After the disappointment that was the Diamond/Pearl/Platinum trilogy, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the next Pokémon movie would be a letdown too. Perhaps I'm just comparing it to the trilogy, but Zoroark really shows that the films still have some fight left in them.

As per usual, the final film in the D/P/Pl saga focuses on Pokémon from the next generation. In particular, Zorua and Zoroark get starring roles. The mother/child relationship between the two is captured almost perfectly and provides much of the film's heart and soul.

The story is quite strong this time around, mainly thanks to the villain. Grings Kodai - a media mogul that has visions of the future - has captured Zorua and Zoroark, forcing the mother to use its illusion ability to scare the residents of Crown City away. His goal? To find the Time Ripple; a 'pocket' of time energy that appears upon Celebi's arrival. Celebi, however, has not visited Crown City in 20 years. When Zorua escapes villain's airship and teams up with Ash and the gang to find Zoroark, can they also discover the truth behind Celebi's disappearance and stop Kodai?

One thing I didn't mention in my short synopsis is the inclusion of Entei, Raikou and Suicune. At first they are only used by Kodai to evacuate Crown City, but the shiny versions (which we can assume are the real guardians of the city) soon enter to attempt to put things right.

Kodai has got to be my favourite Pokémon movie villain, right alongside Butler from Jirachi Wishmaker (however, unlike Butler, he doesn't have a change of heart at the end). Who better to voice the man behind the camera than animé legend, Sean Schemmel? Kodai really adds a dark tone to the film (on the scale of the third movie), especially towards the end when his plan is fully revealed. He's a heartless man who only cares about his visions of the future, which places him on my list of best villains ever.

While it opens strong, it's the mid section where the film is let down. However, the final half hour or so is superb. There's only really one battle between trainers that is part of the plot, but the movie seems to flow well enough, even with the lack. The conclusion holds a mixture of surprise, suspense and emotion that the trilogy just didn't have, leading to a fine ending for the movies of the current saga. The song in the credits is also spectacular, having been made especially for the film.

All in all, Zoroark: Master of Illusions brings the Pokémon movies back to what they once were before 10, 11 and 12. While not quite as good as some previous entries to the series, Zoroark is definitely one of the better ones and a worthwhile addition to any Pokémon fan's DVD collection.

8/10