WHY I Want To Talk About Pokemon: The First Movie, Today!

So, a lot has happened today and it forced me to think about some things. Before starting this post, I spent well over an hour typing away about the entire incident - from the rallies promoting their agenda, to the incident with the man plowing through a group of opposing protestors. And, it was as I was nearing the end that I decided to use an example from a film that seemed to coincide with those events.. Pokemon: The First Movie (specifically Mewtwo Strikes Back). Weird, right? But, I wouldn't be me if I didn't get a little weird. So, I decided that I would refocus my original post, and write about how that film - yes Pokemon - relates to today's current emotional climate. 

So, let's talk about the film. Now, while I'm sure anyone whose reading this has probably seen it, I'll just leave this here for those who either haven't seen it, or have forgotten the plot.

Image from Giphy

So, now that we're all caught up, let's discuss this film in relation to today's events - and, even more so, to the current status of the world. So, as we know, the film starts off with the creation of Mewtwo and it quickly deals with his feelings toward being artificial; a copy of the original Pokemon, Mew. His emotions quickly turn to rage and he hastily kills the team of scientists that created him in with a psychic blast. The rest of the film deals with his anger towards humans, as well as the Pokemon of whom he was fashioned after - Mew. 

Mewtwo is an interesting character because his anger is justified, however he lets it get the best of him. We can resonate and relate with his wanting to find his own identity, as well as the fact that he does not want to remain a captive to his creators. However, his choosing to judge all of humanity based on the actions of some, is not how he should have gone about it. Just because some people behave in ways that are evil, we should not judge all of them based on that fact. The actions of a few, should not define the character of all. 



So, more than anything I want to discuss the final scene, wherein all the Pokemon are fighting against each other. Ash, who is watching the scene unfold from atop one of the towers pillars, is questioning why they are behaving in such a way. He doesn't understand why they would battle amongst each other, especially when he feels that there is no need for this level of violence. He wants it to stop; he needs it to. And so he rushes down into the fray and ultimately sacrifices himself in his attempt to end the bloodshed.

What's interesting about the final act is the fact that the need for a battle is unavoidable, because, without it, Mewtwo would have never come to understand the fact that not all humans are evil. It took a very serious incident - in this case, Ash becoming a martyr - for it to register with Mewtwo that what he was doing was, in fact, wrong. I wish I could skip over this fact and make the claim that the violence wasn't necessary in order to bring about peace, but that just isn't the case. Unfortunately, the same goes with people. My one gripe, however, is that there have been countless martyrs throughout history who have sacrificed themselves in the name of peace. How many more is it going to take in order for us to really achieve the peace that we all desire? 



The main point I'm trying to illustrate here is that what Mewtwo says in the above quote is irrefutably, undeniably true. The circumstances of one's birth are, in fact, irrelevant. Where you're born - whether it be in the United States, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, South Korea, or wherever - it doesn't matter! Nor should your sexuality, your gender, your race or anything like that factor into the equation. It's life, and what you do with it that really matters. That's it. 

So when I see these acts of violence between groups of people I can't help but think about this. About how it all shouldn't matter. That all lives should matter, equally. That one's race should not be associated with power or, even more so, the lack of it. Humans have the capacity for such excellence; to be intelligent and beautiful and strong and more. That's why it baffles me when we behave in ways that contradict that. When we act so stupidly and irrationally; when we choose to use our strength against one each other, instead of for one another. 

A quote comes to mind. My favorite. "Why do we argue? Life is so fragile. A successful virus clinging to a speck of mud, suspended in endless nothing." (Alan Moore, Watchmen) Life is short, people. It really is. We have to make the most of it. Why do we argue over things that really hold no value in the grand scheme? Why can't we choose unison over division? I'll never understand it. 



To wrap it up, I think Meowth sums it up best with the above quote. "Maybe if we started looking at what's the same instead of always looking at what's different, who knows?" If we could all just stop focusing on what's different - like our race, and our sexuality, and our gender - and take the time to focus on what's the same - i.e. 99.9% of our DNA - then just imagine what the future might hold for us? I can only see things getting better.. can't you? 

Whether you liked this post or hated it, leave a comment about how you feel about the movie in relation to what's going on in today's society. And when you're done with that, check out some of my other posts here.