Review M05: Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias

[Dogasu]

Japanese Movie #05: "The Water Capitol's Protector Gods Latias and Latios"
American Movie #05: "Pokémon Heroes"

In the city of Alto Mare, the legendary pokemon Latios and Latias protect the people. When a group of thieves decide that they want the pokemon's treasure, it's up to Satoshi and his friends to stop them from wreaking havoc on the city.

Today the Pokémon Heroes DVD comes out in the United States. Talk about the main feature, the mini-movie "Camp Pikachu," and any DVD extras. I don't have my copy yet (my local Wal-Mart didn't have it, and if they don't have it on the shelf by tonight, I'll have to order it on-line) but I've heard that the DVD should be of the same quality as the 4Ever DVD.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

I just got it today! ^_^

Yay! I'm so glad I finally got Pokemon Heroes!

And I got it on DVD, so I'm gonna watch it tonight. And it should be really good!

 

[FireEmblemPride]

I really hope to get this DVD soon because I own all of them on DVD. I REALLY liked 4Ever but I felt Heroes was too short (and it didn't help that I was the *ONLY* teenager in the theatre. It was alright, probably as good as the first movie to me. (I like 4Ever, RevLugia, Mewtwo2, Crystal Tower, Mewtwo1 and Heroes in that order, best on the left and onward). Hopefully Jirachi Wish Maker is really good, and I'm seeing the Rayquaza/Deoxys one in Japan this July. I anticipate the next movie will be about the Regi or Kyogre.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Wow! Pokemon Heroes is so good!!! ^_^

I loved it!!

And I think the best part of the movie was when Ash found out that girl was really Latias, and was playing with her in that beautiful area near the Soul Dew. And I really loved the part when she took his hat!! That was funny.

And I thought it was so cool how Latias could actually take the form of a human like Bianca (sp?).

Oh, and I also really liked the beginning of the movie, with Ash and Misty in that race. That was cool! Even though they didn't have a remix for the Master Quest theme....I mean, I thought it was a remix at first but, it wasn't. So, why would 4Kids not want do a remix?

Anyway, I also liked it whenever they used Sight Sharing. That was so cool! :-D

Oh, yeah, and all the special effects in this movie were so awesome! And I couldn't believe it when Latias, who was being chased by Annie and Oakley, took Ash through the city which looked so realistic and everything. That was cool!

And when Annie and Oakley were attacking Latias (in her human form) that one time, I thought it was cool how Ash protected her.

Also, I didn't know they'd show Jirarudan in the movie! LOL. *he was in that picture, when they were doing the end credits*

And I have to go now, cause I'm using a computer at my school, so I'll post again later.

 

[Unown_]

One curious question: did 4kids left the story of the book in during the start of the movie?

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Yes, they did.

And I thought that when Annie or Oakley (forgot which one) was controlling the DMA machine, it was really weird.

Oh, and I liked the new background music they played during the movie. Although, I'm sure that one song they used was from the show....and it seemed like a longer version of it too.

And I also liked those 2 new vocal songs they had! Does anyone know what they were called?

Also, I thought it was interesting how they played different songs from the different Pokemon CDs during the end credits.

 

[Dogasu]

Still dont' have mine yet...

Though I did hear that the mini-movie is presented in widescreen (the main feature's still in full frame, though :conangry: ). Maybe they're testing the whole widescreen thing out to see if it would be worth it to release the first Advanced Generation movie widescreen?

And they DID leave in the whole storybook part at the beginning? I had heard that that part was cut out of the theatrical run...

 

[Zhen Lin]

Slightly offtopic, but the Pokemon 4Ever DVD I got in Australia has the main feature in 16:9 widescreen. Queer. It also claims to have the Pikaboo short, but I can't find it; then again, it also claims to be dual-layered, but doesn't seem to be.

 

[Unown_]

According to Amazon.com the movie is full screen. Kinda strange. Because I can remember that 4Ever was widescreen yet Amazon says it is full screen. It seems there are different versions to get depending where you buy it. Cuz looking at the Dutch webstore, Bol.com has it in widescreen.

Release Information:
Studio: Buena Vista Home Vid
Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 2003
DVD Release Date: January 20, 2004
Run Time: 71 minutes
Production Company: Miramax Films
Package Type: Keep Case

Aspect Ratio(s):
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 1
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French


Edition Details:
• Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries.) Read more about DVD formats.)
• Animated, Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby
• New Camp Pikachu 20 minute short
• Location Scouting in Venice
• Animation Stages
• The Characters of the movie
• Trivia game
• Full-screen format
• ASIN: B0000BWVAB

 

[wayc]

I should have it by tomorrow. I'm only renting it though. It looks awesome from all the previews I've seen of it.

 

[Unown_]

Well Dogasu, if you're going to make a comparison: good luck first of all. I think it's going to be a long comparison aka 4Kids pulled a "Mewtwo Strikes Back" from what I've heared.

 

[Geodude]

Just watched it and I like it! I haven't seen the Japanese version yet although I do have it. However, I don't usually see the point of complaining too much about the dub so I probably won't. It was weird to go through a whole movie without Ash ever calling out a Pokemon, but it was well done, and an interesting plot change for a Pokemon movie. Misty and Brock's Pokemon made a brief appearance, but it's odd that they didn't follow Ash, Pikachu, and Latias and continue to help out. I guess they assumed that was all Misty and Brock wanted them to do though. Overall, an enjoyable movie...I'm not really going to compare it to 4Ever because it had a totally different "feel" to it if you know what I mean. But I liked it. And I gotta say, I like the idea of AltoShipping (Ash/Latias) now.


BTW the Camp Pikachu short was cute. I like how they included a couple new R/S Pokes: Wynaut (even though it has already been in the anime) and Volbeat. It had no plot, but those shorts never do. Wobbuffet looked cool with that backpack for some reason.

 

[Unown_]

Don't get me wrong . The dub is ok. It's just that I notice all these differences and wonder why they are there. Guess 4Kids had it's reasons...

 

[Dogasu]

Just got my DVD tonight, and here are a few thoughts:

-Wow, previews for upcoming movies before the movie's title menu is really annoying. Good thing you can skip 'em.

-Teacher's Pet was supposed to be out February 2004? Guess things have changed since they made that trailer, because the movie's already out (and it bombed at the box office, too)

-Dear God, why are they making a(nother) sequel to the Lion King?

-Hey, Camp Pikachu is shown in widescreen! Woohoo!

-And it has the original music!

-AND it uses an instrumental version of "Pokettaari Monsutaari" as the ending theme!

-Poo, the main feature's fullscreen.

-And yup, the entire opening scene is cut. All 2 minutes of it.

-On my video, the video for the short and the movie seemed really really dark to me. Brock's skin looked almost brown during the opening of the movie, the video was so dark. Do I have a defective DVD, or are they all like that?

-Lots of mistranslated dialogue regarding the legend.

And finally, does anyone still have that list of where the various legendaries appear in the movie? The only one I remember is the Entei carving on the bridge underneath Jessie/James/Meowth (about an hour and 55 minutes into the movie). Does anyone know where the others are hidden?

 

[Murgatroyd]

And finally, does anyone still have that list of where the various legendaries appear in the movie? The only one I remember is the Entei carving on the bridge underneath Jessie/James/Meowth (about an hour and 55 minutes into the movie). Does anyone know where the others are hidden?

I've got screenshots and descriptions:
Mewtwo: In chalk on the sidewalk, as Satoshi follows Kanon. Barely visible.
(Same as above, with contrast and brightness adjusted to improve visibility)
Lugia: Painted on a wall as Satoshi crosses a bridge.
Celebi: As part of a mosaic just before Satoshi follows Latias into the garden.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Originally posted by Dogasu
-And yup, the entire opening scene is cut. All 2 minutes of it.

Huh? Now, I'm confused....I thought that was the part at the beginning with Annie and Oakley looking at the storybook?

Originally posted by Geodude
And I gotta say, I like the idea of AltoShipping (Ash/Latias) now.

Oh, AltoShipping, so that's what it's called. Cool!

I like it too! ^_^

 

[Murgatroyd]

Huh? Now, I'm confused....I thought that was the part at the beginning with Annie and Oakley looking at the storybook?

Did it include the actual story from the book? If not, something important was cut.

Oh, AltoShipping, so that's what it's called. Cool!

I like it too! ^_^

Nice to know that the ranks of the AltoShippers are growing.

 

[Geodude]

Murg: It included the end of it as they were looking through the book. Now that I've actually seen the movie, it's funny (not ha-ha-funny, but interesting-funny) how it was unclear at the end whether it was Latias or Bianca that kissed Ash...I think it was Latias, but is there any absolute proof?

 

[Murgatroyd]

No absolute proof either way. The overall impression I got was that it was almost certainly Latias.

 

[Geodude]

Agreed, especially considering how Latias acted towards Ash through the movie.