Pokémon: The Movie 2000

For the second time in only eight months, this regrettable kiddie cartoon phenomenon has spawned a feature film that is nothing more than a glorified and heavily padded episode of the el cheapo television program. Written, animated, scored and dubbed assembly-line style in Asia, Pokémon: The Movie 2000 features the usual cutesy-poo menagerie of superpowered pet-fu cartoon cock fighters facing a potential apocalypse brought on by the abduction of the pokémon gods of fire and lightning (snatched by an adult baddie who collects pokémon just because they're valuable--get it?). Teenage pokémon trainer Ash must muster his self-esteem to save the day. The movie's one highlight: A very cool, computer-animated and H.G. Wells-inspired, floating castle-meets-Ferris-wheel contraption in which the nefarious collector flies around. Considering the sell-through price, you might want to pick up copies of this otherwise forgettable fodder just to meet demand. (R. Blackwelder)