Will Liverpool test the European Champions?

(Image Credit: Messi2day.com)

I have to admit one thing.  As a Liverpool fan, I get goosebumps every time I think about the Reds taking on the European Champions Real Madrid and especially away at the Santiago Bernabeu. We lost 3-0 last time at home in an inspiring performance from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

This one match I do not have much expectations. As Brendan Rodgers so eloquently put it in a post match interview after our recent loss to Newcastle over the weekend, “there is no formula”. We are without Daniel Sturridge and missing Luis Suarez who now plays for Barcelona. We just need to find a way to use our players and win.

What will happen tonight? Liverpool will likely lose. Mario Balotelli is horrible and should be sold off in January. I don’t want this to be a match preview. There are tons available and I feel that I should speak here as a Liverpool fan. I am not ashamed to admit we have lost our edge. We lost it when Fernando Torres left in January 2011 and we are feeling it after losing Suarez.

Super Mario will have to prove himself in this match if he wants a regular place. Whenever Sturridge does return, I hope Balotelli isn’t in the starting eleven. Ronaldo, Benzema and the returning Gareth Bale will really be in top form at home.

Where does our strength lie? It lies in the fans. It lies in all of the Kop who sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Will we test perhaps the best team in Europe? Rodgers claims they are probably the best now according to BBC Sport. Steven Gerrard has to rally the troops. We need to be our best against the best. There are no excuses. Rodgers says that we want a good result and not rely on the other games to qualify out of the group stages in the UEFA Champions League. He is right that we have every chance to go through. I feel that we should not take this game as a write-off.

If we lose, we make sure every minute on the pitch, we show the Los Blancos no fear and make them work hard for every goal and at the same time take the game to them! Go Reds, may you never walk alone, because we will be singing with you all the way to victory lane!

Tweet

The Battle of the Exclusive Rages on!

(Image credit: exec.ru)

In the gaming business, games make the console. With three excellent consoles to choose from in this generation, which is the ideal one to go for? At least, two out of the three have similar third-party releases, but what sets them apart are the exclusives they offer. The PlayStation 4 leads in worldwide sales by 13.5 million units sold and the Xbox One at over five million units since they launched in November 2014. However, the Nintendo Wii U is around 6 million units, according to Gamespot, in the two years or so it has been around.

We take a look at some upcoming exclusives for each console. The Wii U may not lead in console sales, but benefits from a variety of exclusives. Some of the best ones to look forward to are ‘Bayonetta 2’ and ‘Mario Party 10’. ‘Bayonetta 2’ is a must buy for Wii U owners and is even more kickass than the original one on the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360. You play a sexy witch who can kick butt. What more do you want!

Coming to the Xbox One, we just saw the release of ‘Forza Horizon 2’ and Microsoft has now moved its focus towards gaming from entertainment in an effort to take on the PS4. ‘Sunset Overdrive’, ‘Halo: Master Chief Collection’ and ‘Quantum Break’ have been talked up a lot on several gaming sites and forums.

The PS4 seems to have better luck with third-party titles because it is better built for gaming than the Xbox One. However, ‘inFamous Second Son’ was one of their biggest exclusive titles this year and the hotly-anticipated titles include ‘Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’ and ‘Bloodborne’.

Will any of the big three consoles have a killer exclusive? It is an exciting time for gaming and only when these titles are out and the numbers are available, we can see which console won in the battle of exclusives.

Tweet

Manchester United vs. Chelsea: When Lions Collide!

(Image credit: sepak.com)

The Red Devils take on Premier League leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford in a bid to break into the top four. The Blues want to retain their dominance on the top of the league. They can take an eight point advantage over Manchester City since the Citizens lost by a goal to West Ham away.

Today’s match is the first of Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United against an opponent of the caliber of Chelsea who are riding high unbeaten. Can the Red Devils break Jose Mourinho’s Special Ones’ streak? Wayne Rooney sits out another match as part of his suspension. Falcao and Robin Van Persie will lead the line for United with Angel Di Maria acting as playmaker.

Chelsea’s Diego Costa is doubtful to start  due to injury so it is possible the strike duties may be handed to Andre Schurrle. Veteran Didier Drogba is expected to be brought in the second half. Express reports that Loic Remy will also be unavailable due to groin strain. United should not take for granted that Chelsea will be soft up front without the attacking prowess of Costa and Remy. Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian are all strong attack-minded players.

Juan Mata will be playing instead of Rooney and should hopefully try to stake a regular place in the side with his performances. Van Gaal will have to make every minute and play count as Chelsea will be giving their all. The Special One is known to park the bus and frustrate opposing sides that have a strong attack and United does have a few top marksmen up front. He is a specialist in knowing opponents’ style so the Dutchman will have to play a careful and methodical game and it is better not to keep a high defensive line to avoid counter-attacks which is Chelsea’s strong suit.

When these two lions collide, all hell will break lose. After the El Clasico between Real Madrid  and Barcelona in the La Liga last night, this one will be another exciting fixture on Super Sunday in the Barclays Premier League.

Tweet

Knight and the Lady- Guest post by Bushra Farooq

(Image credit: melissabxoxo.blogspot.com)

Every little girl is told stories about princes and romance. We are taught how we, as women, are unable to exist without a man in our lives who will protect us and cherish us; who will love us for ever after. The brainwashing is so complete and reinforced by teen romance novels that every girl is waiting for that handsome prince who will steal her heart at first sight and make her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world with eyes only for her.

Then we get married.

No matter what a girl’s preferences are or what she finds physically or mentally appealing, her husband will always be a first or second cousin who her parents chose for her. The fact that she had called him bhai her whole life and is now supposed to be ‘in love’ with him is quite disturbing but who really cares about her preferences?? She finds tall men handsome but ‘phupo ka beta’ had a degree in engineering. She is a happy go lucky kind of person and enjoys the company of those with a good sense of humor yet ‘phupo ka beta’ makes enough money so mum says she should be happy.

Unfortunately, a girl never has her home. She grows up in her parents’ home and her post nuptial home is always referred to as ‘susral’ or husband’s home. Unless she breaks free of the extended family system, she can never have a home. But breaking away would make her so many things that she isn’t in the eyes of the susrali aunties that it is just better to live her life in that one room with her three kids all her life.

For most Pakistani girls, Cinderella was narrated backwards. No matter how much we are involved in housekeeping in our parents’ home, it is never as coerced or as challenging when we enter the home of our husband. Nothing a girl does can be up to par, someone will always be complaining about her…..always.

The problem begins with the aunty jee who is searching for a match for her son. Every aunty searching for a daughter – in – law has a very comprehensive list of requirements. The girl she chooses has all that list of requirements and is perfect for her son. She will keep him happy and aunty jee has boasted about her in front of all her kitty party friends. Then the marriage takes place, the husband and wife have tried to create a bond and are very happy together but aunty jee is not happy. The girl has obviously bewitched her son and is trying to steal away her son……..now the kitty party friends get to hear how she has no good habits and is the root of all evil and of course the cause of all the problems in her life.

The list aunty jee has is very particular about item number one ……white skin (not a pale complexion) the girl has to be WHITE. She must be slim, have big eyes, long hair, be tall and possess a good figure. Unfortunately, aunty jee forgot to take a look at her son before she left the house. As her son is average looking at best so he cannot be accepted by such a girl ( who would be as demanding!). As she is a rare commodity and she is sought after by all the aunty jees in the area. Her son must earn in the millions and be really good looking to bag such a girl. So he gets the regular looking girl who probably has a very nice personality and is very smart and able……..but aunty jee will never let her forget that she was the second option.

Reproduction is the main need of the hour. Aunty jee is worried that her family’s name must go on regardless of the fact that she searched far and wide for a ‘doctor bahoo’ or at least a ‘masters bahoo’. The girl must stay at home and have children, preferably boys and obviously at least four to ensure a long healthy and lasting next generation! If she wants to do something then she can always make more food for the family and spend less time on the phone to her mum.

The list of problems is endless and no matter which household you look in you will find similar issues. Why do we then as parents assume so much control of our children’s lives? Do we have to constantly keep a check on their lives regardless of age or relationship status? Why can we, as a society, not accept that if a husband and wife are happy together that it is not our business to ruin their relationship or judge it? Even if two people aren’t very happy together, it is not really an issue that requires intervention from family members. Society has changed drastically in the last 50 years yet we cannot break free of our norms. When can it be acceptable to be married to the man of your choice and to be happy with him? With increasing needs and demands, can we not change perceptions and make lives easier for us rather than everyone living miserably? A thought can change our lives for the better but who is ready to take the step first?

Tweet

Guns, Guts and Glory: Sly’s Expendables are back with a bang!

(Image credit: celebnwall.com)

Rating: 9/10

Yes. The gang is back one more time to rack up a humongous body count, one liners and some bad-ass butt kicking on cinema screens. Who better to assemble the crew than the great Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross? Sly brings the boys back for yet another dangerous mission. Only this time it’s personal!

Well this time, we get a series of new recruits from the 80s and 90s. Bruce Willis is gone but Harrison Ford (Drummer) and Kelsey Grammar (Bonaparte) make their debuts. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as Trench. Jet Li also makes a comeback and quite a good one I must add. The best addition perhaps is Wesley Snipes. He was an action film staple for most of the 90s and my personal favorite was ‘Passenger 57’. Stallone and Snipes were together in 90s smash ‘Demolition Man’. Another former co-star of Stallone, Antonio Banderas, joins in and provides comic relief as Galgo.

The rest of the team is still there: Dolph Lundgren (Gunner), Terry Crews (Ceasar), Jason Statham (Christmas) and Randy Couture (Toll Road). They are joined by a fresh and young crew assembled by Ross such as Luna (MMA star Ronda Rousey) and Smilee (Kellan Lutz) to go up against Mel Gibson who is the antagonist in the film. He does an excellent job as the villain but I did like Jean-Claude Van Damme better in ‘Expendables 2’. The tension between Ross and Gibson’s character Conrad Stonebanks is very real as both were one of the founders of the Expendables. The spoilers stop here.

The film is a straight-up action film that is not aiming for Oscars but just pure vintage entertainment. Everyone looks in great physical condition despite the age. We have lot of quips that are a throwback to lines from famous films back in the day. One of my favorite is ‘I am the Hague’ spoken by Stallone- throwback to Judge Dredd’s famous line…see that film to find out!

The action scenes are well choreographed and ultimately Stallone shows his expertise in every scene he is in. It is a slam, bang action flick that just keeps getting better and better with every minute. It is non-stop action with some feeling. At the same time, Snipes is a delight and has some of the best dialog in the film. He is also given a decent amount of screen time.

By far, I feel it is the best of the three films. The second one was a superb follow-up to the first, but this one just takes the cake. It is one that even warrants a second viewing. For action film junkies who just want good ole fashioned ass-kicking, better get in line for Expendables 3!

Tweet

Child's Play

(Image credit: Batman Forever)

A friend of mine once told me liking superhero films is chidish especially those  that have received critical acclaim, like the 1989 dark and brilliant film by Tim Burton, Batman and the 1978 Richard Donner epic Superman starring Christopher Reeve. Well apparently this friend was 6 years younger to me, and when he got to the movie watching age, superman and batman were probably just kids stuff to him. He wasn’t there to witness the great movies which people of all ages love. 

Superman especially is a character the whole world loves. He is someone that has touched the hearts of everyone for being a hero for the people. A savior from another planet, who lives among us as us, and his sole reason for living is to save our behinds. From a movie perspective, the character was brilliantly portrayed and Christopher Reeve was crystallized forever as the boy in blue. He made us love the character so much and for generations to come, he is the benchmark for future superman actors. Richard Donner directed the most amazing superman film to date, with a very memorable score, brilliant acting and a classic plot that is right out of the comic books. It is no doubt that this movie made superman the most loveable superhero for all generations. 

Coming to Tim Burton’s 1989 dark and morose epic, Batman, one can never think on first view, that it’s a kid’s movie. Actually, I could never watch Batman as a kid. The Joker scared the jeepers out of me. However, when I recently watched it as an adult, I realized what I missed out as a young kid. Tim Burton directed a masterpiece, a dark opera, where two people of opposite sides of the coin collide. The psychology behind the characters was portrayed very well. Jack Nicholson played the most wicked and psychotic villain every portrayed in a movie and was brilliantly acted. No doubt he got first billing. 

Michael Keaton played a confused and depressed Bruce Wayne, who is haunted by a past that he fights. He plays a very complicated character and its easy to feel sorry for him. When Kim Basinger plays the damsel in distress, she becomes the comfort that Bruce Wayne is looking for in his life, but he comes to reality that he is Batman inside and his public life is his mask. He finds in Joker a wicked version of himself. The connection is superbly depicted. Tim Burton sets the mood right, and gives Batman the treatment it so rightly deserved. No doubt it was the biggest movie of 1989, and gave batman fans the movie they have been waiting for a long time. A movie that is so complicated for even adults to comprehend, because of the dark and complex characters in this neo- gothic opera, that Burton made it his own and depicted the opera of our own lives. 

My other personal favorite in the same series was Batman Forever, arguably the last great film of the Burton era, had Batman deal with more complex personal demons as well as a complex love life. Add to that, he had to deal with two villains who were causing trouble in Gotham City. He, as Bruce Wayne, also had to help a young adult who recently lost his family at the hands of one of the film villains, and was dealing with the same demons that Bruce himself had to deal and reconcile with. Ultimately, he joins hands with him as Robin, to aid the cause of delivering justice to the city's criminals and to make sure no one suffers the fate which both these heroes have. 

Christopher Nolan revived the dark world of the Batman with the Dark Knight Trilogy that did exceptionally well at the box office as well as with critics, joining Nolan to the great list of superhero film makers mentioned above. The Iron Man, Sam Raimi and Marc Webb Spider Man films also are great films that remind us of the hero inside all of us, and the choice that all of us have: to do the right thing. 

What my point is that superheroes, like science fiction is not child’s play. Some of these characters are very complex and live in worlds that we can connect to. We can see inside a man that has a dual personality. We all carry some hurt inside; there is a side of us always hidden in the shadows, and one that is displayed in the public. 

We are all Batman in a way. We carry some guilt, some fear, hidden demons inside us, and we fight it every day just to survive. At the end of the dark tunnel, there is always light, and we are all looking to find the end of that tunnel in our lives. Also there is a superman inside all of us, someone who cares for the needy and less fortunate, someone wanting to be a hero for ourselves and other people in our life. Someone who can reach out and touch the sky, he is one person that continues to elude and fascinate us. And then there are some people who call it child’s play. Go figure?

Tweet

Infamous Second Son: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility!

(Image Credit: desktopwalls.net)

Sucker Punch Productions brings the Infamous series on to Sony’s latest tech toy PlayStation 4 (PS4) in the form of ‘Infamous: Second Son’. Infamous 1 and 2 were both runaway hits on the PlayStation 3 (PS3). Cole McGrath’s electric powers were a blast to play with even though the storylines were a mixed bag.

Without going into spoiler territory, ‘Infamous: Second Son’ puts you in control of Delsin Rowe. Your enemies this time are the Department of Unified Protection (DUP) that clearly does not have a liking for your kind. They want to wipe out conduits who they call bio-terrorists. Since you become one of them, you are their enemy. However, your agenda against the DUP is rather personal.

Unlike McGrath, Rowe’s powers are purely smoke-based as opposed to electricity. Initially, you have a limited set of powers and as the story progresses you earn new moves and skills.

Rowe has the ability to self-heal but if you are stuck in heavy combat situation, you will eventually die and re-spawn at the last checkpoint. If you take cover you can regain health.

New moves can also be earned by defeating certain tough enemies and absorbing their powers. Mobile command centers are scattered throughout the maps that allow you to gain blast shards and reduce enemy control by destroying them.

At the same time, you need to replenish yourself with smoke otherwise you will be powerless against tougher enemies that definitely pack a punch. Melee moves will not work against larger enemies which mean you will need to take cover and attack from distance. You have the ability to move into buildings or using open vents to get to higher areas with smoke dash.

Smoke can be replenished quite easily from cars or wherever you see fumes. Another power-up item is glass shards. These are small flying saucers that you can take down with your ‘smoke attacks’ and go near them to earn blast shards. Blast shards also allow you to buy new powers and skills.  

Like its predecessors, it is an open-world game with a main storyline and side-quests. Maps are divided into zones with varying levels of enemy control. You can abandon missions if it gets too hot for you. The one thing that has stayed in all three games is the karma feature. Basically, you decide to be a Good Samaritan or a bad boy.

The decisions you make in the story affect later missions. For example, you can either kill or subdue your enemies. I actually enjoyed doing both depending on the situation. By filling your karma meter, you can use an explosive attack in one go.

The touchpad on the Dual Shock 4 comes in handy several times especially when absorbing elements and opening doors. The controller also gives out certain sound effects which are really cool. Delsin Rowe can be a bit annoying at times, but that does not take much from the game. The graphics look brilliant and are a massive step-up from previous titles. It is one of the games to get if you have just bought a new PS4. 

Tweet