And now, the fifth Pokémon theatrical release opens, Pokémon, unfortunately, is still being slammed, written off, and misinterpreted by people who still just don't get it. Personally, I believe that movie critics don't have the right to (or enough knowledge) to judge Pokémon, or any other films based on established (television) series. (Star Trek fans had good reason for not liking "Nemesis" - the clone didn't even look like a young Picard [as seen in "Tapestry"]) While fans will be watching characters they 'invite into their living rooms' day after day, critics will merely be seeing the latest installment in a five-part series (sixth, actually; the feature "Mewtwo Returns", the sequel to the first Pokémon film, was released directly onto video/DVD - a smart trend ever since, 9 films later - I suppose being ignored is better than the fates mentioned above - talk about 'prying eyes' and 'harsh judgment'²!)

"Pika Pika Pika!" Again, on the issue of "talking animals", oddly enough, the one thing that seems to redeem Pokémon in one instance is their downfall in others. Those cute sounds based on each Pokémon's name that fans find adorable often bother parents, who seem to forget that Pokémon are the equivalent to animals³ in our world, and got annoyed when Pikachu said only "pika pika pika" for an entire movie. Although ask anyone who grew up watching Lassie, who has been quite successful for almost 70 years uttering nothing but "bark bark bark"!. Furthermore, recalling the gross and/or anti-cute non-speaking animals that won out in the 1990s (it's also ironic how you never hear adults complaining about a CGI-animal voiced by a wiseass celeb), Pokémon deserves full credit for not only bringing back "cute", but for also striking a perfect balance between appearance, action, personality, humor, and drama that began with a bright-eyed yellow mouse and its powerful electric attacks.

Recommended episode(s): "The Poké Spokesman" (Pokémon Johto League Champions [fourth season]) -An interpreter proves that communication between people and Pokémon is more from the heart than spoken language ¹A made-for-TV movie (2000) based on the characters from The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda ²From the description on the Mewtwo Returns packaging: "Mewtwo and his fellow super-clone Pokémon have finally found a home where they can live and thrive, far from the prying eyes and harsh judgement of humans." ³As defined in Webster's New World Dictionary, "any such creature other than man"

, The Best Animal Show You're Not Watching...

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