Cooledtured Blog

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Ryan Reynolds Dream Comes True

For a long time now the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been suffering. Aside from the occasional good movie like Guardians of The Galaxy 3, the MCU has been pouring out some less than stellar content. Now, it’s up to one man to save the MCU and finally turn things around. And that man’s name is Ryan Reynolds- I mean Deadpool.

Deadpool is one of the most popular Marvel characters in the franchise. And with the existence of the Deadpool movies, that popularity has only grown. Though that might have something to do with the actor behind Deadpool - Ryan Reynolds. He is an actor who has become synonymous with the character he plays, like Ronald Downey Jr. and Iron Man. As a result, people can no longer think of anyone else playing Deadpool with some people even saying that the two are the same person. However Ryan Reynolds connection to the character doesn’t stop there.

He has actually been working together with the people in charge of Deadpool 3 in order to make sure that it is as good as the two that came before it. For him this movie is just as important as anything else he will do anything to see it gets the attention and respect it needs or deserves. And given the dialogues that were seen in the trailer, Marvel likely has a similar mindset. They themselves know that if things go badly with the movie then they could suffer even more. Which might explain why they decided to add a fan favorite X-Men to the movie.

Hugh Jackman has said that Logan would be the last time he would play the character Wolverine. In fact, he has been very adamant about this. So when fans found out that he would be reprising his role in Deadpool 3, they were delightfully surprised. The reason for his return though might be due to the fact that Ryan Reynolds has always wanted the two to play these characters in a movie together. Whatever the reason, having these two powerhouses will surely help Deadpool 3’s chances of success.

There’s no guarantee that this one movie will be able to save the MCU. However, if Marvel has any chance of turning things around, it will have to be with this movie. So, let’s hope that this movie gives the MCU the kick it needs to get its act together.

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Graphics vs Gameplay

What’s most important for you when it comes to video games? Everyone has their own preferences, but I think something that we can all agree on is that having great graphics is always a plus. After all, with great graphics it’s possible to become lost in a game’s world. For some though, graphics are the thing that will make or break a game for them. If the graphics aren’t able to hold up to their expectations then they’ll just leave the game in the dust.

Graphics are without a doubt something that should receive a lot of care. This is a product that you intend for people to spend hours looking at so why shouldn’t it look great. However, I feel like the idea of a game having good graphics being what makes or breaks the game is a bad mindset to have. Sure, there are definitely games whose graphics are just too bad to play. But there are also plenty of games with great graphics but horrible gameplay.

A somewhat famous example of this is Forspoken. This game looks amazing and even has a few good things about it. However, many people have felt that the overall experience just isn’t worth it. Enemies are more damage sponges than actually challenging and while the game does have a pretty good combat system, it fails to utilize it properly since there are no real chances to try. But, what really hurts the game is the horrible narrative and dialogue in the game. It was so bad in fact that many weren’t able to get through the game. And, Forspoken isn’t the outlier here. Anthem, another game with great graphics, has become notorious for how much of a slog it is to play.

Now to look at the opposite case. And what better example than Final Fantasy 7, a game that even now is regarded as one of the best out there despite having some of the worst graphics I’ve ever seen. The story of the game holds up to this day with some even considering it a masterpiece. Combat, while being your typical turn-based system, is still very fun especially with its Materia system. Even now this system can be considered innovative showing that the game can stand the test of time.

Using graphics in video games to determine how good a game is has the risks of overlooking great games. The recent Pokemon games despite having terrible graphics are still incredibly fun to play. Now, that isn’t to assume I’m happy with what Gamefreak did. Companies as big as them should be able to give us good gameplay and graphics. What I’m trying to say is don’t pass up a game just because you don’t like how it looks, otherwise you might miss out on something amazing. It’s like the saying goes: don’t judge a book by its cover.

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Generational Change

There are few characters as iconic as Sonic the Hedgehog. This blue hedgehog is known across the world for going fast and loving chili dogs. Well, that and having a lot of hit or miss games (*cough* Sonic 06 *cough*). Even so, his popularity has decreased at all with him getting two movies and a third one on its way. And, even after all of these years, he’s still mostly the same old Sonic.

If I had to describe Sonic, the first three words that come to mind would be ‘snarky’, ‘cool’ and sometimes ‘excitable’. While the first two have been true since the beginning, that last one only really started to take over in recent years. For the most part, Sonic has just switched between the other two depending on adaptations. It all began with the Snarky era.

The Snarky era is the very first way that Sonic was shown in media outside of the games. In the early 90s, Sonic got his very own tv show which brought the blue blur to screens across the nation. Here, he was the type of person who’d play pranks on friends and foes. He is also very prideful in his speed and being quick to anger should anyone insult it or just annoys him in general. This depiction acts a lot like a child at times. However, at the end of the day, he will do his best to help those that he feels are in trouble, always running head first into danger and never thinking about the consequences.

Towards the end of the 90s, Sega would release the widely acclaimed Sonic Adventure, a game that marked the end of Sonic’s Snarky era and the beginning of his Cool era. This depiction of Sonic is the one widely known by fans and the one still depicted in games. This one is a lot less mischievous than his previous self, but still isn’t above playing around with his enemies. What really makes them different though is that this version is actually willing to slow down sometimes in order to figure out what’s going on. He’ll still jump head first into things, but not without also being aware of what’s going on around him. He really came into his role as a type of leader figure. The best way to describe him would be a guy who’s finally grown up.

The final and current era - the Excitable era - basically regresses him. To put it another way, the depictions of this era are versions who have grown up from the Snarky era but haven’t quite reached the maturity of the Cool era. In other words, he’s a teenager. These versions have the need to constantly move around doing who knows what. One moment they could be playing baseball. The next they could be reading comics. The next they could be on the roof because they thought they saw something shiny. There’s really no telling with them. However, when the chips are down and they need to get serious, they’ll show why they’re the hero of this story. After all, at the end of the day, Sonic the Hedgehog is a character who will always protect his friends.

What’s interesting about these eras is that there is a clear view of how Sonic has grown as a person. We see in the Snarky era that Sonic is still learning how to be responsible while also having fun. In the Excitable era, we see him start to mature and become more aware of his responsibilities but still keep a lot of his fun loving personality. And, finally in the Cool era we see the end of his journey where he is fully aware of what he needs to do, but still finds time to be that free, chili-dog eating hedgehog we know and love. Even if it wasn’t in a linear way, it’s still fun to see this character grow along with us.

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What Makes A Hero?

What is a hero? If you ask that question, then it’s very likely everyone will have a different answer. To some, a hero is simply someone that inspires hope in others with their mere presence. To others, a hero is someone who fights evil to protect the peace. No matter the definition, people are still able to recognize a hero or a villain when they are one. Though, as time goes on, the line between the two has started to blur.

One of the defining traits of a hero is their drive to do whatever they can to protect people. This often means sacrificing their own personal lives for the sake of continuing their mission. A great example of this is Batman, someone who has oftentimes thrown away his personal life in order to be the best hero that he can be. And for him, that’s a person who strikes fear in his enemies while also giving peace to the innocents. But while that was enough for fans before, nowadays they are questioning if that is enough.

Aside from being a rich billionaire orphan, the thing that Batman is most known for is his no kill rule. For him it doesn’t matter what the situation is, he will always look for a way to save everyone, including villains. At first this sounds very heroic; a hero who’s not willing to sacrifice even the lives of evil criminals. However, a problem that this rule has caused is the fact that as a result of him refusing to kill, these same criminals have untold chaos in his city killing countless people. It’s for this reason that people now ridicule Batman for sticking to his philosophy despite the fact that if he did start killing he might actually save more lives. For them, a hero is someone who kills their enemies before they have the chance to do more damage.

I do understand where these people are coming from. If you know that a bomb will go off eventually and kill people, why wouldn’t you get rid of them? The problem though is we’re forgetting something: these people are heroes. It’s not their job to be judge, jury and executioner but instead to stop these villains from causing anymore trouble. That isn’t to say that a hero can’t kill people. Spider-Man, another hero who doesn’t kill his villains, has been shown multiple times to at least be willing to use lethal force to take down his enemies. What I am trying to say is that being a hero isn’t about killing people, but instead to be someone that can act as a beacon of hope to others.

Look no further than Superman, the very embodiment of hope. He is a being with the capability to take out basically every villain for good if he decided to. However, he doesn’t for one reason: because he thinks it would be wrong. What he wants is to protect anyone and everyone he can while also helping them to be better. For him, there’s nothing more important. And, despite having a similar philosophy to Batman, fans love to praise him.

So does a hero need to kill to be a hero? No. I do believe that if a hero refuses to kill they need to be sure that their decision won’t cause more harm than good. While people criticize Batman, he does stop his villains before they go too far. It’s just that Arkham is so incompetent that villains are always escaping. Being a hero means that you’re willing to take peoples’ lives in your own hands because you think that you can protect them. And if you’re unwilling to do whatever you can to protect them, then maybe you’re not cut out to be one.

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Moving Into Yu-Gi-Oh’s Next Stage: Xyz Summoning

Even now Yu-Gi-Oh continues to grow. While it has taken a bit of a break with introducing summoning methods, it still finds new ways to grow in the many new archetypes that it spawns. That’s why now is the perfect time to learn about one of its most popular additions. Today, we shall be looking at the ins and outs of Xyz Summoning.

So what makes Xyz Summoning special? Well, for starters we need to talk about the biggest change that makes Xyz monsters unique: Ranks. Unlike other monster cards, Xyz monsters don’t actually have a Level. Instead they have what is known as a Rank, something that functions similarly to a Level with them also going from 1 - 12. And in order to bring out an Xyz monster, you must do a bit of matching.

The Rank of an Xyz monster tells you what Level monsters you will need to bring them out. For example, if you want to bring out a Rank 4 Xyz then you will need at least two Level 4 monsters. Once you have two, you simply stack them on top of each other and then place the Xyz monster on top. The cards underneath the Xyz monster then become its materials. These materials will be what allows for a Xyz monster to utilize their effects. When these effects tell you to ‘detach’ material(s), this will mean to take one of the cards that are underneath the Xyz monster and send it to the graveyard.

Just like Synchro monsters, Xyz monsters will sometimes have requirements to bring them out. However in their case they can be more restrictive. Let's use the Rank 4 example once again. In most cases, any two Level 4 monsters will do. However, if the requirements said something like “two Level 4 Warrior monsters”, then you must use two Level Warrior monsters or else you will be unable to bring out the monster. That is why, always check the materials before deciding to put a card in your deck. On the flip side, this means that if they don’t have this restriction, any two Level 4 monsters will be able to bring out a Rank 4 monster.

And with that we are done with our lesson. When building decks, a good question to always consider is ‘can I put out two monsters of this same level on the field at once?’ If the answer is, yes then it would be a good idea to look into the type of monsters that are available for you to use. Now, go and continue your journey to become a bonafide player.

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From Ballrooms to Binge-Watching

Have you ever thought about what it was like to live in high society back then? What it must have been like to fight off suitors to find that special someone? Unfortunately, time travel hasn’t been invented yet so we can’t go there ourselves to see. So, in the meantime let’s look at the period piece Bridgerton and get a taste of it for ourselves.

Bridgerton takes place during the Regency era in England. While we follow multiple people, our main protagonist is Daphne Bridgerton. It is finally time for her to enter the marriage scene and possibly find the man of her dreams. However, as time goes on she begins to see just how difficult and dangerous her world is. She must navigate a world full of enemies and allies alike if she hopes to find a match for herself.

This show is interesting to say the least. It relies heavily on drama so if that isn’t for you then you likely won’t like it. However, for those that can’t get enough of it, then you are in for a treat. Let’s go back to Daphne. While she is expected to just find someone that will be able to help keep their family in power, Daphne still decides to do her best to take control of her life and find that special someone. For her - it doesn’t matter what she has to do as long as it means getting what she wants. Even if it means using someone else.

To aid her she finds an ally in Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings who wants nothing to do with the courting period. The two decide to work together in order for them to both achieve their goals. However, as the two continue this ruse, something seems to spark between them. Is this a sign of this turning into something real? Or will Simon’s own agenda stop the two from becoming more?

We then have Marina, another lady who is making her debut onto the scene. Although she holds a secret; Marina is actually already pregnant with someone else’s child, a soldier named George Crane. In reality,  she hopes to one day marry him, though as time goes on, it looks less and less likely to happen. In order to have a possible future and to not bring shame to her family she does her best to hide her pregnancy. But with how damaging this pregnancy is to her reputation, will she really be able to find someone? Or will she have to resort to more drastic measures?

Bridgerton is a show that will constantly keep you on the edge of your seat. With drama at every turn and characters that you just can’t take your eyes off of it’s sure to be an amazing experience. So, make sure to catch up in order to prepare for the third act of this show.

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Page-Turners with Popularity - A Peek into Celebrity-Endorsed Reads

Celebrity book clubs have grown in popularity in recent years, providing readers with a carefully selected selection of interesting titles recommended by their favorite celebrities. From Oprah Winfrey to Reese Witherspoon, these clubs not only expose readers to fresh voices, but also generate more discussions about literature and storytelling. Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular selections from these renowned book clubs, drilling into the key ideas that make these books so appealing.

Oprah's Book Club - "An American Marriage" by Tayari Jones.

Oprah Winfrey's book club has long been associated with literary greatness, and Tayari Jones' "An American Marriage" is no exception. This gripping narrative tells the story of newlyweds Celestial and Roy, whose lives are upended when Roy is unfairly imprisoned. Jones goes deeply into themes of love, racism, and justice, building a moving story that readers will remember long beyond the last page.

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Healing Magic Gone Awry

In fantasy shows that have magic involved, they tend to focus on a variety of types. Fire, water, teleportation, darkness. There are many kinds that can greatly affect the type of show it is. However, the one type that almost always goes unnoticed is healing magic. While it tends to exist, it usually isn’t center stage and will only have little focus. This is mostly due to the fact that it’s hard to create a show around the premise of someone simply healing people. That’s why in this show they go about using it in a very unique way.

The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic focuses on highschooler Usato who was summoned into another world in order to help fight back against the demon army. This is a standard premise for most Isekai anime. What makes this one unique however is the fact that Usato was even meant to be summoned; he was dragged in by the spell that summoned his two schoolmates. Even so he still goes about the standard procedures that his new friends go through and finds out that he possesses the rare trait of being able to use healing magic. Once word gets out he is quickly kidnapped- recruited by the captain of the kingdom’s rescue team Rose. From here, he spends his days being trained by her to use healing magic in her own unique way.

Unfortunately for Usato,he undergoes immense physical training. This ranges from simple running all the way to doing push-ups with giant boulders on his back. Like the title suggests, we see that Rose’s take on healing magic is completely wrong in comparison to the way that you’d expect a normal healer to be. Rather than being a simple healer that supports from the backlines, she decides to be a berserker that charges right into battle.

By breaking the formula, we are able to see a new take that most people could never have even imagined. The anime turns what is regarded as a rather weak class into one that can stand on the same level as the more ‘popular’ classes such as warriors and spellcasters. And, it is this uniqueness that allows it to stand apart from other fantasy and isekai anime like it. While it may not be the right way to use it, this anime’s take on healing magic makes for a very fun experience.