COMIC TO FILM: THE PASSAGEWAY

 

Welcome back for an all-new Comic to Film! This time around we are taking a look at the graphic novel adaptation, The Passageway. Sam Esmail (Leave the World Behind, "Mr. Robot") directs the film from a script by rookie DK Moon.

Now Showing: The Passageway

 

The Passageway

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller

Director: Sam Esmail

Writer: DK Moon

An Unspoken Words Production

Based on the graphic novel The Passageway: A Bone Orchard Mythos

Cast: Rami Malek, Frances McDormand, David Denman, Alice Kremelberg

Plot: John Merrin (Rami Malek) dreams of the sea again.

His mother (Alice Kremelberg) stands in the surf, her nightgown plastered to her body, whispering his name through a mouth full of salt. Beneath the surface, something shifts — a current, or a thought. She turns, and the horizon swallows them both.

He wakes in the passenger seat of Dougie’s old truck, heart hammering, the taste of brine on his tongue.

The road hugs the coastline, gray sea flashing through breaks in the rock. John keeps his eyes on the road. The sea keeps its eyes on him. He tells himself this is just work — field data, seismographic mapping, another project for the university. He’s here to study a geological anomaly, not to relive the worst day of his life.

Still, he can’t stop his hand from trembling when he looks at the ocean.

Dougie (David Denman) drives in silence for a while, then says,

“Have you ever been to the islands before?”

“Not since I was a kid.”

“You’ll want to keep it that way.”

John forces a laugh. He’s not here for small talk. He’s here to rationalize. To prove that everything — even the sea — can be measured. If he can chart it, he can make it safe.

“If I can map it,” he mutters, “I can understand it.”

Dougie glances at him.

“Understand what?”

“The sea,” John says. “It isn’t supposed to remember.”

The ferry deposits them on a crumbling dock. The island rises before them — a tangle of black stone and grass, crowned by a single white lighthouse leaning into the fog.

A figure waits near the rocks. Sal (Frances McDormand). Her eyes are sharp but unfocused, as if she’s tasting something in the wind. She and Dougie share the same cheekbones, the same weathered weariness.

“You’re late,” she says. “The tide doesn’t wait for men or machines.”

She leads them through a path of wind-gnarled trees to the sinkhole — a dark mouth in the ground, rimmed with stones and bird bones. The air around it hums faintly, as though the island has a pulse.

Dougie mutters, “It’s not right. Things disappear here.”

John sets his equipment beside the edge. He peers into the hole — and sees his reflection tremble in the depths, warped and rippling. He steadies himself. Equations don’t drown. People do.

He launches the drone.

The screen flickers: rock walls, spiraling strata, and then — a flash of white. A woman’s face, pale and eyeless. The feed cuts.

Above them, gulls explode into flight, screaming like they’d seen their reflections.

Sal doesn’t flinch. “The sea never takes,” she says softly. “It only returns.”

That night, they eat by lamplight in Sal’s cottage. Boiled fish, stale bread, the sting of brine in the air. The rhythmic hum of the foghorn far off the coast. Dougie drinks, his gaze fixed on the window.

“You feel it?” he mutters. “The pull?”

“The pull?” John asks.

“It remembers voices,” Dougie says, almost apologizing to the dark. “I heard from my father last week. He’s been dead forty years.”

Sal’s spoon clatters. “Don’t start.”

John forces a smile. “You mean the tide?”

Dougie looks at him like he’s a child. “You’ll hear it too.”

Sal cuts in, her tone softening. “We grew up here. Dougie left when he could. I stayed. Someone had to keep the light burning.”

She says it like an oath.

After dinner, she gives John her bed. “I sleep in the lighthouse,” she says.

He tries to protest, but she only smiles. “The light keeps me awake otherwise.”

John dreams again: His mother’s body drifts just beneath the surface, pale and swollen, her hair moving like weeds. Her eyes are gone. He finds them floating nearby, glimmering like pearls, and presses them into his own sockets. The world floods red like dark blood oil. Stoic, John frozen in place has it begin to overflow him as he briefly tears up. His stunted breathing fills his body.

He wakes gasping, choking on the smell of salt. Through the cracked window, moonlight cuts across the island. Sal walks naked along the rocks, her pale skin shines in the fog, murmuring to the sea. Her voice rises and falls, not language but pattern — the same rhythm as a lullaby he half-remembers from childhood.

Farther off, Dougie stands by the dock, whispering back. His voice blends with the waves.

John can’t sleep. He writes in his notebook:

> The sea never takes; it only returns.

But what does it return to?

Morning brings silence. Dougie’s boat is gone. The sky hangs heavy with fog.

John walks to the lighthouse. Inside, the air smells of salt and oil. A single photograph hangs on the wall — a woman with two children, a boy and a girl. Their faces are bright except for hers, the mother’s eyes burned out by light exposure.

He climbs the spiral stairs. Near the beacon, a mattress lies damp and indented. He hears something — faint humming through the floorboards, the same tune Sal sang last night. The walls seem to breathe with it.

When he steps outside, Sal stands at the base of the lighthouse, waiting.

“You shouldn’t have gone in there,” she says. “The light’s all that keeps it asleep.”

“I just wanted to understand.”

Her gaze flickers, like something looking through her. “That’s what she said before she drowned.”

He stares at her. “Who?”

“Your mother.”

“That’s not—”

She shoves him.

He falls into the endless darkness.

Stone meets bone. His leg snaps; his flashlight tumbles, spinning a halo through the void. When he hits bottom, it isn’t earth that catches him — it’s something warm and pliant, like skin stretched over muscle.

He lies still, gasping. The air is thick, alive. His flashlight steadies on walls slick with black sheen — carved faces spiraling upward, each one eyeless, mouths open in silent wail.

He crawls forward, dragging his broken leg. The tunnel expands and contracts around him, like something dreaming. Every sound echoes too loud, as if the space itself is listening. The air turns cold — not from temperature, but memory. The chill of breath that isn’t his.

For a moment, amid the whisper of stone and pulse, he sees something impossible — a patch of still water, mirror-flat, reflecting a sky that isn’t there.

The passage opens into a vast chamber.

At its center kneels a statue — a four-armed figure with its hooded head bowed, carved directly from the stone. From its face drips a slow, dark ichor that sizzles when it hits the ground.

John reaches out despite himself. A drop lands on his hand, burning through skin.

The statue shudders. A fissure splits its face. Beneath the stone is not rock, but bone — a grinning skull slick with red light. The ichor floods faster, hotter, spreading across the floor.

Through the rising blood, a figure moves: a woman, skin white as salt, hair floating like seaweed, eyes empty.

“Mother?” he breathes.

She hums the lullaby. The same one from his dream.

He reaches for her. She opens her mouth, and water pours out — thick, dark, endless.

He wakes choking on seawater. The tide drags him onto the rocks, the world gray and wrong. The lighthouse beam sputters, fading in and out like a heartbeat.

Sal stands at the edge of the sinkhole, barefoot in the mud, muttering to herself. The wind carries snatches of her voice — “light’s gone too long,” “must fix it.”

John crawls toward her, leg twisted. “What did you do?”

She doesn’t look at him. “I tried to fix it.”

“The light’s not broken,” he says. “It’s this place. It’s you.”

Her head jerks toward him. Her eyes are hollow. “You brought the dark here.”

The air tightens. The wind dies. Beneath them, something stirs — not the sea, not the earth, but something between.

Then another voice, close behind: “You took her eyes.”

Dougie stands there, soaked, an axe in his hands. His pupils are gone — only black water moves where his eyes should be.

“It wasn’t me,” John stammers. “She — she needed—”

“She saw you in the water, boy,” Dougie whispers. “She saw you.”

The axe swings. Pain explodes across John’s shoulder. He falls, choking on blood.

Dougie raises the axe again — but Sal steps forward. The blade buries itself in her chest.

She gasps softly, not in fear but exhaustion. “It never takes,” she murmurs, “only returns.”

Then she falls backward into the hole.

Dougie stumbles to the edge, trembling. “I don’t want to go,” he whispers. But the hum rises again, deep and resonant, vibrating through the ground. The sea calls him home. He steps forward and disappears.

John lies bleeding at the edge of the sinkhole. The world tilts. He reaches into his coat pocket and finds something small — a toy boat, its paint chipped and faded. He doesn’t remember bringing it, but it’s there. The last thing that ever floated.

He drags himself forward, toward the edge. The foghorn moans once more, distant and dying.

As he falls, he whispers the words that have haunted him since childhood:

> “The sea never takes; it only returns.”

Maybe memory is all it ever was.

Beneath the surface, the water glows red. His mother drifts before him — whole again, smiling. Her eyes have returned.

She touches his cheek. Her fingers are warm.

The island’s light fades.

Not broken.

Only returned.

TOP 10 Frances McDormand Films

 

Sherman J. Pearson here for another Top 10. The upcoming film, The Passageway will be Frances McDormand's 11th film for the studio. So I decided to go ahead and do a Top 10 ranking of her first 10 films.

Top 10 Frances McDormand Films

10. Amelie

9. Eileen

8. The Driftwood Populace

7. Supergirl

6. Haute Couture

5. Superman: The Last Son of Krypton

4. Superman: Exile

3. Superman: The Man of Tomorrow

2. Superman: Doomsday

1. Libra

RELEASE: POKEMON

 

Pokémon

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Directors: The Duffer Brothers

Writer: Diane Esposito

Based on the Pokémon franchise

Cast: Noah Schnapp, Peyton List, Ross Butler, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Parker, Tanner Buchanan, Hana Mae Lee, Tom Felton, Ashley Johnson, Georgia King, Kevin Durand, Oona Chaplin, Shawn Roberts, David Dastmalchian (cameo)

Budget: $165,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $266,005,208

Foreign Box Office: $510,783,091

Total Profit: $340,019,100

Reaction: Talk about starting the season off with a bang! The studio hopes this is the start of a fruitful Pokémon franchise for LRF for many seasons to come.

"Finally, a Pokémon adaptation that respects the maturity of the audience. The bond between Ash and Pikachu feels hard-won here rather than instantaneous, and seeing a Trainer actually take a Thunderbolt for their team adds a layer of weight the games often lack. The pacing is a bit breakneck in the second half, moving from Celadon to the Finals in a blur, but the Mewtwo teaser at the end promises a sequel with even higher stakes." - Dexter Quinn, Cinematic Observer Newsletter

"Pokémon wisely avoids trying to reinvent the franchise, instead delivering a grounded, sincere coming-of-age adventure that understands why audiences connected with the original in the first place. The Duffer Brothers bring strong world-building to Kanto, making Pokémon feel integrated into daily life rather than CGI gimmicks. Noah Schnapp is a serviceable Ash, though perhaps a bit too subdued, while Peyton List and Ross Butler bring easy chemistry to the supporting trio. The film occasionally feels episodic and front-loaded with Gym battles, but Pikachu and Ash’s evolving relationship gives it genuine emotional momentum." - Reggie Dunn, Sacramento Bee

"Though visually appealing and clearly made with affection for the source material, Pokémon struggles with thin plotting and overly safe storytelling. The film essentially functions as a series of loosely connected Gym battles with limited dramatic escalation, while Team Rocket feels more like an obligation than meaningful antagonists. Fans may appreciate the faithfulness, but newcomers could leave wondering why this world never feels quite as magical as it should." - Dave Manning, Ridgefield Press

Rated PG for fantasy action/peril, mild thematic elements, and some rude humor

Animation to Film: Pokemon

 

Welcome to an new edition of Animation to Film! While the Pokemon franchise branches across just about every possible form of media, this live-action adaptation features some characters who have appeared the TV and film anime versions of the franchise. The film is directed by the Duffer Brothers, creators of "Stranger Things" and was written by Diane Esposito (Power Rangers, The Chain).

Now Showing: Pokemon

 

Pokémon

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Directors: The Duffer Brothers

Writer: Diane Esposito

Based on the Pokémon franchise

Cast: Noah Schnapp, Peyton List, Ross Butler, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Parker, Tanner Buchanan, Hana Mae Lee, Tom Felton, Ashley Johnson, Georgia King, Kevin Durand, Oona Chaplin, Shawn Roberts, David Dastmalchian (cameo)

Plot: Professor Oak (David Hyde Pierce): "This world is inhabited by creatures known as Pokémon. They live alongside us - in our towns, our fields, our seas, and our skies. Some choose to work with humans. Others remain wild. For generations, we have learned that partnership, not possession, allows both to thrive. Pokémon battles were created not to prove dominance, but to teach responsibility. Through Gyms and the League, Trainers are tested - not for strength alone, but for judgment, restraint, and care. But long before these systems existed, Pokémon shaped the world without us. Some still do. Their stories survive only in ruins and half-remembered records, places we no longer visit and questions we no longer ask. The balance we enjoy endures because those forces remain undisturbed. Whether that balance can last... depends not on Pokémon, but on the choices of those who seek to walk beside them. Let the journey begin..."

Teenager Ash Ketchum (Noah Schnapp) lives with his mother Delia (Molly Parker) on the edge of Pallet Town, a small coastal community where Pokémon move freely and work alongside people - Pidgey scatter from rooftops, a Growlithe paces beside a fisherman, a Bulbasaur pulls a cart through the street. When a pair of Trainers pass through town with packed gear and confident strides, Ash stops to watch them go until they disappear down the road. Delia prepares breakfast while Ash eats quickly, distracted. She notices his packed bag by the door. Without raising her voice, she asks where he’s headed. Ash hesitates, then answers simply: Professor Oak’s lab.

Professor Oak’s lab is already busy when Ash arrives. Other Trainers stand with packed gear, listening as Oak moves between workstations and habitats, checking equipment and Pokémon with practiced ease. He gestures, hands over Poké Balls, and offers short instructions. The process is efficient and calm. One by one, the Trainers leave, their Pokémon following closely. Ash steps forward late, breathless. Oak pauses, taking him in without comment, then leads him to the remaining enclosure. Pikachu stands alone, alert and wary. When Oak opens the gate and gestures for Ash to approach, Pikachu backs away, ears flat, electricity crackling faintly. Ash tries to speak, reaches out, and is immediately rebuffed. Pikachu refuses commands, refuses the Poké Ball, and turns its back. Oak watches the exchange carefully, then closes the enclosure and hands Ash the Poké Ball anyway. Later, on the road outside town, a sudden storm breaks. Ash struggles to keep up as Pikachu runs ahead, drawn into danger by wild Pokémon reacting to the weather. When a lightning strike knocks Pikachu down, Ash throws himself between Pikachu and the threat, shielding it with his own body despite having no way to fight back. The storm passes. Ash lies exhausted in the mud. Pikachu approaches slowly, then stays—close, alert, no longer running.

Ash and Pikachu travel along the main route out of Pallet Town. The road quickly gives way to open fields and tree-lined paths. Pikachu keeps its distance at first, moving ahead and stopping only when Ash falls behind. Ash tries issuing simple commands, but Pikachu ignores most of them. By nightfall, Ash struggles to start a small campfire. Pikachu watches from a rock, wary but present. Ash attempts to share food, setting some aside without forcing it. When distant noises echo through the trees, Pikachu is the first to react, positioning itself between Ash and the darkness.

Elsewhere on the same road, Oak's nephew Gary (Tanner Buchanan) travels with purpose. His gear is organized, his movements controlled. He gives concise commands, and his Pokémon respond immediately.

Near a river crossing, Ash attempts to catch a wild Pokémon without a plan. The attempt goes poorly. A burst of electricity from Pikachu startles nearby Water Pokémon, sending them thrashing through the shallows. Ash scrambles to contain the situation, slipping into the water as his supplies scatter downstream. Misty (Peyton List) wades in from the opposite bank. She uses her Staryu to settle the waters before turning her attention to Ash. She says she’s headed toward Pewter City and starts walking. After a beat, Ash falls into step beside her, telling her that he is going to Pewter to challenge the Gym Leader there.

Pewter City rises from the landscape in stone with its Pokémon Gym sitting at its center, carved into rock. Ash goes inside to challenge its leader Brock (Ross Butler). Misty and Ash enter the Gym together, Brock already waiting at the center of the arena. Onix erupts from the ground at his command, massive and controlled. Ash attacks quickly, directing Pikachu with urgency. Electricity flashes against Onix's stone body with little effect. When Ash begins shouting commands faster than Pikachu can respond, Misty tells Ash to slow down. Pikachu strains past its limit, sparks flickering unevenly. Ash hesitates just long enough to see the cost and recalls Pikachu before Onix’s next strike lands. Outside the Gym, Ash sits beside Pikachu, tending to it carefully. Brock joins them and demonstrates how he reinforces Onix’s endurance over time. Ash listens intently. After a long pause, Brock closes the Gym doors and announces that he is going to join them on their trip to the next city.

At a roadside rest stop near the edge of a forest, Ash and the others arrive to find overturned crates and empty Pokémon carriers scattered across the ground. A small group of wild Pokémon hides nearby, agitated and wary. Before they can investigate further, a mechanical net drops from above, trapping Pikachu. Jessie (Hana Mae Lee) and James (Tom Felton) step into view from the tree line, dressed in Team Rocket uniforms. Meowth appears at their feet. Ash rushes forward and breaks Pikachu from the net. Pikachu fires a Spark at the Team Rocket equipment, forcing them to retreat. 

Sirens approach as Officer Jenny (Ashley Johnson) arrives to survey the crime scene. She begins questioning Ash, who answers quickly while Misty fills in the details Ash misses. Jenny explains that Team Rocket traffic stolen Pokémon throughout the region - especially along main routes. After Officer Jenny wraps up her investigation of the scene, Ash, Misty, and Brock continue on the road toward Vermillion City.

Dusk settles as Ash, Misty, and Brock come across a small roadside camp. A Charmander sits alone on a rock, its tail flame burning steadily despite the falling temperature. A discarded Poké Ball lies nearby. Charmander watches them but doesn’t move. When Ash steps closer, it backs away. Gary Oak approaches and calls for Charmander to return. Charmander doesn’t move. Gary tries again, sharper this time. When it still refuses, he studies it for a moment, then recalls the Poké Ball from the ground. He says the Pokémon doesn’t respond, doesn’t adapt, and isn’t worth the time. Without raising his voice, he turns and leaves. Charmander stays where it is. Rain begins to fall. Charmander remains exposed, its flame flickering. Ash doesn’t hesitate this time. He moves in, using his jacket and Brock’s help to shield the flame while Misty secures the camp. Charmander resists at first, then stops, too weak to pull away. Pikachu stays beside it. By morning, the rain has passed. Charmander rises slowly. Ash holds out a Poké Ball without stepping forward. After a long pause, Charmander approaches and taps it. Ash clips the ball to his belt.

Vermilion City is louder and more industrial than the towns before it. The Gym sits behind reinforced gates, its interior lined with metal flooring and exposed wiring. Lt. Surge (Kevin Durand) stands at the center of the arena, arms folded, studying Ash without expression. When the match begins, Surge releases Raichu immediately. Surge gives few commands - his Raichu already knows what to do. Every attack from Raichu leaves Ash's Pikachu slower. Raichu charges a massive Thunderbolt. Ash sees it coming and without even thinking, steps into the line of fire blocking the attack from hitting Pikachu. The blast send Ash flying. Raichu and Surge are both confused. Pikachu reacts instantly, striking Raichu with a surprising physical attack that ends the battle. Surge recalls Raichu. Brock and Misty rush toward the unconscious Ash. 

Brock and Misty take Ash to the clinic to be treated by Nurse Joy (Georgia King). She makes it clear that she usually treats Pokémon, not humans, but Misty convinces her to help. Later, while Ash is resting Surge arrives to the clinic. Nurse Joy stops him, insisting the boy needs rest. Ash wakes up though, with Pikachu sleeping close at his side. Surge tells Ash that he has guts and hands him the Thunder Badge.

Ash is still bandaged as he, Brock, and Misty continue down the road toward Celadon City. They move through a heavily wooded area where they find a Bulbasaur surrounded by other Grass Pokémon - Bellsprout, Oddish, and Tangela. The Bulbasaur is agitated, its vine lashing at the other Pokémon when they get close. The Bulbasaur appears to be injured. Ash shouts at the other Pokémon to leave the Bulbasaur alone.  They scatter. Ash moves slowly toward the Bulbasaur, finding it has a cut on its leg. The Tangela tries to get close again, but Pikachu stands guard, scaring it off for good. Misty tosses Ash a Potion spray. Ash sprays the Potion on the wound and wraps it in a cloth bandage. Bulbasaur's breathing steadies and his vines calm. When Ash and the others prepare to leave, the Bulbasaur follows them at a distance. Ash turns around and holds out a Poke Ball. Bulbasaur approaches on its own and taps the ball. Ash clips the ball to his belt. Ash tells Pikachu they have a new friend now. 

When the group arrive at the Celadon Gym, they find the interior built like a living garden. Vines hangs from rafters, water channels cut through the floor, plant-life fills the space. Misty hangs back near the entrance, knowing her Water Pokémon are useless here. Brock steps forward with Ash, helping him navigate the environment. When Erika (Oona Chaplin), the Gym Leader approaches, Brock flirtatiously introduces himself. Ash taps Brock's shoulder, snapping him back to Earth. Erika asks which of them is prepared to challenge her. Ash raises his hand. The battle begins with Erika sending out Vileplume. Ash chooses Bulbasaur, keeping Pikachu at his side. Vileplume spreads Stun Spore through the gym, but Bulbasaur is unaffected. Ash and Bulbasaur follow a stone path. Erika instructs Vileplume to use Razor Leaf, forcing Bulbasaur into a cramped space between plants. Bulbasaur responds with Vine Whip, clearing a path through the overgrowth. Bulbasaur gets a clear path to Vileplume and lands a vicious Body Slam that knocks Vileplume to the ground. Ash calls out for Bulbasaur to keep going. Bulbasaur wraps Vileplum with and its vines and constricts. Erika recalls Vileplume, ending the match. She awards Ash the Rainbow Badge. Brock tries to get Erika's phone number, but she ignores him. Ash confidently adjusts the new badge on his case.

Ash calls home and speaks with his mother Delia, who excitedly tells her son that she has a Pokémon of her own now too - a Mr. Mime to help around the house with chores. Delia has to end the call early as Mr. Mime is juggling the groceries instead of putting them away.

The road the group journeys on next bends along a shallow ravine that has been blocked dry by fallen debris. The water cannot travel through to help crops grow and instead floods the roadway. A lone Squirtle works at the blockage, trying to get the water to flow through the debris. It uses bursts of Water Gun to test the flow unsuccessfully. Ash and the others watch. Misty recognizes that Squirtle is trying to redirect the stream back into its original path. Brock calls out his Geodude to help dig a new path. Ash moves down into the ravine, following the Squirtle's lead moving rocks out of the way. Misty sends out Staryu, using Rapid Spin to slow the current to give them space to work. Squirtle and Ash work together to reframe the water path. Finally the water starts following where it is supposed to, down to the crops in a nearby farm community. Ash reaches out his hand to shake Squirtle's. Squirtle then points to a Poke Ball on Ash's belt. Ash asks Squirtle if he'd like to come with them. Squirtle nods. Ash holds out a Poke Ball and Squirtle enters.

Jessie and James work on a partially constructed trap. Meowth moves between them, connecting cables. When they test the trap, it jams every time. As they adjust the trap, it falls apart completely. They then receive a call ordering them to return to Team Rocket headquarters for new directions.

Ash continues to challenge the other Gyms with Brock and Misty at his side:

- Ash's Bulbasaur uses Razor Leaf, cutting through the Smokescreen from Koga's Weezing. Bulbasuar lands a clean Tackle before Weezing can release Poison Gas.

- Sabrina's Kadabra bends spoons midair as Pikachu struggles to land a Quick Attack. When Kadabra over commits, Pikachu hits it with a Thunderbolt.

- Charmander evolves into Charmeleon while battling Blaine's Magmar. Its Ember attack suddenly transforms into a powerful Flamethrower. With Magmar weakened, Charmeleon finishes it off with a Fire Punch.

- Giovanni is absent from his Gym, but a substitute's Rhydon is no match for Squirtle's Bubblebeam.

Ash adjusts his Badges at a Pokémon Center - eight in total. Misty and Brock ask Ash if he's going to challenge the Pokémon League now. Ash asks if they're willing to tag along still. They agree.

The terrain changes as they leave the cities behind. The road narrows, elevation rising. Fewer Trainers travel this far. Ash continues training his Pokémon along the route. One evening, as they reach higher ground, a distant battle draws their attention. A Gyarados surges from a mountain lake, thrashing violently as a Trainer struggles to control it. Before Ash can move, a Dragonite enters the field. It launches a Hyper Beam at Gyarados, forcing it back into the water. Lance (Shawn Roberts) recalls Dragonite. He looks at Ash, noticing his badges. With a smile, he wishes Ash luck in the Pokémon League.

The path finally opens onto the Indigo Plateau, a massive stone complex built into the mountainside. The scale is massive - arenas, medical facilities, and training grounds are spread throughout the plateau. Ash steps forward with Brock and Misty, placing his badge case on the registration counter. One by one, the badges are inspected and verified. Across the grounds, Ash notices Gary Oak, but doesn't speak to him. Pikachu climbs onto Ash's shoulder.

A series of matches unfold across multiple arenas. Ash's first opponent sends out Sandslash, who opens with Dig. Ash chooses Bulbasaur. When Sandslash resurfaces, Bulbasaur uses Razor Leaf to knock Sandslash back before knocking it out with Sleep Powder. 

In the next round, Ash faces a Trainer using Pidgeotto. Strong winds from Pidgeotto's Gust push Pikachu back across the area. Pikachu waits for Pidgeotto to attempt a Wing Attack. When it swoops down, Pikachu paralyzes Pidgeotto with a Thunder Wave.

Another round - Nidorino versus Ash's Squirtle. The opponent tries Horn Attack, but Squirtle blocks the attack with Withdraw, using its shell for protection. Squirtle pops its head back out and uses Bubblebeam at close range.

Between rounds, Ash sits with Misty and Brock. They offer him notes for improvements as the tournament continues. Across the field, Gary continues advancing as well. Ash rises as his name is called again. He looks at the leaderboard and sees his name next to Gary's.

The arena is larger for the next match. Ash and Gary take their positions opposite each other. The referee signals the start. Gary opens with Arcanine. Ash chooses Squirtle. Arcanine presses forward with Flamethrower, forcing Squirtle into defensive mode. Ash directs Squirtle to use Water Gun to redirect the fire, but Arcanine keeps closing in and knocks Squirtle out with Take Down. Ash calls Squirtle back. Ash sends out Bulbasaur, who uses Poison Powder to make Arcanine ill. Gary recalls Arcanine and releases Scyther, who immediately uses Quick Attack before Bulbasaur can even respond. Bulbasaur attempts Vine Whip, but Scyther Cuts them away before knocking Bulbasaur back. Ash recalls Bulbasaur and sends out Charmeleon, who immediately uses Ember to heat up the arena. Scyther is singed by the attack. Gary orders Scyther to power through and use Slash, but Charmeleon defeats it with Fire Spin. Gary recalls Scyther and sends out Blastoise without hesitation. Pikachu tugs at Ash's sleeve. Ash can tell that Pikachu wants to get in the battle. He recalls Charmeleon and sends out Pikachu. Blastoise opens with a powerful Hydro Pump. Pikachu manages to avoid it while beginning to charge electricity. Blastoise keeps trying Hydro Pump as Pikachu continues charging. Ash asks Pikachu if he's ready. Pikachu nods to Ash then unleashes a more powerful attack than ever before... Thunder! The impact drops Blastoise. Gary recalls Blastoise and walks past Ash without a word. The match is over. 

Ash has reached the finals. He discovers that his final opponent is Lance. Misty and Brock are both nervous about Ash's chances. Ash calls home and speaks with his mother Delia and Professor Oak. Delia mentions how proud she is of Ash making it on his own out in the big wide world. Professor Oak congratulates Ash on beating his nephew Gary. While he loves his nephew, Oak thinks Gary could learn a thing or two from Ash.

Ash and Lance face off in the finals arena. Ash opens with Pikachu, while Lance starts with Dragonite. Pikachu tries Quick Attack to stay mobile, but Dragonite has no trouble tracking it. Ash calls for Thunderbolt. Pikachu's attack lands, but does little damage. Dragonite counters with Dragon Tail, ending the round quickly. Ash goes out into the arena to retrieve the weakened Pikachu in his arms - something unheard of in battle at such a stage. Ash sends out Squirtle, who opens with Water Gun, but Dragonite uses Body Slam, dropping Squirtle. Ash recalls Squirtle. Bulbasaur enters next. Ash instructs Bulbasaur to use Razor Leaf. For a moment it works, but Lance gets Dragonite to adjust. Dragonite uses Dragon Breath to incapacitate Bulbasaur. Ash is stunned, realizing that he's down to one Pokémon... Charmeleon. 

Ash sends out Charmeleon, who is dwarfed in size by Dragonite. Charmeleon doesn't waste time and launches a Flamethrower attack at Dragonite. As Dragonite defends itself, Charmeleon closes in with a Slash. Lance suddenly watches carefully. Dragonite answers with Dragon Tail, sending Charmeleon across the field. Dragonite prepares Hyper Beam. Charmeleon drops. Ash takes a step forward, then stops when Charmeleon gets back up, rising slowly. The flame on Charmeleon's tail grows. Charmeleon suddenly evolves into Charizard. Charizard lifts into the air above the arena. The crowd is stunned to silence for a moment before roaring with applause. Dragonite flies up to meet it. Dragonite fires Hyper Beam again, but Charizard evades and uses Fire Blast, forcing Dragonite back to the ground. Dragonite fires a Dragon Breath attack at Charizard, knocking it to the ground. Charizard tries, but cannot get back up. The announcers declare Lance the champion of the Pokémon League. Lance steps out to shake Ash's hand.

The Indigo Plateau is quieter now. The arenas stand empty, the crowds gone. Ash sits outside a Pokémon Center with Pikachu in his lap. Brock and Misty sit down beside him. Misty asks where they should go next. Brock mentions regions beyond Kanto. Misty pulls out a map to find the places Brock is mentioning. Ash is barely listening though, his eyes focused forward.

Post-Credits:

Giovanni (David Dastmalchian) stands at the center of a large control room, reviewing a projection of various Pokémon battles. Ash briefly appears among them. Jessie and James stand before him, silent. Meowth sits at their feet. Giovanni tells them that Team Rocket is moving beyond stealing Pokémon from Trainers, and instead is looking something more Legendary. Security footage of Mewtwo escaping from a lab plays across the projection.

IN DEVELOPMENT

 

Deadline: Director Tony Gilroy's political thriller Deadline is set to close out Round 1 of Season 37 and now we know that Harry Lawtey (Mr. Burton, "Industry"), Anthony Edwards ("Inventing Anna", Experimener), Mare Winningham (Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Flesh and Blood, Rob Peace), and Stephen Root (Unreasonable Doubt, Mises) have all been brought onboard to round out the ensemble cast. Jimmy Ellis & Chad Taylor penned the project.

Metroid Prime: The Jennifer Lawrence-led second Metroid film has landed Anthony Ramos (The Maid, Five Boroughs), Zoe Kravitz (Victims, Love Is...),  and Stephan James (Good Marriage, Rainbow Six) for its supporting cast as members of the crew of Commander Nemo (Jamie Foxx). Cary Joji Fukunaga is back to direct the video game sequel once again from a script by Dawson Edwards.

Below the Surface: Another film is completing its casting process with the Jon Bernthal mining drama Below the Surface adding Ian Bohen (Air Force One Down, Wind River), Jordana Spiro (To the Stars, Small Engine Repair), and Reed Birney (The Menu, Blue Film) to the supporting ensemble. Fran Kranz is directing the Sammy-Jo Ellis-penned drama.

Hay Day: In a surprising production announcement, Mel Gibson (The Punisher: Purgatory, Sins of the Father) is set to star in and direct Hay Day, a dramatic thriller about a farmer standing up to a major agricultural corporation. It is based on the mobile game of the same name. Laura Dern (The Hippie Preacher, Particle) and Kiernan Shipka (Heist Society, Anastasia) will play Gibson's wife and daughter, respectively. Writer Alex Conn (Kill Bin Laden, Diary of a Wimpy Kid) is behind the adaptation.

Grand Theft Auto IV: After 26 seasons since its last entry, the Grand Theft Auto franchise is back on the big screen with an adaptation of Grand theft Auto IV. Sebastian Stan (The Glass Menagerie, Bioshock) is set to headline the film as Niko, a former soldier from Eastern Europe who arrives in Liberty City in search of the American Dream. Cameron Britton (Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Flesh and Blood, The Oil Slick) will play Niko's cousin Roman,  Trevante Rhodes (Artemis, Krueger) will play a drug dealer. Taylor Sheridan (The House Down the Street, Rodeo) is directing this entry from a script by Mo Buck (Echoes of Red, Gas Bar Blues).

The Silver Swan: Animators Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey (The Secret of Kells) are working together again on The Silver Swan, a mostly silent acapella scored animated film about a swan finding her voice. Morgan Freeman (The Giver, Mr. Big) will narrate the project while Emmy Rossum (Final End, Sinatra) will be the voice of the swan once her voice is found. Jacob Jones (The Bounty Hunter, Double Date) penned the film.