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Department of Government Efficiency:How the U.S. Government Spent your Tax Dollars in 2024:-$7 million on various projects studying magic-$1,513,299 to use kittens in a study to analyze motion sickness.-$419,470 to determine if lonely rats sought cocaine at a greater frequency than happy rats-$123,000 teaching

This is the right position for those who want America to win. For those who want America to lose for their own personal gain, I have no respect. Zero.The Rabbit Hole:Elons stance on immigration has been pretty consistent. Heres him outlining it in 2023:

Companions provide more perspectives in stories, ground the narrative in people a player can relate to, and shine a light on parts of the world and lore that may not be in the direct path of the player. Obsidian has always had a talent for creating memorable companions, and Avowed continues this approach.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the Demon Slayer Manga

The cycle of pushing beyond a difficult level or boss is probably familiar to most everyone: You fail a lot, over and over. Eventually, you decide its not happening and you step away. When you return to the game, you breeze past what once felt insurmountable in a try or two.The reason this experience is so universal? Its encoded in the way our brains learn.Playing a video game requires some mental energy so to speak (i.e. attention resources), which inevitably depletes over time, Celia Hodent, Ph.D. in psychology and game UX strategist, told Polygon via email. When youve already been playing a game for [one] hour and are starting to battle a new boss, you put a lot of cognitive effort into understanding how the enemy works and how to defeat it, which is draining your energy and you keep dying.But when you sleep on it, not only do you recuperate that spent energy you also allow your brain to complete an imperative part of the process of learning a new skill.Sleep helps consolidate what was learned during the day in long-term memory. And we cant learn if we dont remember, Hodent said. A lack of sleep can have a very negative impact on learning and development in general.And it isnt just beginner gamers, or beginner humans (read: children), who need sleep in order to learn new skills: Fully matured adults also need to sleep properly to stay sharp, healthy, and to learn and perform anything properly (such as master a video game), said Hodent.It happened to me recently with Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders: I played the game in the morning before work and struggled to make it past a few objectives. I tried again after work and still couldnt push through. The next morning, after a good nights sleep and with a fresh cup of coffee beside me, I breezed through the objective and the goal times for a few tougher runs, too.Refusing to take a break isnt the only reason you could be stuck on a certain level or become frustrated to the point of abandoning a game. Hodent outlined three learning approaches that are at play when youre learning how to play video game levels, or learning anything, really: behavioral, cognitive, and constructive psychology principles.You can think of behavioral psychology as conditioning or input-output, Hodent said where a certain action causes a certain effect, and you learn to associate those things, such as when we destroy a vase we might find loot inside, or when we hear a specific sound that enemies are about to spot us.Conditioning also relies on repetition. We know that letting players repeat an action, such as practicing a new weapon repeatedly against enemies, is allowing conditioning to work. Just like flash cards, Hodent said.She described the second type of learning based on cognitive psychology principles as being about opening the black box (the mind) and taking into account the limitations of the human brain. Perception is subjective, attention resources are scarce, and memory is fallible.But thats not a bad thing it just means good video game designers should scaffold new concepts such that the player doesnt reach a level of fatigue that leaves them so frustrated as to give up permanently. We like to learn, especially when we get a win now and again.We know that working memory (the part of memory that allows you to encode information, like when reading these lines) tires fairly quickly and we cant sustain our attention for a long time, or multitask efficiently. If, in a game, we try to teach players too many new things too fast, theres a very good chance that they wont remember much of it, thus they will not feel competent playing the game, which can be frustrating, Hodent said.And now were up to the third framework, constructive psychology principles, which help prevent this frustration through purposeful learning.A video game that pauses to force feed players a tutorial text is not particularly efficient (and many players dislike that). On the contrary, placing players in a situation where they have to overcome an obstacle by learning a new skill [] is much more meaningful and efficient, Hodent explained, citing Super Mario Bros. World 1-1 as an example of this principle in action. To simplify, instead of telling them hey, btw, you need to press X to jump in this game, we show them a chest on an upper platform and they need to discover how to jump there to get it (with subtle guidance from design).Its not all on you, the player, to know when to step away, either. Games should incorporate breaks from the learning process.Carefully crafted games should account for [cognitive psychology principles] and let players take a breather (e.g. by not having them learn any new thing but simply practicing what was learned), Hodent wrote.Next time youre stuck on a tough level, you might reconsider the tactic of brute-forcing your way through as many failures as it takes to surpass it its a losing game, according to science, and one you cant trick your brain out of. Instead, take a break, practice using easier levels, or simply sleep on it.This is the main reason why it is absolutely crucial for children and young adults with a developing brain (until about 25 years of age) to have a good sleep pattern, because a lack of sleep can have a very negative impact on learning and development in general, Hodent said. So prioritize that sleep schedule it just might make you better at video games.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe hits movie number 35 with Captain America: Brave New World, a direct sequel to 2008s The Incredible Hulk and to the Disney Plus series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, though it also takes a major plot point from The Eternals as an inciting incident, in addition to following on from important events in Avengers: Endgame. Thats a lot of homework for one action movie, which speaks to where the MCU is these days: Its a huge project, crowded with characters, lore, andenough assigned readingto deter casual fans from dropping by to see the latest installment.But thats the problem with making Cinematic Universe installments rather than movies. Marvels early profits had studios across America and around the world jumping on the movie universe concept, but the majority of those universes petered out quickly, leaving Marvel to carry on nearly alone. And no wonder: Marvels was planned better and executed more carefully from the start. In spite of a series of recent underperforming movies, amultiverse saga whosenear-infinite spinoff potential was torpedoed by real-world issues, and a chaotic production for the latest installment, the MCU is still full of memorable hits.Its always worth looking back at how those hits and misses rank against each other, especially since the MCU movie roster has gotten so large, and since it ranges from epic to forgettable to outright lousy. Fans can argue endlessly about which film gets which label. But here at Polygon, we didnt argue about it we just got together to vote, tally, tabulate, and lay out a collective ranking of every MCU movie from worst to best. (MCU TV shows spawn similar debates, but theyget their own separate ranked list.)[Ed. note:This list is updated as new MCU films arrive. Latest update: February 2025, to includeCaptain America: Brave New World.]35. Ant-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaThe hero take: Love or hate the rest of Quantumania, at least it does right by Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), the dorky, cheerful, just-a-bit-dim dude who only really qualifies for Avengers status when the big-leaguers are otherwise occupied or in direct conflict. His framing scenes, cheerfully narrating how awesome his D-list-celebrity life is these days (as long as he doesnt think about it too hard) are the highlights of the movie, and just about the only part of Quantumania that capture the kind of sprightly humor that director Peyton Reed used to be known for.The villain take: Scotts alter ego Ant-Man, on the other hand, gets handed one dud of an idea after another in this soggy mess of a movie. As the big setup for Marvels Phase Five with its infinity of Kangs, the movie has to shoulder much too much exposition, which it throws out at random intervals during a trip into the Quantum Realm that in no way matches anything about that realm in any previous movie. Harried by ugly wall-to-wall CG, poorly written versions of familiar characters, and some exceptionally cheap family drama, this tee-up for the Multiverse Saga barely feels like a movie. Its just a series of barely connected establishment scenes, draped in garish digital effects. Tasha Robinson34. Thor: Love and ThunderThe hero take: After multiple Marvel movies that made no significant use of Natalie Portmans acting chops, Thor: Love and Thunder handed her Mjolnir and, more importantly, gave her some downright adorable dialogue. Also good: Tessa Thompson fighting as Valkyrie while wearing a Phantom of the Opera T-shirt.The villain take: Director and writer Taika Waititi reprises his bit part as Korg, who becomes a talkative but not quite funny enough narrator of the films events. Then theres Christian Bales heart-wrenching performance as Gorr, which belongs in a different movie maybe one that doesnt have Korgs goofball fairy-tale narration. Last but not least, this movie has two Thors in it, and it only needs one Natalie Portman, obviously. Maddy Myers33. Thor: The Dark WorldThe hero take: The movie that cemented Lokis woobification for all time, and a cameo thats quite possibly the most fun Chris Evans has ever had in the MCU.The villain take: Woof. Marvels gonna have to make a lot of duds before Dark World with its forgettable villain and even more forgettable plot wont wind up near the bottom of these kinds of rankings. Susana Polo32. Iron Man 2The hero take: With the early pre-Avengers success of the nascent MCU, Iron Man 2 is where these movies start to have some fun and this movie is absolutely stuffed to the brim with spectacle that made Iron Man look like an indie film in comparison. Iron Man 2 really brings out the toys: Whiplash! Suitcase armor! War Machine! An army of drones! And its the first film to truly lean into the connected nature of the MCU.The villain take: Boy howdy, what a mess. Every idea is underserved, the character work is shallow Tony Stark has basically regressed between films and the MCU world-building is a little too involved. An early cautionary tale for what the MCU could become without a modicum of care. Joshua Rivera31. Avengers: Age of UltronThe hero take: Its a Marvel movie about making Marvel movies. Writer-director Joss Whedon returns to look upon his work of making the impossible crossover of The Avengers a reality, and despairs via the homicidal robot Ultron. Theres a valiant effort to will this big sequel into a quieter, more dramatic film that almost succeeds.The villain take: Bombast wins out, and Whedons fun edge from the previous film is buffed away, leaving something a little sourer behind. The machines have the best material here, as Ultron and Vision are able to shoulder the metafictional and existential themes of the film while the Avengers proper are fumbling through some of their worst arcs. The less said about Hulk and Black Widow, the better. JR30. Captain America: Brave New WorldThe hero take: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier creator Malcolm Spellman is clearly at least trying to put some meaningful messages in here about the challenge of being a unifying representative of a divided America, and about the abuses of political power. The action sequences are solid. Anthony Mackies determined, outwardly patient but inwardly steaming performance as Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, puts a little flavor into the story.The villain take: But its mostly a bland mess, confused in its sympathies (so much empathy for Harrison Fords Thunderbolt Ross as a guy who commits atrocities just because hes a sad dad!) and vague and toothless in its political stance, which is more or less Unity is good, war is bad. Sam Wilsons arc seems to just be recapitulating the same questions he struggled with and seemed to resolve in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Ross arc was given away in the trailers, which showed off Red Hulk as a selling point, and punctured any sense of tension or curiosity this movie might have mustered. TR29. EternalsThe hero take: For all its flaws (and there are many), Eternals is one of the few Marvel movies that actually dives into the relationships between its heroes. This is the movie for everyone who ever wanted the Avengers to be a found family and not just a group of heroes who happen to work together. Its a poignant and moving story about the pains of immortality and the beauty of humanity. It also features one of the most diverse casts in the entire MCU as well as one of the most female-fronted teams!The villain take: It pokes way more holes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe than is worth the two-hour-and-37-minute run time. It asks the audience to care a lot about characters and dynamics they barely know, and in order for that to happen, the movie jam-packs all the backstory into some clunky transitions. It shouldve been a TV show.Then theres the continuity issue, as the subsequent movies and television shows completely fail to mention the giant stone Celestial poking out of the planet. (She-Hulk at least threw in one blink-and-youll-miss-it moment, but still.) It barely feels like its part of the MCU, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on what youre here for. Petrana Radulovic28. The Incredible HulkThe hero take: The Hulks only MCU solo outing is a lean thriller that blends the jolly green giant with a bit of The Fugitive, as Bruce Banner treks across the globe to stay ahead of a U.S. military that wants him in custody. A paranoid, twitchy film that really gains a lot from Ed Nortons starring performance, still memorable even though his successor in the role, Mark Ruffalo, has been well-received across the various team-up films that followed.The villain take: None of the other characters have much to work with here, and when the film does go into superhero mode, the moody color palette means its a struggle to actually see whats happening. JR27. Avengers: Infinity WarThe hero take: Its more or less the Empire Strikes Back of the MCU a dark, heavy setup movie where the heroes suffer tremendous defeats and losses in order to make their triumphs in the next movie stronger. Along the way, fans get to see characters interact who have never met before, highlighting all of them in new and exciting ways. And then theres that ending, still possibly the most breathless piece of pure horror in the entire franchise.The villain take: Its too busy, with so many characters that virtually none of the fan favorites get significant screen time, and too many repetitive fights over Infinity Stones where the outcomes are foreordained. Various characters have to make disappointingly stupid choices to keep the plot rolling. Also, Loki gets punked, Hulk gets punked, and Thor acts like he hasnt seen Loki die like eight times already. TR26. ThorThe hero take: Technically more of a fish-out-of-water comedy than a superhero movie. Hemsworths goofiness plays great with Natalie Portman as the straight man, and Stellan Skarsgrd rules in this movie.The villain take: The action is pretty bad, the story isnt particularly interesting, and its meant as a comedy, but its only intermittently funny. Austen Goslin25. The MarvelsThe hero take: Every single time The Marvels steps away from the plot for a second, its a blast. The group fight choreography has Ms. Marvels Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), Captain Marvels Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), and WandaVisions Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) rapidly swapping places mid-attack due to space-time shenanigans, which puts a lively, visually breathless spin on the usual punch-em-ups. Kamala, with her starry-eyed Captain Marvel fandom and fractious family, remains a Marvel bright spot. The hangout sesh on the sing-along planet of Aladna is lovely nonsense. Whenever The Marvels lets go of the need for world-smashing stakes, its a goofy, giddy trip.The villain take: But oh, that plot. Saddled with one of the MCUs least developed villains (which is really saying something), full of surprisingly huge story gaps that feels like crucial scenes were cut out or never shot at all, and rushed as hell even in its better efforts at character building, The Marvels is ridiculously messy, from its your powers are intertwined, for, I dunno, reasons plot device to a climax that fundamentally relies on audiences knowing lore that the movie never even hints at. Its surprisingly fun as a viewing experience, but it sure isnt a coherent, consistent, or well-assembled movie. TR24. Spider-Man: No Way HomeThe hero take: The end of the first trilogy featuring Tom Hollands Spider-Man goes out with an absolute bang, bringing the villains and Spider-Mans! from the two previous live-action iterations into one tangled web. With this escalated threat, there are escalated stakes, giving us the first film where the newest Peter Parker must struggle against an evil that wishes to hurt him personally and make him face the darkness that lies within himself.The villain take: No Way Home can be read as an outrageously cynical film, a movie thats essentially getting by on stolen valor borrowing the menace and character work done outside of the MCU to raise the stock of its own take on Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Its also yet another film that refuses to just let Peter face a threat on his own, without an Avenger babysitting him. JR23. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2The hero take: Once writer-director James Gunn established his merry band of A-holes as a bona fide MCU success, he used his second go-round as a chance to get weird. Vol. 2 is one of the few MCU projects to feel acutely personal, both thematically and aesthetically, as Gunns gross-out schlock roots collide with a heartfelt and mildly vulgar story about fathers and sons, family lost and found, and pushing through the pain and anger that comes with feeling like you deserved more than you got.The villain take: Guardians Vol. 2 overindulges in comic book group therapy. In some ways, this is a remarkable thing about it. In others, it shortchanges the characters and the actors that play them, giving them much to discuss and not much to do. JR22. Captain MarvelThe hero take:Its rare for a Marvel movie to have a twist, and Captain Marvels isnt that complicated, but its refreshing nonetheless. It just makes sense for the Skrulls a shapeshifting alien race, always on the run and hiding out to be the more sympathetic side in the Kree-Skrull war. (The comics arent quite so neat and tidy when it comes to that.) Then theres the more obvious reveal that Carol Danvers slimy male mentor was just trying to keep her down again, not a surprise, but still satisfying. The movie even manages to introduce a young Monica Rambeau, one of the original heroes to use the Captain Marvel moniker in the comics, and although her cameo is little more than a lead-in to WandaVision, Akira and Azari Akbars performances are too cute to deny.The villain take: Its really just an Air Force recruitment ad. A lot of Marvel movies work with the U.S. military and make it look good, but in this movie, it somehow seems even more disgusting, given the feminist themes and diverse cast. Uncle Sam will point his finger at anyone these days! And thats progress, folks. MM21. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessThe hero take: The Sorcerer Supreme gets the Tales From the Crypt treatment, thanks to the stylings of Sam Raimi, who turns what would otherwise be a nonsensical chase through the Marvel multiverse into a slightly spooky romp with wonderfully imagined magical battles.The villain take: For a premise that implies so much for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Multiverse of Madness is pretty gun-shy about showing us the sheer possibility suggested in its title. Its biggest swing a second-act set-piece chock-full of cameos drags down an exciting moment with dull exposition. JR20. Black WidowThe hero take: The main cast is excellent, and almost all of them know how fun the movie theyre in should be. Some of the action is pretty good. And Florence Pugh is in it. (Shes enough fun that she gets her own special mention.)The villain take: It has one of the worst third-act fights in MCU history, and a completely perfunctory story that serves almost no larger purpose in the universe. AG19. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3The hero take: If everything in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was as emotionally vivid as the flashbacks to Rocket Raccoons tragic backstory or James Gunns big feel-good dance party at the end, this one would be much higher on the MCU mega-list. There are a lot of sentimental gut punches in Gunns farewell to the MCU, and a lot of the kind of gleeful nonsense thats characterized this series in the past, from big hit needle-drops to sharp character banter and an intense full-group hallway fight that pulls out all the co-op combat stops. Its a Guardians-fans-only movie for sure, but it knows its audience and aims right for their squirrelly little hearts.The villain take: If only this wasnt such an overstuffed movie in so many other ways. Trying to give every single character a meaningful farewell arc is a daunting enough task, but GOTG3 also tees up Adam Warlock for possible future movies, introduces and dispenses with the villain The High Evolutionary, and (groan) wastes a whole lot of screen time on the go-nowhere romance between Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and Gamora (Zoe Saldaa). Its a particularly crowded and cramped movie with no time to deepen any of the relationships, which doesnt stop Gunn from pretending theyre deeper than theyve ever been before. (Quill proclaiming Rocket is his best friend is a mighty odd moment, given that Rocket already canonically has a much better best friend.) TR18. Ant-Man and the WaspThe hero take: The small-stakes fun of Ant-Man, times two. Theres a world where every Marvel movie is like the Ant-Man films, and that world isnt a bad one: The stakes are small (ha) and personal, superpowers are used for gags as much as they are for action, and the focus is much more on the actors being people than they are soldiers or gods.The villain take: Ant-Man and the Wasp, kind of like its predecessor, still feels a bit too small. (Hee hee.) The movie fails to make a strong impression, even with an expanded supporting cast that includes the likes of Walton Goggins and Randall Park joining the the ant farm. JR17. Ant-ManThe hero take: Ant-Manknows exactly what it is: an action blockbuster helmed by a maybe B-tier superhero who was mostly known to the wider public in a specific, goofy way. Would that all movies could take that equation and multiply it by Paul Rudds innate charisma!The villain take: This was one of those MCU projects that seemed like it was going to be big and interesting, back when it was initially given to Edgar Wright. Theres a sense that something got lost in the handoff to Peyton Reed: The end product is a mishmash of tones that briefly provides a window into the wacky (or wackier) world that couldve been. Zosha Millman16. Captain America: Civil WarThe hero take: Civil Warhas a lot to do. And yet its defining sequence, the airport battle, works because it manages to deliver on the characters actual groundwork from their own movies, letting them ping-pong off each other in battle much better than they have in their signature Marvel Quips.The villain take: Perhaps more so than most movies,Civil Warsuffers because its core problem couldve been solved with a single conversation, making the fire-and-brimstone concept of its subhead a bit overblown. Plus, the MCU hasnt really done enough to build up any of the Avengers asfriendsto the point where the betrayal of this movie would hold together the way it does in the comic arc. ZM15. Doctor StrangeThe hero take: The rare MCU movie that actually requires all the CG it uses (and uses it well), Doctor Strange is one of the better-looking entries in the franchise. It eschews the typical third-act formula, and it also does Tony Starks three-movie Iron Man arc in one movie. Besides, Scott Adkins is in it!The villain take: Redoing Tony Starks three-movie Iron Man arc in one movie can be read as a bad thing. The romance in the movie is also super underserved. And while Im a Scott Adkins superfan, the movie really has no idea what to do with his considerable martial arts prowess and screen presence, which is a shame! Pete Volk14. Spider-Man: Far From HomeThe hero take: The Marvel Cinematic Universe has an overabundance of weirdo Silicon Valley assholes. When I learned the MCUs Quentin Beck (aka Mysterio) would have his awesome backstory (bitter magician and illusionist) swapped with something much more familiar (hes yet another Tony Stark knockoff) I was, in a word, pissed. The only magic I expected to see was my interest in the MCU disappearing into thin air.How did I ever doubt mid-career Jake Gyllenhaal? Fresh off bizarre-ass roles in Okja, Velvet Buzzsaw, Nightcrawler, and Enemy, Gyllenhaal delivers one of the most gleeful villain performances in a series known for dull baddies who exist to make some world-threatening speech before getting punched through a skyscraper.The villain take: Do I remember much about the story of Peter Parker and friends on a class trip around western Europe? Of course not. But I cant forget Jake G. repeatedly trapping Spider-Man in holographic houses of mirrors. If the multiverse is just, Gyllenhaals Mysterio will return. Though this time, lets just make him a magician, please. Chris Plante13. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsThe hero take: Want to watch a decent little martial arts action movie with charming leads? Shang-Chi has got you.The villain take: Tony Leung is the most charming actor in this movie. Unfortunately, hes the villain. Also, everything winds up in a predictable Marvel CGI mush climax and a vague gesture in the direction of the future of the MCU. SP12. Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverThe hero take: A cinematic wake that mourns what could have been, as director and co-writer Ryan Coogler bids farewell to the late Chadwick Boseman and TChalla, the hero-king Boseman fully embodied from the moment he appeared on screen. Bosemans death makes Wakanda Forever the most painfully human film in the MCU canon, a project that works through grief and the many ways its processed, including in the conflict between Wakanda and the subaquatic nation of Talokan.The villain take: The film simply takes on too much. Its conflict between Talokan king Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and Wakanda is forced, as Huertas easy charisma crafts a character more sympathetic than the script intends. Diversions outside Wakanda like a subplot involving the return of Martin Freeman as CIA agent Everett Ross just dilute the films efforts, and highlight how inadequate the MCU can be when it comes to grappling with anything this raw. JR11. Guardians of the GalaxyThe hero take: It takes a bit of buy-in to James Gunns whole thing to get on board with Guardians of the Galaxy. But as the first MCU movie made to potentially lift right out of the whole continuity if it needed to, Guardians is funnier, tighter, and more individual than the rapidly homogenizing MCU would become.The villain take: Guardians tends to work better when you focus on the jokes, not the larger McGuffin-y plot of the whole thing. And if those jokes dont land well, its not gonna be the best MCU entry for you. ZM10. Iron Man 3The hero take: If the MCU did one thing right in its first couple of phases, it was tracking Robert Downey Jr.s Tony Stark, and his arc toward figuring out the right way to protect the world. He never quite does. But Iron Man 3 marks an important chapter for him addressing his central trauma, character, and reliance on superherodom and manages to be one of the most distinctive (and complete) parts of the MCU because of it.The villain take: Its such a complete look at Tony that it almost seems silly we had to make him keep going after that ending! Plus, the less said about the handling of the Mandarin in this film (Shang-Chi revisionism or no), the better. ZM9. Deadpool & WolverineThe hero take: The third movie in the Deadpool series brings Deadpool into the Marvel multiverse and under the Disney banner for the first time, giving Deadpool (and co-writer Ryan Reynolds) the chance to declare himself Marvel Jesus, come to save the MCU from its sins. And judging by the films box-office take, he may have earned that claim. Deadpool & Wolverine is a fans-only prospect, crammed with callbacks and in-jokes and referential humor but what a feast it is for fans who get the gags and enjoy the payoffs.The villain take: While Reynolds and company are trying real, real hard to be transgressive enough to make their core audience feel good about the truth-teller who sticks it to The Man and doesnt take either his Disney overlords or his MCU idols particularly seriously, Deadpool & Wolverine still nerfs some of the humor of previous series installments to avoid giving offense. And while the irreverent jokes come fast and furious, it all heads toward a soppy, ridiculous climax that no one even tries to justify as anything but sentimental everyone-gets-what-they-want schmaltz. TR8. The AvengersThe hero take: This is the film that proved Marvels grand storytelling experiment was going to work, and then some. Assembling heroes and storylines from the whole first phase for an almighty team-up, writer-director Joss Whedon wore this difficult task lightly, punching up the banter and the stakes for an apocalyptic scrap in New York. The Avengers still has some of the funniest lines and best action sequences of the entire MCU and some of the best Hulk content, too.The villain take: Pretty much the same as the case for. The Avengers irretrievably made smarmy Whedonisms a core pillar of the whole series, but 10 years and more than two dozen movies later, the quips are starting to grate, while the man himself has fallen precipitously and justly out of fashion. The films profoundly influential mix of inert soap opera, air-punching fan service, and overburdened, kitchen-sink structure is now our whole reality. Hope hes proud. Oli Welsh7. Iron ManThe hero take: The movie that started it all,Iron Manwas the breakout success that launched the rest of the franchise, in large part due to Robert Downey Jr.s charismatic performance, which turned the arc of his career around.The villain take: Its a boring movie visually, set largely in vast, open deserts without making much use of that space. It also asks you to sympathize with an arms dealer without really digging into what that means. And while I support Jeff Bridges being in things, his character is one of the most straightforward examples of the classic Marvel problem of the villain is just the hero, but bad. PV6. Captain America: The First AvengerThe hero take: Director Joe Johnston made a comic book adaptation 20 years prior to this: Disneys The Rocketeer. Presumably, that films mix of pulpy melodrama, special-effects-heavy action, and 1930s period sets helped land him the Marvel gig. Captain America: The First Avenger has that 1990s action-comedy energy, less self-aware and more earnest than the Marvel films to follow.The First Avenger launched young talents like Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, and Hayley Atwell, but the small army of established actors in the support roles are what elevate this movie to the top of the list. Tommy Lee Jones! Hugo Weaving! Stanley Tucci and Toby Jones! A decade ago, I remember leaving the theater saying, They dont make them like this anymore. And Marvel hasnt since.The villain take: The extended title The First Avenger announces the future of Marvel movies. This isnt just a Captain America flick; its the story of an Avenger! One problem: The world had yet to see an Avengers film, and the pop culture earthquakes that went with them. So the subtitle served more as a promise of the future, rather than a statement about the film folks would actually see in theaters. CP5. Spider-Man: HomecomingThe hero take: As the third modern Marvel live-action feature introduction to the life and times of Peter Parker,Homecomingcouldve easily returned to familiar ground. Instead, it made space for Tom Hollands Spider-Man to once again reintroduce himself, in all his weird, sometimes awkward, often charming way.The villain take: Look, at the end of the day, its stillanother Spider-Man, and now hes a little bit tricked out like Iron Man. They do all right with the relationship between them, but theres still a dizzying sense of the MCUs grander machinations at play here. ZM4. Captain America: The Winter SoldierThe hero take: Of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe offerings,The Winter Soldierprobably sustains the seriousness of its tone the best. As taut as MCU spy sequences come,Winter Soldierunderstands the dynamics of its relationships enough to actually make them compelling, even when penned in by the MCU blueprint.The villain take: An actual spy thriller this is not. Again, were still playing with Marvels rulebook here, and theres only so much you can do there. Its also the first Marvel flick from the Russo brothers, and yeah, that shows on screen a bit. ZM3. Thor: RagnarokThe hero take: Its a technicolor wonderland that puts the previously stodgy Thor into a buddy comedy (and briefly, emotional indie drama about feelings) with the Hulk, a movie that shows just how elastic MCU heroes can be without breaking.The villain take: It is completely uninterested in building out Asgards story from previous movies, quickly dismissing the last movies cliffhanger and effectively wiping the place out of the MCU cosmos at the end just before giving it a compelling dark origin to reckon with. JR2. Avengers: EndgameThe hero take: The big, satisfying finale to a decade of storytelling, with stakes that literally encompass the entire universe, and a payoff that feels epic enough to justify those stakes. As overstuffed with joyously shameless fan service as it is, Avengers: Endgame is meant to feel like an uphill battle, hard-fought and hard-won. Its the all about the saga side of the MCU at its best, bringing threads and characters together from a decade of storytelling to a point of culmination.The villain take: Seen on its own, its also a fairly shaggy movie thats juggling far too many balls, and doesnt manage to catch them all particularly when it comes to the baffling questions about how time travel and multiverses work in the MCU. The Russo brothers seem pretty content to throw those questions out there for other people to answer later, which has happened only sporadically, and not always with a sense that theres an overall plan at work. TR1. Black PantherThe hero take: Take the triumph of The Avengers and imagine it applied to a single hero: Thats Black Panther. What makes this film stand head and shoulders above the rest lies in intent: The MCU, for all its wild successes, is an insular project, an exercise in careful, canny brand management. Director Ryan Coogler manages to transcend this with Black Panther, a film thats not only a rousing solo effort for Marvels first Black superhero, but a work of celebration, the rare instance where a work of corporate representation does its best to love its fans back.The villain take: The care and energy Coogler and the assembled cast bring to Black Panther isnt always matched by its superheroics most notably in the final, largely CG battle between TChalla and the usurper Killmonger, a brawl that is perhaps the most forgettable moment in the film. Thankfully, its redeemed by one of the most memorable villain sendoffs in the MCU. JR

Matching with our dogs isnt a groundbreaking concept theres no shortage of leashes, beds, and even actual outfits we can choose from to coordinate with our interior and personal styles. But matching homewares? Now thats a fresh idea, brought to life by dog-loved brand Kismet and Brooklyn-based ceramicist Helen Levi. Together, theyve crafted a limited-edition collection of mugs for humans and dog bowls for their four-legged friends, each featuring Kismets signature color palette and Levis distinctive swirls. No two pieces are alike just like your dog.The idea started when Michael Ventura, Kismets President and Chief Brand Officer, approached Levi, whom he had known for years. The idea immediately resonated with Levi. I had my beloved dog Billy for ten years before he passed away, so I think Michael knew Im a supreme dog lover, Levi shared. I love the idea of matching your pup and think all dog owners can relate to wanting to share with your best friend.The designs for the collection drew inspiration directly from Kismets packaging, featuring organic shapes and playful colors elements Levi knows well (Swirls, chunky shapes, etc; its in my wheelhouse!). True to her signature style, Levis process is hands-on and intuitive. I dont tend to sketch things out, she explained. I have to try it and see the finished piece before I know if its working. This experimental approach resulted in beautifully unique pieces with a mix of color-blocked and twirled patterns. To accurately capture the various details of each mug, Levi sent multiple photos of the same mug to the Kismet team for feedback. When two team members happened to pick opposite sides of the same mug as their favorite, it was truly a kismet moment.The mugs retail for $64 (currently on sale for $44.80), while the dog bowls are available in small ($72, on sale for $50.40) and large ($84, on sale for $58.80) sizes. As if this collab couldnt get any better, a portion of every purchase benefits Kismet Cares, supporting causes like Project Street Vet, which provides free veterinary care to the pets of unhoused people, and Paws for Life, a rehabilitation program pairing rescue dogs from local shelters with incarcerated individuals who help provide obedience training.If the thought of sipping your morning coffee while your dog enjoys breakfast in matching ceramics sounds delightful, this collection might just be what you never knew you needed.To shop the Helen Levi x Kismet collection, visit kismetpets.com.

While many of us only have one Apple Account to manage, many others have two, and are using both with their Apple devices. I know someone who once created an Apple Account using an employer-linked email address, and at some point, created a second account with their personal ID. Now, they're using two accounts on their devices, with one linked to iCloud and Apple Music, and the other one for all other apps.If you've had Apple devices for a long time, you might have two Apple Accounts of your own. Despite this, Apple didn't allow users to merge purchases onto one account. So, if you wanted to access purchases on an old Apple Account, you needed to sign into it, even though you use a newer account for everything else.For people stuck in these types of situations, Apple finally has a solutionmigrating purchases from one account to another. It's not necessarily simple, but it is doable.Understanding the risks involvedOn the surface, it may seem like a simple process to migrate your purchases from one Apple Account to another, but it appears to be quite tricky in the backend. That's probably why it has taken Apple so long to make this feature available. Data migration is complicated. I remember when people's iTunes libraries were corrupted when Apple Music launched and not everyone found a working solution. That's why I think it's best to take migrating purchases slow and steady.It's also worth noting that after migration is complete, your secondary Apple Account will no longer be able to make any purchases, so you won't be able to download any apps from the App Store. I also don't recommend going through with this process if you're beta testing many apps via TestFlight. If you're okay with unenrolling your device from all those betas, then you may proceed to migrate purchases. This process is also unavailable in three major regionsthe EU, United Kingdom, and India. Apple hasn't mentioned why this is, but it could be due to local regulations around payments and data.Check if you're eligible for migrating purchasesTo successfully migrate your purchases to a different Apple Account, the company requires you meet the following conditions:The primary Apple Account should be linked to iCloud and most features. This is the account where all your purchases will be unified.The secondary Apple Account should only be used for media and purchases. This account won't be able to make any purchases once the migration is complete.You should know the email address, phone numbers, and passwords for both accounts.Your Apple Accounts should not be shared with another person.Your Apple Accounts shouldn't be created as a child account through Family Sharing.If the primary Apple Account has never been used for purchases or free downloads, it can't be used to migrate purchases.Migration can't be done if both accounts have music library data associated with them.The Apple Account shouldn't be locked or disabled. It also shouldn't be a part of special access programs for apps on content (e.g. linked to an employer to receive special access to apps).The secondary Apple Account shouldn't be used for testing beta versions through TestFlight. Stop testing all apps before attempting migration.How to migrate purchases from one Apple Account to anotherBefore you can start migrating purchases, you need to do the following:Update to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS on your iPhone or iPad.Make sure you are logged in to your primary account on your device, and your secondary Apple Account for Media & Purchases. To verify this, go to Settings > YOUR NAME > Media & Purchases > View Account. If you see a different Apple Account here from your primary Apple Account, you're all set. If not, you can sign out and sign in to the correct account.Ensure that the secondary account isn't a part of a Family Sharing group.Check that both accounts are set to the same country and region.Enable two-factor authentication on both accounts.If you have unused Apple Account balance on the secondary account, spend it all before you start migrating.Wait for rental content to expire before beginning this process.If you've pre-ordered any content on the secondary account, then you can either wait for the orders to complete or cancel them.Verify that the payment method linked to the secondary account is working and keep all its details handy. You'll have to verify a payment from the secondary account before this process goes through.When all of this is confirmed, you can follow these steps to begin the process:On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > YOUR NAME > Media & Purchases > View Account.Sign in to the account if you're asked to, then scroll down, and select Migrate Purchases.Check the information about both accounts and follow on-screen prompts to complete migrating purchases to the primary account.Once the process is done, you'll see a message that reads, "Purchases Have Been Migrated," on the screen. You will also receive emails confirming this on both your email addresses.Check your Media & Purchases settings and sign in here with your primary Apple Account.You can now sign out of the secondary Apple Account on all your Apple devices.The migration process can only be done once on an account. Apple allows you to undo an account migration following these same steps, but you won't be able to migrate purchases again for one year.

Tired of losing stuff? Chipolo is selling a four-pack of its One Bluetooth trackers for $67.50. This represents a discount of 32 percent. Just remember to pop in the code ENGADGET10 at checkout. That brings the sale price of $75 down to $67.50. The discount applies to all colorways, and there are a bunch to choose from. There are also combo packs that include multiple colors. This gadget not only made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, but its our very favorite release in the product category. The One is a near-perfect tracker. The battery lasts two full years, it works great with both Android and iOS devices and the ringer is incredibly loud. This is great news for those who tend to misplace items under mountains of linens or between couch cushions. Theres also no perceptible lag between pressing the Ring to Find button and hearing the trill. This isnt true of many rival trackers. It even has a handy hole for attaching to keychains and the like. This may seem like an obvious design element, but Apple AirTags lack this hole. The only downside involves the finding network. Chipolo isnt a big name like Apple or Samsung, so there are fewer people on the network. This could be an issue if you dont live in a major metropolitan area. Basically, the One is perfect for looking for lost items in or near the home, but not as useful when searching for misplaced stuff (like luggage at an airport) out in the wild. One last thing. Remember that coupon code from before? It works across the entire site, so feel free to grab a ten percent discount on everything else Chipolo makes. This includes wallet trackers that are shaped like credit cards and smaller tracking rings. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-a-four-pack-of-chipolo-one-bluetooth-trackers-for-32-percent-off-130015886.html?src=rss