Diancie’s was ok. Really liked how they humanized Diancie and the Carbink. Also really enjoyed the obligatory “movie exclusive characters who show off the current gen starters’ final evolutions” characters as they were all the bad guys for a change with really good designs. Only issue is how forced Xerneas & Yveltal’s inclusion was similarly to Victinis’ forcing Reshiram & Zekrom.
Hoopa’s is the worst of the 3 but it’s one of those things where I love how absolutely all over the place it is. Admittedly I like how it actually tied to the games unlike 99% of movies due to its rings explaining ORAS’s. The returning legendaries were cool but ultimately just flashy hypebait. My main issues are Arceus doing basically nothing and that dumb “evil” Ash thing they kept promoting. Hoopa Unbound became one of my favorites due to this movie.
Volcanion’s is really good and I will die on the hill of this being one of the best. Really enjoyed the dynamic between Magearna/Ash & Volcanion, the supporting cast, and the use of Mega Evolution. Only issue is the ending felt a bit anticlimactic but otherwise I’d say top 5 movies for me personally.
I don’t like when they use the main legendaries for the main anime besides DP’s Galactic arc as they never get the feeling of it right and it often feels rushed.
Honestly you and I have pretty similar opinions when it comes to the XY movies lol. I really dig the criticism that Xerneas and Yveltal were forced into the movie like Zekrom and Reshiram were in Victini's, it was a MAJOR issue for me and its why I prefer that the main legendaries be used for the anime instead coz
a) BW's game story is heavily tied to the legendaries and is a goldmine and while the anime never would have been a proper adaptation of it, just having the legendaries be more involved would have been perfect instead of forcing them into a movie that breaks continuity and half assing Reshiram and putting Kyurem in a movie where it didnt need to be again while destroying all its lore
b) SM imo perfectly incorporated all the legendaries in its main story, allowed them to shine and it was to the benefit of the anime as a whole. I wanted that approach so badly and Im glad JN continued it coz as controversial as Darkest Day arc is, I love it and am glad Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma, Zacian, Zamazenta and Eternatus got a proper showing in the anime in line with the games rather than being forced into a movies plot which is rich with its characters and the mythical and has great basis but turns up a bad climax coz of the aforementioned forced legendaries.
The Volcanion movie was my fav pokemon movie since Arceus: The Jewel of Life at that time, I do think it has a lot of strong points to it and I think its helped by the fact that while Zygarde was there, it wasn't forced into the plot. The movie's third arc though really is a letdown, something I personally dont feel with ICY or Power of Us. Also with the Hoopa one I love the battle scenes and the lore hints too but it just isnt a cohesive story at all. Its one of those movies which excel at having great clips on Youtube you can watch rather than watching the entire thing. As for Diancie yes I liked its first half too coz of how rich a character Diancie was and her interactions with Bonnie and Serena being amazing.
Also DP is the GOAT when it comes to the main legendaries, not only did we get an amazing showcase of them in the main anime, but also an amazing movie trilogy which got better and better and never broke continuity with itself or the main anime! And we get to see them again in JN soon so yay
I just can’t care about the new movies. The characters aren’t interesting to me, Ash feels like he’s there just because he has to, and the plots just aren’t intriguing. The pandering to Gen 1 during Gen 7 made not like these movies at all which is a shame because I liked SM and a movie trilogy with the Light Trio & UBs similar to DP’s first 3 movies would’ve been great. Instead we got the first episode AU, a bunch of COTDs featuring Zeraora, and the first movie again.
A character focused movie sounds good on paper but I swear I couldn’t care for anyone besides Snubbull lady & Sudowoodo guy (ik they have names I just don’t feel like looking them up lol). Everyone else felt like extras that I couldn’t be bothered to care about.
The latest movie still has issues but it feels a bit more in line with everything from OS to XY. I actually cared about Coco & Zarude for one. Zarude had a better showcasing than Marshadow & Zeraora combined.
I don’t know maybe I’m just so used to how repetitive and safe this franchise is that the formulaic approach to everything doesn’t bother me. To be clear, I don’t hate these because they’re not what I want. As I said, I respect the fact that they tried something new. It’s just not for me and, like Journeys to its predecessors, I’m hoping they go back to their roots (or at the very least please use the “main” Ash.)
A respectable stance and honestly not much I can say considering we just have different opinions and I can understand where you are coming from, the disconnected continuity and a more 'filler' approach ig to the movies while the current gen is ignored can be off putting, and I agree with the former but like the latter coz I dont mind the anime not being tied down by its gen.
The character focus in Power of Us worked for me coz while admittedly I might not have cared for all the individual characters, them coming around like a whole team and their interactions with Pokemon was heartwarming and one of the best climaxes of a Pokemon movie for me, also Ash was reallllly likable, both playing a mature mentor role while allowing the current characters to take spotlight
I do agree with the sentiment that a movie set in alola would be nice. Id like one covering the past tbh, focused on the Tapus and their interactions with the people and covering stuff like Tapu Bulu's rage in UlaUla
While I wish the formula doesnt come back and we continue with the AU, I do hope the execution of said AU improves dramtically and is taken better advantage of
