review provided by TJ
Pokemon: the Movie – Genesect and the Legend Awakened
Story and Art: Momota Inoue
Original Concept: Satoshi Tajiri
U.S. Distributor: Viz Media
Release Date: Dec 3, 2013
Format and Length: manga; 190 pgs
Genre: fantasy
Industry Age Rating: A for All Ages
Overall Personal Rating: C
Similar Series: other titles in the Pokemon universe
Synopsis:
The ancient and extinct Pokemon Genesect has been revived and is now on a mission to return to the home they once knew. However, to do that, they decide that everything else is their enemy and attack other pokemon in order to get what they want. Mewtwo, who has taken it upon himself to be the protector of all Pokemon, stands in their path.
In New Tork City, Ash, Cilan and Iris have just arrived at the Pokemon park known as Pokemon Hills. Pokemon Hills is a haven where many Pokemon gather and it has several different areas, each replicating the natural habitat of various Pokemon. While exploring, Ash comes across a lone Genesect that seems to have been separated from the rest of the Genesect. After discovering that it can talk, Ash learns that it just wants to go home. But the rest of the Genesect appear and attack Ash and his friends. At the last second, Mewtwo appears to save them. After explaining the situation to Ash and company, Mewtwo goes to confront the Genesect at Pokemon Hills, where the Genesect have decided to build a new nest. A large fight ensues between the group of Genesect and the Pokemon of Pokemon Hills. As the battle climaxes, Mewtwo takes Genesect high above the earth and explains that much has changed, and that while their old home may no longer be there, there is no reason that they cannot easily find a new home without having to harm anything else. Genesect agrees and, once back on the ground, follows Ash to a place that is perfect for the Genesect to start anew.
Commentary:
Genesect and the Legend Awakened was almost good. But there were just too many problems in it to call it good. There were many plotholes and glaring inconsistencies in the story that it just took away from what otherwise would have been a pleasant, lighthearted read.
The Genesect Pokemon were supposed to have been ancient extinct Pokemon that were revived from fossils. But why were they revived? Who revived them? There is no explanation given at all for where they suddenly came from. And Mewtwo even admits that he was also a Pokemon created by humans and, if the events from Pokemon the First Movie are already known, then it is known how and why Mewtwo came to be; but there is no mention of anything like that, even in Mewtwo’s flashbacks. In fact, Ash and Mewtwo both act as if they have never even seen each other before, much less had a huge conflict that involved Ash temporarily dying. Another thing that was never made clear is just what exactly Pokemon Hills is. The name makes it sound like a Pokemon retirement home. But it looks like it could be a Pokemon adoption center. Or maybe a Pokemon theme park. Or even a Pokemon hotel. Or and place that wild Pokemon come to just chill. It is unclear just what purpose this establishment serves.
There is one last real problem that I have with Genesect and the Legend Awakened. Team Rocket is in it. Normally, I like Team Rocket, they provide comic relief and are, sometimes, an interesting antagonist. But they appear only on one page, just five panels. Then they are never seen again in the entire story. There is no reason for them to have appeared at all as they never played any role at all in the story. They’re five panels do not even have any real comic relief elements. They should have just been left out of the story altogether.
However, while all I have done is point out how Genesect and the Legend Awakened fell short of where it could have been, it was not all bad. While reading, I did feel that enjoyment that I felt as a kid watching the Pokemon cartoon on TV. It was a welcome respite from real life. Momota Inoue has a cute art style that fits Pokemon perfectly and the story, while not written well, was very nicely illustrated and brought to life in this manga adaptation of the movie
Overall Grade: C
There is just much obviously inconsistent in Genesect and the Legend Awakened for me to have enjoyed it as much as I would have liked. It was a nice escape, back into what I enjoyed as a kid, but that was about it.
