Plot: What’s it about?
Molly is a young girl who loves her father to no end, so she is sad when he has to go on a Pokemon research mission, which involves a rare Pokemon known as Unown. But when he is visiting the area where this Pokemon’s remains were found, he vanishes without a trace. This sends Molly into a depression and since her mother also disappeared a while back, she is left with no one and that’s too much for her to handle. She discovers the Unown’s remains in her father’s study and uses them to spell “Mama” & “Papa” and soon, the Unown is revived and offers Molly some amazing powers. She is given the chance to turn her life into a dreamworld of sorts and whatever she wants, she can make happen and of course, she has big plans. The first act is to bring an ancient Pokemon named Entei to life and give her companionship, then she decides to construct a crystal palace, out of the entire town. At the same time, the Entei kidnaps Ash’s mother and of course, that means he and his friends must intervene, to discover the truth behind these strange events.
The once dominant Pokemon franchise is not as stable as it once was, but that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the end of it by any means. I love the television series and like the first film, but the second movie was a step down, so I was hesitant about this third installment. I know Pokemon never equals high cinema, but I like the characters and as such, I hoped for a decent flick at the very least. In the end, Pokemon 3 provides some great visuals and is a fun watch, so long as you’re a fan of the series, that is. I don’t this volume will win any new fans for Pokemon, but the existing base should be pleased. The story is pretty basic and has some problems, but this is a kid’s movie and as such, I will be more forgiving in that respect. There’s plenty of adventure, laughs, and Pokemon battles though, which is what we want from a Pokemon movie, I think. The animation is better than the previous two movies, but still doesn’t compare to high end Asian work, not by any means. So this is a worthwhile release for you Pokemon fans, but since Warner has issued a hacked up transfer, it is hard to recommend more than a rental.
Video: How does it look?
Pokemon 3 is presented in a full frame transfer, which alters the film’s original aspect ratio. I know this title is aimed at kids and all, but what about those of with widescreen televisions and barring that, why alter any film from the intended form? Warner has done this with the other Pokemon flicks and other family oriented releases, which shows how short term their thinking is, to be sure. The image looks good though, with a very clean print and a sharp overall picture, which is good news. The vivid colors stream across the screen in vibrant, flawless form, while black levels remain stark and impressive as well. Even though this is a terrific looking visual transfer, the lack of an anamorphic widescreen treatment is a real let down.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is a good one, with good surround presence and an overall crisp presentation. This is by no means an explosive experience, but you’ll hear those rear channels and on the whole, this is a solid & creative mix. The surrounds are used often and seem well mixed, as the elements are never hollow or forced, which is good news. The pop rock soundtrack is well presented also, with no real issues to report. The dialogue is presented in an English language track and sounds great, with a rich sound and no flaws in the least. This disc also includes a French language option, as well as subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main extra here is an audio commentary with English adaptation director Michael Haigney and producer Norman J. Grossfeld. The two discuss the changes made from the Japanese edition, the challenges faced with the adaptation, as well as various other topics as well. I appreciate the inclusion of this commentary, but if a children’s title warrants a commentary session, isn’t a widescreen transfer also in order? As with the other Pokemon movie discs, you’ll find a bonus short and in this case, that would be Pichu and Pikachu. I like these shorts and while this one doesn’t stack up as well as Pikachu’s Vacation, it does offer some good moments and is well worth a look. This disc also includes a behind the scenes featurette on the making of To Know the Unknown, a Johto pokerap, some little known Unown facts, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
