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Pretty much everywhere the Eagles pop up in Tolkien’s writings, they’re saving the day. Without their presence, countless individuals, armies, and realms would have fallen into darkness. Villains would have remained at large, and the One Ring itself may have been recaptured by Sauron.

And yet, it’s fair to think that none of that may have happened, even if the Eagles weren’t involved in the story. Even if Middle-earth was Eagle-less, there’s a good chance that all of those eucatastrophes would have still happened, even if they looked different. The concept of the eucatastrophe isn’t dependent on Eagles. It has to do with the sudden and unexpected defeat of evil at the hands of good.

In his famous essay «On Fairy-Stories,» Tolkien goes further into the concept of a eucatastrophe, explaining, «The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending: or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous ‘turn’ (for there is no true end to any fairy-tale): this joy, which is one of the things which fairy-stories can produce supremely well, is not essentially ‘escapist’, nor ‘fugitive’. In its fairy-tale — or otherworld — setting, it is a sudden and miraculous grace: never to be counted on to recur.»

In theory, then, if there were no Eagles, other factors would create that sudden, miraculous grace. Other powers that be would provide the joyous turn of fate, even if it didn’t come via an Eagle’s talon. Gandalf hints at this at the end of «The Hobbit» when he tells Bilbo, «You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck.» Removing the Eagles from Middle-earth may feel bleak. But that eucatastrophic magic would have bubbled to the surface one way or another in the long run.

From birth, Millie Bobby Brown has always had trouble hearing, as she’s partially deaf in one ear. She shared in an interview with Studio 10 that this proved difficult on the set of «Stranger Things,» where she needed to be able to hear directions. «I would have to have [assistant directors] or [production assistants] near me to say ‘action’ because they’d have to say it really loud or make a sign so that I could watch them because I would never be able to hear them,» she explained.

Brown admitted that the Duffer Brothers, who speak in a normal register, were very difficult to hear. However, she had no trouble with another director: «With Shawn Levy, who’s really loud, he goes, ‘Action!,’ and I’m like, ‘I can hear you now.’»

Due to her hearing loss, Brown sometimes isn’t fully aware of what she sounds like when acting or — in another favorite pastime — singing. Still, she doesn’t let the possibility of sounding less-than-perfect deter her from following her passions. She told Variety, «If you like to do it, if you genuinely enjoy doing it, then do it. No one should stop you.»

Even without speaking a word, Linda Harrison’s Nova remains a permanent fixture in the minds of sci-fi movie fans. The character is held in captivity alongside George Taylor, soon becoming a companion and love interest for him. She would also appear in the film’s 1970 sequel, «Beneath the Planet of the Apes.» A child version of the heroine, played by Amiah Miller, has a prominent role in 2017’s «War for the Planet of the Apes.» 

Following minor roles in productions such as the 1966 «Batman» TV series, Harrison helped with «Planet of the Apes makeup tests. Her relationship with then-boyfriend and 20th Century Fox studio head Richard D. Zanuck helped her earn the role of Nova. After reprising her role in «Beneath the Planet of the Apes,» the actor starred in movies such as «Airport 1975,» «Cocoon,» and «Cocoon: The Return.» In 2001, she cameoed alongside Charlton Heston in the «Planet of the Apes» remake directed by Tim Burton. Since then, the 78-year-old performer has mostly stayed out of the spotlight, although her sons Dean and Harrison Zanuck continue to work in the industry as producers. 

At the time of this writing, it has been almost 50 years since Bill Murray brought the Human Torch to life in audio drama form. In that time, he has largely stayed away from the Marvel Universe. It wasn’t until 2023 that he returned to it, taking on the minor role of Lord Krylar in «Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.» Naturally, this foray into the comic book movie realm stirred up his past as the voice behind the aforementioned Fantastic Four member — a past he doesn’t have many memories of these days.

In October 2021, Murray appeared on «Jimmy Kimmel Live» to chat about a number of topics. One such point of discussion was his then-rumored involvement in the third «Ant-Man» film and his overall Marvel history. When Kimmel asked him if he had any recollection of taking part in the 1975 Fantastic Four radio adaptation, the actor admitted that his memory of the production was rather hazy. «All I remember saying is ‘Flame on!’» he shared with a smile. If there were ever a line to remember, the Human Torch’s catchphrase is undoubtedly the one.

Even though his run with the character was brief and pretty unmemorable, at the end of the day, the fact remains that Bill Murray will forever be a part of the Human Torch’s legacy, just as the Fantastic Four mainstay will always be a part of his.

From Darth Maul (Sam Witwer) to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), some of the strongest Force users in the «Star Wars» universe have been struck by Force lightning. While this may make it seem like the Force ability is next to impossible to counter, there are some defenses one can employ against it. For lightsaber wielders, it’s possible to use the legendary weapon to defend against Force lightning. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and later Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen/Matt Lanter) successfully absorb it into their blades during their duels with Count Dooku (Sir Christopher Lee), while Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) and Rey redirect it in their respective battles with the Emperor.

Alternatively, it’s possible to take the full might of Force lightning with one’s bare hands. Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz) demonstrates this ability against Dooku and later against the Emperor, absorbing their lightning attacks and turning them into balls of electric energy with nothing more than his hands and the Force. He appears to be able to deflect some amount of lightning and send it careening back at the one responsible for it. Also, using his absorption ability against the Emperor, he pushes back against the Sith Lord until the electric energy in his hands touches the Emperor’s fingertips. This causes an explosion, sending the two in opposite directions.

Evidently, Force lightning is a remarkable ability that shows just how skilled in the Force the individual behind it truly is. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it takes someone equally skilled or at a similar level to avoid being fried by it.

Meriadoc Brandybuck (aka Merry) is referred to as Frodo’s friend when he first shows up in J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings. However, Frodo himself is more than half Brandybuck by blood, and both hail from the same larger family tree, making the two fellows close relatives. Most of Frodo’s Brandybuck blood comes from his mother, Primula Brandybuck. Primula is the daughter of Old Master Gorbodoc, who functions as the de facto ruler of his family’s geographic region of the Shire (called «Buckland»).

The quickest and easiest way to trace the relationship between Frodo and Merry is via the appendices of «The Return of the King.» In those hallowed extra materials, Tolkien provides visual family tree breakdowns for the Baggins, Brandybuck, Took, and Gamgee families. And we’re not talking about a generation or two here. Each one stretches back generations, tracing hundreds of years of Hobbit history in the process.

Frodo shows up in three of the four genealogies, including the Brandybuck one, where he’s listed on the opposite side of the tree from Merry. The principal connection between the two? Merry’s grandfather, who goes by the splendiferous name of Rorimac «Goldfather,» is the brother of Frodo’s mom, Primula.

Thus, we can connect via the quagmire that is family ancestry categorizations that the closest family connection between Merry and Frodo is that they are first cousins once removed, Frodo on his mother’s side and Merry on his father’s side. As an added bonus, Merry is also related to Bilbo. Their closest connection is that the two are first cousins twice removed.

Billy Bibbit (Brad Dourif) was among the characters most affected by Randle McMurphy’s journey of rebellion and self-discovery. His awkward, childish nature stems from his mother’s harsh parenting, never allowing him to make his own decisions. McMurphy aims to give Bibbit a much-needed new lease on life, having him join his many escapades. Sadly, Bibbit’s progress is crushed by the manipulative Nurse Ratched, resulting in a tragic end for the lovable character. 

Similar to the journey of his on-screen persona, «One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest» presented a fresh new opportunity for Dourif. The film proved to be a breakthrough performance for the up-and-coming actor, even earning him both an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win for best supporting actor. His talents have gone on to an endless array of fan-favorite films including «Blue Velvet,» «Mississippi Burning,» and «The Lord of the Rings» movies. 

However, Dourif is perhaps best known for his contributions to the horror genre, having starred in such beloved franchises as «Alien,» «The Exorcist,» and «Halloween.» Arguably his most iconic role is that of the possessed killer doll Chucky, whom Dourif voiced in the original 1988 «Child’s Play,» its many sequels, and the ongoing 2021 Syfy television series. 

What makes these AI-generated images great is how they tackle the quirks, history, and culture of each respective country to create a wholly unique villain that’s never been seen before. Previous Disney films like «The Princess and the Frog» and «Mulan» have specifically tapped into region-specific storytelling, showcasing diverse and distinctive cultures from all around the world. Here’s hoping that Disney can take some cues from some of these AI-generated villains, as the possibilities are endless. Consider the image showcasing a villain from the European country of Romania. The AI image suggests that a Disney villain could be a vampire, not unlike Count Dracula. Imagine just how exciting and intriguing a Disney-produced vampire hunter film could be. 

Another cool offering is the image of a tortured pharaoh from Egypt. It’s easy to think of how creatives from Disney could run wild with story ideas based purely on the idea of an evil pharaoh. These possibilities are worth exploring, especially when one considers that Disney’s animation studios are in need of some creative juice. Their 2022 and 2023 efforts in the form of «Strange World» and «Wish» were commercial misfires. While they were definitely unique offerings, Disney should genuinely consider tapping into more regional-specific stories as they did in the past, when hits like «Pocahontas,» «Hercules,» and «Brother Bear» dominated. 

Considering how much ancient history there is in the «Star Wars» universe, bacta is a relatively modern innovation. Its production on the planet Thyferra dates back a long time, but it wasn’t until later in the High Republic era — a couple hundred years before the beginning of the prequel trilogy — that it started being mass-produced across the galaxy and used as a widespread medical technology.

The High Republic novel «Light of the Jedi» details the efforts on Hetzal Prime, a major agricultural world, to manufacture bacta en masse. However, such methods took tiem to refine and proliferate. By the time that the Clone Wars began, though, bacta production had become much easier and more commonplace, and the republic used bacta tanks frequently to treat wounded clones and Jedi.

We see private bacta tanks throughout the original trilogy era and in the years following «Return of the Jedi.» The rebels have access to the devices on their main ships and within their primary bases, like on Hoth. In «The Book of Boba Fett,» the eponymous bounty hunter also has a tank in his Tatooine palace — a home he steals from the late Jabba the Hutt, suggesting the tank belonged to the mobster to begin with. While bacta tanks are common in these stories, they aren’t so universal that just anyone can use them.

In «What If…?» Season 1, Episode 3, «What If… the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?» Fury is shown doing his legendary runaround in order to gather these powerful champions together. Unfortunately, in this reality, his attempt is thwarted by a murderous Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who kills off the heroes before they can unite. In the end, Fury appears to be building a different Avengers team, but the episode doesn’t show whether he is successful in his endeavor.

While this is an event from an alternative universe, it proves just how much the Avengers were really needed and would continue to be so right up until Thanos’ attack on Earth in «Avengers: Infinity War» and «Avengers: Endgame.» Looking back at this point in the MCU, though, it begs the question of whether Fury can pull off the same trick twice in a world that is now without the likes of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America Steve Rogers (Chris Evans).

It’s been five years, 11 movies, and nine TV shows since «Avengers: Endgame,» and a new era of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has yet to be confirmed, let alone united. With that in mind, does Fury really have it in him to pull off a super-sized Hail Mary twice, and would he be able to do it in seven days like he did before? Marvel’s premier super-spy might have another wild week on the way to get a new band of Avengers together, but for now, «Fury’s Big Week» stands as a historical MCU achievement that is unlikely to ever be matched.

Initially, it might seem like «The Descent 2» would lend credence to the fan theory. The sequel sees Sarah emerge from the cave but with amnesia regarding what transpired down there. To find out what happened to the other women, Sarah, some cave exploring specialists, and Sheriff Vaines (Gavan O’Herlihy) go down to learn the truth, with Vaines suspecting Sarah was the one who killed them all along. Redditor u/aiai92 even calls attention to this in the theory breakdown: «When [they] found the first dead body in part 2, Sarah appeared guilty as [opposed] to shocked.» It could’ve been a fascinating revelation for audiences to have doubts regarding Sarah’s role in her friend’s death. But the sequel also soon confirms that there are actually monsters down in the cave.

At one point, the team stumbles upon the video camera that was used in the first movie, with Sarah hiding nearby as the others watch the recordings. They see various clips of the women being together, and it crescendos to a crawler appearing behind one of them on camera. The explorers react to the sight of the creature, confirming the crawlers are down there. 

While there are literal monsters in the cave, the fan theory does strengthen an interesting theme. «The Descent» isn’t just about these women descending into a cave. It’s also about Sarah’s descent into madness. Juno, who could be considered the true villain, has a mad descent of her own, even abandoning her friend Beth (Alex Reid) in the first film. The crawlers may be real, but there’s more than one monster out there in the world. 

The great granddaddy of box office bombs, «Heaven’s Gate» almost single-handedly destroyed the career of director Michael Cimino, bankrupted studio United Artists, and ended the New Hollywood renaissance of the 1970s. Fresh off his Oscar wins for «The Deer Hunter,» Cimino moved on to an epic retelling of the Johnson County War, with Kris Kristofferson playing a sheriff trying to protect immigrant farmers from encroaching cattle ranchers. No expense was spared in recreating 1890s Wyoming, and the production went over-budget and over-schedule, costing a then-whopping $44 million. By the time the film, which clocked in at three hours and 39 minutes, finally opened in New York, any hopes that critics would champion it were dashed when the reviews came out. Many of them deemed it excessive, sluggish, and ugly. Cimino’s attempts to save the film by pulling it from theaters and slashing an hour from its runtime only added to its reputation as an unsalvageable mess.

Yet the tide of critical opinion has turned, thanks in large part to a Criterion release that restored Cimino’s original vision. In 1980, New York Times critic Vincent Canby called the film «an unqualified disaster.» Yet 33 years later, Manohla Dargis, writing in the same paper, said it was, «a film with greatness in it but also longueurs, a fascinating artifact and a monument to Mr. Cimino’s towering ambitions, as much for himself as for his art.»

When Lisa finds herself seated by Jackson on the plane, he immediately drops his facade. As it turns out, he’s part of a terrorist organization, and he needs Lisa to make a pivotal call for him, or he says he will have her father executed. As Murphy suggests, it’s all a bit ridiculous, but his performance helps sell the premise.

Like many dangerous killers throughout history, Jackson is charismatic and likable in «Red Eye» until it’s time to start the game. The suddenness of the change is intense and might shock viewers who watch the movie without knowing the plot. For her part, Rachel McAdams said that she also enjoyed Murphy’s performance as the film’s antagonist.

«They say the nicest people sometimes make the best villains,» McAdams told GQ. «We’d listen to music and gab away while doing the crossword puzzle, which he brought every day and would graciously let me chime in on,» she recalled. While «Red Eye» is unlikely to be remembered among the actor’s best work, as Murphy said, it’s a solid enough B movie, and coming in at a brisk 85 minutes, it’s worth taking a risk on.