Pokémon fans such as myself were very interested when the trailer of Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution released in hopes of a new story. However, we got the exact opposite of that. While this was supposed to be a retelling of Pokémon: The First Movie, it ended up being a near carbon copy, with only a few scenes removed or changed.

When Pokémon released Detective Pikachu, it was a story that distanced itself from the video game is a great way and showcased an entirely new story.

For those who do not know, Mewtwo is a Pokémon created by humans derived from DNA from the mythical Pokémon Mew. Once awoken, Mewtwo struggles with existential problems such as: “Where am I? What am I? Who am I?” and “For what reason do I fight? For what reason do I live?” These questions fuel his actions to strike back against, and even manipulate, humans and Pokémon alike to create a stronger race of cloned Pokémon.

We also see multiple scenes with Mew flying around and being a very cute and unsuspecting Pokémon, it is. There are many points in which Mew sneaks up on people and disappears before they can see it. The only time Mew lets itself be seen is when it is to protect the Pokémon Mewtwo and his clones have begun to attack.

Despite being following the same story line as the original movie the animation style in this movie is amazing. CGI 3D style manages to add a very interesting touch in bringing the Pokémon world to life as the anime style transfers over nicely. It also helps that the voice acting in this movie is done very well – holding emotion and expression in their voices. Another plus is that the iconic scene where Ash goes to stop Mew and Mewtwo from fighting holds the same emotional impact that it did in the first movie.

While there are many reviews which state that this movie was “pointless” and “inferior” to the original as well as comparing it to the Lion King (2019) live action which was also a carbon copy of its original. Nevertheless, I feel that this movie would be an enjoyable watch for any Pokémon fan, despite the only major change being the CGI animation style. However, if you have not watched any Pokémon shows or movies before you may not get the same emotional impact from seeing this movie but you could still enjoy it. It is a very lighthearted and fun movie that people of all ages can find some joy in.