Pokemon 3: The Movie (G, 2001)

common sense media says

So-so, violent movie for series fans only.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that some children may be upset by characters in peril (though no one gets hurt). The opening segment includes a scary dog, though he later cooperates with the Pokemons. In the feature story, Molly has lost her mother and the magical Pokemon that she thinks is her father steals Ash's mother for her. Her very loving father leaves her to pursue a scientific inquiry and disappears. This may be of concern to some children. The little girl's mother returns only during the closing credits, with no explanation. There is a little bit of "I want to be your boyfriend" humor, but it is very brief and utterly G-rated.

Violence & scariness: Combat, but no one hurt.
Sexy stuff: Brief boy-girl humor.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Pokemon 3: The Movie

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how having one's wishes granted may not always be a good thing, and about the way the Pokemons take care of each other in the short segment and take care of their human trainers in the feature movie. Older kids may get a kick out of the way that the silly Team Rocket, always trying to get ahead of Ash and his friends, end up helping them out because "without them, we'd be out of show business!" They may also want to talk about the way Molly sees the shape of her Pokemon friend in a cloud, and how we can keep those we love inside us always.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Like the first two Pokemon features, this one includes both a short Pokemon-on-their-own adventure and then a longer feature story along the familiar lines of Pokemon Trainer Ash and his pals save the world. (A primer for newbies: Pokemons are adorable little pocket monsters who love to be caught by their human trainers, who carry them around and deploy them against the pocket monsters of other trainers, to see who is the best.) This time, the threat comes not from a mad scientist, as in the second Pokemon movie, or from a rogue Pokemon, as in the first movie, but from a little girl named Molly who unwittingly causes havoc when she meets up with some Pokemons who grant her every wish.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
I suppose that it's a sign that we've passed the peak of Pokemon frenzy that the word "Nintendo" got a bigger reaction from the kids in the audience than the word "Pokemon," but this movie mustered enough of the old Pokemon spirit to keep the kids pretty happy.

Most adults find Pokemons somewhere between annoying and painful, but children love them. They are always drawn to the idea of hidden sources of power accessed by seemingly powerless figures (think of Superman, Power Rangers, etc.). And they love the memorizing, sorting, and of course collecting opportunity that Pokemons afford. This can be an important part of their social development, and parents should respect their affection for Pokemons while maintaining control over the accumulation of clutter.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Michael Haigney
Cast: Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis, Veronica Taylor
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: April 6, 2001
DVD release: August 21, 2001
MPAA Rating: G

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

7

Most useful reviews by all members

 
AMAZING
its for ALL ages ive watched it about fifty times and it made me cry everytime its amazing and not just for boys ^^

 
GREAT!
I saw this when I was about 8 in theatres! I LOVED it. Still enjoy watching it. It's a tad scary though. Mainly with the scenes of the Pokemon Entei, who is often angry throughout the film

Alastair1000
kid, 11 years old
 
Bored.
Boring movie... I don't even think fans liked it.

whyamiusingthi ...
teen, 17 years old
 
You people have serious issues.
The pokemon battle for pure sport and because they love their trainers. Second, the scientist is not mad or crazy, he's an archeologist. There isn't a passive female. I just anwered the question to my screen name, I'm using this site to try to correct the morons that write the reveiws.

Uxie Trixie ...
kid, 12 years old
 
Good for Pokemon Johto.
Unlike villains from the TV show, Molly is a sweet kid, who's lost her parents to the Unown. Molly's mom has been gone for a long time, and her dad disappears near the start of the film, after playing with her, and joking about him being Entia. Molly, crying after learning she'd never see him again, begins to play scrabble with herself using tiles from the ruins where her dad disappeared, and summons the Unown. The Unown begin to give her everything she thinks about, crystallizing most of the landscape, and giving her an Entia that gives her anything she wants. But she wants well, just about the world, so the crystals cover more and more land, to grant her wish.

Nectaria
teen, 17 years old
 

Divine_Munchie_99
teen, 17 years old
 
Good, but...
It can be placed as a family favorite, but gets boring the 3rd or 4th time around.

mkalv
teen, 17 years old
 
Geting there.
While better than the second, not as good as the first.

bobsax
parent of 12 year old
 
Great animation
The animation is the best so far in the series. The characters are great . This may be the last movie with these great character voices. We just watched "The Temple of the Sea" and it was terrible with the new voices.

robomonkeyfan
teen, 16 years old
 
I thought this was pretty good.
I liked this movie. It was nice, especially the ending, it was great. Those Unowns are very cute, too. Team Rocket are funny, and they even saved Ash at one point.

mudkip7
teen, 13 years old
 
I HAVE SEEN ALL THE MOVIE AND THIS IS MY FAVORITE.I JUST WISH THERE WAS MORE TEAM ROCKET.

bubbleg20
kid, 8 years old
 
SIMPLY AWSOME!
I really loved it and it will leave you wanting more! The graphics are amazing and almost anyone who has seen it will love it.

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