Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) User Reviews (21)

Best Pokémon Movie Yet

[Comedic457 · 6/10 · 13 October 2006]

This was a fantastic movie. The subplots were fantastic, the music was inspirational and phenomenal, and the song 'Advanced Battle' was also not half bad. There were a couple of things changed in the dub that I did not like, but it was still pretty good. The worst thing about this movie though, is Lucario's VA. In the original, they made Lucario sound like a noble,medieval, sensitive, ninja (which he is), but in the dub, they made him sound like a constantly angry monster. Lucario is no monster! He has feelings too! Anyways, if you've ever liked anything about Pokémon, or are willing to give it a try, then I highly suggest you watch this movie.

But alas, even though it is fantastic, it is still relatively immature, and is nowhere near as deep as some other movies.

Surprisingly good

[annahudak-70828 · 7/10 · 22 April 2021]

I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised, there was a good Pokemon movie made. The last Pokemon film I saw was Pokemon 3, which was the definition of "mediocre." Since the next four Pokemon films aren't being distributed anywhere anymore, I couldn't see them, so I have picked it up on what's effectively Pokemon 8. This is a huge step up. Better animation, better score, better voice acting (though still far from perfect), and a genuinely good story. I was actually pretty interested the whole way through on what was going to happen. Something I could not say at all for the first three films. It's actually good. So, yeah, I can actually recommend a Pokemon movie finally.

good try, but is still no match for the third!

[reddragonhero17 · 6/10 · 30 April 2007]

I only watched this on you tube rather than give it a rental or even own it. That said, I did like the opening sequence which gives the complete history of Pokémon. However, after that it begins to go down hill and becomes another advanced generation episode with the same old paper-thin, immature, predictable plot, annoying characters (like Max and May), and same old third-rate pop songs from the show. I did like the animation though, and how Lucario had to understand humans, but with the inclusion of Mew, it kind of lost its "umph". I only recommend renting it to see what it is like. The third movie still ranks even with the test of time as the number one Pokémon movie

It's fun like most of the other entries but for different reasons

[breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com · 6/10 · 9 October 2021]

Fans of Pokémon have long since been aware of the film entries after every season finishes. With season 8 also known as "Advanced Battle" completing itself, the next film was on its way. To expect anything above the quality that's been output before is a bit of a stretch, but there's nothing wrong with wanting that. The films of the franchise have more or less been equal to each other with the occasional outlier mainly at the beginning. What's surprising though is just how much attention this particular entry gets mainly because of one of the characters in the title. For some reason, Lucario took off in popularity. Or at least so it seems. However, when it comes to the experience, the execution to this movie doesn't step itself up by a lot. There's still issues but this time in different places and same can be said for the good parts.

The plot is about a telepathic Pokémon named Lucario (Sean Schemmel) who lived during a more medieval time along with his partner Sir Aaron (Jason Griffith) when factions were at war. Unfortunately, when everyone needed him most, Sir Aaron disappeared leaving Lucario locked in a scepter. That is until Ash and company happen to free him in the current time. Now, Lucario wants to understand his place. Meanwhile, a world record holder Kidd Summers (Rebecca Soler) crosses paths with the group as well hoping to find Mew and its connection to the land Lucario once lived on. Again, from the Japanese end is the Yuyama and Sonoda duo. Doing the domestic adaption was Darren Dunstan directing, Kathy Pilon and John Touhey writing respectively. For the story itself it is clear that things are taking a slightly altered approach...initially. Yes, the film begins with the season 8 title music with a Pokémon battle, but there's more.

In a way like Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest (2001), viewers get to see a little more of what the world was like in the past and the style of the era. Adding to that, is the lore surrounding Sir Aaron as an important figure and how Ash is able to free Lucario. While it's never been displayed before in the show, new things are learned that better explain why certain characters can do certain things. It is by far a better way of giving the audience a reason why someone could be called "the chosen one" as oppose to how it was executed in Pokémon the Movie 2000 (1999). Sadly, this is where the positives end. When it comes to story, the remaining part of it continues to be what's been shown before. Elements containing dramatic moments that don't lead to much of a payoff with the main characters, has been shown before.

So to suspect any of the protagonists are in any real peril is hardly a thought. Characters of the day like Kidd Summers who just join for their own reasons is just another usual thing these entries have. It would be nice to not have one every now and then. Then there's the lack of continuity, since Ash, Brock and Pikachu have all encountered Mew back in the first movie. No reference to ever remembering their past adventure.

Not even Team Rocket who are more involved in this story seem to remember. Again, this doesn't take away from the performances as all voice actors do well. Jason Griffith has voiced Sonic the Hedgehog and Sean Schemmel is of course known for being the voice of adult Goku in the Dragonball franchise. Kind of strange that Lucario produces blue energy blasts in a similar fashion to the Kamehameha. Wonder if that was intentional.

Perhaps one of the more interesting things to hear are the three Regi- Pokémon (Ice, Steel and Rock). They have some of the strangest cries...sounding like computer viruses. With respect to sight, the animation is decent with Kazuaki Mouri as executive animation director. Much of movements between characters are very fluid, which adds a whole new dimension. Shockingly there's no credit at all to directory of photography on IMDb, despite the film crediting Takaya Mizutani as such. The same could also be said for Shinji Miyazaki who composed the film score listed in the film, but IMDb lists Go Ichinose. Even with those mistakes the music is good despite having no domestic album release. That's definitely not a surprise. The sound though is a mix between more orchestral sounding pieces with occasional synths in the background.

Really the viewing experience to this entry won't be too different from others. The plot expands and expounds certain things about the world of Pokémon a little more than before, to point where it begins to makes some sense. Even though the direction goes into predictable territory as time progresses. Still the voice acting, music and animation all make it entertaining enough.

As we bid a fond farewell to our favorite voice actors, we are left with this...

[latios-of-altomare · 9/10 · 6 March 2007]

This is a review of the latest in the long lasting line of feature films that have spawned off the widely recognized Pokemon franchise. How does it stack up, against its Pokemon-movie brethren, and against other movies in general? Let's find out, shall we? When we start up the movie, we are introduced to the kingdom of Orudoran, some centuries previous to main character Ash's time. A cataclysmic war has broken out across the barren landscape, one that threatens to destroy the kingdom. We are also introduced to Sir Aaron and his Pokemon apprentice, Lucario.

The main premise of the film builds off of the events that take place in its first few minutes; that is, Sir Aaron tells Lucario that he is forever abandoning the kingdom, never to return, and imprisons the confused Pokemon inside of his crystal staff.

After the opening title, we jump ahead a few hundred years, where Ash and his sidekick pals are attending a festival at Orudoran palace, held every year in honor of the legendary guardian, Sir Aaron. Wait, what? Yeah, you see, the legend held at this point in time suggests that Sir Aaron was able to find some way to stop the war that would have otherwise destroyed the place. Our young hero Ash accidentally provokes the sealed Lucario enough for it to emerge from the preserved crystal staff altogether, and as you may expect, it is very confused to have awakened so many years later. The body of the film consists of Ash's journey to a fossilized wonder called the Tree of Beginning, where Pikachu had been taken by the ever popular Mew.

The story itself is fresh and welcome to the series on all accounts. There are some well choreographed twists and a convincingly apocalyptic scene that builds up to the movie's sincerely touching conclusion. If you can stomach another painfully lengthened "Pokemon remorse" scene, similar but (thankfully) about a quarter as long as the one found near the end of the first movie, this is a magnificent story befitting the world of Pokemon quite well.

A large part of appeal an anime gets is determined by how it presents itself graphically. "Lucario" is a monumental upgrade in terms of... well, everything in terms of animation, really, for the series, including previous feature films. The graphical presentation is astounding with detailed, smooth character animation, fantastic background images, and some neat effects. By far the biggest update to the scene is the broader use of 3D rendering, which is used widely from moving 3D models of people to rendering full 3D environments. Near the beginning we are treated to a scene where a Tailow (a small bird Pokemon) is flying around a fully 3D rendered Orudoran castle. The blending of 2D hand-drawn anime and 3D rendering effects is crisp and clean, and it works very well with the show. With as much as is used, it never feels like overkill.

The movie's soundtrack is equally intriguingly above-par. A full orchestra provides a stunning array of background music and makes this seem like an authentic, medieval adventure. Good composition and orchestration all around, and it really adds to the experience to hear it loud. You'll want to turn your volume up for this one. Sound effects are also very well choreographed, with animation-matching foot steps and the like. There are, as well, some novelties in the sound department, the obvious of which are the vocations of "Regirock", "Regice", and "Registeel". These will send shivers down your pants, and get my vote for producing the first truly "out of this world" sound from a Pokemon I've ever heard. I'm going to reiterate about the soundtrack: I liked it so much, I imported the CD from Japan. It's that good.

The acting is... well, Pokemon. These are all the old voice actors, so you know pretty much what to expect. I will say, to newcomers of Pokemon, that these actors are truly excellent. Especially in this feature, it seems as though they gave an extra little something, and the screenplay seems to have been thought of to a greater extent than previous feature attempts, as well. Ikue Ootani pulls off an extremely believable "crying Pikachu" here, which must have been hard to do, and from all fronts, you'll receive top notch performances by Taylor, Lillis, Stuart, and Blaustein (Meowth). A very enjoyable English dub.

This film establishes itself as a children's adventure, but there are some sincerely touching moments and some real laughs along the way. I know I'm not the only one who lowers my head and shakes it when Brock goes hopelessly head over heels for the series's next pretty girl, and at one point near the end I broke out in laughter when Ash catches long separated Pikachu in his arms. A euphoric cry of delight turns slowly into a pleading yell of despair as he realizes that he is falling down a chasm of indiscernible height. Things like that make this an already good package even better.

Overall, "Lucario and the Mystery of Mew" is an excellent endeavor by Pikachu Project. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I sure as hell wasn't expecting this, and that's what made it even more special. It may be a little on the childish side, granted, but don't let that keep you from watching this film. You see that "8/10" score up at the top of the page? That's not comparing this movie to other Pokemon films. That's comparing it to the world. And you know what? It deserves that. It deserves that all the way. This is a great children's film to begin with, sure, but after adding a thought out story, a memorable soundtrack, and a wonderful cast performing their roles with perfection, you have a masterpiece in animation. I give "Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew" a well deserved 9 out of 10 (A).

Has one of the best Pokémon backstory and concept but it's a little confusing in terms of plot.

[hayashimegumi · 7/10 · 8 January 2015]

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) sets in a charming medieval themed location named Rota. It has a special adventure and a balanced mixture of fantasy, history, nature and science. They are exactly what makes the animated feature unique but they could be interpreted in different ways.

I personally feel Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) has one of the best Pokémon backstory and concept but it's a little confusing in terms of plot. Let me explain why, as brief as possible.

With spoiler minimised; at first it is Lucario's story but then it shift the focus to the villain-who-is-actually-not-a-villain, who is hunting down Mew. After that, the focus is on searching missing Pokémon. Nature comes in naturally as the plot progresses but all of the sudden, at one point it feels like as if the whole plot turned into a sci-fi horror. It's not really scary, it's pretty interesting in fact due to the science elements but well, too much focus change!

There are a lot of flashbacks throughout the animated feature and there are several different types of relationship story going on too. It's not a big deal I guess since there are plenty of unique characters and a lot of other fantasy going on. With all that Pokémon and the newly introduced spiritual energy Aura which is the essence of every living creature as they have said it; to me, all these sure seems to be a great effort but it feels confusing even though I get the story in the end.

In the end, I feel that the results of the efforts are less effective and there are plenty of other minor issues as well but I do not want to be too analytical since this is not a movie analysis! No fun isn't it if the review is all criticism?

Now, what is great about Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) are the Pokémon stories themselves. They are super cool and cute. For instance, Mew, who was once an extremely rare Pokémon, which supposedly almost no one have ever seen it before in present Pokémon time, shows more of her true playful behavior and her many transformations. There is cosplay involved in this one as well, Pikachu is even dressed up for a while! Pikachu also seems to be much more animated or much more himself compared the previous Pokémon films and just like the TV anime series, as his sweet personality does stand out here. Last but not least, Lucario's story is unusually interesting and the sight of the Legendary Titans Regirock, Regice, and Registeel are also amazing! I can't be spoiling it for you, you have to watch it yourself!

If you are easily moved, there are several touching scenes that would make you tear a little. I guess ultimately this is Pokémon's shot at something different than all of its previous films; a special adventure with a balanced mixture of fantasy, history, nature and science!

Best Pokemon Movie Yet

[amossauder · 9/10 · 18 September 2009]

I was a little hesitant to watch this movie, after seeing the other Advanced Generation movies (Jirachi, Deoxys). But I'm glad I did. The opening was one of the best introductions I've ever seen to any movie, and the title was just as impressive. I was a little curious as to why the main theme (I'm Unbeatable) was postponed until twenty minutes into the movie, but it went well with that particular scene. And the plot was fascinating, albeit with holes in places. At places, the movie even made me cry--something that hasn't been done since Pokemon Heroes.

Overall, an enjoyable film. Highly recommended, even to non-Pokemon fans.

Why is there so much grunting and moaning in these movies.

[ThunderKing6 · 5/10 · 31 August 2019]

The start of this movie was epic up until Ash came around and he let the corniness begin.

Mew is just there to cause the unnecessary plot problem. Mew abducts meowth and pikachu and then has the human get almost murdered by the Regi-pokemon. Yet mew plays the victim.

The girl with the ponytails is only there as a tour guide. She is not essential to anything.

A wild Bonsly steals food and Brock reacts very upset at it. What does everyone else do? Attack Brock for not showing passive corny behaviour. Lucario takes the food back and the humans say nothing.

How does anyone write these corny movies/shows without feeling weird or sick?

Oh gosh and the music is awful. The only good pokemon songs are Gen 1 theme, goodbye pikachu and Gen 1 poke rap.

Good movie but the passive silly overdone cliché corniness needs to stop.

A 4Kids Farewell to the Original English Cast

[mkurland23 · 10/10 · 24 November 2018]

This film was among the best in the series for several reasons: The Plot The Visuals The Score And the Voice Performances. Unfortunately, this would be the final Pokémon movie to feature the original English voice actors from the previous eight years as 4KIDS Entertainment decided not to renew their deal with the Pokémon Company. It would be the final vocal performances of these actors in these roles: Veronica Taylor - Ash, May Eric Stuart - Brock, James Amy Birnbaum - Max Rachael Lillis - Jessie Mike Pollock - Narrator And Maddie Blaustein (1960-2008) as Meowth We would also lose Executive Producers Alfred Khan & Norman J. Grossfeld as well as Kathy Borland, Michael Haigney, Jim Malone, John Touhey, Darren Dunstan and the rest of 4KIDS Entertainment. So, to me, this film marked the end of an era. That's why this is my personal favorite Pokémon movie. I just wish that the new company handling the English dub would bring most of the 4KIDS voice actors back to their original roles. However, I admit that bringing back the rarest of the original 151 Pokémon, Mew, was a very good decision to compliment the introduction to Lucario. I hope that other fans find this film is as entertaining as I have.

Not the worst Pokémon movie but not a good movie.

[h1rsch · 4/10 · 9 July 2017]

As someone who likes the Pokémon games and has grown up with Pokémon but isn't a kid anymore, I can't say this is a good movie. This movie has a very confusing plot with way to many subplots. Too many things have to be introduced in a world where a lot of things are already hard to accept. The movie could even be the same even without Pokémon in it. It has absolutely nothing to do with the games and barely something to do with the TV-series. But if you consider it to be independent, it is not a movie that shows many new things. A lot has been seen in other, better anime movies. Pokémon already has an interesting world, that can be explored. It can show great action in Pokémon battles. Non of that is shown in the movie. Battles are only shown shortly in the beginning. Also every Pokémon movie seems to rely on telepathy. I would like to see a movie, that is expressive enough to let Pokémon be able to not speak. Overall a movie that is watchable, but only a must-watch at the utmost for very young Pokémon fans.

Quite Engaging

[nolanmrky666 · 9/10 · 8 April 2009]

Personally, I found this movie to be quite entertaining. Let me first start with animation. Simply put, the movie is beautiful. Computer generated images and sceneries blend seamlessly with the two-dimensional artwork, and create a fantastic effect and feeling. The music is amazing. Shinji Miyazaki truly went all out with his score for this movie. To see what I mean, check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmhN4UlfkhU&feature=related

The score is far superior to what one would ever expect to find in an animated movie, and lends a great part to my above rating. Now, this movie was the last act of the English voice actors of the series, and they really put something special into this film that has been previously unseen from them. They certainly went out in style.

The story is also solid and enjoyable. There is clear character development, and the dialogue and pacing is just right. However, one point I must whine about is Lucario's voice actor. He is meant to sound much more mysterious, but since the actor did a good job, I can't really complain that much. Sure, the movie is somewhat childish, but it's Pokémon, and I, for one, enjoyed it, even though I am above Pokemon's target age. This film is superior to all other Pokemon movies, in my opinion, and I highly suggest you see it. It is truly epic.

The best Pokémon movie

[plinko2004 · 10/10 · 4 July 2007]

The eighth in a series that as of this month will run at least ten movies, "Lucario and the Mystery of Mew" spins a surprisingly taut tale, hitting the targets that the first, Mewtwo-centric movie misfired on. In addition to the title Pokémon, the movie also features three creatures called Regirock, Regice and Registeel, strange beings (even for Pokémon) that have braille writing in place of faces and empty, robotic personalities that give them a truly frightening presence.

The ending, in which two important characters to the story are shown dying, is surprisingly powerful for a Pokémon series moment.

I highly recommend it for anyone who's ever been a Pokémon fan. Casual fans will likely enjoy it, too.

Yet Another Fantastic Movie

[unintentionalfan · 10/10 · 16 October 2015]

I have a rule that if a movie makes me cry, then it is a fantastic movie. Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew made me bawl like a baby. The story was very genuine and one that resonated on a personal level with me.

Pokemon is childish, I'll admit, but I truly believe that adds to some of the power that certain scenes have. You really don't expect these kinds of things to happen, and when they do, it hits you much harder than you would think.

This particular title adds a lot of history to the Pokemon universe and is definitely a must-watch for any Pokemon fan. My only qualm with it was the part that Mew played in it. It felt somewhat detached from The First Pokemon Movie, almost to the point that it had me believing there is more than one Mew (especially with the number of times that the characters said "a Mew?" as though it wasn't THE Mew). However, that is forgivable because the story, animation, and (dubbed) voice acting was all completely on point!

10/10 would recommend to any Pokemon fan, hardcore or otherwise! Expect tears!

Often Considered the Best Pokemon Movie, and For Good Reason

[carologletree · 9/10 · 2 June 2016]

This was an excellent animated adventure. It is considered by many to be the best Pokémon movie of them all. I totally agree, although I consider "Pokémon Heroes" to be a close second. Both films have similar elements that make them great.

This film has one of the more engrossing story lines in the series. Ash and the gang meet Lucario and travel to the Tree of Beginnings to find answers regarding his master Sir Aaron betraying Lucario and to find Pikachu, who had been captured by Mew.

Lucario is a nicely developed character, and his relationship with Ash was very well played out. It was also nice that the Ash/Pikachu dynamic was toyed with. It was a good way to raise the steaks.

Like "Heroes," there are times when this film feels reminiscent of a Miyazaki picture. The Tree of Beginnings was a very imaginative setting, and the backstory behind it is intriguing.

The action and chaos taking place at the Tree of Beginnings is some of the most exciting the Pokémon series has ever done. The climax where Lucario saves the tree and sacrifices himself is not only thrilling, but also filled with pure emotion. He is then reunited with Sir Aaron, who was the hero after all.

Another thing, Kidd was a pretty cool character, and "We will meet again" is another great song.

A great film that deserves its praise from the Pokémon fans. This and "Heroes" are my two favorites of the series because they combine great story lines and emotion along with the fun and adventure you expect from Pokémon. This is an absolute must-see for all Pokémon fans.

RATING: A

Awesome

[vinaykanna98 · 10/10 · 13 March 2011]

I am a 13 year old, as far as I remember, I saw the first episode of Pokémon when I was in KG. Right from that day till now, I love Pokémon! I have seen each and every episode of Pokémon till the diamond and pearl season. I have just finished seeing this movie, and this is the first time I am seeing Pokémon after almost 2 years!

After I finished seeing the movie, my eyes were filled with tears! I just remembered the days when I was a kid, I used to get up in the morning, run down the stairs and switch on the T.V, turn into Cartoon Network and start seeing Pokémon imagining that how would life be if Pokémon was real, turn on my DS and start playing Pokémon! Ah! Those were the days!

The whole plot of the movie is great, the soundtrack is awesome and the animation is better than the previous movies. I have seen all the Pokémon movies released and this is the best one among them!

Full of love and emotion

[mohammedsulemanbalwar · 9/10 · 29 May 2020]

1 of the beat Pokemon movie I ever seen.

Pikachu disappears soon after he is crowned as the Wave Leader Hero, along with Satoshi. When Lucario is released from the prison, he has to locate Pikachu and unearth the mystery of the Wave Leader.

This movie become not GOOD but GREAT

[yalvihidayat · 8/10 · 6 June 2015]

When you look this movie and you'll be stunned because it's a different movie than its predecessor and you know this movie had praised it's visual effect,story,places, and background. So... this film was good narrated and become one of few good movie you should watch. Unfortunately, this film was missed by its acting and several cinematography that must be improved next film.To be honest, while you watch the trailer you will be happy then if you look the movie you will excited. It's fun movie yet entertaining and strong story.

So i'll give the score VISUAL EFFECT 82 SPECIAL EFFECT 78 STORY 88 CREATIVITY 92 ACTING 70 CINEMATOGRAPHY 74 ENTERTAINING 84

OVERALL 79-87 QUITE IMPRESSIVE "GREAT"

End of Reviewing. Sorry if my English is not good or misspelled.

One of the reasons I rated this so high is because of Lucario

[simonpick-42813 · 8/10 · 9 October 2021]

A really good movie, with a really cool flashback at the start. However, as the title suggests, one of the reasons I am rating this so high is because of Lucario's sheer awesomeness. The plot does have some holes in it, but it is pretty good. I like the ending a lot, and the Regi-Pokemon manage to provide a climax in the movie.

BAD STUFF: It turns out that Mew and the Tree of Beginning are help each other(symbiosis), although I think it is just for the watchers to get interested again(yes, there are some boring bits.). In addition, I did NOT like the playfullness of Mew as it was the whole source of the problem(I like an actual villain and i don't include Team Rocket). Also, as usual, Team Rocket is only used as a comedy source, which I hate.

FINAL RATING: All in all, it is quite a good movie and I'm surprised that it has below 7 before I typed in this review. Anyway, it deserves the 8 that I gave it. GOOD BITS: Lucario continuously Aura Sphering. Regi-Pokemon blasting rocks(very satisfactory). BAD BITS: Brock falling in love with girls(That happens in literally all of the Pokemon movies).

8/10-Good.

Excellent film

[lmoriarty-17420 · 10/10 · 26 March 2020]

This is easily my favorite Pokemon film in the franchise. Everything from the characters, animation, and effects blend in together amazingly

my fav pokemon movie!

[zeynepyagmurtunca · 10/10 · 5 August 2018]

I just really like this movie.This movie made me like Lucario!Now one of my fav pokemon is Lucario

Still the Best Pokemon Movie To Date

[jugrdhal · 10/10 · 13 August 2022]

What can I say that hasn't been said?

The dub's fantastic, especially Veronica Taylor's Ash and Eric Stuart's Brock are at their best in their final outing, 4Kids (now dead, however whose studio is now going by KonamiCross/4KMedia) kept the entire Japanese OST for their final film, and the script adaption is mostly pretty good as well as faithful. The voice acting is worlds ahead of anything you'll hear after this film, and the plot is genuinely interesting with a whole palace and feeling of betrayal thing. When Lucario ends up dying and Sir Aaron mourns his sacrifice not being known by the Pokemon until then, you have to cry a bit.