Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys

Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys, originally released in Japan as Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation the Movie: Deoxys the Visitor (劇場版ポケットモンスター アドバンスジェネレーション 裂空の訪問者 デオキシス, Gekijōban Poketto Monsutā Adobansu Jenerēshon Rekkū no Hōmonsha Deokishisu^?, lit. "Visitor from a Fissure in the Sky: Deoxys") is the seventh film in the Pokémon series, complementing the seventh season (Pokémon: Advanced Challenge). It is the second film released under Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation in Japan. The original Japanese version was released in theaters on July 17, 2004. It was edited for the American release as the Japanese version contained a few scenes that were considered too intense for American children.

The English adaptation, distributed by Miramax Films, debuted on Kids' WB on January 22, 2005, albeit edited for running time. However, the network received their best ratings since 2003 and during the first month of 2005, had beaten anything from the previous year. The film was later released on DVD on February 15, 2005. It added an additional 15 minutes that were cut from the broadcast version.

Destiny Deoxys is the first film to not be preceded by an animated short, instead dedicating the extra time to the movie proper. The featured Pokémon that normally are in the short instead appear as asides in the main film. This was also the first Pokémon Movie to feature Munchlax. Although Cartoon Network currently airs the film, it aired on Toon Disney on April 16, 2007 (because Miramax, owned by Disney, released this animated film), being the second Pokémon film to air on Toon Disney (the first being Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker). It is also the last film in the Pokémon franchise to have been released by Miramax in the United States and Alliance Films in Canada; the next three films were released by Viz Media in both countries and Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior was released by Universal Studios in both countries.

The ending theme for the Japanese Version is "Lovely: Yume Miru Lovely Boy" (L•O•V•E•L•Y～夢見るLOVELY BOY～^?, "Lovely: Dream-Seeing Lovely Boy") by Tomoko Kawase under her alias Tommy February6 while the English version is titled "This Side of Paradise" by Bree Sharp. Director Kunihiko Yuyama visited the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to get ideas of the setting for the film.^[1]

Optimum Home Entertainment are releasing this film on DVD in the UK. It was originally due to be released on the 9th May 2011, however this was postponed, with no further release date given. Once it is released, it will be at least 7 years after the original Japanese release and 6 years after the US DVD release; this is the longest amount of time for a Pokemon film to be released in the UK after the US release. ^[2]

Plot

A mysterious meteorite is hurtling towards the earth. During its entry into the atmosphere, it almost wounds Rayquaza, a sky guardian living in the ozone layer. The meteorite crashes into a polar zone, revealing two egg-shaped objects. The purple egg regenerates into a Deoxys and picks up the green egg. Rayquaza descends from the ozone layer to fight the invader. A battle ensues, destroying a nearby research site and traumatizing a young boy, scared by a stampede of Spheal, Sealeo, and Walrein. The purple Deoxys traps Rayquaza and is about to beat it, but it is distracted by electricity from broken computers, giving Rayquaza a chance to obliterate the purple Deoxys with its Hyper Beam. Deoxys goes back to egg form and falls into the sea, while some researchers take the green egg with them. Beneath the sea, the injured Deoxys regenerates and waits. The green egg appears somewhere in Hoenn.

Four years later, Ash, May, Brock, and Max travel to LaRousse City's Battle Tower. There they meet Tori (Tou'i), a boy who is afraid of Pokémon because of psychological trauma that had ensued from the stampede caused by the battle between Deoxys and Rayquaza. Tori is found to be a loner. Deoxys, which has fully healed, leaves to find the other green egg which Tori's parents are testing in a lab.

In the Battle Tower, Ash mistakes Tori for a Pokémon trainer and they battle against Rafe and Sid, with Tori using Ash's Torkoal. However, Tory does not know how to handle Ash's Torkoal and they lose. Tori runs away, stopping to save a Minun which was trapped in a trash can. Later, Ash meets Tori's parents and they have fun until they see a mysterious purple aurora, signaling the return of Deoxys.

When Deoxys begins to remove the city's inhabitants to search for the green egg, it is up to Ash, Pikachu, and Tori to help it find the egg. This is complicated by the return of Rayquaza, and the security robots malfunctioning. Deoxys and Rayquaza then continue to battle, causing havoc in the city. The green egg is regenerated when Pikachu and Minun and Plusle charge the power generator in the lab. As the fight continues, Deoxys tackles Rayquaza into the floor. He is about to release a final blow, but the green Deoxys arrives in perfect timing and quickly transforms into defense form saving Rayquaza from the attack. The city is filled with blocks of robots almost destroying Rayquaza, but with the help of the green and purple Deoxys, Rayquaza was saved.

Cast

Others credited

• Dana Southern
• Caroline Lawson
• Amy Palant
• Jeff Kramer

Box office hit

This film did not make it into the Top 10 box office hit in Japan due to the success of American blockbuster movies that year. However, it was ranked as the No. 1 anime film that year with $34m in box office sales to beat Doraemon 2004 ($23m), Conan ($22), Crayon Shin Chan 2004 ($11), Naruto ($11m), Innocence ($8m), Steamboy ($8m) and Inu Yasha - Crimson Horai Island ($7m). Its overall ranking is seventh place.

References

External links

• Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys at the Internet Movie Database
• Official pokemon.com site