I don't know how I got talked into going to this movie with the kids. Well, yes, I do: Mom caught me at a weak moment. I had spent the day at an Indy Car race, and Mom suggested taking the kids to "Pokemon 2000" would make up for me being gone all day on a Saturday. And I figured "How bad could it be?"
Well, it was real bad. Awful, in fact.

Doubly so since the main feature is preceded by a short titled "Pickachu's Rescue Advanture". I would summarize the plot if I had been able to follow it, but I couldn't. I could tell that the Pokemon were in trouble throughout, mostly from the pitch of the constant screaming noises they were making. And there was a happy ending. That was all I could decipher.

The main movie had something resembling a plot. But by this time the screaming soundtrack was beginning to drive me nuts (this says a lot, since the screaming of racing engines doesn't bother me). I started searching for some other sound in the theatre to concentrate on. Luckily, there was a baby crying behind me, and this was a much more pleasant noise to concentrate on.

If your kids ask you to watch this movie, please don't do it.If somehow you get roped into it (say you lose a bet), make sure you bring a CD or tape player with headphones. Or just the headphones.

Reviewed by Ed Joras