I remember going out to the theaters, and seeing this with my brother, who was a huge Pokémon fan. Both of us were deeply disappointed. It wasn't until, years later, that I saw the Japanese version of this movie and found that it's superior to the cut-down American version. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, the movie was released in 1998 in Japan, and in 1999 for US, after the huge success of both the animation TV Series, and the Nintendo games that came out. It is the first theatrical release in the Pokémon franchise, follow up with a lot of awful sequels. The movie follows the characters of the animation show, as the events of the movie, supposedly takes place during the block of episodes of the first season, leading up to the Pokemon League sub-plot in the American version. I have to say, it begins during the episode 62 'Battle of the Badge", ending with episode 66 'Evolution Solution". In the original Japanese TV Series, it was believe to happen after the events of Episode 54's The Case of the K-9 Caper with makes the later episodes seem out of place in the timeline. Already, I'm getting a headache. Anyways, there so many different versions of this film, that it's insane to figure out, which one to watch. Try to find these three segments to get the best out of this movie. First one is Pikachu's Vacation, a 21-minute feature focusing on the series mascot Pikachu. Second is Origin of Mewtwo, a 10-minute featurette that functions as a prologue to the main feature. Third is Mewtwo Strikes Back, the main 75 minute film feature. Sadly, some of these might in the 2001's sequel to the film, Mewtwo Returns, but I saw later DVD copies put this copies of the Pokemon: The first movie. Depending which one you find, the movie still tells two different stories of a clone Pokemon call Mewtwo (voiced by Masachika Ichimura in Japanese/Philip Bartlett in the English version) that create from the DNA of the most powerful Pokemon of the time, Mew by the main villain of the TV series, Giovanni (Voiced by Ted Lewis). In one version, Mewtwo is suffering from God-like complex, due to Mewtwo powers and felt superiority to the original Pokemon and men. Mewtwo wants to destroy the world with a hurricane, Mewtwo created to get revenge on humanity after witnessing other clones getting killed off. Mewtwo also set up a trapped a fake tournament to gather up DNA samples to recreate a new race of Clones Pokemon. In another version, Mewtwo, is portrayed as a confused being, like Frankenstein monster who still motive by revenge, but only use the hurricane as a test of strength, so that Mewtwo can gather up the best pokemons to create the best race. There are countless mistakes in the dubbings translation such in the case was, the awful story about Pokemon tears reviving death people. It's mention earlier by explorers and a nurse in the beginning of the movie. In the Japanese movie, there is no mention of this Deus ex Machina. Without spoiling it, the whole scene of Pokemon reviving a beloved character with crying was an awful cop out death scene. Another one is Mew's message to Mewtwo. The whole heart speech is BS in Japanese version, as Mew really hates clones. The biggest letdown is the original and clone Pokémon battle. The background music is different in both versions: the Japanese version plays a variation of Colossal Battle, followed by soft instrumental music, while the English version plays Brother My Brother, which contains a fighting is wrong message. The whole fighting is wrong, message in the English version doesn't make much sense. I know Pokemons are use in this universe like combat sport like boxing, and not death tournaments like dog or cock fighting, but this is still awful contradictory message. If the movie kept the whole cloning is controversial topic of morals and ethics, and all life is equal, this movie might work. The whole idea of wiping people's memories in the end was also unforgiven. No moral lesson was learn to these characters. What a waste of time! Later copy versions of the film, CGI add to it, changing the movie even more, from the original. It's so annoying. The film also does not really explain the premise of Pokémon to the non-initiated. If you haven't saw an episode of it; you're out of luck. You'll be confused as hell. In the English dub, they mention some of the Pokemon by the wrong name. If you're not a huge fan, you probably wouldn't notice this. Even some the powers don't make sense. How does Pikachu Thunderbolt power defeat ground Pokemons? Come on, movie! Get your facts, right. It's odd that it's rated G, despite its strong violence, and disturbing images. After all, people do get murder here. The music in the English version, doesn't connect with the violence theme. "Somewhere, Someday" by *NSYNC, "We're a Miracle" by Christina Aguilera, are just forgettable and too pop for a dark movie. The orchestral score was entirely changed in the English version. Overall: This movie was a pointless movie with no payoff. It's a must watch if you're a fan. Just note to find the newer Japanese version than the older American one.