Product Details

• Actors: Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, Unshô Ishizuka, Rica Matsumoto
• Directors: Kunihiko Yuyama, Masamitsu Hidaka, Michael Haigney
• Writers: Takeshi Shudo
• Producers: Alfred Kahn, Choji Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Kathryn A. Borland
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: March 21, 2000
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (244 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305756430
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,893 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Pokemon the First Movie - Mewtwo vs. Mew" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The world domination of Pokémon begets their first theatrical movie. This adventure is a little more complex and dark than the popular TV series, but kids who live for the show will gobble up this film and ask for seconds. Those baffled by the show's popularity, however, will see nothing better here. Mewtwo, a new type of Pokémon designed by scientists to be the ultimate fighter, decides he wants to rule the world and challenges all the great Pokémasters to battle. Of course, our intrepid heroes Ash, Misty, and Brock are there to tangle with Mewtwo and spoil his devilish schemes. The film is a tad more emotional than the show (that is, there is some emotion), with Ash sacrificing himself to defend his beloved Pikachu (but don't you worry, Ash will be just fine).

Would you really expect the makers of this worldwide phenomenon to radically change its winning formula? The feature is only 55 minutes long, but there's also a 20-minute short, "Pikachu's Vacation." For the Pokémon novice, this escapade will truly baffle: the narrated tale has virtually no dialogue except Pokémon speaking their names (Bulbasaur, for instance, will only express emotion by using variations of his name: "Bulba, Bulba-SAUR!"). It's a real curio. --Doug Thomas

Product Description

The adventure explodes into action with the debut of Mewtwo, a bio-engineered Pokemon created from the DNA of Mew, the rarest of all Pokemon. Determined to prove its superiority, Mewtwo lures Ash, Pikachu and others into a Pokemon match like none before. Mewtwo vs. Mew. Super-clones vs. Pokemon. It's the ultimate showdown ... with the very future of the world at stake! Also, includes the mini-movie Pikachu's Vacation and never-before-seen bonus footage!

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by M. Haigney & N. Grossfeld
Featurette:"Pikachu's Vacation" - 19:00 with chapters
Music Video:"Don't Say You Love Me" by M2M (3:42)
Other:Preview of "Pokemon: The Second Movie" (1:00) "Mewtwo's Origin" (2:17)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mom's perspective:, March 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pokémon: The First Movie [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My review is purely from a parent's perspective:

I have twoboys, 9 and almost 11. They love Pokemon. They loved Ninja Turtles,Power Rangers, Star Wars, etc. so you know they are prone to being led by commercialism. Pokemon encourages nurturing, caring, and ideals like honesty, acceptance, and forgiveness. The good trainers protect and care for Pokemon. The bad guys exploit them and put their own selfish motives ahead of the Pokemon. The middle-can-be-turned-around characters learn from their mistakes and are forgiven by the main characters. Even Jessie and James occasionally show remorse and are treated with compassion.

Do Pokemon battle? Yes. Unlike Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and Star Wars, however, a Pokemon doesn't have to be hurt or killed to be defeated. Their weapons are inner strengths that they are born with. And no trainer worth his salt lets his Pokemon get injured. It's not hard to take the lessons from Pokemon and apply them to the reality of the child.

It's like Beanie Babies -- I know they're making a fortune leading our kids around by the nose. But it's relatively benign and I watch every video with them to make sure nothing changes. On a long trip in the truck, I let them play the two CD's -- the music is actually very enjoyable for me (and I'm 46!) and contains no bad language.

And I liked Pikachu's Vacation film much better than the actual Pokemon movie... but my boys loved both!

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great DVD!, March 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pokémon: The First Movie [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie is exellent! I loved it at the theaters. It was so cool watching Mewtwo and Mew fight it out. Another thing that was cool is Pikachu Vacation mini movie. I got some real laughs over there though their really was just only pokemon. The best part is when Raichu and Pikachu battle it out in a race. It also showed some pokemon from Gold and Silver. But even if you saw it at the theaters... STILL BUY IT. Chances are that you didn't get a card but when you buy the VHS or DVD you get the Mewtwo Promo card (I think it's a promo card. If not just know that it is a Mewtwo, and it has the same attacks of the promo Mewtwo.) with a different picture. You also get both Mewtwo Strikes Back and Pikachu's Vacation and a bonus..... A PREVIEW OF THE SECOND MOVIE!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mewtwo Strikes Back, April 19, 2006

By 

Elenchus (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pokémon: The First Movie [VHS] Spanish version. (VHS Tape)

Before you turn down this movie due to the negative reviews of other people, please read my review.
This is a much more powerful and deep tale than, "evil Pokemon wants to rule the world". Dr, Fuji was a scientist who wanted to bring back his dead daughter, Ai. He decided to do this, by cloning her. He decided to clone a Pokemon, and discover their life force, since the human clone could only live for four years. Thus, Mewtwo, a clone of the most rare and most powerful Pokemon ever, Mew, was born.
Even though they were in separate glass cylinders (that kept them alive) mew and Ai could communicate telepathically. Mewtwo began to learn about the world around him. But, as it happened, it had been four years, and Ai died. Her father, Dr. Fuji, was not worried. He had her DNA, and he could clone her again. This made Mewtwo angry. How dare he just replace her?! She was a living being! Not a toy you can just replace again and again! Mewtwo became unstable, and they had to tranquilize him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Japanese Version)
Myuutsuu: Make them? As many as you want? That's not right. There's only one Ai.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A year or so later, Mewtwo awoke. He learned that he was not born a Pokemon, but created. Created? He wondered. He was told that he was a clone. An experiment. A mere scientific product. He became angry. He was angry with the scientists who created him. They created him to be only an experiment, and nothing else. How could they? Furious at his own existence, he destroyed the lab, and everyone inside. Soon, Giovanni, the leader of the evil Team Rocket, and the man who ordered the scientists to create Mewtwo discovered him. Giovanni offered a deal. That he would train Mewtwo, and they would rule the earth together. Mewtwo ignore him. He did not need help. But the cruel Giovanni insisted that Mewtwo had no control over his powers, and he could help Mewtwo harness them. Mewtwo agreed to this.
Giovanni created Mewtwo a battle suit, and had him fight. But soon, Mewtwo discovered that Giovanni didn't care about Mewtwo. Giovanni thought that Mewtwo was worth nothing. That he was created to fight for Giovanni, and for no other
reason.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mewtwo: Now I fully perceive my power. But what is my purpose?
Giovanni: To serve your master. You were created to fight for me. That is your purpose.
Mewtwo: That cannot be. You said we were partners. We stood as equals.
Giovanni: You were created by humans to obey humans. You could never be our equal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This made Mewtwo angry. Giovanni believed that Mewtwo was an inferior being. How dare he? How dare he say that Mewtwo was only created to fight?! Furious, he left.
He went back to New Island, where the original lab had been, and created a new one. Humans, the horrible species that created him, that used him, and betrayed him. They cared nothing for clones, and he would make them pay. He would challenge the strongest trainers to come and fight, and then he would clone their Pokemon. He would have them fight, the Originals and the Clones, and see who had more worth. It was a war to see who would control the earth, clones, or originals. He would get his revenge.
And so, he formed his plan. He created a giant storm, so only the strongest would make it through. The trainers came, and the battle of the century began. Mew, the original came to New Island. Mew was a protector Pokemon, and watched over all of the Pokemon. She would not let Mewtwo destroy the planet! And so, Mewtwo cloned the trainer's Pokemon, and had them fight.
The originals and clones fought viciously, their trainers watching horrified. Mew and Mewtwo also faced off. Ash Ketchum, a Pokemon trainer watched his Pokemon fight. He realized that it had to stop. As Mew and Mewtwo formed energy balls, and ran into the middle of the crossfire, turning him to stone.
It was at that moment the Pokemon realized what would happen as a result of this senseless fighting. And the Pokemon, clone and original cried. Mewtwo was shocked. These Pokemon crying for a human? The species that had abused and betrayed him?
The Pokemon tears were filled with life, and Ash was restored. Then Mewtwo realized something. That senseless war was not the answer, and that originals and clones could live together, in harmony. That everyone deserved equality. Mewtwo ceased the fighting, and took his clones to a place where they could live in peace. He wiped the memories of everyone except his clones and Mew, and everything was restored to normal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mewtwo: I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This movie is very powerful, and holds a meaningful message. Please, watch this movie and experience Pokemon at its greatest. Thank you.