terrible... so disappointed.

recommended

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

This was an excellent animated adventure. It is considered by many to be the best Pokémon movie of them all. I totally agree, although I consider "Pokémon Heroes" to be a close second. Both films have similar elements that make them great.This film has one of the more engrossing story lines in the series. Ash and the gang meet Lucario and travel to the Tree of Beginnings to find answers regarding his master Sir Aaron betraying Lucario and to find Pikachu, who had been captured by Mew.Lucario is a nicely developed character, and his relationship with Ash was very well played out. It was also nice that the Ash/Pikachu dynamic was toyed with. It was a good way to raise the steaks.Like "Heroes," there are times when this film feels reminiscent of a Miyazaki picture. The Tree of Beginnings was a very imaginative setting, and the backstory behind it is intriguing.The action and chaos taking place at the Tree of Beginnings is some of the most exciting the Pokémon series has ever done. The climax where Lucario saves the tree and sacrifices himself is not only thrilling, but also filled with pure emotion. He is then reunited with Sir Aaron, who was the hero after all.Another thing, Kidd was a pretty cool character, and "We will meet again" is another great song.A great film that deserves its praise from the Pokémon fans. This and "Heroes" are my two favorites of the series because they combine great story lines and emotion along with the fun and adventure you expect from Pokémon. This is an absolute must-see for all Pokémon fans.RATING: A

I have a rule that if a movie makes me cry, then it is a fantastic movie. Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew made me bawl like a baby. The story was very genuine and one that resonated on a personal level with me.Pokemon is childish, I'll admit, but I truly believe that adds to some of the power that certain scenes have. You really don't expect these kinds of things to happen, and when they do, it hits you much harder than you would think.This particular title adds a lot of history to the Pokemon universe and is definitely a must-watch for any Pokemon fan. My only qualm with it was the part that Mew played in it. It felt somewhat detached from The First Pokemon Movie, almost to the point that it had me believing there is more than one Mew (especially with the number of times that the characters said "a Mew?" as though it wasn't THE Mew). However, that is forgivable because the story, animation, and (dubbed) voice acting was all completely on point!10/10 would recommend to any Pokemon fan, hardcore or otherwise! Expect tears!

I was a little hesitant to watch this movie, after seeing the other Advanced Generation movies (Jirachi, Deoxys). But I'm glad I did. The opening was one of the best introductions I've ever seen to any movie, and the title was just as impressive. I was a little curious as to why the main theme (I'm Unbeatable) was postponed until twenty minutes into the movie, but it went well with that particular scene. And the plot was fascinating, albeit with holes in places. At places, the movie even made me cry--something that hasn't been done since Pokemon Heroes.Overall, an enjoyable film. Highly recommended, even to non-Pokemon fans.

This was a fantastic movie. The subplots were fantastic, the music was inspirational and phenomenal, and the song 'Advanced Battle' was also not half bad. There were a couple of things changed in the dub that I did not like, but it was still pretty good. The worst thing about this movie though, is Lucario's VA. In the original, they made Lucario sound like a noble,medieval, sensitive, ninja (which he is), but in the dub, they made him sound like a constantly angry monster. Lucario is no monster! He has feelings too! Anyways, if you've ever liked anything about Pokémon, or are willing to give it a try, then I highly suggest you watch this movie.But alas, even though it is fantastic, it is still relatively immature, and is nowhere near as deep as some other movies.