Pokemon: Spell of the Unknown (2001)

Title: Pokemon: Spell of the Unknown
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Release Date: April 6, 2001
Genre(s): Anime, Sci-Fi
Production Co.: 4 Kids Entertainment
Director: Kunihiko Yuyama
Starring: Veronica Taylor, Eric Stuart, AMy Birnbaum


Who would I recommend this to?
Pokemon fans or even those new to Pokemon.

What is this about?
Ash and friends must save his mother from the Unknown!

When would be a good time to watch this?
Now.

Where does it take place?
Greenfield.

Why did I decide to watch this?
Because I'm bingeing Pokemon for the first time.

How did I like this?
This is my favorite of the movies thus far! That was insane! And a certain returning Pokemon made me cry. I loved this wild dream world, and it was much more emotionally driven than the previous movie.

Have you seen Spell of the Unknown? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

 

Elemental (2023)

Title: Elemental
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 41 minutes
Release Date: June 16, 2023
Genre(s): Animation, Fantasy, Romance
Production Co.: Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Peter Sohn
Starring: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou, Ronnie Del Carmen


Who would I recommend this to?
Fans of Inside Out.

What is this about?
Fire and Water come together.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Whenever you need something to do.

Where does it take place?
Element City.

Why did I decide to watch this?
It's Disney.

How did I like this?
They tried to tell a story about the struggle of immigrants and discrimination, much like they did with Zootopia, but it didn't totally work. This was more like another Inside Out, but if Anger and Sadness started dating. I didn't get it at all. 

It was still pretty cute though.

Have you seen Elemental? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

The Little Mermaid (2023)

Title: The Little Mermaid
Rating: PG
Run Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Musical
Production Co.: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy


Who would I recommend this to?
You.

What is this about?
A young mermaid longs to be part of the human world.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Now.

Where does it take place?
Under the sea. And the palace.

Why did I decide to watch this?
Because it's Disney, duh.

How did I like this?
I am crying. I cried. Crying. It's so cute.

The first few minutes did give me motion sickness though. That underwater CGI is rough.

Have you seen The Little Mermaid? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Pokémon the Movie 2000 (2000)

Title: Pokémon the Movie 2000
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 39 minutes
Release Date: July 21, 2000
Genre(s): Anime, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Production Co.: GAME FREAK
Director: Kunihiko Yuyama
Starring: Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart


Who would I recommend this to?
Pokemon fans.

What is this about?
Ecological collapse thanks to someone capturing the legendary Pokémon.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Whenever.

Where does it take place?
The Oranges Islands.

Why did I decide to watch this?
I'm binging Pokemon for the first time.

How did I like this?
 This one didn't hold my attention as well as the first movie. The story was fun and exciting, but didn't have that intensity. Also, the animation style was really distracting. It mostly looked like the anime, but with hyper-realistic objects thrown in, which looked off. But it was the '90s...

Have you seen Pokémon the Movie 2000? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Pokémon Adventures in the Orange Islands (1999-2000)

Title: Pokémon Adventures in the Orange Islands
Rating: TV-Y7
Run Time: 20 minutes
Release Date: December, 1999
Genre(s): Anime, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Series
Production Co.: GAME FREAK
Creator(s): Junichi Msauda, Ken Sugimori, Satoshi Tajiri
Starring: Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart


Who would I recommend this to?
Everyone who watched the first season.

What is this about?
Legal, nonlethal animal fighting...and the friends we made along the way.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Whenever you need something to perk you up.

Where does it take place?
The Orange Islands.

Why did I decide to watch this?
Because I was already extremely late to the party, was actually enjoying myself, and decided to stay.

How did I like this?
It's so fun! I flew right through all of the episodes! While none of them made me cry like during Indigo League, there were still several emotional moments. I liked how this arc focused on teamwork. Ash doesn't just need to catch Pokémon and battle with them, they all need to learn to work together on and off the battlefield.

I also liked Tracy so much more than Brock!

Have you seen Adventures in the Orange Islands? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

 

Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)

Title: Red, White & Royal Blue
Rating: R
Run Time: 1 hour 58 minutes
Release Date: August 11, 2023
Genre(s): Romance, LGBTQ+
Production Co.: Amazon Studios
Director: Matthew Lopez
Starring: Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine, Uma Thurman


Who would I recommend this to?
Fans of gay romance.

What is this about?
The president's son and the prince of England fall in love!

When would be a good time to watch this?
Now.

Where does it take place?
Washington DC and London, England.

Why did I decide to watch this?
Because the book has been on my radar forever and it sounded cute.

How did I like this?
It was adorable! I really knew nothing going into it, so I was pleasantly surprised. It was funny and steamy and heartfelt.

The only annoyance was Madam President's accent.

Have you seen Red, White & Royal Blue? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Cruel Summer - Season 2 (2023)

Title: Cruel Summer
Rating: TV-14
Run Time: 40 minutes
Release Date: June 5, 2023
Genre(s): Drama, Suspense, Series
Production Co.: Freeform
Director: Bill Purple
Starring: Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, Griffin Gluck


Who would I recommend this to?
Everyone who likes DRAMA and INTRIGUE and CHAOS!

What is this about?
A small town is shaken up when a local teen winds up dead.

When would be a good time to watch this?
NOW.

Where does it take place?
The pacific northwest. "Chatham."

Why did I decide to watch this?
Because Season 1 was excellent.

How did I like this?
I am deceased! I was worried this one wouldn't hook me like the first, but I was IN IT! I only partially figured out whodunit, and a couple of other reveals, so I was SHOOK! I knew a huge twist was coming, but that didn't keep my jaw from dropping.

I love millennium music.

Have you seen Cruel Summer? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?