Pokémon: Destiny Deoxysis the seventh movie in the long-running series, and while it isn’t the most beloved or highest-grossing of the23Pokémonfilms, it is an essential viewing experience for any fan. This adventure has all the hallmark elements ofPokémon: a journey to an unfamiliar town, exciting new Pokémon along with old favorites, and a foe that tests the bonds offriendship and trust between trainer and Pokémon. But this time around,the film incorporates themes of Kaiju and horror movies, and to great effect, which setsDestiny Deoxysa cut above the rest.
Destiny Deoxysbegins with new characters, Professor Lund, his assistant, Yuko, and his son, Tory, on a research expedition in the Arctic, when a meteor crashes into Earth and unleashes an alien Pokémon, Deoxys. Sensing the extraterrestrial’s power, the legendary dragon, Rayquaza, appears and seemingly destroys it. Four years later inHoenn, Ash and Pikachu, along with travel companions Brock, May, and Max, arrive in LaRousse, a fully automated city patrolled by robots called Block Bots. A chance encounter with Tory unites Ash’s group with local trainers, who must fight for survival when Deoxys returns looking for its friend.
Rayquaza vs. Deoxys Is the Match-Up of the Century
Destiny Deoxys is a Kaiju Film with Elements of Sci-fi and Fantasy
One of the most striking parts ofDestiny Deoxysishow similar it feels to aGodzillamovie, with Rayquaza assuming the role of the titular green lizard defending its territory, Deoxys as the invading threat, and Ash’s group representing the humans caught in between, desperate to survive. Rayquaza, making its anime debut in the movie, unleashes Hyper Beam as its main energy attack, evoking the King of Monsters' atomic breath. The two opposing Pokémon’s ability to fly spares most of the city from destruction, but neither holds back their tremendous power nor shows any regard for their surroundings.
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WhatDestiny Deoxyshighlights by presenting Rayquaza and Deoxys as Kaiju rampaging through the city isthe wild nature of Pokémon. Humans capture and train Pokémon to battle one another in structured battles, but they’re intelligent creatures with their own motivations, capable of fighting one another without human direction. Whether searching for a lost friend, like Deoxys, or protecting its home from invasion, like Rayquaza, Pokémon can be just as destructive as a natural disaster, andDestiny Deoxyssmartly places its human characters on the sidelinesrather than in direct confrontation with the twolegendary Pokémon.
Destiny Deoxys Is the Rare Pokémon Horror Film
The Movie Plays-up Horror Tropes to Great Effect
Deoxys is quite terrifying, evokingAlien’s genetically perfect antagonist. It arrives with the violent crash of a meteor, sending Ice-type Pokémon stampeding for safety, which traumatizes a younger Tory. The extraterrestrial encounter combined with almost being trampled to deathmakes Tory fearful of the Pokémon that surround him in daily life, leaving him paranoid and isolated, the perfect horror movie protagonist. The tension is dialed up when Deoxys' clones start abducting the inhabitants of LaRousse, the Block Bots start malfunctioning, and Rayquaza penetrates the city’s defenses, shutting down power to the automated city.
Destiny Deoxyscleverly plays into fears of technology run amok, resource scarcity, and alien abductions, milking any opportunity to build tension among the already frazzled protagonists.
The situation is dire for the heroes, as they have no Pokémon strong enough to quell the fight between Deoxys and Rayquaza, and access to food and water is cut off.Destiny Deoxyscleverly plays into fears of technology run amok, resource scarcity, and alien abductions, milking any opportunity to build tension among the already frazzled protagonists. When the film’s comedic relief, Plusle, Minun, and Munchlax, infiltrate Lund’s laboratory, Ash and the others look at the rattling air vent like a Xenomorph is coming through the ventilation system.
Destiny Deoxys Stands the Test of Time 20 Years Later
The SeventhPokémonMovie Looks Gorgeous and Feels Timeless
Destiny Deoxysfeels timeless, even though the adventure takes place during the third generation ofPokémon, which is currently in its ninth generation. With 1,025 Pokémon and counting,it’s refreshing to see a more limited roster of monsters, especially Deoxys and Rayquaza, which appear infrequently and are rarely the main focus. In addition to debuting the two legendary Pokémon,Destiny Deoxysalso introduces new characters like Tory, Rafe, and the other LaRousse trainers. Despite never appearing again after the movie, these characters are well-rounded, memorable, and have great chemistry with Ash, Brock, May, and Max.
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Pokémonmovies are supposed to present bigger, bolder challenges for Ash and Pikachu, andDestiny Deoxysdelivers. The blend of hand-drawn animation and CGI lends a grand look and feel that the television series never reaches. The animation is not the only aspect that is amped-up compared to the series, as the importance of friendship is at the forefront of each major plot thread.Pokémon: Destiny Deoxysachieves its resolution not by one Pokémon overpowering the other, but through the power of understanding one another and abandoning hasty presumptions to move forward, a feat not every movie pulls off successfully.
Pokémon
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Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
