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» The best video game movie ever made « - Detective Pikachu is getting early rave reviews

Raph64

Member
Ever since the first trailer for the live-action/animated hybrid feature film adaptation of the videogame « Detective Pikachu « released back in November, the skepticism of many Pokemon fans and simple gamers concerned about the interest of such a movie based on an obscure spin-off of the same name released on the 3DS last year prior to the release of the first trailer has suddenly vanished once the first trailer went online and since then, excitement has replaced skepticism, and the hype around the movie never fell short as month after month it would then go on to become one of the most anticipated movies of the year - maybe even besides Avengers: Endgame ! It is true that seeing real-life Pokemon interact with real humans in the real world, where Pokemons and humans coexist together, is an idea that makes all its sense once on big screen, rather than in a fictitious videogame.

And at almost two weeks ahead of its release, it seems like Detective Pikachu is on to a good start of breaking the video game curse. Following the premiere of the movie yesterday in Tokyo, early reviews of the movie has started popping online on social media, and the less we could say is that it is a good movie, and someone even said that Detective Pikachu was hands down nothing less but the best movie adaptation of a videogame ever made.

Here’s a roundup of some of the early reviews of Detective Pikachu, and no surprise here, there overall seems to be a lot of praise for the movie, but what do they really have to say about it ?

I just got out of #DetectivePikachu and my first thought is OMG HOW DID THEY MAKE PIKACHU SO CUTE!!! It completely nails the world of Pokémon, and just seeing their amazing live action creature designs is worth the price of admission. If you love Pokémon, you’ll love this movie. pic.twitter.com/Z7oS42JlDd
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) April 24, 2019

I would just like to remind y'all that Detective Pikachu exists and he is absolutely adorable. #DetectivePikachu pic.twitter.com/rBoM9CQO8c
— Alia | Endgame In 4 Days (@AliaLink101) April 18, 2019

It‘s a hit for #DetectivePikachu. Pokemon fans new & old will rejoice in this heartfelt and authentic take on the franchise. @Legendary and @wbpictures have nailed this live-action adaptation. I laughed hard and felt my heart swell. This Pokemon film is just the start! pic.twitter.com/I0R9fSHpfU
— Megan Peters (@meganpeterscb) April 24, 2019

#DetectivePikachu is a pure joy from start to finish. It’s a heartfelt, relentlessly charming story filled with excellent worldbuilding. Plenty of deep cuts for #Pokémon fans. There must’ve been a grass-type in the theater because I got surprisingly misty-eyed in parts. pic.twitter.com/LMKp6TG1a1
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) April 24, 2019

I just saw @DetPikachuMovie for the SECOND time and WOW guys. Get hype for this film’s release on May 10 because it is SUCH wild ride. SO fun and so good!! Mind blowing at moments even!! 🤯
THANK YOU WB for inviting me to see it!! #PikaPika⚡#DetectivePikachu #WBpartner pic.twitter.com/nzQCTKkbq0
— Anna Brisbin ❄ (@BrizzyVoices) April 24, 2019

Just saw #DetectivePikachu here in Tokyo and, man, I wish Ryme City was a real place because I really want a Pokémon pal. pic.twitter.com/4cvtG0Uquu
— LoTron Prime Dave Trumbore (@DrClawMD) April 24, 2019

#DetectivePikachu is painfully cute, jam packed with action and will make you wish you lived in the world of #Pokémon more than you probably already do. pic.twitter.com/V33JOkUP3u
— Ian de Borja (@iandeborja_) April 24, 2019

Wow, Detective Pikachu is easily the best video game movie ever made and a real delight for anyone who grew up with early Pokémon. Who ever thought Ryan Reynolds in a furry ball of cuteness can carry a movie deserves a raise. @DetPikachu
— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) April 24, 2019

Had a fun time with Detective Pikachu. Silly, heartfelt and chock full of Pokémon, which makes for some great world building in what is sure to spin off into one hell of a franchise. Perfectly suited for fans and non-fans alike. #DetectivePikachu @DetPikachuMovie @joblocom
— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) April 24, 2019

My reactions to #DetectivePikachu: so cute! Fun for the whole family! Pokémon obsessives will be pleased, but Poke novices will be able to follow along—and will maybe even get sucked into the whole world. In summary: I want to cuddle Pikachu.
— Marah Eakin (@marahe) April 24, 2019

One interesting thing to notice is that some reviewers praise the fact that the movie manages to please both neophyte and hardcore fans of Pokémon, meaning that while Pokémon fanatics will be in heaven with all the Easter-egg references and Pokémons appearing throughout the movie, those who’ve never been huge fans of Pokémon will still find their place after all. The other highlights among others were Ryan Reynolds’s performance as Pikachu, the excellent worldbuilding, the design of the creatures, and the amount of humor and fun.

So far, it seems like Detective Pikachu may actually be on the right tracks to finally break the trend of mediocre Hollywood adaptation of videogames and turn out to be the first legit good videogame movie... well, since ever !

Man, I really can’t wait for this movie to come out, and I’m really to live in France because five days prior to the release of the movie, my local theater will be organizing a early screening of the movie prior to its French release ( May 8 ), so I’ll definitely be giving out my personal impressions before the movie comes out so that you can rest assured to what to clearly expect from Detective Pikachu !

To buckle up this thread, here’s the new international poster that was just released that is actually based on the China poster but with a different background.

Pokemon-Detective-Pikachu-poster.jpg


Pokémon: Detective Pikachu releases in theaters May 10. Do the early reviews make you even more excited for the movie to come out ? Make sure to leave your impressions on the comments.
 

nowhat

Member
"The best video game movie ever made" - I'm reminded of an old Mad magazine, where they were ripping on Jean-Claude Van Damme, saying that him being the best kickboxer in the Netherlands is akin to being the best bullfighter in Iceland.

This may very well be the best video game movie ever. But the bar isn't exactly very high.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
I'm definitely planning on seeing it with the whole family on opening night. My kids are in their 20s now, but they grew up on Pokemon - it came out back when I was in college, but I've played a lot of the games as well. My wife and I could probably recite from memory the first few seasons of the anime, considering how many times my kids watched it over and over and over and over again when they were little.

Looking forward to the new movie, it looks great.
 
"The best video game movie ever made" - I'm reminded of an old Mad magazine, where they were ripping on Jean-Claude Van Damme, saying that him being the best kickboxer in the Netherlands is akin to being the best bullfighter in Iceland.

This may very well be the best video game movie ever. But the bar isn't exactly very high.

Very off topic but isn’t Dutch Kickboxing very legit? I know Alexander Overeem is Dutch and I always hear about his Dutch Kickboxing lineage
 

nowhat

Member
Very off topic but isn’t Dutch Kickboxing very legit? I know Alexander Overeem is Dutch and I always hear about his Dutch Kickboxing lineage
Now? Perhaps so, I haven't kept up with the "scene" in a while. But during the 80s/early 90s when Van Damme was relevant at all, not so much I think.

Perhaps that was a bad analogy. I still maintain "the best video game movie" isn't a very high target to aspire to.
 

ThatGamingDude

I am a virgin
Can you even call Pokemon a video game franchise anymore??

They have movies, tv shows, comics/mangas, toys, snacks, etc as well as games.

They've dipped their hands into so many different wells with the IP, I view it more like a Hello Kitty sort of brand, albeit not as nearly as popular or big.
 

Michele

you.
I can't wait for other movies, if this is successful.

For clarification, I remember them saying that there likely would be a movie about the pokemon world that you see in the anime/games, just in live action format, then something about horror + pokemon and finally something related to Pokemon Ranger.

In fact, I'm super stocked for the most latter one. Especially because we haven't had anything video-game related in years.
 

Mista

Banned
I'm definitely planning on seeing it with the whole family on opening night. My kids are in their 20s now, but they grew up on Pokemon - it came out back when I was in college, but I've played a lot of the games as well. My wife and I could probably recite from memory the first few seasons of the anime, considering how many times my kids watched it over and over and over and over again when they were little.

Looking forward to the new movie, it looks great.
Whoa! How old are you man?
 
Can you even call Pokemon a video game franchise anymore??

They have movies, tv shows, comics/mangas, toys, snacks, etc as well as games.

They've dipped their hands into so many different wells with the IP, I view it more like a Hello Kitty sort of brand, albeit not as nearly as popular or big.

Yes, it's a video game franchise. A quick google search will also show that Hello Kitty is worth around $7 billion while Pokémon, on a very conservative estimate, is worth around $15 billion. Try harder.
 

Vawn

Banned
You mean to tell me this is better than Super Mario Bros, Double Dragon and BOTH Street Fighter movies???
 

Hanon

Banned
I remember when Godzilla 2014, and the Ratchet and Clank movie got early postive reviews

The scores were lower than expected when those movies were released.
 
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hunthunt

Banned
What was considered the best hollywod movie based on games until now? Silent Hill? I remember at least being a watchable movie compared to horrific crap like resident evil, hitman, doom and and the 90s shit.
 
I'm not sure what you mean by try harder; it was an honest question lol
Also an apparent lack of knowledge; sorry I guess

Another thread I'll just see myself out of....

I definitely thought you were trolling lol comparing Pokémon to Hello Kitty? Come on, that was a dead giveaway. I'm sorry I sounded harsh.
 

Phobia

Member
What was considered the best hollywod movie based on games until now? Silent Hill? I remember at least being a watchable movie compared to horrific crap like resident evil, hitman, doom and and the 90s shit.

Silent Hill, Tomb Raider and Mortal Kombat are all pretty good movies that stick to the source material fairly well. MK might be cheesy and the FX might not be great, but the movie is still enjoyable to me. Stay far away from Annihilation though. Yuck.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
For real man, if you’re 55+ then I wanna be like you when I grow up💙
Nope although I often feel like I'm at least that old

I'm 37
 

Fbh

Member
I has looked fun since the first trailer so I'm not surprised.

But.... doesn't everything except for the absolutely crappiest movies get "rave" early twitter impressions?
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
This is amazing. You’re 37 and have kids in their 20s! You had them when you were 15 mate?
Step kids, technically but I've raised them since I was younger than they are now. I missed the toddler years but (for the sake of keeping this on topic) didn't miss the early grade school years where they were massively into Pokemon. Gaming was something that helped bridge the gap and let me be "the cool stepdad".
 

Phobia

Member
Step kids, technically but I've raised them since I was younger than they are now. I missed the toddler years but (for the sake of keeping this on topic) didn't miss the early grade school years where they were massively into Pokemon. Gaming was something that helped bridge the gap and let me be "the cool stepdad".

Then those ARE your kids bud. Good on ya for finding something to connect with them on.
 

ThatGamingDude

I am a virgin
I definitely thought you were trolling lol comparing Pokémon to Hello Kitty? Come on, that was a dead giveaway. I'm sorry I sounded harsh.
I was comparing them in the way of notoriety mainly hahaha
No sweat; more of a The More You Know on my part.

Back when as a kid Hello Kitty gear was the fuckin' ish, so more of my personal experiences xD

Crazy to think Pokemon beats out Hello Kitty in sales numbers though, for how long it's been around
 
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Mista

Banned
Step kids, technically but I've raised them since I was younger than they are now. I missed the toddler years but (for the sake of keeping this on topic) didn't miss the early grade school years where they were massively into Pokemon. Gaming was something that helped bridge the gap and let me be "the cool stepdad".
I know man just joking with you. You’re a cool dude I give you that. Good luck bruv
 

Codes 208

Member
Live action mixed with cgi animated characters done right. The concept reminds me of who framed Rodger rabbit. But with Pokémon.

Cant wait to see how sonic fares later this year (lol)
 

somerset

Member
Trailer was great. Fun, meta and respectful to the IP. A 'Ted' vibe (first one, not the thoroughly rotten sequel).

I think 'silly' can be a very successful formula for this type of 'unusual' IP. Game to film conversions are often a little stiff and self-conscious about the fundamental silliness of the IP- which means hopeless producers try to make the IP more 'adult' in film form. And this never works. But bad producers think adults have outgrown 'silliness'- which sez more about them as people than it does about their comprehension of the Human state.

I'd also suggest that 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit" gave a classic form that has been curiously ignored since. Mostly cos big producers tend to listen to 'pro-film-critics' than audiences. Look how audiences loved Netflix's Bright just as critics hated it. Or the success of SyFy's Happy.

Hollywood chooses to be part of the same process that trashes Hollywood productions- hence the reason musicals, thrillers, westerns, and comedies have mostly vanished from the yearly roster, despite each of these genres once being mainstays. And when someone dares to show the supposed lack of audience interest today in these once popular genres is but a Hollywood lie (see the boxoffice of 'The Greatest Showman' or the Queen movie), big Hollywood joins the paid critics in trashing the upstart. Hollywood 'knows' what it knows, and doesn't like to be proven an ill-informed machine.

Fashion does play a part- even I don't think any form of Western could be a mega success today. But regardless of genre or story, if a movie is good there's a good chance the audience will notice and watch. Most game to movie projects have flopped cos the movie proved to be either poor or of minority appeal. The most successful ones (like Resident Evil) embraced their specialist fanbase, and kept their budgets modest. The biggest flops had insane budgets and needed love from far too general an audience.

However the growth of gaming, and the growth of gaming culture, increases the fundamentals behind potential success more every year. And remember, once the idea of marvel in the cinema was pure box-office poison. Tomorrow a Marvel movie will out-gross (eventually) everything but Avatar.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
I also like how this movie is rated PG and they're not trying to be too adult.
 

JimiNutz

Banned
I don't know much about Pokemon but I think the trailers look fun enough and I'm keen for some videogame movies to be successful.

My only hope is that, if the movie is a critical and commercial success and they decide to make a sequel, this time they get Danny Devito to voice a Detective Pikachu character as well.
 
I don't know much about Pokemon but I think the trailers look fun enough and I'm keen for some videogame movies to be successful.

My only hope is that, if the movie is a critical and commercial success and they decide to make a sequel, this time they get Danny Devito to voice a Detective Pikachu character as well.
make him Raichu instead. Pikachu's father.
 
Great news.

I had resolved to see this based solely on the bizarreness of having Ryan Reynolds play Pikachu and opting for creepy overly realistic looking pokemans.

Hearing it could actually be good is certainly a pleasant bonus.
 
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