Pokemon: The First Movie premiered November 12,1999. Four new pokemon were introduced in the cartoon called Pikachu's Summer Vacation that is a short cartoon within the feature-length cartoon, Mewtwo Strikes Back.

When the movie was released in Japan, it made $30 million just in its first weekend and was one of the top five highest grossing films of 1998.

In Mewtwo Strikes Back, scientists have cloned Mewtwo from the genes of the rare pokemon, Mew. But when Mewtwo awakens it is frightend and angry at what the scientists have done and destroys the lab.

Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, approaches Mewtwo and gets it to work for Team Rocket stealing pokemon. Again Mewtwo becomes angry and destroys Team Rocket headquaters. Mewtwo then sets up its own laboratory on New Island and begins to clone other pokemon, determined to prove they are superior to the originals.

In Pikachu's Summer Vacation, Ash, Misty, and Brock leave their pokemon at Pokemon Land, an exclusive park for pokemon. When they arrive, Pikachu and his friends have trouble with another group of pokemon. They argue and begin to fight but ultimately, they must work together to help another pokemon.

Me myself think the pokemon movie was great. It taught me some valuble lessons: not to fight beacause you can lose your friend's trust, and friendship is a valuble thing, so hang on to it, and most important of all, value your life, use it. Because it is what you do with your life that makes you who you are.

Those are some very good lessons. Mewtwo learned fighting doesn't solve anything and that it doesn't matter who is stronger, but that it matters who you are on the inside and what kind of person you are. Because if you have a good heart and believe in yourself and your friends that's all that counts.

A second movie was realeased in Japan in July of 1999. It was called Revelation Lugia and it contained a short cartoon called Picachus Exploration Party. The movie had a budget of 700 million yen (roughly $6.3 million), twice that of the first movie.

In Revelation Lugia, a pokemon trainer is determined to capture the ledgendary Lugia. Legend states that the legendary Lugia will appear if all three legendary birds, Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno, are brought together.

As the trainer collects the bird he upsets the natural balance of the weather. Ash, Misty, and Brock are now out to stop him, since legend also states that Lugia will also destroy the world.

Can Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock stop him from this mad adventure? We will have to wait and see when the movie comes out in Canada.