Pokemon: The First Movie parents guide

Pokemon: The First Movie Parent Guide

Overall C+

Violence B-
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use A

Why is Pokemon: The First Movie rated G? The MPAA rated Pokemon: The First Movie G

Parent Movie Review

Pokemon has become the new religion of the elementary school sect. Born on the pocket Gameboy, a miniature video game marketed by Nintendo, Pokemon sprang from the tiny screen onto every imaginable item that could be licensed as an official Pokemon article.

Pokemon The First Movie - Official Site Further, the company has licensed the more than 150 Pokemon (pocket monster) creatures to appear on baseball-like cards. Each one lists its creature’s various strengths and fighting abilities, allowing children to have Pokemon battles. “Collect ‘em all” says the marketing slogan, but that’s not an easy thing to do. By limiting the circulation of certain Pokemon, the card publishers have created an artificial scarcity, turning the cards into playground currency.

Pokemon The First Movie - Official Site What has this got to do with the movie? Well, first you need to realize that this movie is nothing without the craze proceeding it. The pokey plot features Mewtwo, the 150th Pokemon, who was genetically developed from the extinct Mew. But the problem is Mewtwo is sooooo powerful, no force can stop his quest to rule the world. The creature is determined to collect all the Pokemon (where have we heard that before?) and clone them into super fighting machines.

Pokemon The First Movie - Official Site Is it violent? No more so than many other G-rated films. Pokemon battle each other throughout the movie, while their trainers (the human owners of the Pokemon - typically children) coach them. The battles involve each creature using his specific powers, for instance the popular Pikachu is electrically charged. In an attempt to pacify parents, the overly contrived conclusion preaches to young audiences that love, not fighting, is the way to solve problems - until the next movie arrives.

The Pokemon movie presents only mild concerns compared to the frenzy among children who are willing to trade, pay, or fight to secure a rare card, with the notion they are getting something akin to a Rembrandt. When my son told me his collection would net $40, my advice was simple: Take the money and get rid of ‘em all.

Updated

Pokemon: The First Movie Parents' Guide

If you have Pokemon collectors in your family, the Pokemon craze may open discussions about economics and the value of money. For instance: Who controls the printing of Pokemon cards? Who controls how much money is printed? Governments guarantee the worth of money, but who guarantee’s the value of a Pokemon card?