Review of Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! (2017) by Daniel Alberto R — 07 Nov 2017

As a fan since the beginning, and as a 20th anniversary celebration, I expected more, far more. It is not that the movie is very loosely based on the first season and takes many liberations, but that many plot points either don't make sense, comes out of nowhere with no rime or reason, or are just not resolved at all.

Mr. Plot-Exposition aka Sorrel, speaks of the legend of a "Rainbow Hero" when he see's the Rainbow Wing that was bestowed Ash by Ho-Oh, but at no point is it explained what this hero is or is supposed to do, or why Ho-Oh chooses a "hero" in the first place.

We also learn the origin story Entei, Raikou, and Suicune and their connection to Ho-Oh, but we only see all three of them very briefly, giving them no actual purpose in the movie, essentially just having them here for fan service.

The new Pokémon, Marshadow, follows the crew around for most of the film, but doesn't reveal itself until the very end. Marshadow is explained to be the "guide" for the chosen one, but its actions throughout the movie heavily questions whether it actually works with or against them.

Team Rocket is also there, more specifically Jessie, James, and Meowth, but unlike movies like Pokémon 3 and 4ever where they at least had minor purpose, here they are only there... just to be there, as if the director had a list of mandatory things he was ordered to have in there.

Things happen at random, has no reason to be there, nothing is properly explained, and all around the plot is just weak and a mess.

The trailers looked very exciting, and I was much looking forward to this movie, so it saddens me that I can't give it a high score. Watch it just so you can say you have, but don't expect anything, apart from a few good scenes near the end, when it is too little too late.