Owen Ogletree This was an excellent animated adventure. It is considered by many to be the best Pokémon movie of them all. I totally agree, although I consider "Pokémon Heroes" to be a close second. Both films have similar elements that make them great.This film has one of the more engrossing story lines in the series. Ash and the gang meet Lucario and travel to the Tree of Beginnings to find answers regarding his master Sir Aaron betraying Lucario and to find Pikachu, who had been captured by Mew.Lucario is a nicely developed character, and his relationship with Ash was very well played out. It was also nice that the Ash/Pikachu dynamic was toyed with. It was a good way to raise the steaks.Like "Heroes," there are times when this film feels reminiscent of a Miyazaki picture. The Tree of Beginnings was a very imaginative setting, and the backstory behind it is intriguing.The action and chaos taking place at the Tree of Beginnings is some of the most exciting the Pokémon series has ever done. The climax where Lucario saves the tree and sacrifices himself is not only thrilling, but also filled with pure emotion. He is then reunited with Sir Aaron, who was the hero after all.Another thing, Kidd was a pretty cool character, and "We will meet again" is another great song.A great film that deserves its praise from the Pokémon fans. This and "Heroes" are my two favorites of the series because they combine great story lines and emotion along with the fun and adventure you expect from Pokémon. This is an absolute must-see for all Pokémon fans.RATING: A

hayashimegumi Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) sets in a charming medieval themed location named Rota. It has a special adventure and a balanced mixture of fantasy, history, nature and science. They are exactly what makes the animated feature unique but they could be interpreted in different ways.I personally feel Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) has one of the best Pokémon backstory and concept but it's a little confusing in terms of plot. Let me explain why, as brief as possible.With spoiler minimised; at first it is Lucario's story but then it shift the focus to the villain-who-is-actually-not-a-villain, who is hunting down Mew. After that, the focus is on searching missing Pokémon. Nature comes in naturally as the plot progresses but all of the sudden, at one point it feels like as if the whole plot turned into a sci-fi horror. It's not really scary, it's pretty interesting in fact due to the science elements but well, too much focus change!There are a lot of flashbacks throughout the animated feature and there are several different types of relationship story going on too. It's not a big deal I guess since there are plenty of unique characters and a lot of other fantasy going on. With all that Pokémon and the newly introduced spiritual energy Aura which is the essence of every living creature as they have said it; to me, all these sure seems to be a great effort but it feels confusing even though I get the story in the end.In the end, I feel that the results of the efforts are less effective and there are plenty of other minor issues as well but I do not want to be too analytical since this is not a movie analysis! No fun isn't it if the review is all criticism?Now, what is great about Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) are the Pokémon stories themselves. They are super cool and cute. For instance, Mew, who was once an extremely rare Pokémon, which supposedly almost no one have ever seen it before in present Pokémon time, shows more of her true playful behavior and her many transformations. There is cosplay involved in this one as well, Pikachu is even dressed up for a while! Pikachu also seems to be much more animated or much more himself compared the previous Pokémon films and just like the TV anime series, as his sweet personality does stand out here. Last but not least, Lucario's story is unusually interesting and the sight of the Legendary Titans Regirock, Regice, and Registeel are also amazing! I can't be spoiling it for you, you have to watch it yourself!If you are easily moved, there are several touching scenes that would make you tear a little. I guess ultimately this is Pokémon's shot at something different than all of its previous films; a special adventure with a balanced mixture of fantasy, history, nature and science!

Amos Sauder I was a little hesitant to watch this movie, after seeing the other Advanced Generation movies (Jirachi, Deoxys). But I'm glad I did. The opening was one of the best introductions I've ever seen to any movie, and the title was just as impressive. I was a little curious as to why the main theme (I'm Unbeatable) was postponed until twenty minutes into the movie, but it went well with that particular scene. And the plot was fascinating, albeit with holes in places. At places, the movie even made me cry--something that hasn't been done since Pokemon Heroes.Overall, an enjoyable film. Highly recommended, even to non-Pokemon fans.

nolanmrky666 Personally, I found this movie to be quite entertaining. Let me first start with animation. Simply put, the movie is beautiful. Computer generated images and sceneries blend seamlessly with the two-dimensional artwork, and create a fantastic effect and feeling. The music is amazing. Shinji Miyazaki truly went all out with his score for this movie. To see what I mean, check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmhN4UlfkhU&feature=relatedThe score is far superior to what one would ever expect to find in an animated movie, and lends a great part to my above rating. Now, this movie was the last act of the English voice actors of the series, and they really put something special into this film that has been previously unseen from them. They certainly went out in style.The story is also solid and enjoyable. There is clear character development, and the dialogue and pacing is just right. However, one point I must whine about is Lucario's voice actor. He is meant to sound much more mysterious, but since the actor did a good job, I can't really complain that much. Sure, the movie is somewhat childish, but it's Pokémon, and I, for one, enjoyed it, even though I am above Pokemon's target age. This film is superior to all other Pokemon movies, in my opinion, and I highly suggest you see it. It is truly epic.