So much average

Good movie but grossly overrated

Don't listen to the negative reviews

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

So if you don't know who Hayao Miyazaki is, hes the guy that made a lot of studio ghilbis films like castle in the sky, spirited way, and Nausicaa, but he didnt make this movie, i only say that, cuz its like a movie he made, it highly resembles one of his other famous films Princess monoke. In that movie its about a couple of young people trying to save the spirit of the forest and stop humans from destroying the forest, this Pokemon movie is about a bunch of kids also trying to save the spirit of the forest and stop humans from destroying the forest. Both these films have environmentalism themes that are both used subtly and very entertainingly ( but i like this movie more and its less gross). This Pokemon movie was my childhood, in fact i think i watched this movie before i saw the anime or the first movie with mew two. Which is really good because this movie has a intro describing the world of Pokemon narrated by the character Brock, this intro is very informative, endearing, beautiful and will always be super nostalgic for me ( i feel the tears coming). The reason this intro is very good is because it explains what Pokemon are, who the characters are, all in a few minutes, the first Pokemon movie didn't have this, and many people, including the nostalgic critic ( watch his video), felt the first movie lacked that necessary information. Anyways the movie starts off with a kid named SAM traveling through a ancient forest, he is warned by a young woman that the spirit of the forest named celebi, has the power to time travel, and can accidentally take people through time, coincidentally he bumps into a Pokemon poacher who has just captured celebi, Sam helps it escape and they then time travel to the future. In the present ash, misty, and Brock travel to that same forest where a city made of tree houses is. The same woman ( now older) warns them about the time traveling Pokemon and the boy who dissappeared 40 years ago, coincidentally the boy arrives in front of them. As they try to find a way to heal the injured celebi, Sam and ash become like brothers. Meanwhile there is a new villain called the iron masked marauder, whose intro involves him capturing a tyranitar with a " Dark Ball", which supposedly has the power to turn Pokemon evil ( this is my favorite kind of poke ball it looks super bad ass!), he then has the tyranitar hyper beam an entire trailer park, not only does this guy look completely bad ass, hes played by Yugi from YUGIOH! Anyways he wants to capture celebi for his own ends, he stalks the kids through the forest with an awesome tripod, making him a very intimidating villain. When he confronts them, one of the best Pokemon tag team fights ensues between his sneasel and scizor and ash and Sam. Sam actually uses a vintage poke ball and uses a charmeleon. Unfortunately the villain does catch celebi with a dark ball and makes it evil, and then Ash actually gets in a hands on fight with the villain ( human vs human!), and he gets beaten up pretty bad, the villain then tells celebi to create, as meowth calls it a "twig monster", and it then begins to destroy the forest as it heads for the city, the villain goes into super evil mode by this point. Another legendary Pokemon called suicine then arrives to help with the battle, and the fight is amazing! They finally make celebi good again, but he starts to die! Here's where magic time travel becomes involved and you should probably watch it yourself ( there's no way to describe it). The boy Sam is then returned to his time, and its revealed that the boy is someone ash knows. This movie is beautiful, the visuals are stunning, the scene where the butter free appear its gorgeous, but its not just the animation ( actually the CGI could have been better), the music is very emotional, the atmosphere is perfect, the mysticism used, is quite intriguing especially as we learn of the lore of celbi and suicine. The dialogue is better than most pokemon movies, ash and Sam actually have a moment talking about their moms, and its very endearing, the movie feels so much more than a Pokemon movie it feels impactful, i still watch this movie to this day with my sisters, i feel there is a little something in this movie for everyone ( celebi is like disturbingly overload cute, im starting to question if Pokemon was meant for boys). And for me, it was like a Hayao Miyazaki film, before i even watched any Hayao Miyazaki movies, and it influenced me very greatly in doing my part to protect nature in anyway i can.

Before I begin, I'd like to say that I'm a huge fan of Pokémon. The games are always amazing, the anime is outstanding (half the time, though that's a discussion left for another say), and the TCG is incredible. However, the movies have been less than great. While they aren't outright awful, they just aren't good. Another thing I should note is that I'm reviewing the Japanese version instead of the English dub.Celebi: A Timeless Encounter, is just a forgettable film. That's the best way to describe it. This was made during the first real dark period of the anime, where less and less quality was apparent. If there is one thing that symbolizes that time, this movie is it.The plot revolves around Satoshi (Ash) meeting Yukinari (Sam) who just happens to have traveled 40 years into the future because he saved Celebi from a poacher. Now the two must protect Celebi from a masked man known only as Vicious (Iron-Masked Marauder). Throughout the film, we slowly see a friendship form between Satoshi and Yukinari that doesn't really go anywhere, as well as with Celebi who does just about nothing until the middle of the film, and still doesn't do much even then. Sure there are other characters, but they do just about nothing for the whole film. The animation is good except for the CGI, which is just awful, and everywhere. The acting is just mediocre and forgettable, though not awful. The soundtrack is forgettable, except for the ending song which sometimes get stuck in my head. Almost everything about this film is forgettable except for the ending, which is amazingly bad and stupid. The English version, from what I've heard, is even more stupid and confusing. In short, It's just forgettable. On a ending note, what kind of a title is "4ever"?

I can't see the point in burying a movie like this in sulfuric sarcasm, when it is in no way intended to be anything more than a vehicle to entertain children and prepare them for the next line of merchandise to beg madly about. This is a fun movie. My children sat quietly through the entire thing and loved every minute of it. Granted, the villain is a bit over the top with his silly costume and maniacal laugher, but this is a lot more easier to take than the dark, gloomy, and very morbid Pokemon 3. My children have been watching Pokemon since it started and they are soon getting to the ages where they will "put off the childish things" and move on to others. I am glad that we got to enjoy this together.

The movie seemed to appeal me because of the new type of Pokemon Celebi. But the plot was out of course and didn't have as an interest as the other movies. It was a waste of money and time. The same corny humor and cliche bad guys. The movie was of no use to make if you wanted to make Pokemon famous. The movie should better not associated with animes such as Dragonballz, Digimon, or Yu-Gi-Oh. The drawing and settings are of no level rising to the standards of original anime. It is a shame even to talk about this movie. I bet Pokemon fans will be disappointed with the outcome of the movie and give up on Pokemon. Digimon is more of an anime and doesn't fall anywhere close to Pokemon.It's second movie is coming out late 2002.