I'm surprised by how dreadful this looks. I was initially intrigued that Mewtwo Strikes Back was getting a reboot. Though the original is fun and iconic, there are still improvements I'd be interested in. About half an hour of story content was cut out of the English release that shed light on why Mewtwo was really created. It was significant to his character arc by the end that otherwise comes almost out of nowhere in the dub. However, I don't see any suggestion from the trailer that previously omitted content like the back story with Ai has been included or any brand new content to enhance the plot or pacing. The preview contains all the same dialogue reappearing verbatim and scenes re-created digitally camera angle for angle. This would seem to defeat the purpose of remaking your movie if you are just going to copy everything you did without any new ideas. it would be better to just re-release the old movie. Now if there are some innovations on the story then I stand corrected. Unfortunately, I won't go rent it to find out because the trailer is giving me no incentive to take that next step. The only things that stand out as different are the voices and the graphics, and not for the better.
I don't know who the actor for Mewtwo is, but he is over-the-top, maniacally evil and silly-sounding. Masachika Ichimura by contrast was subtle, pensive, ironic, brilliant and enthralling in the original Japanese version. While not quite Ichimura, the English dub over for the first movie was still a competent job and sounded way better then the one going to Netflix. It was at least a mature and authoritative presence.
Aesthetically the first movie stands up well to the test of time. In the CGI remake everybody looks round and rubbery like they are made of playdough. It does not hold a candle to the original. This has none of the latter's expressivity, color or movement. In its medium of handrawn animation the first Pokemon movie looked beautiful. It still looks great as the style of animation it is. The new one by contrast does not look outstanding for what the world of computer graphics has to offer. Deeply disappointed. I will skip it.
I just hope this is not the beginning of a trend, and that this is the only old Pokemon movie this happens to. I'm worried that my favorites like The Rise of Darkra, Jirachi Wishmaker and The Spell of the Unown are slated next on the list of remakes. Please spare me that.