Pokemon: The First Movie Review

Educational value: More arcane knowledge about Pokemons and their powers.

Messages: Several humanizing messages are interspersed with cartoon battles and the overarching threat of the planet's destruction: Fighting to the death is a fight no one can win; the real strength of the Pokemon (and others) comes from the heart; it's not your origins that count, but what you do with your life that determines who you are; and would-be enemies should focus on what they have in common rather than on their differences.

Role models: Ash, the human Pokemon trainer who is the leader of the community, proves to be wise, courageous, compassionate, and loyal. He risks his life to stop a war that could destroy the world. Female characters fight alongside their male counterparts. An effort is made to provide background and motivation for the principal villain, who  is ultimately shown the error of his ways.

Violence and scariness: Continuous cartoon violence. A laboratory is destroyed by explosion and fire as the screams of those trapped inside are heard. In addition to vicious one-on-one struggles, fire, explosives, laser beams, and electrocution are used as weapons in various battles. The villain uses his psychic power to thrown characters from great heights, smash them into walls, knock them down, and capture them. Great windstorms and rainstorms with raging waters threaten the Pokemon team. For several minutes the central human hero is thought to be dead.

Sexy stuff: Not an issue

Language: Not an issue

Consumerism:  Pokemon: The First Movie is tied to a vast franchise of products -- games, toys, apps, trading cards, action figures, etc. 

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue