Customer Rating: 
Summary: A good movie with impact that's haplessly lowered and overwrought with inept voice acting
Comment: When it comes to Pokémon movies seldom do I think there is any doubt in the minds of Pokémon fans that the writers put every vestige of their soul into making the movies at issue as good as they can be. The original format (the Japanese version) is wrought not by a lack of competent voice acting, animation, pacing, character relations, or anything of the such. While the anime is good the movies themselves are something special to pay heed to. And while Movie 9 isn't quite as good as some of the other Pokémon films, in its own right it is a good film unto itself and well warrants more than just a fleeting gander.
Sadly, I can't say the same thing about Pokémon USA's dub of this film. Movie - Pokémon Ranger and The Temple of the Sea.
I don't know if Pokémon USA quite knew the ramifications of what they were doing when they decided to fire 4Kids' VAs at a whim and hire new, rookie ones for the sake of spending (or in this case, squandering as they've done) less money, but one of the resulting effects is that it's affected movies like this and will henceforth as long as PUSA is in charge with their current attitude and these "new" VAs. When May bonds with Manaphy in this film, I want to feel a deep, vibrant, and tense bond. Instead, making contrasts to the matter, I feel accentuation on strained voice acting that rings of superficial and black and white distances of emotion that does little to touch the viewer or join a mood that's wonderfully set by inspiring BGM and wonderful animation.
When Ash faints when trying to cede the last crystal in the Temple and Manaphy establishes a psychic connection with him, I feel nothing because Sarah Natochenny brings nothing to Ash's role. Unlike Veronica Taylor, there's no determination, no rich tones, no warm characterizations, no distinguished qualities, no uniqueness at all. There's just "Hey guys," in a very dull and strained voice, along with incorrect pronounciations that neither the Seiyuus (original Japanese VAs) nor the original dub cast ever made. Seriously, PUSA, *who* do you think you're duping? In all seriousness? And if that isn't bad enough you won't provide a Japanese alternative for the viewers. There's no subbed and original audio track that if I'm not having a lapse in recollection you promised.
If this qualifies for "good" to you and is any way to treat your fans, then I'd hate to see what qualifies for "bad". The voices ARE the characters and a character is not just defined through visual tones. You change and lower the quality of the voice and you change and lower the quality of the character. One day you need to fathom that the fans who care will never take well to this, the anime and the movies will suffer, and that YOU ARE DOING THIS TO PLEASE THE FANS BY SOME ACCOUNT, I DEAR HOPE. Because if you're not doing this for the fanbase then *who* are you dubbing the anime and movies for? And why are you continuing to solicit people to buy dubs.... like this? If you can do a better job, why not?
Perhaps I should leave you with this as a closure of sorts: if you're so intent on dubbing these movies and doing a good job then perhaps rehiring the dub original cast who knew the characters of the English dub better than anyone and not asking people for money over this would be a prudent recourse at any length. If you can do this, perhaps Pokémon fandom wouldn't be suffering as much as it is, nor would the show...
Well, there's a fellow Pokémon fan's plea. Let's hope it's answered, among many others, before it's too late (which is a day let's hope will never come to fruition).
Customer Rating: Summary: A beautiful movie,Ruined By Cheap Voice Acting
Comment: Im a long time pokemon fan and movie after movie ive enjoyed watching my heroes adventures...However what should of been a great adventure turned out to be a calling for me.
Allow me to explain, The movie is great, the animation is awsome and the story is fresh and thrilling. However as good as it is the voice acting is what drags this film down horribly.
Pokemon Usa's decision to fire the original talented cast after 8 years of pokemon has backfired horribly. The characters have become dull,Boring and life less. Each word out of their mouth brings the quality of this amazing movie down and down.
Fans are fighting back now join them in their struggle to save pokemon and restore it to its former beauty before the giant that is Pusa crushes it for good. [...]
