Amazon.com Product Review
Pokémon, the little high-tech toys, and the Nintendo game involving them, emerged as a pop-culture phenomenon in 1998: the TV show aired six times a week, a theatrical feature was released in 1999, and Pokémon Web sites popped up all over the Internet. These episodes of the TV series center on Ash Ketchum, an adolescent boy who aspires to become a champion Pokémon trainer. He sets out for his first tournament, accompanied by his sometimes friend, a girl named Misty, and his special pet Pokémon, Pikachu. Along the way, he defeats another boy, Samurai, in a duel and makes a valuable new friend when he challenges Brock, the local champion, while learning lessons about friendship, perseverance, and honorable play. On Moon Mountain, he discovers a fallen meteor with magical powers over the excessively cute Clefaries. Jessie and James, the Team Rocket, attempt to steal the Moon Stone, but are defeated by Ash, Misty, and Brock in a slapstick battle. Adults may have trouble keeping track of the different Pokémon without the help of a child, but the "Full-Length Pokérap" at the end of the disc lists them, an obvious attempt to stimulate the urge to collect all 150 (plus one rare collector's Pokémon coveted by fans). <I>--Charles Solomon</I>
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