Recap: Pokémon-Arceus and the Jewel of Life

Hello everyone, and welcome to my look at Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life! This film closes out the “trilogy” that the first three DP films had, and while it may not be my favorite entry in the series or even the DP films, there’s still plenty to talk about; so let’s open it up!

As usual, we get the “world of Pokémon” segment, and this time it contains a match between Cynthia and Palmer of the Elite Four! It also turns out this movie debuted in Australia before it came stateside; and that’s what I'm using to write this recap from their version of Cartoon Network. 

Our proper opening shows that the events of the previous movies did directly impact the events of this one, as well as the fact that Arceus was deceived by a human! Yeah, it’s complicated; as I’m about to tell you.

Outraged at what happened, Arceus exclaims that humanity will face justice; and together we can BE justice! 

At four minutes in, we get our title card; and we’re definitely in for a show for the next 94 minutes!

As the credits roll, we see Ash, Dawn and Brock on their way to Michina Town as their journey across the Sinnoh region continues!

Everyone minus Monferno and Sudowoodo decide to take a swim, but then, they encounter some watermelons floating by! Not Watmel Berries, but actual watermelons. That’s a little confusing, to be honest.

Then, the people who grew the melons challenge Ash and Dawn to a tag battle for them! They accept, and this leads into a fairly entertaining battle with their Beautifly and Heracross! The battle also has an extended version of the DP Galactic Battle theme playing! It’s actually a pretty good song, and here’s a link to it for you to listen to.

Right as Hideki Sonoda’s credit comes up, Team Rocket comes up on a small airship; but they lose steam as Jessie’s legs cramp up. Didn’t they already use this joke in the Celebi movie?

So, Ash and Dawn win the battle and the farmers share their melons with Brock and all their Pokémon! 

The farmers, whose names are Kato and Kiko by the way, show everyone to the ruins of Michina, and everyone is excited to see them! While the movie so far doesn’t seem too different than the other one’s I’ve covered, it’s arguably the most insane of the DP films once it gets going. 

The moment everyone reaches the ruins, however; a couple of people start running towards a maelstrom as the female of the duo senses “A thunder creature and creature master!” (Laughs) That sounds like either someone who had never been exposed to the series before trying to describe it, or one of those hilariously-bad translations of the games, such as the pirated Vietnamese Crystal. I wonder if they have any volcano bakemeat on them.

The lady summons Dialga, and even though she doesn’t know that they’re “Pokémon” rather than “magical creatures,” she apparently knows who Dialga is. That’s interesting; and I’m reminded of Bad Lip Reading for some of this dialog.

So, Dialog saves Pikachu and Piplup from being sucked into this vortex in what’s actually a pretty impressive battle for a movie like this. Even if the story of this movie may be totally insane, the production values are quite impressive as Dialga engages Giratina in battle! 

Then, the woman is able to transcend space and time to deal with Giratina! We’re roughly 14 minutes in, and we’re already getting crazy. 

Then, Sheena comments that long ago; “there was a thunder creature that changed the course of this town’s history.” Disregarding her vernacular, feel free to insert a Star Wars or “everything changed when the fire nation attacked” joke here.

Sheena then asks everyone to come with her. Ash agrees, and when Brock tries to hit on her; he gets Croagunk’s hand instead! Croagunk was just a great addition to the DP series, and I absolutely love this bit.

After a quick Poison Jab to the breadbasket, everything starts getting whipped into a massive waterspout as Palkia joins the fray; still sounding like Boga from Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith!

Sheena is then able to transcend time and connect with Dialga and Palkia! We’re just at the 20-minute mark; and even though this may not be my favorite Diamond and Pearl movie, it’s definitely the strangest of them all.

After heading to the ruins, Sheena and Kevin show everyone a device known as the Space/Time Axis! 

It also turns out that Sheena and Kevin were also involved with the events of the previous two films, despite not officially showing up till this one! Still more connected than the Digimon movie at least.

We then get some exposition regarding Arceus, as well as how his power can be enhanced with artifacts from the stars! Apart from that, curious how they’re able to project the image on a waterfall, given how they had to fiddle with the screen for almost 15 minutes when I saw the new Pirates of the Caribbean a bit ago. It would make a good template for this live-action version of One Piece they’re working on, and I will tell you more in another post.

It also turns out the Plates of the then-16 attack types are not merely items that give Arceus more power like in the games, they’re actually items that have otherworldly powers and are vital to his life force! I rather like that idea, giving a mystical quality to the Plates helps provide some world-building for the series. The exposition continues to tell how the titular Jewel of Life was formed, then stolen from Arceus! As for the pronunciation of “Ark-e-yuss” rather than “Are-SEE-us”: I believe that this Pokémon name has a bit more leeway than some of the other ones, being a deity at all. Whatever we call him depends upon our tribe, and it reminds me of that whole Saruman/Aruman conundrum in the 1978 Lord of the Rings movie.

Team Rocket, of course, is after the Jewel of Life as well as Arceus! James even describes it as the “Joy of Double Prizes!” Interesting that he’d have the same reaction as Sid from Toy Story about the matter.

Sheena also mentions her ancestor, Damos, and that Arceus will be placated once the Jewel of Life is returned! At that moment, he comes in! Well, that’s convenient. It also turns out that Arceus’ was betrayed during a solar eclipse! At the risk of dating this recap, I shall say that I’m looking forward to the solar eclipse, and I am skeptical about it being the end of everything. The idea they’re apocalyptic was disproven as superstition years, if not centuries ago; and I don’t plan on dying before I go see Star Wars: The Last Jedi and get Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Sheena tries to return the Jewel, but it’s revealed to be a fake when Arceus smashes it! I don’t like being promised something and not being able to get it either, Arceus. Don’t sell him a Yugo and tell him it’s a vintage Mustang, fellas! 

As everyone tries to determine their next move, Arceus declares that humanity has deceived him for the last time! How many times have I heard Thanos say that?

Arceus is also outraged at Dialga and Palkia siding with the humans! There’s an hour left in this movie, and it’s still not at peak craziness just yet. Trust me when I say it’s coming, though.

Then, Dialga sends everyone back in time, minus Kevin! Guess this makes up for Brock getting screwed out of the action of most of the last movie, and here is where things get totally crazy.

Given how trippy this time travel effect is, since I already linked one Doctor Who joke in this recap, I might as well use another time travel reference. 

Conveniently, they’ve been sent back to the time of the eclipse many years ago, to set right what once went wrong! This is going to be totally bananas, folks.

So, Arceus has come to reclaim the jewel of life; and Damos is about to swap it with the fake one! As for this plot point: it gets sillier from here, based on what we find out later.

With the real Jewel of Life in hand, Damos is watched by an individual called Marcus! I know this movie has been dunking on Damos a lot, but something tells me Marcus has an ulterior motive if you’ll pardon this next joke.

Hail Hydra.

As the ruins collapse around everyone, Sheena has Dialga send them further back in time before Arceus was betrayed; and they’re immediately confronted by a bunch of soldiers and a Heatran! 

Marcus then has his Bronzong use Hypnosis on the kids and their Pokémon, and takes Sheena into his home! Who’d have thought about that?

Sheena tries to tell Marcus about what will happen, and Marcus agrees. Also: Oh Hi, Spiky-Eared Pichu! I didn’t even know about this event until I after I saw this movie as a teenager; but it’s OK. Not my favorite “cute” event, and definitely not as good as the Hat Pikachu or the Pokémon Go Anniversary Pikachu.

So, as Pikachu, Piplup and the kids are imprisoned in separate cells, Damos exposits that the true traitor in all this is Marcus! As it were, it’s the old adage of a pupil of his turned to evil. It works as a formula. A friend of mine wondered what it would be like to make a fictional work without any of the usual tropes or clichés. While that is difficult, it’s not impossible. Personally, I prefer using ones I enjoy, and avoiding ones I do not.

After an older guard confirms Damos’ story, Ash decides to come clean about the future even at the risk of potential apocalyptic paradoxes. He reveals that the “magical creatures” around them will one day be called “Pokémon,” and the Poké Balls will contain them for easy storage in one’s pocket, bag or belt! In addition to any other things he may tell him, if you ask about how much meddling with history is going on: How do we know they weren’t supposed to do this?

...That, Damos, is how your drafty tunic will one day be replaced by the security of my garment I call "jeans!"
"Your modern sorcery amazes me! Tell me more about this B-button and how it relates to these strange boots you call "running shoes!""

As Sheena continues speaking with Marcus, I have to wonder why he still thinks he can pull off this facade of implicating Damos; and why she’s still playing along. I am trying not to judge by appearances, even given recent events; but when someone has an ornate red cloak, spiky red hair, and clasps his hands the same way Gendo Ikari does, I personally get suspicious. I don’t want any Kool-aid, Marcus.

At the halfway point of this movie, this next stretch basically involves Pikachu, Piplup and the Spiky-Eared Pichu trying to get the key for their cell while Ash, Dawn, Brock and Damos try to determine their next move. While I agree this plot thread could have been much simpler, I also wonder the same thing about Mewtwo Returns: if Marcus was going to go to the trouble of incarcerating them, why wouldn’t he search them for anything? The “magical creatures” as he calls them are literally the only thing they had on them besides their outfits! Still, their mishap in the kitchen does lead to some Heart Gold/Soul Silver cross-promotion! Oh Hi, Chikorita and Cyndaquil! 

After freeing Chikorita and Cyndaquil, as well as taking out the one inept guard in the kitchen; Damos tells everyone that he has a life debt with Arceus after a chance meeting in a meteor shower!

One hour in, and if it wasn’t clear that Marcus has an ulterior motive before; it’s solidified by switching the Jewel of Life with the fake, smirking while he does it! So, this man is willing to not only ruin the future of not only Sheena’s family, but his kingdom and turn a deity from benevolent to vengeful on a whim? While he may not be as bad as other villains in the series (especially his counterpart in the tie-in manga), he’s still a reason I’m considering him for a potential next Top 13 Pokémon Villains in the near future.

Back with Pikachu, Piplup, and the Spiky-Eared Pichu; they get the key before another Johto remake tie-in leads them out! Oh Hi, Totodile! Really loved Heart Gold, still want to play Soul Silver and I’m really excited for Gold and Silver on eShop. You’ll see what I have planned for the occasion when it launches alongside Pokkén Tournament DX. Don’t worry, I’m making sure it doesn’t interfere with this marathon or anything else I have planned.

Anyway, after about 15 minutes or so of skulduggery, the Spiky-Eared Pichu returns with the key, and with half an hour left to go, the battle for time is about to begin! 

As the eclipse begins, Damos then just leaves as soon as the cell is unlocked! That’s interesting: they didn’t get a chance to tell them about how many machines we have that were meant to increase productivity, but also gave lots of people an outlet to deconstruct anime and media series meant for children! Man, I love making jokes about my hobbies sometimes.

Not content with merely using a fake this time, it turns out that Marcus has outright stolen the Jewel of Life to turn Arceus against humanity! It’s official: Marcus has gone off the deep end. He even starts pouring something called “silver water” everywhere! As I’m about to tell you, that stuff doesn’t look good.

With the Jewel of Life in hand, Marcus declares he will “change history” himself as he goes completely crazy. Not Ego the Living Planet crazy, but close. 

Zaadu Hassaufrau! Zaadu Hassaufrau!

Damos then rescues Sheena, and Ash runs off to confront Marcus and retrieve the Jewel of Life! He has Pikachu face Marcus’ Heatran and Bronzong in battle as the others try to hold back the silver water! 

Marcus even goes so far to say that he will let Arceus perish so it won’t be reborn in the future! So, he’s not only willing to deceive a deity, but also kill it? Well, that tears it: He’s officially made my list of my Next Top 13 Pokémon Villains.

Then, Dawn not only comes into assist Ash in battle, but so do Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile and a boatload of Rattata! I know it’s clearly Johto remake cross-promotion, but screw it: I am going to enjoy this battle, and I will tell you more in my look at the next movie in how it’s taken further.

So, Sheena is able to use her ability to not only stop Marcus’ possessed army, but finally get through to Arceus as well! Bronzong and Heatran are also freed from his control! Ash is also able to wrest the Jewel of Life out of his grasp, but then it starts rolling around the temple like it were a stage in Marble Madness! 

After Chikorita fails to stop it, Ash catches the Jewel with his feet and begins swinging around the mines! 

As Pikachu leaps to Ash’s side, I can definitely say that while this final battle may not be the best in the series or even this “trilogy,” it’s definitely the craziest. As Arceus is caught in the silver water, Ash brings the Jewel of Life to Arceus!

As Arceus lies inert, everything starts fading and ceasing to exist! In addition to being my rebuttal to the idea the events of past series are “erased” with the I Choose You movie (we’ll talk when the time comes), I am once again surprised they’re actually saying that Arceus is dying here.

With what they believe are their last moments, Ash gives Arceus the Jewel of Life and Damos is able to make peace with it at last! They’re all revived, and there was much rejoicing. “Yay.”

Arceus then uses the plates to restore life to the land through sheer will!

All the Pokémon are freed from their bonds, and Arceus goes to rest and restore its power!

Arceus will return in Thor Ragnarok.

Everyone is returned to the present, and before Arceus’ attacks make impact, the changes they’ve made make it so the treachery never took place!  As Sheena and Kevin form a relationship (much to Brock’s dismay), Arceus thanks everyone for their help and flies off into the sunset! Good an ending as any.

The unknown future rolls toward us, I face it for the first time with a sense of hope. If a deity, a Pokémon can learn the value of human life, maybe we all can too. All joking aside, it’s taken me much longer than I hoped to do this recap, but I’m glad I finally did.

“Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life” may not be my favorite entry in the series or even the DP films, but it’s an overall enjoyable film for me and a creative use of the Pokémon on the marquee. The animation is slick and colorful, and it manages to tell a creative if often bizarre story. It does a decent job of promoting the then-upcoming Johto remakes, and Marcus is among the most dastardly villains of the series even if other ones are above him for me. Last but not least: I have to go take care of an errand out of town for a couple days after I post this, but once I come back, my look at the Diamond and Pearl films will conclude with my favorite of the DP films: “Pokémon: Zoroark-Master of Illusions!” See you, space cowboy!