Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! Christian Movie Review (2017)

Guidance: Talk Together

Surface content stays in the mild family-adventure range, with fantasy battles, comic villains, and a few emotional peril scenes. The bigger area for Christian families is the franchise’s creature-bonding mythology and hero journey, which can be a useful conversation starter about power, purpose, and where true hope is found.

Why This Guidance Level

This lands in the middle category because the movie’s surface content is fairly gentle, but its fantasy world and central message about becoming a master through creature battles and legendary power give Christian parents worthwhile things to discuss. The main concern is not graphic content but worldview framing.

Faith & Worldview Perspective

The movie values friendship, bravery, perseverance, and self-sacrifice, and those are easy points of connection for families. Its deeper tension is that the story’s meaning is tied to mastering powerful creatures and pursuing legendary encounters, rather than receiving identity and hope from God. Parents may want to discuss how courage is good, but our deepest purpose and hope are found in Jesus Christ, not in power, status, or extraordinary experiences.

Truths Reflected

• Loyal friendship and sacrificial care for others are good and worth honoring.
• Perseverance in hardship can build character and courage.

Tensions to Discuss

• The story’s world treats legendary creatures and extraordinary power as part of its wonder, which may conflict with a biblical view when children blur fantasy reverence with spiritual significance.
• Ash’s drive to become the greatest master can feed a success-centered identity, while Scripture points children toward humility and identity in Christ.

Content & Discernment Markers

Occult & Spiritual Content

• Occult material does not stand out in a dark or ritualized sense, but the film does build wonder around legendary Pokémon and myth-like creatures such as Entei. That fantasy reverence is not Christian spirituality, so parents may want to discuss the difference between fictional wonder and the living God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Sexuality & Relationships

• Sexual content is not a meaningful issue here. Relationships are centered on friendship, teamwork, and family concern rather than romance.

Identity Themes

• Ash repeatedly defines himself by ambition and achievement, saying, “I’m gonna be the world’s greatest Pokemon master!” The film treats that dream as noble and energizing, which gives parents a chance to ask whether greatness means winning, or faithful character before God.

Violence & Intensity

• Pokémon battles are frequent and central to the story, with attacks called out in fast-paced action: “use iron tail,” “quick attack,” “bubble beam,” “hydro pump,” and “ice beam.” The action is stylized and fantasy-based rather than graphic.
• There are stronger emotional peril moments when Pikachu is badly hurt and Ash cries, “Pikachu! You’re gonna be just fine! Hang in there!” and “This can’t be happening.” These scenes may upset younger or sensitive children even though the film stays within family-adventure tone.
• Wild Pokémon chase and swarm Ash and Pikachu after he throws a rock, and Ash puts himself in danger to protect Pikachu, saying, “Hit me with your best shot!” Parents may want to discuss courage versus reckless choices.

Language & Humour

• Language is mild. Dialogue includes put-downs like “awful,” “the worst of the worst,” and exasperated lines such as “you’re a handful,” but stronger profanity and crude jokes do not stand out.

Other Content Notes

• Team Rocket is introduced through wanted posters and described as thieves who “go around stealing other people’s Pokemon.” Their criminal intent is played partly for comedy, but stealing and using others for gain are still part of the plot.
• The film normalizes the Pokémon world’s trainer-creature system, including catching creatures and battling them to gain badges and status. Parents may want to talk about stewardship, kindness, and how competition should be shaped by love of neighbor.

Notable Moments

• Ash and Pikachu bond: Ash keeps pursuing friendship with Pikachu even after rejection and frustration, setting the emotional core of the movie.

  “Well, I like you a lot! And no matter what, I want to be your friend.”

• Pikachu in danger: One of the film’s most intense moments comes when Pikachu is injured and Ash panics over losing him.

  “Pikachu! You’re gonna be just fine! Hang in there! Pikachu! No, Pikachu. This can’t be happening, right?”

• Ambition and identity: Ash states his driving goal in a way that frames the whole adventure around mastery and greatness.

  “I’m gonna be the world’s greatest Pokemon master!”

• Team Rocket theft theme: The movie clearly identifies Team Rocket as recurring thieves who target Pokémon for selfish gain.

  “They’re awful, and they go around stealing other people’s Pokemon.”

Discussion Prompts

• Friendship and sacrifice: What makes Ash and Pikachu’s friendship strong, and what does real sacrificial love look like in our lives?
  • Biblical guidance: The movie honors loyalty and self-giving care, which can point to the greater love Christ shows His people.
  • Scripture: John 15:13, Philippians 2:3-4
• Greatness and identity: Ash wants to be the greatest. What does God say makes a person truly great?
  • Biblical guidance: Scripture redirects children from status and mastery toward humility, service, and identity in Christ.
  • Scripture: Mark 9:35, Galatians 2:20
• Courage versus recklessness: When Ash rushes into danger, is that always courage, or can bravery become foolishness?
  • Biblical guidance: God calls us to courage, but also to wisdom and self-control.
  • Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Proverbs 19:2
• Wonder and worship: Why do stories about legendary creatures feel exciting, and how is that different from worshiping the true God?
  • Biblical guidance: Fantasy wonder can be enjoyed as fiction, but worship belongs to God alone, and Christian hope rests in Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: Exodus 20:3, Colossians 1:16-17