Shazam! (SPOILERS)

Say The Magic Word...

What more can I say about the DCEU? It has been quite the roller coaster to experience. There's a lot that can be unpacked in regards to that discussion, but to say it had a rocky start would be putting it very lightly. However, Wonder Woman proved that there was still potential for something great to come out of this universe, and while that wasn't fully realized in Justice League, Aquaman swooped in and proved that DC's biggest strength, at least for now, is in their solo outings. Now Shazam! has arrived and, at least for me, saved this ailing franchise. It's as if DC took everything they've learned from the past and gave us the result of that, which is for me the best movie in the DCEU so far. Now let's get into why that is the case:

UPS

1. Billy Batson. Now the character of Shazam may not be as mainstream as the likes of Batman or Superman (I didn't really know much about him outside of Injustice,) but this movie may have pushed him out into the forefront, which is great because he may be one of the best, if not the all-time best, hero the DCEU has produced. What really sets him apart from the other heroes is that he is a child, so we see how that would play out when he is granted superpowers. It is also worth noting that Billy is given a very clear and profound character arc throughout the entire movie, which really makes his transition into a true hero by the end so much more powerful. Of course, none of this would be nearly as great without the performances from both Zachary Levi as the titular superhero and Asher Angel as young Billy himself. They both breathe life into this character, with Levi in particular selling the fact that he is, well, a kid with superpowers. For a character that I didn't know much about, this movie may have helped Shazam become one of my favorite superheroes ever. 
2. The rest of the cast. Even though Levi and Angel are juggernauts by themselves, everyone else is great. I loved every character and it was nice that the movie included personal stories for each of them as well. Personally, I can't pick any standouts because every actor brings a lot of heart and emotion to their roles. However, there is one other character that I need to talk about, and that is...
3. Doctor Sivana. A big part of why I wasn't as hyped for Shazam! at first was because the trailers positioned Sivana as another run-of-the-mill antagonist. Trailers being trailers, what I ended up discovering was that not only was Dr. Sivana a great villain, but he may just be my personal pick for the best villain in the entire DCEU, the reason being is that he has probably the most sympathetic backstory of any of the other villains and is just as developed as Billy is, which makes their conflict more personal and intriguing. All in all, I'm glad that he survived the film and especially love that he'll most likely be returning...with help from a little friend ;)
4. The connections to the world of the DCEU. Yes, things haven't been perfect, but the fact that instead of outright ignoring it, the producers of Shazam! embrace the world the characters live in and connect it to the movie in subtle but clever ways is something that is genuinely appreciated by me. GET HIM BATMAN!
5. Remember how I said in the opening that it seems like DC has learned from the past and applied that to this movie? Well, I gotta stand by that. For once, it feels like they are finally allowing directors the chance to express their own vision instead of having Warner Bros. jump in and tear it to shreds. It's clear that this movie was made with a lot of heart, care, and soul, and if things continue down this path, then the future is bright.

DOWNS

Nothing of particular note.

OVERALL

Shazam! is a breath of fresh air. A definite step in the right direction for DC and one that I hope leads to a promising and lasting future. You won't wanna miss it!

And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more coming your way :)

Who Will Survive Endgame? (and Who Will Die?) (SPOILERS)

Some people move on, but not us...

About a year ago today, I made a post similar to this one related to Infinity War. To say I didn't quite hit the mark is...well...about the kindest way of putting it. Now here we are, about to witness the true culmination of everything this massive cinematic universe has built towards. Honestly, this one is gonna be pretty hard to predict as I truly have no idea what's in store for these characters. To the best of my ability, though, I am going to give my thoughts on the characters who I think will survive Endgame, who I remain on the fence about, and who will probably (and most likely definitively) meet their end. Without further adieu, let's begin:

LIVES

  Thor

  Natasha

  Scott

  Carol

  Rocket

  Okoye

 

Pepper and Happy

  Valkyrie

  Wong

Debatable (Least Likely to Most)

  Bruce

  Nebula

  Thanos

DIES

  Clint

  Rhodey

  Tony
or
  Steve

And that's it for these predictions, guys. Let's see if I hit the mark this time around. Until then, take care and be prepared for the Avengers restoring all that they have lost...

Whatever it takes...

Updates on Top 10 Lists for Game of Thrones (SPOILERS)

With the final season approaching, it's time to take a look back on my Top 10s. In this post, I will present my new additions and updates for the best moments, the best episodes, and the best characters. After recently rewatching the entire series over, I can safely say that my lists have made a few substantial changes over time. Without further adieu, let's get into it:

Top 10 Moments
 10. The Wall Coming Down (Season 7 Episode 7 "The Dragon and The Wolf")
 9. The Death of Joffrey (Season 4 Episode 2 "The Lion and The Rose")
 8. "Hold The Door" (Season 6 Episode 5 "The Door")
 7. The Battle of Blackwater (Season 2 Episode 9 "Blackwater")

 6. The Battle of Hardhome (Season 5 Episode 8 "Hardhome")

 5. The Battle of the Bastards (Season 6 Episode 9 "Battle of the Bastards")
 4. The Red Wedding (Season 3 Episode 9 "The Rains of Castamere")
 3. Tyrion kills Tywin (Season 4 Episode 10 "The Children")
 2. Ned's Death (Season 1 Episode 9 "Baelor")

 1. All of "The Winds of Winter" (Season 6 Episode 10 "The Winds of Winter")

Top 10 Episodes

 10. "Mother's Mercy" (Season 5 Episode 10)

 9. "The Watchers on The Wall" (Season 4 Episode 9)

 8. "Blackwater" (Season 2 Episode 9)

 7. "Hardhome" (Season 5 Episode 8)

 6. "Battle of the Bastards" (Season 6 Episode 9)

 5. "The Dragon and The Wolf" (Season 7 Episode 7)

 4. "The Rains of Castamere" (Season 3 Episode 9)

 3. "Baelor" (Season 1 Episode 9)

 2. "The Children" (Season 4 Episode 10)

 1. "The Winds of Winter" (Season 6 Episode 10)

Top 10 Characters

 10. Sir Davos Seaworth

 9. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish

 8. Eddard "Ned" Stark

 7. Arya Stark

 6. Sansa Stark

 5. Jaime Lannister

 4. Tyrion Lannister

 3. Daenerys Targaryen

 2. Jon Snow

 1. Cersei Lannister

And that's it for these updates guys. Tune in for more on the way and get ready for the end...

Death Predictions for Game of Thrones Season 8 (SPOILERS)

After a long, grueling, and seemingly endless hiatus, Game of Thrones is finally returning for its eighth and final season. At the end of the seventh season, so much has happened: Jon and Dany have become united (in more ways than one ;),) Jamie abandons Cersei, Littlefinger is exposed as the snake-in-the-grass that he is and promptly executed as a result, the (biologically speaking) Starks have reunited...and the Night King knocks down the Wall, leading the Army of the Dead on the back of an undead Viserion. To say we're heading into what seems to be a massive and epic season is putting it in the lightest of terms. As such, as the Long Night arrives, expect tons of deaths, including possibly several mainstays. In this post, I will review the list of characters that are slated to appear in Season 8 and decide which ones will live, which ones will die, and which ones I'm on the fence about. With that, here we go:

LIVES
 Arya
 Sansa
 Brienne
 Sam

DIES
 Cersei
 Jaime
 Euron
 The Night King
 Grey Worm
 Jorah
 Melisandre
 The Hound

DEBATABLE (Least Likely to Most)
 Bran
 Tyrion
 Jon
 Dany
 Missandei
 Varys
 Davos
 Theon

Other Characters Appearing in Season 8:

• Tormund dies
• Gilly lives
• Bronn dies
• Gendry lives
• Beric Dondarrion dies
• Edd dies
• The Mountain dies
• Pod lives
• Qyburn dies
• Edmure: Debatable
• Lyanna Mormont lives
• Qhono dies
• Robin Arryn dies
• Yohn Royce dies
• Yara: Debatable
• Harry Strickland dies
• The Dragons will die
• The Direwolves: Debatable

And that is it for these predictions, guys. I'm sure we're in for one hell of a ride this season. In simple terms, be ready for anything.

Valar Morghulis...