• About
  • Editorial Board
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Students Remember the Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
      Students Remember the Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
    • First-Year Students Reflect on Their Expectations for College, One Semester In
      First-Year Students Reflect on Their Expectations for College, One Semester In
    • “We Want to Fundamentally Change the Culture,” International Student Union says
      “We Want to Fundamentally Change the Culture,” International Student Union says
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • No image
      You have no valid reasons to oppose raising the minimum wage
    • No image
      Free the pee: cut the hygiene theater and let us use other bathrooms
    • Wellesley, why can’t you meet our dietary needs?
      Wellesley, why can’t you meet our dietary needs?
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • “Judas and the Black Messiah” subverts, soars as Civil Rights story
      “Judas and the Black Messiah” subverts, soars as Civil Rights story
    • Black Entertainment Without Black Trauma: Recommendations for BHM!
      Black Entertainment Without Black Trauma: Recommendations for BHM!
    • Queer Storylines in “The Prom” Fall Flat
      Queer Storylines in “The Prom” Fall Flat
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
  • Health and Wellness
    • COVID-19: Popping the Wellesley Bubble
      COVID-19: Popping the Wellesley Bubble
    • No image
      Athletic impacts of Covid-19
    • No image
      A new kind of PE
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • Miscellanea
    • No image
      Remote students experience existential crises; change class years in email signatures
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Your next on-campus romance isn’t going to work out
      Your next on-campus romance isn’t going to work out
    • The Artichoke
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Victoria Deng ArtsMarch 8, 2019

Will Detective Pikachu capture our hearts in May?

Ryan Reynolds voices the beloved Pokémon in the upcoming film "Detective Pikachu" Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros.

This month is a big one for “Pokémon” fans. Based on every new glimpse of the film, “Detective Pikachu” looks like it might be one of the most visually stunning “Pokémon” movies of all time, not to mention that the charismatic Ryan Reynolds will lead the ensemble cast as the electric sleuth. Just in time for the announcement of what will probably be a new flagship Pokémon game, a new trailer has just dropped.

In the latest trailer, Ryan Reynolds’ “Detective Pikachu” is dealing with a tough case of stage fright. He has entered the arena to fight a Charizard, but he just can’t summon his signature Thunderbolt move. “I can’t do it when people are watching,” Pikachu admits, embarrassed. As Charizard begins to come out, clearly Pikachu has second thoughts because he asks Justice Smith’s Tim to get him the “hell” off the cage before Charizard attacks.

Pikachu’s use of the word “hell” in this newly released clip has stunned fans so much they have taken to social media to express their shock. For example, one fan tweeted: “When Pikachu said hell, I instinctively looked around to see if my parents were in the room.”

This live-action outing shows off a world where Pokémon exist alongside humans, but apparently “Pokémon” merchandise is just as important in that universe as it is in ours. So far it is the trailer that has captivated us, but will the movie capture our hearts? We will know for sure on March 10. For now, let’s count down the top things fans are excited to see in this upcoming movie.

Pokémon Legend

The “Pokémon” franchise has produced an astounding 21 movies and counting. In every film, at least one legendary creature makes an appearance. Whether the mythical Pokémon are fighting the heroes or a more powerful threat, these rare creatures know how to make a memorable entrance on the big screen. While we may have already seen “Detective Pikachu” in the latest trailer, that certainly hasn’t stopped us from anticipating more.

A More Realistic Setting

“Detective Pikachu” does not feel like any other “Pokémon” tale we’ve watched before — and not because of the realistic and sometimes adorably creepy Pokémon designs. Instead of following an unsupervised ten-year-old battling his way the top, “Detective Pikachu” will focus on a 21-year-old named Tim and his search for his missing father. His quest will take place in a city where humans and Pokémon live side by side. Between its urban setting and serious plotline, the movie already feels more grounded than the typical Pokémon journey. Plus, we will see a Pikachu that is addicted to caffeine just like any other Wellesley student. The film’s realistic approach promises a new perspective on a world that we’ve grown so familiar with.

Seeing Evolution

After fighting dozens of battles or finding the right stone, your Pokémon would be ready to evolve into a new form. In the original game, the evolution was accompanied by dramatic music and fast-paced visuals that built to a triumphant finish. The anime took evolution one step further by adding a blinding light to the process. Years later, “Mega evolution” brought a brand-new series of epic transformations. With its high production value and realistically animated Pokémon, evolution would look incredible in the world of “Detective Pikachu.” The second trailer does show what appears to be an Eevee evolving into a Flareon, so hopefully, we will get to see the whole transformation unfold.

Epic Pokémon Battles

Pokémon battles are the cornerstone of the franchise, as gamers have spent hours assembling the perfect team to overcome their opponents. In the anime, these battles of strategy and skill were made even richer with exciting animation and fantastic choreography. There were so many epic battles in both the game and animated series. It would be a shame if Pikachu didn’t include a few amazing classes of its own. If the Charizard vs. Pikachu show from the trailer is any indication, the movie may produce a battle that rivals the best bouts in the franchise.

If we count the number of good live-action video game adaptations on one hand, we will still have fingers to spare. However, “Detective Pikachu” seems poised to break that trend. The trailer hinted at a scintillating and layered mystery. But the most positive sign is that the legendary studio has already begun developing a sequel. “Detective Pikachu” has all the pieces in place to be a breakout smash hit. At the very least, we are confident that it’s going to be a better Nintendo adaptation than “Super Mario Brothers.”

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleComedian Nicole Drespel ’06 and novelist Kate Broad ’06 return to Wellesley to talk about creative writing careers
Next articleCapitalism proves its power with “Game of Thrones” branded products

You may also like

“Judas and the Black Messiah” subverts, soars as Civil Rights story

Black Entertainment Without Black Trauma: Recommendations for BHM!

Queer Storylines in “The Prom” Fall Flat

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

  • Harry Styles de-typifies masculinity in Vogue’s December Iss...
  • Free the pee: cut the hygiene theater and let us use other b...
  • Queer Storylines in “The Prom” Fall Flat
  • Black Entertainment Without Black Trauma: Recommendations fo...
  • You have no valid reasons to oppose raising the minimum wage

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2021 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top