critics consensus

Despite being somewhat more exciting than the previous film, this kiddy flick still lacks any real adventure or excitement. What is does contain is choppy animation and poor voice acting. Doesn't match up to virtually anything out there. Read critic reviews

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Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One Photos

Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One (2000)

(Left to right) The legendary and powerful Pokemon Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno.

Ash (second from left) and Team Rocket's James, Meowth and Jessie.

Pikachu, Ash, Squirtle (lower right) and Balbasaur (upper right).

(Left to right) Ash, Melody, Misty, Slowking and Brock face Lugia.

Pikachu (center) with Squirtle, Balbasaur, Venonat, Marill and a bevy of Pidgeotto and Ledyba.

View All Photos (24)

Movie Info

Ash's adventure begins when a powerful storm beaches him and his friends on Shamouti Island just as the islanders are preparing to cast the hero role in their annual festival. They offer it to Ash. It sounds like fun, so he accepts. The festival enacts an ancient legend about three great and powerful Pokémon birds, Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno, who maintain nature's balance on the earth by ruling the elements of fire, lightning and ice.

Rating:

G
Genre:

kids and family, anime, adventure
Original Language:

English
Director:

Michael Haigney
Producer:

Choji Yoshikawa, Ken Sakamoto
Writer:

Norman J. Grossfeld, Michael Haigney
Release Date (Theaters):

Jul 21, 1999 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Mar 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA):

$43.7M
Runtime:

1h 21m
Production Co:

Shogakukan, 4 Kids Entertainment, Pikachu Project '99, Kids WB, Nintendo Co. Ltd.
Sound Mix:

Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital
View the collection:

Pokémon

Cast & Crew

Veronica Taylor
Ash Ketchum , Mrs. Delia Ketchum
Voice

Rachel Lillis
Misty , Jessie
Voice

Addie Blaustein
Meowth
Voice

Eric Stuart
James , Squirtle , Brock
Voice

Michelle Goguen
Carol
Voice

Eric Rath
Lugia
Voice

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One

All Critics (69) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (56)

This freshly baked and frosted big-screen "Pokemon" goes down with a sweetness that charms without talking down to its audience.

January 22, 2019 | Full Review…

Gene Seymour
Los Angeles Times
Although the animation is crisp, the story is too apocalyptic to appreciate.

January 22, 2019 | Full Review…

Mike Emery
Austin Chronicle
Better than the first, but that's not saying much.

December 27, 2010 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
A much more intense action vehicle for hero Ash Ketchum and his band of pocket monster trainers than its leaden, sometimes claustrophobic predecessor.

June 6, 2008 | Full Review…

Robert Koehler
Variety
Quote not available.

April 5, 2002 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Globe and Mail
A few set-pieces, though, do stand out: weird, almost entirely spherical fish swimming in the water, a boat crashing down hundreds of steps, and a jagged 'chicken' lit up by golden electric energy are certainly transfixing.

April 16, 2001 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Michael Thomson
BBC.com
Where other movies seem bound to treat kids like adults, "Pokemon" allows kids to be kids, and just enjoy a wholesome, entertaining, well thought-out animation.

January 22, 2019 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Christy Ellington
Christian Science Monitor
The perfect film for fans of the franchise... and no-one else. [Full review in Spanish]

October 6, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Sebastian Zavala Kahn
Más Gamers
This is a fun, magical, and appealing movie that kids will love.

April 29, 2009 | Full Review…

Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Lesson of the day: Pokmon are more attuned to nature, but one human can make a difference.

August 7, 2008 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Quote not available.

May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4

Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
Pikachu has very little to do with the plot, so die-hard fans may be disappointed. On the other hand, I daresay die-hard fans could not possibly be discriminating enough to notice, since most of them are still in diapers.

February 8, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online

View All Critic Reviews (69)

Audience Reviews for Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One

Dec 01, 2011

I can't really remember anything about this movie at all, I watched it when I was like seven. My rating is based on the ratings of the others in the series.

Dillon L Super Reviewer
Nov 23, 2011

Despite the premise, Pokemon - The Movie 2000, is not really exciting like the series and become boring. The end is very violent, what could deviate the younger audience. Rotten.

Lucas M Super Reviewer
Nov 01, 2011

Pokemon 2000 is 2000 times better than the original which was awful. It's still not that good though, it's good to entertain small children though. I'ts not good but its watchable.

Directors C Super Reviewer
Jul 09, 2011

A downgrade from the original, but with all of the characters back to love, a story about three legendary birds has never been more mesmerizing to me. As an evil mastermind is planning to rule the world with possession of these three birds, he must have one more bird to rule the world; Lugia. Ash and his pals must save the earth from total destruction before the madman takes over. This was an extremely enjoyable, family friendly film, it may not be the pokemon movie we have all been waiting for, but it certainly is an awesome animated feature.

KJ P Super Reviewer