Pokemon Movie 3: Spell of the Unown-Entei

Release date: July 8^th, 2000 (Toho-Japan). 

Box Office: 68.5 million

Director: Kunihiko Yuyama

Summary: A little girl named Molly is getting a book read to her by her Papa, Professor Hale. The professor gets an email from Skyler about the a chamber in the Ruins of Alph. When Prof. Hale goes to check it out, he gets sucked into the world of the Unown. Molly starts looking on the computer, missing her father, and starts spelling out her father’s and mother’s name with puzzle pieces of Unown. The Unown hear her pleas for her family to come back, and open a portal in their mansion. The Mansion starts to get retiled, and Molly is alone in the room when Entei pops out of thin air in place of her father. Ash is challenged to battle by Lisa, its Totodile vs. Granbull, Totodile wins. Next is Girafarig vs. Chikorita, Girafarig beats Chikorita with a Psywave. Finally, it’s Noctowl vs. Aipom, and Bulbasaur vs. Butterfree Noctowl and Butterfree win. Finally, it’s Mankey vs. Cyndaquil, with Cyndaquil burning the monkey to a crisp. Lastly, it’s Quagsire vs. Pikachu, whose Thunderbolt is ineffective. Quagsire and Pikachu bonk heads, and Ash wins 3-2-1. Our friends are told about a Pokémon Center in Greenfield, so they head there. As our friends approach the center, They see that the Mansion has become consumed by crystals. News cameras are on the scene, and apparently Delia and Prof. Oak have known Professor Hale since he was young. Molly even visited Pallet when Ash was younger. Meanwhile, Molly asks Entei for a mother, and so they promptly come to grab Delia. Pikachu tries to protect her, but Entei hypnotizes her and takes her to the mansion. Ash and the crew run after them, but it’s a steady climb as the whole city is overtook by the crystals. Molly, Entei, and Delia are straight chilling in the palace. 

Charizard sees Ash on the tv, and decides to fly to Greenfield. The public works team tries to break through the crystals, but they only get so far. Molly calls in, telling Ash and the crew to stay away. Ash and the crew try to enter through a stream and over a small waterfall, while Team Rocket ends up in the mansion. Ash and the crew use Totodile and Cyndaquil o break into the mansion, and end up in a grass field with stairs in Molly’s dreamworld. Team Rocket find the Unown, and Molly wants to be a Pokémon trainer. Entei takes Molly to where our friends are to have a Pokémon battle. Suddenly Entei makes Molly older, Brock identifies her and takes her battle challenge so that Ash and Misty can find Delia. Molly quickly dispatches Brocks Pokémon with a Flaffy, Teddiursa, and Phanpy. Entei suddenly realizes that Ash and Misty have been climbing the stairs, and Molly wakes up and says she is lonely without her mom, but not anymore. Ash and Misty end up on the beach, where older Molly challenges Misty. A tidal wave crashes, but Molly lets everyone breathe under water. Molly chooses Kingdra, Mantine, and Lanturn to fight Misty’s water Pokémon, including Staryu, HYUUUUU. Ash finally gets to Molly’s room and finds his mother. Molly forgot who her mother is… and denies Delia and Ash the ability to leave while almost piercing them to death with crystal.  Entei challenges Ash, who quickly defeats all of his Pokémon, because he is an all-powerful illusion. Charizard comes into the picture and has an epic battle with Entei. Entei almost kills Charizard, finally Molly ceases to be a nuisance stops threatening the lives of everyone. Right when everyone wants to leave, the Unown lost control of their psychic energy. Our friends and Team Rocket make a great escape with the help of Entei. Molly is reunited with her long-lost mother and father. 

Best Scene: Molly battling Misty in the water. 

Best Shot: The orange light coming from the window when Prof. Oak and the crew are learning about Entei. 

Quote(s) of the Movie: “I haven’t seen this many strange letters since the last time I put out a personal ad”-James

“It’s like a storybook land invented by a five-year old.” James

Half-assed Internet Research: The Japanese Title translates to Pocket Monsters the Movie: Emperor of the Crystal Tower, pretty dope. 

Score out of 10 (0=unwatchable, 10=nearly perfect story, editing, cinematography, etc.): 

3.5/10- I have a soft spot for this movie, but the plot is all sorts of weird. The opening battle sequence, a hallmark of the first movie, really sucked. I understand the character of Molly and her desire for a family, but she is the worst and Entei has zero personality for having so much screen time. There is just something about this movie that is off-putting. There are some cool visuals though, especially when Molly battles our friends in the middle of the film.