Author: BRWC

Why The End Of Marvel’s Phase 3 Is Important

By Finley Crebolder.

Why the two final standalone movies of MCU’s Phase Three could be the most important.

When Marvel revealed their plan for Phase Three all the way back in 2014, the main excitement from fans centred around the announcement of Infinity War Parts 1 and 2 (the latter of which is now Avengers 4). Since then, this excitement has only grown, and the two standalone films, Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and the Wasp, placed between the two Avengers movies have largely been forgotten about, with many merely viewing them as something to fill the time during that inevitably agonising year-long wait. However, as we discover more and more about The Avengers 4 and it’s potentially time travel based storyline, it is becoming clear that Marvel may have always had a much larger purpose in mind for these two films.

Before getting into specifics about such a purpose, first some context: So, all we know about the thus far untitled Avengers 4 is that it links to Infinity War but is a “very different movie”, its title is a spoiler for Infinity War, and, judging by leaked set photos, it features Ant-Man and Iron Man being present at the Battle of New York. This third point is the big one, as it drops a huge hint that the movie will indeed centre around a group of characters going back in time. So, just how would they do so?

There are effectively three ways in which they could. The first, and perhaps the most obvious, would be that it is done using the Time Stone. It’s currently in the possession of Dr Strange and his standalone film made its abilities to manipulate time very clear. However, whilst it may be the most obvious form of time travel in the MCU, that does not make it the most likely to be used for this scenario. You’d imagine that for a group to resort to going back in time, things would have to be pretty dire in their current time zone, which suggests that Thanos does indeed get hold of all the Infinity Stones for his gauntlet, including the Time Stone. From what we’ve seen and heard thus far regarding Infinity War, it does indeed seem unlikely that Dr Strange will manage to hold on to it until the end of the movie either way, meaning he won’t be able to use to send himself and/or others back in time.

So, option number two: BARF. No, I’m not just describing what happens when you rewatch Iron Man 2. As seen in Civil War, Binary Augmented Retro-Framing, otherwise known as B.A.R.F (Still waiting on that improved acronym, Stark.), is a prototype device created by Tony Stark which enables the user to view previous traumatic memories. Whilst this method would explain the presence of Ant-Man and Iron Man at the Battle of New York in set photos, it is not actual time travel as such. Stark created it as a therapeutic device used to clear traumatic memories, and let’s be honest, “The Avengers 4: Tony goes to Therapy.” would be somewhat underwhelming. Besides, if the visit to 2012 New York really was for therapeutic purposes, why would he bring Ant-Man along? B.A.R.F could be used by Stark to do some research before his trip back, but as far as we know, it couldn’t be used to travel back in time.

Which brings us on to our third and final option, the Quantum Realm. So far in the MCU, we know that the Quantum Realm is an alternate dimension that transcends time and space. It has so far been explored in two films, Ant-Man and Doctor Strange. To put things simply, the latter was able to enter it through magic, whilst the former did so through shrinking. Yep, just go with it. Anyway, it has already been said that Ant-Man and The Wasp will revolve around the title characters finding a way to enter the realm again safely in order to save a character trapped there. They will do so using the same Pym Tech used to shrink Scott Lang in the first place, and should they succeed, who’s to say that same tech isn’t what Lang, Stark and whoever else might fancy the trip use in Avengers 4 to travel back in time through the Quantum Realm? In the leaked set photos, Iron Man is seen wearing a device on his hand similar to the button used on Ant-Man’s suit used to shrink him, which certainly suggests this is the case.

Now, it may seem unlikely that Marvel would base the finale of the MCU as we know it around a concept that has hardly been explored and is hardly known to the audiences, and presumably there is going to be little time in either Infinity War or Avengers 4 to explore and explain it further. This is where the standalone movies come in. Could Marvel use these films to do so in preparation for “The Avengers: The Quantum Realm”? It seems likely. Whilst Ant-Man’s links to the Realm are obvious, Captain Marvel will also include it. Whilst it is not as clear how exactly, it has been recently revealed that the Realm will play a role in the film and will provide the audience with a better understanding of Carol Danvers and her powers. Speaking of powers, it has also been said that Captain Marvel is going to be the most powerful hero in the MCU to date. Could this be why the trip back in time is being made in the first place? The film is going to be set in the 90’s, and there’s every chance Tony Stark might be heading back to that time to recruit some much needed Manpower, or should I say Womanpower, to bring back home to meet Thanos.

Picture it now: Infinity War ending with Thanos putting the Mind Stone in his Gauntlet to complete the set having defeated our heroes attempting to defend it, and clicking his fingers. The screen cuts to black, and the words “The Avengers will return in The Avengers: The Quantum Realm” next year. A little ways down the road, Captain Marvel has just finished and along comes a post-credits scene of Tony Stark showing up telling her he’s putting a team together (now where have we heard that one before?…). Not a bad way to set things up, huh?

Whilst the MCU has had its duds (10 points to those who can actually recall the events of Thor: The Dark World), it’s fair to say that it has always thought ahead and considered each standalone films role in the grand scheme of things, and If any of this theory turns out to be true and I haven’t just thrown away many hours of sleep over nothing but incorrect speculation it could be about to drop the biggest ones yet.

17th April 2018
Entertainment Can Help Relieve Stress

If you want to relieve stress, then entertainment is your answer. It’s fun, amusing and gets your mind off of all those pesky tasks you’re supposed to be attending to each day.

Quickly put yourself in a better mood by watching a movie, reading a book or playing a game. If you’re not getting enough of these kinds of activities in your life, then it’s time to make a change. You’ll feel better, your energy levels will rise, and it’s likely you’ll be more useful at work too. Understand that there’s a time and place to be productive. Don’t work yourself so hard you become overwhelmed and stressed out.

Laughter

Films are a great way to experience laughter and put a smile on your face. Watch a comedy film, and you’ll instantly be transported to another world that’s delightful and allows you to quickly unwind. Laughing is the best medicine because it releases happy chemicals in your brain and causes your mind and body to calm down. This is one of the most important and soothing benefits you can experience from incorporating more entertainment in your life.

A Break from Reality

Reality can be overwhelming at times, and sometimes what you need is to get away from it all and participate in a fun activity. For example, the Escape Room Minneapolis is the perfect opportunity to take your mind off your to-do list and have fun with friends or family. You’ll be challenged to make your way through difficult mazes and rooms, and the last task on your mind will be what stressful work obligations you have waiting for you back home. You’ll be so engaged in the game that you won’t be thinking about anything else.

Opportunity to be Social

Going to the movies, attending a concert and playing board games are all ways to be social and entertained all at the same time. It’s healthy to have relationships with others and not always be in isolation. Use entertainment to relieve your stress and work on improving your connections with others by participating in these types of fun experiences together. Being with others also gives you a chance to talk and catch up on each other’s lives. In this situation, you’ll be getting stressful topics off your chest without even knowing it.

Relaxation

Entertainment was meant to be peaceful and restful for you. This is your chance to sit back and relax and soak up what’s in front of you. If you’re at home watching a movie, then don’t be afraid to kick off your shoes and put your feet up. Also, play a game with your family while eating delicious snacks and enjoying a warm fire. Whatever it is that you choose to do, make sure you’re allowing yourself to relax and have a good time.

Conclusion

It’s important to manage stress and keep your worries in control. Make this a reality by participating in entertaining activities and events. Give yourself the break you deserve once in a while to simply unwind and be in the moment.

14th April 2018
20 Films You Need To Watch Before University

By Mollie Porein.

Joining university is a major milestone in our lives. There are the new surroundings as well as new friends and experiences to be shared. But before embarking on this journey, full of term papers and research paper topics, there are some movies that in one way or another will give some helpful insights into college life. These movies also bring to light important characteristics and challenges that one may face in university and how to overcome them. Some of the movies one should watch include:

Drumline (2002)

The movie revolves around a young drummer from New York who joins A&T University. There develops a conflict between him and the leader of the drum section in the school.

Clueless (1995)

The movie is about the lives of Beverly Hills students. The storyline revolves around Cheryl Horowitz, a high school student who is good at heart but lives a superficial life. She is at the top of her school’s cool kids list and is dating Murray who is also a popular kid. In one of her plans to get a good grade from her teacher, she plays matchmaker and is happy to see that she did a good thing. Here begins her transformation from a vain and selfish person to a kind and caring person. The famous quote “as if” came from the director of the film who studied real Beverly Hills high school kids to get a feel for their lifestyle.

Pitch Perfect (2012)

It follows Beca, a young girl fresh in college but she does not wish to be there. She has other career plans but her father asks her to try out college for a year, and if it doesn’t work out, he will support her next choice. She joins the Barden Bellas, an all-girls acapella group. They join a singing competition and advance to the national level where their main rivals are from the same college, a boy group. Beca is dating a member of this boy group.

Van Wilder: Party Liaison (2002)

Now in his seventh year in college, Vance Wilder still has no plans to graduate. Tired of his antics, his father cuts off his financial support leaving him unable to pay for tuition. Since he is a party animal, Wilder is hired to arrange a party for one of the houses on campus, and he realizes this could be his financial breakthrough. A reporter from the school paper does a story on him, and a bond develops between the two of them. This relationship makes Van Wilder take a contemplative look at his life and decide to be serious.

Wonder Boys (2000)

This movie is about a university professor who is also an author. He is trying to write a second novel that will rival the success of his first one but has no idea for its ending. He is experiencing writer’s block, just like a student without good research paper topics, his personal life is also in shambles as his third wife left him and he is currently sleeping with the university’s chancellor. The things going on in his life plus his association with his students make for good life experiences for him and will come into play in his book.

St Elmo’s Fire (1985)

Following a car accident that involved their friends, five recent graduates converge at the hospital to check upon them. They later meet at their favorite college bar and realize that most of them are not happy with the direction that their lives have taken.

Boyhood (2014)

The plot of the movie is about a young boy whose mother gets remarried to a professor after divorcing the father. It mainly concentrates on how stepfamilies work with different types of parenting. It also focuses on the evolution of Mason from a boy into a young man as he faces the tribulations of family and friends. Boyhood is big in online critics’ rankings.

Accepted (2006)

After being rejected from all the colleges that they applied to, a group of friends creates their fake college. The problem is hundreds of other applicants also got accepted into the college and had come to enrol in the institution.

Mean Girls (2004)

The movie tries to showcase the lifestyle of different cliques in schools and how the behavior and treatment of others can affect a person’s morale and self-esteem.

28th March 2018
Best British Gangster Films

The British gangster film is a genre that has taken on a world of its own. Grey-tinged gritty streets, fast-paced cheeky dialogue and crime-ridden organisations thriving under the buzzing metropolis of London, have all shaped the ethos of gangland thrillers. Unlike their grandiose American counterparts, Brits tend to strive for realism; an exposé of a very real underworld, rather than a flashy Italian-American operation that centres on family values. Realism doesn’t mean doom and gloom, though. Behind the grittiness is acerbic British wit as dry as London’s finest gins – it’s not all geezers and cockney rhyming slang, you know.

As the genre continues to evolve, most recently with the upcoming release of nail-biting thriller Tango One available on digital download from 5^th March and DVD from 19^th March, we’re taking a look at the best British gangster films, past and present, which have influenced the genre and made it into what we know and love today:

The Long Good Friday (1980)

Where better to start? The Long Good Friday is a quintessential British crime classic. From the second you hear the emphatic synth soundtrack opening the film and see Bob Hoskins at his rip-roaring best; you know you’re in for a treat. Hoskins plays Harold Shand, a successful cockney mobster with a yacht, penthouse and an intelligent mistress (Helen Mirren).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bftsiJmIcOo

When a series of bombs go off at a vital turning point for his empire, Shand is convinced that there must be a traitor among his ranks and he will find out – through any means necessary. The film that paved the way for others like it, The Long Good Friday is one of the most influential thrillers to have graced British cinema.

20th March 2018
Learn English Watching TV Series And Movies

By Mollie Porein.

Most if not everyone loves watching TV shows and movies. Did you know that we learn more when we are having fun? TV does have a vast potential to be used in an educational form when learning English, especially, for those to whom it’s not their first language. These days, movies and television shows are created for more than entertainment for us. But not all movies or series have the same benefits; tailor your list to the ones that are productive. So what is the better way for one to learn or to improve their English?

Below is how you can learn the English language watching TV series and movies.

Watch without Subtitles

People tend to think that watching with the subtitles on is more beneficial if you are planning on learning English. On the contrary, try watching the series or movie without the subtitles to challenge yourself. You will be more focused as you try to grasp the conversations of the show. This method is useful as it will help you see how much you can understand without using the subtitles.

Choose an Interesting TV Series or Movie

As obvious as it may sound, some learners do not adhere to this rule. If the show that you picked is boring, chances are that you will become bored as well. Hence, when you get bored, your concentration levels will be low, and you will not be able to pay close attention. Be it an ultimate blockbuster such as the Avatar or comedy, e.g., Friends; the choice is all yours as long as it is exciting and you will be able to focus on the show.

Include Kids Shows on Your List

What level of English can you comprehend? You should try watching different types of series or movies until you find the ones that are easy for you to understand. If you still have a hard time comprehending the conversations, then there is no shame in dialing it down a notch. Try looking for kids shows; there is entirely no shame in watching movies or series intended for the kids because they get articulated more clearly. The dialogues are of reasonable speed and less complicated. These days, current programs for kids are as entertaining as the best of Jim Carrey films.

Repeat Short Phrases

Majority of movies or TV series for that matter have cool catchy phrases. Short phrases such as “Sure thing” or “Hey you guys!” are profoundly used in the English language. If you like the sound of it, try repeating it several times, this will help you to remember it for a long time. It is an enjoyable exercise, and you can discipline yourself to learn some phrases in a week.

Use a Dictionary

If you are going to use a dictionary while watching a series or a movie, you have to make sure that your subtitles are on to get the correct spelling. This way, whenever a word of interest gets used, all you have to do is pause it and look the word up using a dictionary. A new word every day will not only improve your vocabulary but will also make you smarter. Going through all this trouble in understanding the word is a sure way of remembering it for a long time.

Cultivate Your Interest

What is your primary objective of learning English? Your goal should be to satisfy your cultural appetite. If your life’s primary purpose is to become a doctor or a nurse, ‘Greys Anatomy’ is a good show. Perhaps your interest is to become a great chef then you could always watch ‘MasterChef US.’ Learn the usual terms used in your field of interest and start practicing them.

Speak

You will need someone who is proficient in English along this learning journey. Once you’ve completed an episode of the TV series or a movie, you can try to narrate it to them or try to write it down for them to read, you should have a beginning, middle part and you can ask them to teach you how to start a conclusion if you do not know. While describing the show that you just watched, try and add as many details as possible. Quote the actors’ sentences as much as possible, and you will see how putting your knowledge and skills into practice will benefit you in the long run.

Keep a Notepad and Pen While Watching

It is incredibly vital on your part to note down the phrases and words that you hear, and you would wish to use. You can push yourself to five words a day. When describing these words, explain or define the words using English. Refrain yourself from directly translating them to your first language. This will slow your learning progress. Also, note down the context in which the said word got used because it will be easy for you to know how to use it.

You Can Use Spaced Repetition Technique

Did you know that language learning is directly linked to repetitive practice and the space between the repetitions? This skill involves reviewing new vocabularies at regular intervals over a period. As you continue to watch, the intervals between the reviews should get longer and longer each time. The point of this technique is to help you minimise cramming let’s say 100 words in a day. It will help you to space out learning the vocabulary across some days or even weeks in other cases. Below is how it works.

Pick a movie or a TV show

Watch it once with your notepad, write down the new words that are use

After a day, watch it again, then watch it after three days and later after six days until the words stick

Use VLC Player

It is a video player used in watching movies or series on a computer. You can always download the tool on your computer if you do not have it. Since you are learning English, VLC makes it possible for you to play the shows on half or quarter speed. If there are parts that you did not understand, you have the chance to watch it at a slower speed to understand better. Of course, there are other media players out there that provide the same functionality. We, however, just find VLC so easy to use.

Conclusion

Learning takes time regardless of whichever method you wish to use. Luckily, nowadays, we have a wide range of sources for watching both TV series and movies. There is cable, YouTube, satellite TV and DVDs, just to name a few. If you feel tired of learning English through a book or going to class, then there is no other fun method to do so than by using television. It is a motivated method for those intending on teaching themselves more authentically and effectively. With 58% of English learners agreeing that they use movies and TV series to learn the language, this is a clear indication that it works. Take your time to enjoy the shows. If you feel tired, you can always take a short break, sip some water, enjoy a walk and get back to it once more.

Are there other ways that you can learn English by watching television series or movies? Share them with us!

BIO: Mollie Porein is high skilled web content writer. She is interested in topics about education, writing, blogging, motivation, etc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her on Twitter.

18th March 2018