MCU Characters who can defeat Thanos

Spoiler Warning: Contains plot points from Avengers: Infinity War and other MCU films.

With most of the cast dead after the third instalment of Avengers, there are only a few characters

• This list only includes characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe so Marvel characters like Dark Phoenix and Silver Surfer won’t be included.
• This list also includes only those characters that are alive after the Infinity Wars so characters like Odin and Ultron won’t be on the list unless there’s a realistic way for them to resurrect before Thanos’ defeat.
• Marvel characters that have yet to appear in the MCU will also not be included.

Thor

From Endgame trailer.

He’s currently the only known MCU character able to go toe to toe against the Mad Titan even inflicting a major injury upon him with Storm Breaker. Thor might take Thanos’ advice the next time they meet and aim for the head.

Captain Marvel

From Endgame trailer.

From speed, strength, flight, laser powers, this pilot has everything and will probably reveal more powers in the sequels. She’s currently one of the few characters who can go toe to toe against Thanos.

Surtur

From Thor: Ragnarok trailer.

Remember the giant fire demon that destroyed Asgard? He’s probably still around, floating in space or chilling out at the ashes of Asgard.

Ant-Man/Scott Lang

You probably have an idea of how this will go; if you don’t just Google it.

Nebula

From Endgame Trailer.

It’s not clear if Nebula made the attempt on Thanos’ life before or after he got the Power Stone but according to Thanos she nearly succeeded and she must have done a good job because Thanos was pissed enough to dismantle and torture the alien cyborg. Now that Thanos has all the stones Nebula’s vengeance seems far, but with possible upgrades to her robotic parts from Tony Stark or a Thanos slaying weapon from Eitri the Dwarf King who made Mjolnir and Storm Breaker she may yet have her revenge. Or like the comics, she might steal the Power Gauntlet and win the day.

Hela

From Thor: Ragnarok trailer.

There’s a good chance that Thor’s big sister survived Ragnarok since we didn’t see her die onscreen, it was only implied that Surtur killed her along with Asgard. If she survived she would be one of the few characters stronger than Thor. Though, she might get nerfed since her powers depended on Asgard.

Hulk/Bruce Banners

From Endgame trailer.

The big green guy seems to be sulking in Bruce’s mind after the thorough thrashing he got from Thanos but it’s only a matter of time before Hulk gets mad and starts smashing Thanos. It’ll most probably involve the Black Widow getting smacked around by Thanos; remember, Hulk’s strength is proportional to his rage.

Gamora

From Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Trailer.

Thanos used Gamora’s soul to obtain the Soul Stone. When Thanos snapped his fingers he met Gamora as a child in the Soul Realm. Gamora might still be alive in the Soul Stone and might be able to manipulate the Infinity Gauntlet into defeating Thanos. If not that, she might be able to revive a hero that can defeat Thanos like Odin, Celestial Star-Lord or Dr Strange. After all, as Red Skull said, “The Soul Stone has a special place among the Infinity Stones.”

Tony Stark/Iron Man

From Infinity War Trailer

As unlikely as it is, Tony seems to have a special role set for him in Thanos’ eventual demise. He has a link with Thanos which goes both ways and Dr Strange went through the trouble of trading the Time Stone for Tony’s life. That is after making it clear that between saving Tony, Peter Parker and the stone Strange would choose the stone. The only future Dr Strange saw where they defeat Thanos involved the Stark of MCU for sure.

As for how? I’m guessing a new suit made of either vibranium from Wakanda with inputs from Shuri or one made by Eitri using Dwarven tech. Tony might return the favour and give him mechanical arms.

The Original Avengers

From Endgame Trailer.

This will most likely end the way it started, with the original Avengers assembling and ganging up on the Mad Titan.

So who do you think will defeat Thanos?

Top 10 MCU Lines

With Phase 3 almost at its end, it’s about time we celebrated some of the best lines the Marvel Cinematic Universe has to offer. You might disagree with some but will agree with most of these:

# 10

Iron Man (Screenshot from Youtube)

Who can forget this one from Iron Man? Especially since MCU started with this movie. Keeping secret identities was like the protocol of all superheroes, but of course, Tony and rules are like oil and water.

# 9

Avengers (Screenshot from Youtube)

Yikes! Even Natasha Romanov broke a sweat and who can blame her considering that the ‘other guy’ loves smashing. But still, this line from Avengers is one of the most menacing. Bruce sure knows how to threaten people.

# 8

Spiderman: Homecoming (Screenshot from Youtube)

In this line from Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tony tells Peter that it’s not the suit that makes him Spiderman and if he can’t use his powers responsibly he doesn’t deserve to have them.

# 7

Black Panther (Screenshot from Youtube)

Black Panther was full of epic lines, this one stands out for its sheer badassery as T’Challa challenges N’Jadaka for round 2 after being thrown off a cliff and waking up from a coma.

Also check out the review on Black Panther.

# 6

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Screenshot from Youtube)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 changed how audience saw Yondu and this line best summarizes his character development. It was the saddest and the most epic moment of the movie.

# 5

Captain America: Civil War (Screenshot from Youtube)

One of the most tragic moments of Captain America: Civil War and the MCU as a whole, this marked the end of team Avengers and a very old friendship between Steve and Tony… and reduced bros around the world to tears.

# 4

Thor: Ragnarok (Screenshot from Youtube)

Odin’s pep-talk to Thor in Thor: Ragnarok was both hilarious and inspiring. As Thor spent a good amount of the film whining about his broken hammer and how he can’t defeat Hela without it, Odin reminds Thor what he is the deity of.

# 3

Black Panther (Screenshot from Youtube)

Erik Killmonger/N’Jadaka’s last words to T’Challa in the Black Panther sums up everything that he and his father fought for, everything that Wakanda turned a blind eye to, and pays homage to his ancestors.

Check out Why is Erik Killmonger so hyped?

# 2

Avengers: Infinity War (Screenshot from Youtube)

Watching Spiderman beg Tony to save him was the most painful part of Avengers Infinity War, because what can be sadder than watching one of your childhood heroes die so helplessly? Especially in the arms of another hero who was like a father to him.

Also check out the review on Avengers: Infinity War.

# 1

Avengers (Screenshot from Youtube)

Even after years, this line remains my personal favourite. There’s something foreboding about this threat/promise Tony made against Loki back in Avengers. I can’t help but think that Tony will fulfill this promise against Thanos the next time they meet.

Do you agree with this list? Which MCU lines did you love? Which line did I miss? Comment below.

Avengers: Infinity War leave infinite scars (in a good way)

It’s been a while since I left the theatre and I’m still not over the shock. Avengers Infinity War took all fan expectations and shot them through the brain. I’ll try to leave out spoilers for those who have yet to watch it but beware. So here’s what I thought of the film:

Thanos

Thanos is up there with the top villains of the MCU. In terms of power level, he easily steamrolls the likes of Hulk and Thor. His objective to kill half the population of the universe and the motivation behind doing so are well defined and convincing. He is menacing, dauntless, funny, empathetic and determined to see half the universe dead.

Josh Brolin played the menacing and sentimental aspects of the character well.

But unlike Loki or Killmonger, the audience can’t connect with him on an emotional level. While his motivation is clear and convincing we can’t feel the emotional impact his past had on him. It’s also unclear why he holds such a deep emotional attachment to Gamorah. If these minor faults are worked out in the sequels, Thanos could easily outrank Loki as the best MCU villain.

Thanos (Screenshot from the trailer).

The Cast

The Russo brothers balanced the screen time very well between each character despite the huge cast. The plot revolved around Thanos played by Josh Brolin who lived up to the hype. As for other characters, first-timers might not grasp them completely due to the short screen time they get but each actor managed to establish their roles.

The Death Count

As was expected, a lot of people died (I won’t tell who). Many died from the lack of usual last-minute rescues and the rest from Thanos. It’s a heartbreaking experience as we watch several characters we have grown to love and care for bite the dust, giving us one of the best MCU lines ever. It raises stakes for upcoming Avengers movie. What left many surprised are the heroes who survived.

The End

It was completely unexpected even if you’ve read the comics. The MCU continued with its troupes of humor and then during the last thirty minutes, the stakes were raised ending on a sour note. Now the remaining heroes are left to deal with and fix the damage done in this movie in the sequel.

Peter Quill planning with Tony Stark (Screenshot from Trailer).

Convenient Plot Points

There were two key points in the story that was just too convenient for Thanos; the part where Star Lord messed up and the part where Thor was late and aimed wrong. While these seem plausible, the writers could’ve used different routes to achieve what they wanted. Other than these the movie had a solid plot.

Star Lord’s Mess

I blame the writers more than Peter Quill for it. It is within character for Star Lord to do what he did but it felt more like a convenient plot point, especially after the maturity shown in the previous stand-off between Star Lord and Thanos involving Gamorah.

Black Order

Thanos’ group though strong and menacing were lacking in personality and easily forgettable. I’ve already forgotten their names.

SPOILER! Loki’s Death?

Loki already faked his demise once and that has many suspecting if he’s truly dead, even Thor isn’t sure. This is exactly why MCU needs to stop bringing dead people back to life.

Hype for the Sequel

The way it ended left the fans wanting more. Since its Marvel, the heroes will probably bring the rest of the gang back and fix whatever Thanos did but even then I actually want to see it happen in the next Avengers movie.

(Screenshot from the trailer.)

Overall the film took a lot of risks and it paid off. It’s one of the best superhero films ever with one of the best movie villains and some of the best lines and scenes. Watching it was an emotional roller coaster between gags and tears.

If you haven’t watched it already you have to especially if you wanna know why people are hating on Star Lord so much. As for those that watched it, what did you think of Avengers: Infinity War? Did you like it? Did you hate it? Share your thoughts below.

Why Being King is Not Easy should’ve ended at episode 18

Spoiler Alert: This post is short but full of spoilers.

Till episode 18, Being King is Not Easy was a romantic comedy between Ji-Man, the Emperor of the Zhou Empire, and Dai Xi, a chef/maid, who switch bodies due to unexplained supernatural reasons. Besides a few unnecessary expositions and unexplained plot points, it was all sweet and romantic till episode 18 when the show decided to amplify its fantasy aspects.

Within a matter of minutes everything you loved about Dai Xi and Ji-Man, everything they had done and been together for the past 17 episodes was flushed down under the banner it was all a dream! A magical dream performed by Dai Xi to create a rift between Ji-Man and his soldiers so that the Wing Tribe can drive out the Zhou Empire from their homeland.

Dai Xi of course does not go through with it and offers Ji-Man the chance to back off and make peace between their kingdoms only for Ji-Man to turn the tables on her revealing that he was the who put the dream spell on her and has his army surround them and goes as far as to say that he does not love her.

Of course, Ji-Man doesn’t mean it and spares Dai Xi and her people after which they go their separate ways. Days later, Ji-Man finds Dai Xi and tries to appease her.

Dharma, Dai Xi’s loyal guardian and servant, wants to test Ji-Man’s resolve and puts a spell on him causing him to vanish. Ji-Man wakes up days later with no recollection of Dai Xi. He meets her again (Dai Xi also doesn’t remember) and they fall in love again thus starting over. Now if the series had ended here it would be okay but no, we get another twist.

Those who watched the series will remember that every episode would end with a skit between Dai Xi and Ji-Man set in modern day setting which left us with a warm fuzzy feeling despite being unrelated. Turns out those skits were part of the canon. The spell sent Ji-Man into an alternate dimension in the modern age where Dai Xi is the comic book writer of the series.

Don’t bother making sense out of it.

To be fair, there were a few hints before the reveal but they came late and were very easy to miss. The twists ruined the show which otherwise though not perfect was pleasant to watch thanks to the chemistry between Bai Lu (Dai Xi) and Zhang Yi Jie (Ji-Man). The comic elements are a cherry on top. Xu Bai Hui (Empress Dowager) makes an impact from her first scene. The characters and events though loosely based on Chinese history and folklore are insightful.

In the end, I’d still recommend watching Being King is Not Easy, until episode 18’s first ten minutes that is.

Is Rey the reincarnation of Anakin/Obi-Wan/Padmé?

Just as old as theories regarding Rey’s parentage, ever since The Last Jedi labeled her parents “nobodies” the theories regarding her reincarnation have been in rising. And why not? Star Wars takes huge inspiration from eastern religions like Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, etc. and reincarnation is a huge part of these religions, plus if we can have Force ghosts why not reincarnations? Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala are the major candidates for this theory and here’s why:

Reasons Rey Could Be Anakin’s Reincarnation:

Anakin Skywalker. (Source: Google Images)

• Anakin’s lightsaber “called” to her. If that doesn’t give you past life tingles what does?
• Like Anakin, the force is ridiculously strong with Rey.
• Like Anakin, Rey was raised in slavery on a desert planet.
• Both are very good pilots/mechanics/fighters.
• Anakin’s force spirit is missing in action.
• Rey is very close to Leia, Luke and Kylo Ren.
• Anakin might be trying to stop his grandson from repeating his mistakes.
• Rey learns Force abilities way too quickly, or maybe she’s just recalling them from her past life.
• They both let emotions guide them and struggle with the Dark side.
• The Chosen One is a genderless title, he/she might have been born several times in various forms before Anakin and then Rey.
• The major problem with this theory is that Rey doesn’t have Anakin’s anger issue and Kylo would essentially be in love with his grandfather.

Reasons Rey Could Be Obi-Wan’s Reincarnation:

Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Source: Google Images)

• Anakin’s lightsaber “called” to her in Obi-Wan’s voice.
• Rey is close to Leia, Luke, Kylo Ren and Han; Darth Vader never was close to Han but Obi-Wan was.
• Obi-Wan might be trying to turn Kylo Ren back into Ben Solo as repentance for not saving Anakin.
• She hands Luke Anakin’s lightsaber like Old Ben did.
• Rey learns Force abilities way to quickly, or maybe she’s just recalling them from her past life.
• A major problem with this theory is that Old Ben hated flying.

Reasons Rey Could Be Padmé’s Reincarnation:

Padmé Amidala.(Source: Google Images)

• Same hairstyle.
• Anakin’s lightsaber called to her.
• Rey bonds well with all the Skywalkers and Han Solo.
• Darth Vader was obsessed with Padmé, once he was one with the force he would be able to reincarnate Padmé.
• It would gain more credence if Kylo Ren is Darth Vader’s reincarnation, the kid is becoming his grandfather with every movie.
• The problem with this theory is that Rey would be in love with her grandson even if he is Anakin’s reincarnation.

Reasons Rey is No One’s Reincarnation:

Rey. (Screenshot from the trailer)

• The whole point of The Last Jedi was that Rey had to build herself up, she cannot stand on the laurels of some great ancestor or past life.
• If her parents don’t matter, then her past lives don’t either.
• The Dark side showed her herself, if she was Anakin or anyone else’s reincarnation why not show that?
• The Force itself might be guiding Rey, which basically means she’s OP.
• Luke and Leia don’t recognize her as anyone’s reincarnation.
• The kid at the end of the film showed more ability than Rey did at the start of The Force Awakens.
• Reincarnations aren’t mentioned or confirmed in any Star Wars material.
• Reincarnation sounds cool at first but it’s ridiculous when you think more about it.
• Reincarnating would be as good as reusing old characters.
• It’s way too complicated. It would require more explanation as not all fans get what reincarnation is.
• It would cheapen Rey’s backstory even more.
• It would cheapen any death.
• Rey not being a reincarnation requires the least amount of assumptions.
• It’s the only possibility with no loopholes.

So what do you guys think, is Rey a reincarnation of Anakin or any other past Jedi/Sith Lord? Do you want her to be someone’s reincarnation? Share your thoughts below.

The screening of Zikr Us Parvarish Ka

In Noida, UP, Amity School of Communication(ASCO)’s film club Time Code screened several notable films and documentary during Amity Youth Fest 2018. Of these screenings, I attended Zikr Us Parvarish Ka, a documentary on the life of Begum Akhtar, directed by Nirmal Chander Dandriyal who won a Silver Lotus at the 64^th National Film Awards.

And after watching this documentary I can tell he more than deserves this for many reasons. Here are some of them:

The Narrative

Nirmal explores the history and culture of the Tawa’if(Courtesan) before moving on to Akhtar. He explores the status and dignity of the courtesans and their contribution in preserving classical Indian music.

Begum Akhtar. (Source: Google Images)

He then explores Begum Akhtar’s life before she got her Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, before she was known as Malika-e-Ghazal, before her marriage to Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi, before she was known as Akhtari Bai Faizabadi, a time when she was Bibbi.

Nirmal focuses on how the courtesan culture of the Nawabs played a role in her upbringing and career as a courtesan, and her marriage and move to radio, her death and the legacy and emptiness she left behind.

Rhythmic Shots

Each shot has been paced to the tune of the song being played or the voice over/interview. None of the shots are jerky, the transitions are smooth. It also helps that each shot is breathtaking. At some points, Nirmal used bright and dark shots to create contrast and surprise the audience and grab their attention.

Nirmal used Akhtar’s recordings to introduce her and her background, he also made use of representational actors to complement scenes from her life which were not recorded.

Use of Subtitles

Nirmal used subtitles instead of voice-overs to provide extra information. By doing so he leaves room for Akhtar’s songs and complimentary visuals. The subtitles are well placed and hard to miss. They are short, crisp, understandable and informative. This also shortens the time that would be used for voice-overs.

These were some of my personal thoughts on the documentary.

The Interactive Session

Nirmal Chander Dandriyal. (Source: Google Images)

After the screening, director Nirmal Chander Dandriyal discussed the thought behind the documentary, the difficulties he went through and then some of his filmmaking techniques.

“It’s easy to make a documentary on someone who’s alive… but how do make a documentary on someone who has been dead?” Nirmal explained, “…There aren’t many footages on Akhtari Begum available…” But he managed to work with the recordings he found at All India Radio archives and used her voice to introduce her and her story.

Nirmal also uses interviews from people who knew Akhtar, he prefers subtitles over voice overs which to him is boring.

Nirmal doesn’t use scripts, he does most of the filmmaking process on the editing desk. When working with other directors he keeps them out of the editing process, “…an editor is the second director… he tells the director that I see what you see and I also see what you don’t see…” He explained.

“Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?” He asked the audience, most of us answered fiction and many non-fiction. He then explained his preference for non-fiction stating that fiction is defined by script but documentaries can change on the spot as new facts and figures emerge.

When asked about the pacing of his shots with Akhtar’s songs Nirmal revealed that he would sing her songs in his cameraman’s ear as he took the shot so that the shots would match the rhythm of the songs. When asked to sing he joked that Begum Akhtar’s spirit visited him in his dreams warning him against singing her songs.

The session ended with a few questions and comments.

Conclusion

Zikr Us Parvarish Ka is a true ode to the life of Begum Akhtar and the culture of Tawa’if. Nirmal Chander Dandriyal has set an example for budding non-fictional and fictional directors to follow. I hope I’m able to implement what I learnt from him.

Youtube Channels which stream movies/series legally for free

Not all movies and serials available on Youtube are pirated, some are streamed on it legally and I’m not talking about those blockbusters you have to pay for, I am talking about free content available on Youtube legally. This is done by TV channels, distribution houses, production houses, websites, apps, etc.

Before proceeding I’d like to clarify a few things:

• I don’t own any Youtube channel listed in this post, they belong to their respective owners.
• This is not a promotion, merely a list.
• I’m not being paid to promote any Youtube channel listed below.
• The channels are not listed in any particular order, ranking or preference; it’s up to you to decide which channels are best.
• There might be more channels which stream free movies and serials legally.
• The channels might change their content or become unavailable in the future.
• I’m not responsible for any violation by these Youtube channels listed on the post.

Now the list:

Viewster

Streams series, Anime, cartoons, documentaries, etc. from all over the world hosted on the Viewster app/website. This link also includes other Viewster channels.

https://www.youtube.com/user/ViewsterTV/channels

Shemaroo

Shemaroo’s official channel streams classic Bollywood hits, South Indian movies, and other movies and shows. Link includes other Shemaroo channels.

https://www.youtube.com/user/ShemarooEnt/channels

Gundam Info

Official channel of the Gundam Anime series, hosts episodes of some Gudam series like Iron Blooded Orphans, Gundam 00, Gundam Build Fighters and others in various dubbed and subbed versions.

https://www.youtube.com/user/GundamInfo/featured

SAB TV

Sony network’s official channel. Streams series from Sony network, this link includes other channels hosted by Sony network.

https://www.youtube.com/user/sabtv/channels

ARY Digital

ARY TV’s official channel. Streams Pakistani serials from ARY network. This link includes other channels featured by ARY network.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JCksJF76g_MdzPVBJoC3Q/channels

Hum TV Dramas

Hum TV’s official channel. Hosts Urdu dramas from Hum TV.

https://www.youtube.com/user/HUMTVOST/featured

Entertainment Express

Entertainment Express’ official channel. Hosts Urdu serials from Express Entertainment channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1r97baEf3JJI5fY6NtMpA/featured

A Plus

A Plus official channel. Hosts Urdu serials from A Plus network. This link includes other channels hosted by A Plus.

https://www.youtube.com/user/aplusentertainmenttv/channels

Har Pal Geo

Geo’s official channel. Hosts Urdu series from Geo network. This link includes other channels featured by Geo network.

https://www.youtube.com/user/harpalgeo/channels

Zee TV

Zee TV’s official channel. Features Hindi serials from Zee TV.

https://www.youtube.com/user/zeetv/featured

Zee Action

Features Bollywood and South Indian action movies dubbed in Hindi.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLJIMy2wrWsLuPKJxU-a_YQ

Chinese TV Series Exclusive – Powered by YOYO

Hosts Chinese shows and movies hosted on the YOYO app.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UUwfyntghfisq02q5v2tw/featured

Ultra Bollywood

Ultra distribution house’s official channel. Streams Bollywood hits and classic Hindi serials. Link includes other Ultra channels.

https://www.youtube.com/user/UltraHindi/channels

Satyamev Jayate

Streams episodes of the Satyamev Jayate Series as its official channel.

https://www.youtube.com/user/satyamevajayateshow/featured

Doordarshan National

Streams Hindi serials, talk shows, news packages, etc. from Doordarshan National and other DD channels as DD’s official channel.

https://www.youtube.com/user/DoordarshanNational/featured

That’s all for now, I might update this list later. I hope you found this list helpful. If you know any other channel, production house, distribution house, etc. which streams their films or serials on Youtube legally for free please do share below.

Also, check out Websites which stream free movies series legally.

Attendance?

So I participated in Amity Youth Fest’s Short Movie Making Competition under the comic category. We had to shoot on Amity University’s campus in one day and create a one-minute story (not counting the credits) and here’s my entry. Hope you enjoy.

I didn’t win but got a consolation prize, better than expected. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I ended up alone with my laptop as my camera and sound recorder, no workable script and only six hours in hand.

Luckily I had been thinking of doing a vine on attendance for a while which in my opinion is much better than what I originally planned on doing, I didn’t score well on the script but I expected that since the idea is simple and gets old after a few views.

Considering my circumstances, I’m not really disappointed how it turned out but it might’ve been better if I had used different hairstyle and costumes to differentiate the teacher from the student and acted better.

I am glad the judges found my video funny and gifted a selfie-stick as a consolation. I hope you enjoyed the short film as well.

UBW Chant in Malayali Accent

Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Bladeworks is a popular Anime series, EMIYA’s UBW chant being one of its most popular elements. The original chant according to TYPEMOON Wiki goes by like this:

I am the bone of my sword,

Steel is my body and fire is my blood,

I have created over a thousand blades,

Unknown to Death,

Nor known to Life.

Have withstood pain to create many weapons,

Yet, those hands will never hold anything,

So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works.

Now compare the lines above with the fanmade video below:

And that was Archer in Malayali accent, did you like it? Want to check out more videos like these? Also, watch the Night’s Watch Oath in South Indian Accent.

Night’s Watch Oath in Malayali Accent

One day, I got really curious about how GoT’s famous Night’s Watch oath would sound like in Malayali accent and this was the result. Hope you like it!

 

So did you like this parody? Do you want more stuff like this? If so do check this for my Youtube playlist.