History YMMV / Pokemon2000

* FanonDiscontinuity: Not the movie itself, which tends to be highly regarded in the fandom and considered one of the better movies, but everything that comes ''after'' it (or alternately, everything that comes after the "Misty era" with [[NonLinearNarrative the rest of those movies and episodes taking place before this movie]]); some fans (particularly Kanto/Orange Islands fans and Pokéshippers) fed up with the long-running ''Pokémon'' series never ending or having any big dramatic shake-up beyond cast changes look to this movie as the GrandFinale. Amongst boxes ticked are Ash fulfilling a prophecy, saving the whole world in the process (which would in a logical world, make him a Pokémon Master), Misty more or less putting her foot down and vowing that Ash will "always have her," and Team Rocket apparently turning good.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Not the movie itself, which tends to be highly regarded in the fandom and considered one of the better movies, but everything that comes ''after'' it; some fans (particularly Kanto/Orange Islands fans and Pokéshippers) fed up with the long-running ''Pokémon'' series never ending or having any big dramatic shake-up beyond cast changes look to this movie as the GrandFinale. Amongst boxes ticked are Ash fulfilling a prophecy, saving the whole world in the process (which would in a logical world, make him a Pokémon Master), Misty more or less putting her foot down and vowing that Ash will "always have her," and Team Rocket apparently turning good.

** The dub of the short film that came with the movie, ''Pikachu's Rescue Adventure'', definitely had a good decision made for it by [[SilenceIsGolden removing the narration that went with it in the Japanese version]], allowing the Pokemon to [[PokemonSpeak speak for themselves]] to a very pleasing degree.

** From the short film, we have both versions of the song the Bellossoms dance to. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OULUgjPVfv4 Japanese version]] is a gorgeous sweeping score that would be right at home in a Disney movie, while the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBXyzYbo_wQ English version]] is just plain adorable.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am6y_ust6U8 "The Heartbeat of the Planet,"]] Lugia's theme in the Japanese version, might not be quite as grandiose as its English equivalent, but it's still a beautiful piece of music in its own right.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clI1Fe4-LMo "The Power of One"]], by the late great Music/DonnaSummer.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am6y_ust6U8 "The Heartbeat of the Planet"]], Lugia's theme in the Japanese version, might not be quite as grandiose as its English equivalent, but it's still a beautiful piece of music in its own right.

* BrokenBase: While many fans find this movie as one of the most memorable of the Pokemon movies for its grand scale and action, many have been offput by the sheer amount of {{Exposition}} that eats up the majority of the run time.

** This is the first movie to feature a considerable number of legendary Pokémon at once (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres and Lugia). While still looked back on fondly today, a problem many fans have with later movies is a perceived overabundance of them; a probem that reaches its logical conclusion [[Anime/PokemonHoopaAndTheClashOfAges some fifteen years down the line]]. It also helps this film's case that, unlike many of those films (particularly ''Anime/PokemonKyuremVSTheSwordOfJustice''), only Lugia communicates telepathically ([[UniquenessDecay before it became a dime-a-dozen ability even among non-legendary and non-Psychic Pokémon]]), and as such it can be considered more of a main character than the birds, which are more akin to powerful forces.

** The premise and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uC3rXu09R8 opening theme]] of the movie's Pikachu Short, Pikachu's Rescue Adventure will no doubt bring to mind a certain [[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam spin-off series]] that started six years later.

* IdiotPlot: Lawrence seeks to collect the legendary birds and their powers for himself, in open violation of the prophecy that foretells the fate that awaits the world should they be pitted against each other. And once this has happened, they proceed to go to war with each other at ''very'' little provocation. Then there's the subject of the prophecy itself, Ash himself, who is conveniently roped in Shamuti Island's ritual surrounding the legend at the ''very first mention'' of him being a Pokemon trainer, despite the others in his company also being such. Needless to say, it just brings out his usual recklessness and he charge headlong into a dangerous situation that lands him and his friends into Lawrence's clutches.

** This movie gained more memetic mileage when Herman Cain quoted lyrics from the Donna Summer song at the end during a campaign stop. And then directly referenced it as coming from "the Pokeemon movie" a month or so later.
* TearJerker: Team Rocket making the choice to jump off of Lugia to give Ash a better chance to stop Lawrence III. As they fall, the make peace with the fact their dying for the great good and tightly embrace each other before the hit the water. They may have ended up surviving, but it still doesn't change the fact that it looked like we were about to lose the lovable rogues.

** The dub of the short film that came with the movie, "Pikachu's Rescue Adventure" definitely had a good decision made for it by [[SilenceIsGolden removing the narration that went with it in the Japanese version]], allowing the Pokemon to [[PokemonSpeak speak for themselves]] to a very pleasing degree.

* BrokenBase: While many fans find this movie as one of the most memorable of the Pokemon movies for it's grand scale and action, many have been offput by the sheer amount of {{Exposition}} that eats up the majority of the run time.

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a16_FU6Dzcg "The Power of One,"]] by the late great Music/DonnaSummer.

** Lawrence III is the first in what would become a long line of movie-exclusive human villains, and a major criticism of the character is that he has no backstory or overall motive beyond greed[[labelnote:*]]At least, not in the movie itself; he does have some backstory, but [[AllThereInTheManual only in a Japan-exclusive pamphlet]][[/labelnote]], which is especially jarring considering he follows the well-developed Mewtwo. At the time, there was no precedent for this archetype in ''Pokémon'', so he was mostly let off as the first. Almost every human villain to follow wouldn't change this, however, and as such they come off as [[FlatCharacter flat]] {{Generic Doomsday Villain}}s, not helped by the fact that many of them recycle Lawrence's gimmick of having a large mechanical vehicle.

* FanonDiscontinuity: Kanto/Orange Islands Fans (and Pokéshippers) fed up with the long-running ''Pokémon'' series never ending or having any big dramatic shake-up beyond cast changes look to this movie as the GrandFinale. Amongst boxes ticked are Ash fulfilling a prophecy, working with the legendary birds, saving the whole world in the process (which would in a logical world, make him a Pokémon Master), Misty more or less putting her foot down and vowing that Ash will "always have her," and Team Rocket apparently turning good.

** Lugia's Song. The flute version is very pretty itself, but the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkMfBgWi60M orchestral version]] in the climax? Wow.

** To be fair, he's clearly treating them as THINGS instead of living beings. Most trainers take ''really'' good care of their Pokemon by giving them lots of fresh air and relaxing time outside of battles, but after forcibly waking the legendaries up and then cramming them in tiny cages, it's not too likely Lawrence would give them a few hours a day to fly around, or bother to bond with them.[[labelnote:*]]Then again, most players tend to keep legendaries stuffed in boxes and not use them out of a sense of honor, so...[[/labelnote]]

** This is the first movie to feature a considerable number of legendary Pokémon at once (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres and Lugia). While still looked back on fondly today, a problem many fans have with later movies is a perceived overabundance of them; a probem that reaches its logical conclusion [[Anime/PokemonHoopaAndTheClashOfAges some fifteen years down the line]]. It also helps this film's case that, unlike many of those films (particularly ''Anime/PokemonKyuremVSTheSwordOfJustice''), only Lugia communicates telepathically, [[UniquenessDecay before it became a dime-a-dozen ability even among non-legendary and non-Psychic Pokémon]].

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Lawrence III is the first in what would become a long line of movie-exclusive human villains, and a major criticism of the character is that he has no backstory or overall motive beyond greed[[labelnote:*]]At least, not in the movie itself; he does have some backstory, but [[AllThereInTheManual only in a Japan-exclusive pamphlet]][[/labelnote]], which is especially jarring considering he follows the well-developed Mewtwo. Almost every human villain to follow wouldn't change this and as such they come off as [[FlatCharacter flat]] {{Generic Doomsday Villain}}s, not helped by the fact that many of them recycle Lawrence's gimmick of having a large mechanical vehicle.

** One of songs on the soundtrack, "Polka-mon," is amazing. Take 2 parts Pokémon, 1 part Music/WeirdAlYankovic and 3 parts awesome and you'll get [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZCZ7M_lifM what may be the best part of the movie.]]

* HilariousInHindsight: The premise and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uC3rXu09R8 opening theme]] of the movie's Pikachu Short, Pikachu's Rescue Adventure will no doubt bring to mind a certain [[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam spin-off series]] that started six years later.

** To be fair, he's clearly treating them as THINGS instead of living beings. Most trainers take ''really'' good care of their Pokemon by giving them lots of fresh air and relaxing time outside of battles, but after forcibly waking the legendaries up and then cramming them in tiny cages, it's not too likely Lawrence would give them a few hours a day to fly around, or bother to bond with them.

* MemeticMutation: This is the movie where the meme that Ash is TheChosenOne for ''everything'' started. The prophecy springboarded the tendency. It perpetuated to the point that a common fanfiction cliche is for Ash, being TheChosenOne, would get amazing powers on top of commanding numerous legendary Pokémon.

* ValuesDissonance: Misty yells at Lawrence for collecting Legendary Pokémon as trophies. Which is, you know, [[YouBastard basically what you do in the games]]. In the Japanese dub, she is merely asking why he is catching them so cruelly, instead of in a Poké Ball.

** One of songs on the soundtrack, Polka-mon, is amazing. Take 2 parts Pokemon, 1 part Music/WeirdAlYankovic and 3 parts awesome and you'll get [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZCZ7M_lifM&feature=related what may be the best part of the movie.]]
** "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a16_FU6Dzcg The Power of One]]", by the late great Music/DonnaSummer.
** Another song from the soundtrack that is considered as HilariousInHindsight: "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZOW8ZuLG2o&ob=av2e Flying Without Wings]]" by Westlife, later CoveredUp by ''Series/AmericanIdol''[='=]s Season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard.
* FanonDiscontinuity: Kanto/Orange Islands Fans (and Pokeshippers) fed up with the long-running Pokemon series never ending or having any big dramatic shake-up beyond cast changes look to this movie as the grand finale. Amongst boxes ticked are Ash fulfilling a prophecy, working with the legendary birds, saving the whole world in the process (which would in a logical world, make him a Pokemon Master), Misty more or less putting her foot down and vowing that Ash will "always have her," and Team Rocket apparently turning good.

* MemeticMutation: This is the movie where the meme that Ash is TheChosenOne for ''everything'' started. The prophecy springboarded the tendency. It perpetuated to the point that a common fanfiction cliche is for Ash, being TheChosenOne, would get amazing powers on top of commanding numerous legendary Pokemon.

* ValuesDissonance: Misty yells at Lawrence for collecting Legendary Pokemon as trophies. Which is, you know, [[YouBastard basically what you do in the games]]. In the Japanese dub, she is merely asking why he is catching them so cruelly, instead of in a Pokeball.

** The part specifically citing Ash as the ChosenOne, and thus the ProphecyTwist, was a Dub invention. Originally, the prophecy only cited that "an exceptional trainer" was capable of averting the catastrophe.
** Also, Lawrence III's reference to his collection starting with an Ancient Mew Card was added into the dub. That information, in the original release, was not stated in the film itself: Rather, it was stated in an information pamphlet that also revealed that Lawrence III was an orphan, and the name of that airship of his. As you might guess, [[NoExportForYou this pamphlet was Japanese only]], and since the card appears near the end of the film, it had to be mentioned somewhere in the English version.