend on Ice Island, but Ash escapes just in time on the back of Lugia. Lawrence attacks Lugia with the remains of his ship, and Ash and Lugia fall into the ocean. After Lugia destroys the ship. Misty swims out to save Ash, Ash wakes up and gets the sphere to the top. Ash inserts the third orb, Melody plays her song, and the birds go back to their roosts. Lawrence sets his sights on Mew.
Best Scene: Lugia appearing out of the water, after hearing Melody’s song what a comeback
Best Shot: It’s either Zapdos’s electricity being sucked up by Lawrence’s floating vessel or Articuno flying in the air against the backdrop of the rising sun.
Quote(s) of the Movie:
“And she says, no, but I have krabbies” -Maren
“You twos don’t need the opposite sex because you have each other” -Meowth
“Ash is never really alone because he’s got me” -Misty
Half-assed Internet Research: The B-52’s, Donna Summers and “Weird Al” Yankovic both sing songs in the English Dub. This movie peaked at #85 on the US Billboard 200 for 2000-2001.
Score out of 10 (0=unwatchable, 10=nearly perfect story, editing, cinematography, etc.):
7/10- This movie has some really stunning scenes, and the plot of the film seems to carry through and stay consistent. Lugia is a flat character, especially compared to Mewtwo and Mew, the stars of the first Pokémon movie. I think this movie is a hair worse than the first movie, but not by much.
Will Reviews Things 