Recap: Pokémon- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Hello everyone, and welcome to my look at Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew!

It's finally time to talk about my favorite of the Advanced Generation Pokémon films. In addition to introducing my favorite Pokémon to the franchise, I can credit this movie with helping me get back into the series when I was 16, which was further compounded by the Platinum video game on my DS a year later. There will be plenty to address, even if some troll online doesn't like it. So, let's open it up!

Apart from the usual variation on the "World of Pokémon" segment, we are also given a cold open in medieval times! In addition to the movie coming out in the wake of the success of series such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, there is a clear influence of the legend of King Arthur with all the fantasy motifs in this movie. Even though I do have plenty of jokes in mind, this film is highly lauded for its dark story and surprisingly complex characterization; and I will talk about more in a moment.

Including the majestic moose...

We open a sort of tree of life, no relation to that really weird Terence Malick movie; hundreds of years ago!

After that, we see Lucario running through the mountains! Even though the Diamond and Pearl video games had not yet been released, this movie was a great introduction to him. It's a fair cop.

The movie also introduced the concept of Aura Guardians, a type of trainer I find fascinating; as shown by his ally Sir Aaron!

You've got two empty halves of coconut, and you're banging them together!

Lucario warns Sir Aaron that the two armies are going to clash, which will bring the kingdom into ruin! Three Houndoom try to blind Lucario, but when he's got four other senses and can use aura as a second sight; it's a moot point.








Sure enough, Lucario manages to take two of the Houndoom out with one Aura Sphere each, and doesn't even flinch at the third!

Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!

Despite the fact that the kingdom will be lost, the queen of the castle will not leave; and Sir Aaron leaps onto the back of a Pidgeot into battle!  

Even with how devoted Lucario is to Sir Aaron, he disavows any notion that he is Lucario's master; as well as any affiliation with the queen or her kingdom!

You can't just claim supreme authority just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!

In a flash of light, Lucario's spectral essence is sealed inside Sir Aaron's staff; and it turns out that the tree is the "Tree of Beginning." Like I said, it may not be some weird arthouse film; but I can see why many fans choose this as their favorite of the AG films, as do I.

We then see the inside of the Tree of Beginning, and even though I have mixed feelings towards the use of CGI here; it actually works fairly well for this movie. Also: Oh hi, Ho-Oh! I will get to your movie when it comes stateside; but time is money!

Pidgeot returns Aaron's staff to the queen, and a bunch of crystals start emitting a strange light! Oh dear, what is Ego the Living Planet up to now?

While the victory of the day's battle did come at great cost, it's also revealed that the whole thing was a story being read to a small child! Yeah, apparently; this also started a fan theory where the whole series is actually a bedtime story, and the little girl and her mother don't seem to age. I have no formal opinion on the matter, but it's interesting to think about nonetheless.

For some reason, the title card is preceded by a brief montage of how society has changed since medieval times, kind of like the intro to Star Trek Enterprise (the one that had that really corny pop song, hope the opening to Discovery is better).

After that, we see Ash, May, Max and Brock on their way to a festival celebrating the legend of Sir Aaron!

..And that, my liege is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped. "This new learning amazes me! Tell me how sheep's bladders can be used to prevent earthquakes!"

 There will be many events held for the festival as everyone heads toward the castle!

It's only a model. "Shh!"

For the occasion, everyone dons outfits that would not be out of place at a renaissance fair! May is dressed as a maiden, Max a minstrel; and Brock a paladin!

 

Pikachu is then dressed as a jester, and Ash takes up the guise of Sir Aaron as part of a tournament taking place during the festival! This whole sequence is set to the Advanced Battle theme, "Unbeatable." Even if my favorite AG theme is "This Dream," I cannot deny the ability this song has to get me pumped for action. What the hay: I'll link to the full version for the umpteenth time. 

Ash wins the tournament, and it turns out the runner-up is actually a young woman named Kidd Summers! Brock tries to hit on her, and Max breaks them up, as per usual.

For winning the tournament, Ash is given Sir Aaron's staff and the honor of presiding over the festivities that night as an Aura Guardian; complete with dining and dancing the time away!

Brock then tries to dance with Kidd, yet he seems surprised he's actually made it this far for once. No need to worry, she's got huge... tracts of land!

Max is staking out the buffet table, and I have to wonder how he'd wager the airspeed velocity of an unladen Swellow, whether it's from Hoenn or Sinnoh!

Ash wants to join the festivities himself, but the castle's maid insists he just sit and watch! Oh, wicked bad evil Zoot!

Do you think this scene should have been cut? We were so worried when the boys were writing it.

Apparently, Kidd has been sent on this expedition by her superior; Banks, who heads some kind of multimedia company. Even though his office has a treadmill, a bunch of monitors and a wet bar (which I'm again surprised that 4Kids didn't edit); I still trust them more than Screen Rant. 

Anyway, Banks sends Kidd information on a sighting of Mew; and I'm kind of getting a PG-rated vibe of the relationship between the Major and her superiors. Glad a new Ghost in the Shell anime is coming soon, especially with how big a bomb the live-action remake was. A Western franchise probably isn't happening. To quote the Agony Booth: "It committed movie-suicide in only one installment."

The dance continues into the night as some of the Pokémon play in the attic. Not that this isn't cute, but we still have a whole movie to enjoy, so get on with it!

Sure enough, Mew is with them in the attic; and in this movie he's a shapeshifter! I wonder if he's seen the old man from scene 24 anywhere.

Kidd tries to send in her Weavile to track Mew (also helping promote the upcoming video games in the process), but Mew disappears with Pikachu and Meowth in a flash of light! He's buggered off.

Before we can worry about that, Ash assumes the position of Aura Guardian so he can signal the fireworks and close out the evening! At the maid's instruction, he hoists the staff over his head!

By the power of Duskull, I HAVE THE POWER!

In a flash of bright light, Lucario appears from inside Sir Aaron's staff! Message for you, sir!

Aside from the fact he's telepathic for some reason, his eyesight hasn't fully returned and he starts going nuts at the party as if he were Lancelot!

...Hey.

The moment he does gain his sight back, he still hasn't fully realized that he's not in his own time anymore, as shown through his memory of Sir Aaron! Is anyone else getting an itch to play more Zelda: Breath of the Wild? That game has enough content to keep me plenty busy until I get a Switch (between the money and how hard the console is to find, probably be feasible for Christmas or my 26th birthday).

The queen then reveals she is a descendant of the original queen, and the kingdom was indeed saved all those years ago; but at great cost. So, all joking aside: that is Lucario's arc in the movie. To not only adjust to the kingdom since he was away, but also to learn how to trust others again. It's not just this movie either: other Lucario after the Pokémon is formally introduced have similar conflicts and development arcs. The ones that belong to Maylene in DP and Korrina in XY, for example.


Max is surprised to see Lucario when he lets everyone know that Mew has galavanted off with Pikachu and Meowth; but is rather miffed when the maid finds his costume cute, comparing him to a doll! I believe the term is "action figure," thank you very much.

So, everyone decides to pursue Mew to the Tree of Beginning, and Brock is astounded that his date was a reporter named Kidd Summers! Interesting that a reporter has a com visor, and dresses in hot pink cycling gear and big boots to do journalism work. Almost as flashy as April O'Neil and her yellow outfit.

What manner of man are you that can summon up flames without flints or tinder?

After changing back into their usual early/mid-2000s attire, everyone gets ready to head to the Tree of Beginning; but Lucario attacks Ash so hard that he knocks his hat off!

Help! Help! I'm being repressed! "Shut up! Bloody peasant!"

Even after Ash tells Lucario about why he wants to find Pikachu, he seems reluctant to accept the idea they're friends; or the idea of friendship in general. As I said before: this is his arc in the movie, and one of the many reasons he's my favorite Pokémon and this is my favorite of the Advanced Generation.

With Lucario acting as a guide, everyone packs into Kidd's Humvee and sets off for the Tree of Beginning!

Also, for some reason, Jessie and James are hiding out in the cargo hold of Kidd's car.

Once again, I'm very amused by how Brock can fit an entire portable kitchen and all this furniture in his bag. I can only imagine how someone like Silph or Devon was able to do that.

Then, a Bonsly (another Pokémon that hadn't been introduced yet) steals one of their lunches! Yet, the movie erroneously pronounces it as "Bons-Lee", as in Bruce Lee, rather than "Bons-Lie," as in a bonsai tree; which the Pokémon resembles.

We want- a SHRUBBERY!

As Mew messes around with Pikachu and Meowth inside the Tree of Beginning, Lucario leads everyone to a bunch of bursting geysers, where everyone decides to take a break!

The geysers also happen to be next to a hot spring, so while Kidd checks on her SUV, everyone else decides to take a dip in a very nice scene. I always like when a more action-oriented entry like this one takes time to let the audience breathe and take in the scenery.

Lucario also recalls another memory of his friendship with Sir Aaron, where they rested in the same hot spring many years ago! Slowly but surely, Lucario is realizing how much his master meant to him; even if he's not ready to let anyone else in right now.

May then spots a crystal flower on the side of a cliff! Again, I have to wonder if that's another piece of whatever Ego has planned.


Thankfully, it's not that; but it is something known as a "Time Flower," and when it's picked; it unveils another memory! Wonder how many more of those they'll need to face off against Calamity Ganon.

This is a very nice shrubbery! I like the laurels particularly!

As the sun sets, everything has checked out with Kidd's truck, and everyone decides to replant the Time Flower; but when Ash touches it, he comes to a sudden realization!

Oh please! Cut down a tree with a herring?! It can't be done!

After determining that the Time Flowers can contain the memories of whoever touches them and has the same aura; Ash tells May and Max the story of how he and Pikachu became friends! As the last Pokémon movie to feature the original voice cast, it was a good one for them to go out on. Talk persists of getting Veronica Taylor back for the English dub of the upcoming "I Choose You" movie (I will address a development that just came up in a little bit), but we'll see. I will also address this matter further when I talk about the next movie.

Even as Lucario recalls his training with Sir Aaron, he rejects the idea that Ash and Pikachu are friends; even going so far as to accuse Ash of abandoning Pikachu! This does not sit well with Ash, which results in him getting into a fight with Lucario and a tussle in the river! Yeesh, it's like that article that scummy pickup artist wrote! I have something prepared for later.

As Ash dries off, he realizes he may have gone too far with Lucario; and decides to work with him more to get to the Tree of Beginning.

He must be a king. "Why?" He hasn't got shit all over him.

Max then decides to give Lucario a peace offering of a chocolate bar! In addition to this dog being part Steel-type (and thus, immune to poison), my Lucario in X, Y and OR/AS seem to enjoy the Mocha Poké Puffs most.

Meanwhile, in the Tree of Beginning, Mew shows Pikachu a Hitmontop yo-yo and lets him play with a Shuckle whistle, among various other toys. While 2016 had my collection expand even with that year being like a very cruel practical joke (this one is slightly better, but not by my much), there are even more lovely bits of tchotchkes for this year. Some of them are kind of pricey, but I think I might finally get those last three Pokémon Amiibo even with the erratic stock patterns in my area; and I might finally consider getting my first Pokémon Figuarts as well (just going to pace myself, since some of the Digimon, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Kaiju Monster Arts and Super Sentai figurines also look quite nice).

That night, Ash is unable to sleep; and is worried about Pikachu as he looks towards the Tree of Beginning over the horizon. As I've pointed out before, one of the things I enjoy most about the Pokémon movies is how they often take a darker tone than the main anime. Like how I said the respect for the original series may come from the movies rather than the TV anime, I think a similar thing may have resulted in my warming to AG after I initially dismissed it: while there are still some episodes that irk me and others I have yet to address, the movies do help show the potential the retool of the anime had and how AG helped incubate elements that would become common in later series.

The next morning, everyone continues their journey to the Tree of Beginning, but the path is blocked by huge cliffs! While they're not quite as dire as the Cliffs of Insanity in The Princess Bride, it at least makes more sense to have everyone continue on foot than in the Jirachi movie. Unless Kidd's Hummer can drive vertically like the Batmobile in Batman Forever, I don't see it being too feasible.

It also turns out this is where Sir Aaron sealed Lucario in the staff, and conveniently, he finds another Time Flower right where he kneels! Only a few more of these and you can modify your stats! Even with more hearts, there's no guarantee you won't run into enemies who can kill you with one strike.

You will find the grail contained within the walls of the Castle "Aaargh!"

Even when Ash and the others find out about what happened, the Time Flower also reveals this was right before the final battle for their kingdom and that Lucario would have been killed if Sir Aaron hadn't sealed Lucario in the staff! I also forgot to mention this earlier, but the armor on the Pokémon is a nice touch. It really adds to the medieval fantasy themes of the movie and fits in an era that predates the invention of Poké Balls.

Lucario then demands that Ash never abandon Pikachu, and Ash; moved by Lucario's memory, agrees. Then, the group is attacked by three of Hoenn's Legendary Pokémon: Regirock, Registeel, and Regice!

Also, another pronunciation goof is that despite sounding more consistent with its companions (and later Regigigas), Regice is pronounced "Reggie-Ice" instead of the usual "Re-Jice". Setting aside any references to real-life Nintendo bigwig Reggie Fils-Aime, I think it's a good time for an intermission as everyone enters the Tree of Beginning for the denouement.

Kidd determines they are underneath the Tree of Beginning, and they will be able to find Pikachu in there!

Right, keep me covered! "What with?" Just keep me covered.

As everyone else heads upward, Kidd contacts Banks as she sends out a small set of drones to survey the area! I rather like Banks as a character. He has this charm to him as a sort of fusion of Alfred Pennyworth and Geoffrey from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Trust him as a journalist more than that pickup artist I mentioned before (I can see his new venture being a bigger flop than the Virtual Boy).

Anyway, Ash and Lucario get topside, and Pikachu hears Ash calling for him! He tries to climb up further, but he's blocked by Regice! Look at the bones!


They find an alternate route across a bridge, and Meowth spots them on their quest!

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen Swellow? "What do you mean? Hoenn or Sinnoh Swellow?" I don't know that. [launches off the bridge]

Everyone heads into another tunnel, but a strange shapeshifting ooze begins enveloping everyone and everything in sight!

It's the horrendous beast of- AARGH!

This whole final sequence inside the Tree of Beginning's underbelly is full of great animation; as it's revealed that the ooze is actually a type of antibodies meant to repel intruders! Ash tells everyone else to get outside while he rescues Pikachu!


Despite their attempts to escape, May, Max, and Brock are absorbed into the antibodies; and Ash finds Pikachu across a precarious ravine!

Even though Ash's hat blows off due to the strong winds (we'll come back to that in a moment), Ash is reunited with Pikachu; and there was much rejoicing. "Yay."

Thankfully, Mew returns Ash's hat as Lucario and Meowth meet up as well!

Ash and Kidd try to escape, but the antibodies are upon them and they're absorbed into the Tree of Beginning as well! Ash sadly tells Pikachu "I love you" as he's enveloped! As I said before, I am among many fans who appreciates this movie as the best of the Advanced Generation films; which also puts it in the running for the best of the whole franchise.

With his hat being the only thing left of their friend, Ash's Pokémon are heartbroken at their loss. Despite the claims otherwise, I have yet to see Yo-Kai Watch reach the heights of this series (we'll talk more in a bit); and even though Hino wants to get content here at the same time or before Japan, there is very little in the way of story or character that the series has that I personally want right now. The very sharp drop-off in Japanese sales over the past year doesn't help either.

Mew's attemps to console Pikachu are also ineffective, and as the mysterious ooze slithered forward; hope for our heroes seemed grim. When suddenly, with Mew's help, the animator suffered a fatal heart attack. The anime peril was no more. The quest for the Tree of Beginning could continue.

Mew then returns Ash's hat again, but soon he falls ill and the caves fill with black dust! It turns out that the Tree of Beginning is collapsing, and its own immune system is trying to eat itself! If it isn't stopped, everything will be destroyed!

Lucario finds Sir Aaron's gloves in the heart of the Tree of Beginning, and also determines that it was his final resting place! I wonder if there's any sign of Joseph of Aramethea!

Ash touches the Time Flower, and discovers the truth about what happened with Sir Aaron and Mew! He concludes the tree and Mew are linked, and something must be done to help them!

With no time to lose, Ash puts on Sir Aaron's gloves and begins using the aura within him and Lucario to help protect the Tree of Beginning!

Dormammu, I've come to bargain!

Lucario then uses the last of his strength to protect the Tree of Beginning at the cost of his own life!


While Mew is saved and Kidd has her story, Lucario uses his dying moments to finally reconcile with Sir Aaron; allowing the two of them to finally rest in peace! So, a very dramatic finale, and very fitting for this movie.

Ash then reunites with the rest of his friends, and there was much rejoicing. "Yay."

While Ash is sad that Lucario is gone, with his aura, he will always be with him.

On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.

So, as the credits roll to a delightfully cheesy '80s-styled power ballad entitled "We Will Meet Again," we close on Sir Aaron and Lucario sharing a bar of chocolate in the afterlife. Even some other folk online don't like it, I can definitely credit this ending with helping reignite my Pokémon fandom when I was 16.

One, two, five! "Three, sir!" Three!

One of the biggest motivators for continuing my work on this blog and my movie marathon in particular was an old piece that the AV Club dug up from this aforementioned pickup artist. He used the article to denigrate this series in favor of Digimon and Harry Potter (while getting details wrong about all three, no less); claiming that the Pokémon series is, always has been, and never will be anything more than a piece of fluff meant to entertain schoolchildren; dismissing it all as a bunch of "sound and fury" (oddly, it was written AFTER Generation 6 came out; which made his rationale even more illogical).


"Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew" is the counter-argument to that piece. While there are episodes of the AG anime that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, this movie is proof of what the series is capable of at its best. Even when writing for children, the animation and storytelling make the best use of the material given to them by the video games they're tying into; and it's easy to see why this movie is lauded by many as the best of the AG films. I'm glad that my favorite Pokémon was given such a stellar film to introduce him, and that the original voice cast was given such a great story to go out on. After I address a new development with the "I Choose You" movie as well as play more in the May tournament in Sun and Moon (logged over 470 hours combined and qualified for the Mega Stones as of this writing), next up will be the last film of the Advanced Generation: Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea! See you space cowboy!