Chapter 1: Breakdown of the IFA Best Picture Nominees
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First printed in Unova Entertainment Monthly’s January issue. Written by Taylor Hartson
After The Academy’s surprise announcement that there will only be four movies nominated for best picture this year, the hype has grown, and the official countdown to the International Film Awards next February has officially begun. Here we have come up with a guide for your pre IFA movie binge.
Blackboard (Le Tableau Noir ) Gaston Duguay. Drama. R.
A young teaching assistant at a university falls for one of his students: a charming yet mysterious man who dreams of changing the world for the better. Their torrid affair leads to ugly and eye opening realizations about the world and themselves.
Why It’s A Contender: The film’s raw passion drove it to box office success. From the outstanding acting of the film’s star-studded cast (Best Actor nominee Andre Deschamps as the troubled youth Léon, Jaques Armand as the conflicted teaching assistant Michel Bonnefoy, and two time IFA Best Actress winner Diantha Jolivet as the university president to name a few) the camera’s lingering gaze on both romantic interludes and tense confrontations alike, the haunting score, audiences could not tear their eyes from the screen. Many also praised the film’s exploration of social issues such as humanity’s nature to acceptance of the LGBT community.
Why It Won’t Make The Cut: For such a revolutionary movie, Blackboard’s use of a tragic ending for the LGBT characters disappointed viewers, calling it a “a cliche that does more harm than good.” In the film’s native Kalos, controversy ensued from speculation that the movie was based on the supposed relationship between pokemon expert Professor Augustine Sycamore and the late Lysandre Labs CEO and former leader of Team Flare Lysandre Leroy. Others claimed that the movie’s timing with Léon’s descent into radicalism came too soon after Team Flare’s attempt to destroy Kalos in order to create a new world only three years prior.
Blackboard is rated R for its use of strong language, sexual content, and nudity
Like The Darkness Of Your Shadow (Anata No In No Yami No Yō Ni) Hiroto Yamada. Drama. R.
An orphaned sixteen year old boy joins a mafia gang in order to provide for his younger siblings and gets caught up in the underbelly of the crime world.
Why It’s A Contender: Critics have applauded the film’s use of realism: its dialogue, the gritty urban setting, moral grayness of the characters, and the depiction of the inner workings of the gang itself(Director Yamada has stated in interviews that he interviewed former members of Team Rocket for authenticity). Three members of its cast are have been nominated for IFA awards: breakout star Satoshi Yoshida for Best Actor for his sympathetic and tragic portrayal of the protagonist Ichiro that had audiences in tears, Best Actress nominee Megumi Miyamoto as Yuna, a drug addicted gang member and Ichiro’s love interest, and Akihito Abe for Best Supporting Actor as the mafia leader Kumori.
Why It Won’t Make The Cut: Like The Darkness Of Your Shadow is not for viewers with a weak stomach. The violence, torture, depraved illegal activities and other disturbing incidents are overplayed to the point of pure shock value. Controversy broke out after some pokemon rights groups accused Mr. Yamada of actually allowing the ditto to be abused in the infamous ditto scene despite reports that a member of the Pokemon Humane Society was on set at all time to ensure all of the pokemons’ safety and that that particular scene was simulated.
Like The Darkness Of Your Shadow is rated R for graphic violence and torture, strong language, drug use, and scenes of pokemon cruelty
Natsuki And The Froslass’ Path (Natsuki To Yukimenoko No Michi) Isami Sato. Animation. PG.
When a young girl named Natsuki catches sight of a Froslass while gathering berries outside of her village, she is whisked to a world of ice beyond the mountains.
Why It’s A Contender: The film makes use of breathtaking animation and well developed characters to bring an old Sinnohan folktale to life. The audience cheers on the character of Natsuki as she grows into a hero of her own right. Her quest to escape the ice world turns that into a fight for the enslaved inhabitants survival. Yet even with the sides of good and evil, black and white are drawn out, all of the characters, even the Froslass reside in that gray moral area in between: something rare for a children’s movie.
Why It Won’t Make The Cut: Natsuki And The Froslass’ Path was too Sinnohan for some people’s tastes. When it first premiered at Kanto Animation Fest, the audience members from other regions were left with mixed feelings and unanswered questions such as: what was the Froslass’ motive? Why is the pokemon named Arceus, who only had five seconds of screen time, so important at the climax? Is the Kirlia Natsuki befriended actually a human boy trapped in a pokemon’s body? What was the ending so confusing?
Natsuki And The Froslass’ Path is rated PG for fantasy violence and some scary moments
Past Drifting Tides Eleanor Keahi. Comedic Drama. PG-13.
Three sisters at turning points in their life: one jobless, one recently divorced, and the other kicked out of college, embark on a journey across Alola to fulfill the wish of their ailing mother: to find a long lost letter she tossed out to sea as a young woman.
Why It’s A Contender: Past Drifting Tides has been called the “feel good movie of the year” and movie goers agree. The movie is a beautiful look at at the ties of sisterhood and family, and the audience is able to easily connect with these three woman who are searching for more in life. The cinematography is stunning, and the movie makes great use of Alola’s picturesque scenery to its advantage.
Why It Won’t Make The Cut: Some that despite its unique Alolan charm, that Past Drifting Tides was rushed. It listed off the sisters’ problem and only offered quick and easy resolutions. The movie as a whole could have worked better as a television miniseries where the characters would be allowed to fully develop.
Past Drifting Tides is rated PG-13 for language and mature themes
Chapter 2: Ren-Fair Ruffians Ransack Supermarket
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Taken from UBC’s (Unova Brodcasting Company) 6 o Clock Newshour On Channel 4
NEWS ANCHOR: In local news, a pokemon activist group vandalized a supermarket in Route 5’s Hillcrest Town. Here with more, is Jack Brownstone.
CAMERA CUTS TO EXTERIOR OF SUPERMARKET
VOICEOVER JACK BROWNSTONE: It was a slow afternoon yesterday at Joe’s Quick Mart when a group of seven to ten oddly dressed people marched in at around 2 pm.
CUT TO INTERVIEW WITH STORE CASHIER
CASHIER: I was like wondering if there was a Ren-fair going on or something. These dudes were literally like dressed in armor and this one guy actually was carrying a sword.
SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF TEAM PLASMA MEMBERS ENTERING STORE IS SHOWN
VOICEOVER: The supposed Renaissance fair re-enactors dispersed and took their places at sections where pokemon products were being displayed. Then, witnesses say, a man who appeared to be the leader took out a megaphone to address both shoppers and staff alike. He condemned them for their quote on quote: “selfish greed and mindless consumption of sentient beings.” It was then the activists started to overturn and smash the products.
A VIDEO TITLED EYEWITNESS XTRANSCIEVER FOOTAGE SHOWING TEAM PLASMA VANDALIZING STORE. TWO GRUNTS RIP APART PACKAGES OF TARUOS AND BOFFUALANT MEAT AND THROW THEM TO THE GROUND. OFFSCREEN, CHANTS OF “LIBERATION! LIBERATION!” FROM OTHER GRUNTS ARE HEARD
VOICEOVER: Once every pokemon related product was destroyed, the group fled. Police came to the scene too late and were left with more questions than answers.
CUT TO INTERVIEW WITH MANAGER JOE PARENTI
JOE PARENTI: I don’t know why these hooligans would go after my store! We here pride ourselves from getting our products ethically, from vendors who care about pokemon rights. It took the entire night to clean up my store. I lost so much money—
CUT TO NEWS ANCHOR
ANCHOR: Hillcrest Police issued a statement that says anyone with information about these activist vandals should report to them immediately.
SEGWAY TO NEXT STORY
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Written by third grader Kotaro from Hoenn for science class
Today our class went to the beach. We explored the tide pools. It was at low tide when the waves didn’t come up on the beach. The rocks were very slippery because they were wet and had moss on them but I wore my sneakers so I won’t fall. We saw small fish sea snails crabs corsola luvdisc and staryu. The fish staryu crabs and luvdic swam in the water. The corsola and snails were on the rocks. I got to touch a staryu. It felt slippery. I did not know that so many creatures live in tide pools. The trip was a lot of fun!
Chapter 4: Spotlight: Rosa Whitley
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The original tumblr post
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(Printed in May Week 3’s Issue of Celeb Today Unova)
The Champion and actress stepped aside to chat with us at Suburban Twilight’s premiere.
Changes!
I was so excited to work on Suburban Twilight. It was my first time working on a drama and it made me appreciate how actors are able to bring out their deepest emotions and thoughts and put them out there. I had to do a lot of reflecting to get into this role and one of the exercises Todd (Director Todd McMann) had us do was sit down, pick a scene from the script, and write a journal entry from one of the other characters’ point of view about how they were feeling. It was an eye-opening experience.
Rebel Rebel
I know lots of people know me best as Rilou Girl or Princess Luisa and are completely shocked by how scandalous Suzette is. She is a teen rebel to a T! She swears. She fights with her parents. She dresses wildly. Smokes. Sneaks out during the night to party. It’s something completely different from what they’ve seen. What’s funny is that I actually had to ask one of my friends for tips on how to act edgy because I had no idea how! But I feel sorry for Suzette. As a kid of divorced parents, I can relate to the pain she feels in the movie as her parent’s relationship breaks, and understand why she acts out to get rid of it even though it hurts her.
DiAUNTha
Diantha is amazing! Even though she played my mom in the film, I always saw her like a really cool aunt. I’d drop by her trailer all the time when we weren’t shooting and we’d just hang out and talk about whatever. Acting. Our pokemon. Teaching me a useful phrase or two in French. What shows we were watching. Being Champions and all that comes with it. She has the best advice for anything. Even when I felt bad for having to do scenes where I was horrible to her, she told me that even though I might feel bad, it’s best not to let something that isn’t real get to you. We’d always hug it out and have tea together after filming difficult scenes. The last day of shooting she invited me, Brycen (Brycen Michaelson), and Garrett (Garrett Hunter) out to lunch. We had a happy family meal!
Brycen Man Brycen Dad
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve accidentally called Brycen “dad” when we weren’t working on scenes. I guess after working on the Rilou Girl movies, I do kinda see him like a dad? If he didn’t say something like “yes pumpkin” he’d tell me to go clean my room or he’d take away my Champion title! For Garrett it was always “Yep sport?” or “mow the lawn or you’re grounded!” I have no idea if he had a comeback for Diantha if she ever called him “dear” or something like that. He probably did.
Kick Back And Relax
Whenever I’m not doing Champion duties or acting in movies I spend time with my family, friends, and pokemon. I find that staying active always pumps me up whether it’s rollerblading or having a pokemon battle. If I need that me time, I like to tune out the world with some tunes. I’m obsessed right now with Roxie’s new album.
Chapter 5: Something Weird Is Going On At The Viridian City Gym
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From an online discussion fourm
PokemonJourneysInKanto: Something weird is going on at the Viridian City gym
To start this off a little bit about myself: I'm a trainer from Johto, going through the gyms here so I can challenge the Pokemon League. Yesterday, after a long day's journey from Cinnabar Island, I finally arrived at Viridian City. My plan had been to check into a hotel, rest for the night, and challenge the gym in the morning, but someone at the Pokemon Center told me that the gym had opened after a four month hiatus. Apparently it then stays open from anywhere from a few hours to a week before closing again. I didn't want to waste this opportunity, so I gathered my team together (my croconaw, ampharos, and houndoom if you're interested) and headed right over.
When I entered the gym, to my surprise, it was completely empty save for the gym greeter and the few trainers standing around the gyms waiting to be challenged. And it was a day where the gym was supposed to be open to the public and there was no one in the viewing area! The gym greeter was just so rude. He didn't welcome me at all, and when I tried asking him about the gym because I knew next to nothing about it and he just waved me through with a curt "go find out yourself." Turns out it was a ground type gym! The only reason I was able to pull through was my croconaw Max who was a real trooper. And the other trainers there had no idea who the gym leader was. They didn't know his name, what he looks like, even what he sounded like because the only form of contact they had with him was through email and cash payments in the mail.
I reach the back room where the gym leader awaits. It's pitch black in there and I can only make out the shadows of his short, stocky figure and the pokemon he sends out. His voice, deep with a toughness and grit to it that actually scared me, welcomed me and informed me with what I imagined to be a sinister grin on his face, that I would never be able to beat him. He was right. I didn't stand a chance against him. His pokemon were just too strong. They knocked out my pokemon within two hits, if not one each. I had already ran out of revives and potions and the battle was over in less than two minutes. The losers, I'm told have to exit down the back hallway as not to give any challengers the wrong idea by going back the way they came. This hallway is also dark and I don't know where I'm going and also mentally kicking myself for being stupid enough to rush into this gym. Then all the sudden, I feel a hand grab my arm. I'm yanked back and I feel a sharp pain go down my arm as my assailant twists it behind. Another hand knocks me back into a wall, there's another hand squeezing over the jacket pocket where I keep my pokeballs and it feels like it's trying to tear the zipper off from my jacket. I'm thrashing about and just as I feel the hand dig into my pocket I smash my foot down onto what feels a boot. I hear a cry of pain and I grab my pokeballs and make a run for it. I don't know how I got out but I did. I somehow manage to keep my cool as I go to the pokemon center and then to the hotel, but inside I'm just terrified beyond imagination.
My pokemon are ok, but are just as shaken as I am. My arm is still killing me and I'm planning on having it checked out by a doctor later today. I don't know what to do. I feel like I should go to the police, but all of my Kantonian friends tell me that police around these parts are basically useless. And there's just this feeling I got from that gym leader, from the trainers and whoever attacked me that they'd come after me if I did. I want to chase my dreams and battle at Indigo Plateau but I can't put myself and my pokemon in danger. I don't know if this is a thing that only has happened to me, or if there are other trainers who have also gotten into something like this, but if you're planning on going to the Viridian City gym please please be careful.
TLDR: Went to challenge Viridian City gym, was attacked and almost had pokemon stolen.
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May 25
Dear Journal,
Well this is it! I head off for Hoenn tomorrow. I checked the time and it’s about a quarter past one. I should be sleeping since we’re leaving at around seven to drop me off at Castelia airport, but I just can’t close my eyes and lie still. I’m sitting on the front porch, gazing out at our street. Even though it’s dark, and the street lamps don’t give off a good, I can still picture how the houses across from ours look. The exact same size, same square structure, same blue roof, made out of wood too, typical of the houses of this town. Then I look down the dirt path, to the left, which turns into concrete that connects to the main road, and I can just imagine the other streets in town, with houses just like this one, where Cheren and Bianca live one street over, to the downtown area where the shops, businesses, schools, the park, and city hall lie, to the far north part of town where Professor Juniper’s lab is, which almost towers over city hall if it weren’t for that giant clock that lies over the city hall entrance. And I think about how I’ve spent all my sixteen years of life in this little town, in this region, and tomorrow, today? I’m going to be leaving Unova for the first time in my life. I’m really excited but I’m also nervous and sad too. It’s not like my pokemon journey whenever I’d get homesick I can just fly on Webby back home and recharge for the weekend. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone and I’m not even 100% sure that N is in Hoenn right now. I’m going to miss everyone so much, especially mom, and I worry about how lonely she’ll get being. Yeah I know, she has her friends, grandma and grandpa, and the job at the pharmacy, but I’m scared that if I leave, she’ll get depressed like she did after dad and Hunter died.
I don’t wanna cry. I can’t cry. I want to start this trip on a good note. Come on, I can do this. I’m going to think and write about good things. Like the goodbye party Mom threw me last night. Everybody came! Cheren, Bianca, their families (except for Cheren’s older brother Ichiro who lives in Castelia City) Professor Juniper, grandma and grandpa, granny and pop-pop, Aunt Shiela and Uncle Joe and my cousin Hilbert(who is so jealous lol). It was the best party I’ve ever had! Great food! Great music! I got presents too! Cheren gave me a book on useful Japanese phrases and how to start learning Japanese which is what I need right now, Bianca made me a bead lucky charm that looks like Reshiram (I’m gonna put a picture of it here because it is so pretty), mom gave me those high-tech backpacks that has infinite storage so I can pack as many things as I want (I did!), Professor Juniper updated my pokedex to include more info on Hoenn pokemon, the rest of my family gave me poke balls, those water bottles that keeps your drinks cool without having to put it in the fridge, and granny knit me a new sweater (even though I don’t think I’ll need to too much in Hoenn except for cool nights). And throughout the whole party I kept thinking about how lucky I was to have people in my life who care about me and love me, and how I want N to know what that feeling’s like. That there are people out there who are good and want good for this world, who have your back no matter how hard it gets, and loves you no matter what happens. N’s my friend and friends always do the best they can for each other. That’s what I want to tell him when I meet him again, whenever that will be.
Ok I’m going to go and try and catch some sleep so I won’t be so tired in the morning and so I won’t doze off in the front yard.
Til next time.
Love,
Hilda
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The Wolfes Of War
An excerpt of an epic poem about the medieval King Rywald's quest to summon the legendary wolves Zacian and Zamazenta in order to save Galar. Believed to be written in the 12th or 13th century.
And wen King Rywald and his men reached The Wilde
A Crone there sat with her cauldron brim
Styrring a moste foul brewe
The King approached eyes a lyt with fyre
Abende on his knee
Crone saith he I seek the Wolfes of War
Lende me cauldron ye
For Galar hath been assaile by foes
That a plaigh our land for a forte and a nighte
As King I must fighte for our freedom
I hafe not spelle ne magick
As mightie as the Cauldron
That lieth at ye feete
Crone she laught lyke the cawe of a corviknight
So loude it gave Rywald men a fryt
Proude yong King saith she
The power in myne Cauldron ne naught for mortal men
It hath led to madness and bloodshed
And in its wake fields a full of the dead
Modern English Translation
And when King Rywald and his men reached The Wild
A Crone sat there with her cauldron filled to the brim
Stirring a most foul brew
The King approached, eyes alight with fire
And bent on his knee
‘Crone’ he said. ‘I seek the Wolves of War
Lend me your cauldron
For Galar has been assailed by foes
That plagued our land for a fortnight
As King I must fight for our freedom
I have neither spell nor magic
As mighty as the Cauldron
That lies at your feet’
The Crone laughed, like the caw of a corviknight
So loud, it gave Rwyald’s men a fright
‘Proud young King,’ she said
‘The power in my Cauldron is not for mortal men
It has led to madness and bloodshed
And in it’s wake, fields full of the dead’
Chapter 8: Triple Trouble!
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Published December 18 in Hello Stars! Magazine
The PML holiday party last night at Pasio’s Chateau Deluxe Resort quickly soured faster than an expired eggnog when the cops crashed onto the scene. Sources say that a major fight broke out between the infamous trainer Blue Oak and manager of the PML and royal prince of the —— region Lear. Earlier in the evening, Lear, 16, was overheard screaming at Blue, 22 to “Get out of my seat! I reserved it first and as the founder of this tournament I get first priority!” to which Blue responded with “Then ya shoulda got here faster squirt.” Insiders to the party said that exchange of insulting remarks continued throughout the evening until it reached the point where Lear threatened to ban Blue from the tournament. It was then that the superstar trainer socked him right in the jaw. The two did not suffer major injures except for bruising. Under pressure from the PML, the police did not arrest them, but cautioned them.
Around the same time, a very inebriated Grimsley, former Unova Elite Four member, was seen pleading with his old colleagues to let him rejoin the League. After he was declined, Grimsley, 33, reportedly “went a rampage,” by trashing the hotel ballroom and lobby. Witnesses say this included overturning furniture, stealing other people’s drinks, throwing poker chips, swinging from the chandelier, breaking glasses, and stripping down to his underwear. He was arrested and taken into custody. Police say that cocaine was found in his hotel room.
And while police did not take action in the third case, drama brewed between the Kanto champion Lance and Elite Four member Karen. Insiders say that Lance took to the stage during a holiday game and grabbed the microphone to announce to everyone that Karen “Is fired from the Elite Four because she is a lying b*h.” He, 35 then went on to share that the two had been in a friends with benefits relationship for years but when he wanted to take it to the next level, she turned him down. She,33 then interjected: “You a*hole! It was interfering with our professional relationship!” Lance then went to accuse her of cheating on him with “Oh yeah? You do tell that to all the guys you sleep with?” And proceeded to name former Hoenn champion Steven Stone, Unova Elite Four member Grimsley, Unova Gym Leader Brycen, and Kalos Elite Four member Siebold as proof. An extremely heated argument ensued before they were escorted out by Alola’s Kahuna Nanu.
The PML declined to comment on the situation. Kahuna Nanu who is unofficially in charge of Pasio’s police forces stated at a press conference this morning that: “This all happened because a bunch of idiots had too much to drink.”
Chapter 9: An Unexpected Loss
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Published on October 10th in the obituary section of Paldea’s most important newspaper La Región
The National Paldean Institute for the Sciences (NPIS) issued a statement that Professor Arturo Turo, the scientist who revolutionized pokemon battling with the creation of Tera Orbs, has passed away at the age of 45. An excavation team found his body yesterday in the depths of Area Zero. The scene showed signs of an attack by an unknown pokemon.
Mr. Turo born July 15,th 1977, in Sierra Blanca in the northern province, had an intense fascination with the wonders of the Great Crater of Paldea that dated back to childhood. He was described by relatives as having a natural gift for science, an insatiable curiosity, and having his nose constantly buried in Samuel Heath’s Ventures into the Depths: The Mystery of the Great Crater of Paldea. He attended the prestigious Uva Academy, where his teachers encouraged him to study pokemon science, and then went on to do his university studies at The University of Mesagoza, and postgrad and doctoral studies at Le Ecole National des Science et Technologie in Kalos.
In 2003, Turo joined the Area Zero Expedition led by scientist Raoul Clavel. Fresh out of graduate school, Turo proved to be an asset to his team with his enthusiasm, innovation, and dedication to working in the Crater’s difficult terrain. Within a year, he had been promoted to lead researcher. It was around this time period that he began collecting data and carrying out experiments on the crystals of the Great Crater that held Terastal energy. His findings were published in various scientific journals in Paldea as well as in Galar and Kalos. In 2012, he invented and patented the Tera Orb; a device that allowed pokemon trainers to draw upon Terastal energy for use in pokemon battles. The Tera Orb became a sensation in the pokemon battling community and quickly became available to the public. Turo’s invention won many awards, including the NPIS’ prestigious Scientific Achievement of the Year. Turo continued to investigate the Tera Phenomenon for the rest of his life with the hopes that it could be used to advance human civilization into the future.
Turo leaves behind his son Arven, aged 17, as well as his parents Mr. and Mrs. Turo, aged 77 and 75, and a sister Mrs. Hernandez aged 47. A public memorial service will be held at Turo’s alma mater Uva Academy at 11:00 am this Saturday.