Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
After accepting an invitation from a mysterious trainer, Ash, Misty and Brock meet Mewtwo, an artificially created Pokémon who wants to do battle.
A near shot-for-shot CGI remake of the beloved 1998 original, Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution offers almost nothing new in terms of story or conception, making it one of the most derivative entries in the franchise. The CGI art style is divisive and generally considered a downgrade from the hand-drawn original, lacking the warmth and expressiveness of classic Pokémon animation. The plot is a faithful retread with no meaningful additions or reinterpretations. Acting/voice performances are competent but unremarkable. The ending retains the emotional resonance of the original (Ash's sacrifice and revival), which still lands effectively, but this is borrowed capital from the 1998 film rather than a new achievement. Novelty scores rock-bottom as this is a textbook example of a formulaic, uninspired remake.