Thor (2011)

[Watashi]

Kenneth Branagh is negotiating to direct Thor for Marvel Studios, reports Variety. The comic book adaptation is scheduled for a June 4, 2010 release.

Branagh is the latest in a string of directors -- such as Jon Favreau (Iron Man), Christopher Nolan (the Batman franchise) and Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) -- with arthouse roots taking on big-budget comic book fare.

Marvel will set a distributor for Thor shortly.

Thor, written by Mark Protosevich, follows disabled medical student Donald Blake, who has an alter ego as the hammer-wielding Norse god Thor.

Awesome.

I wasn't really anticipating this that much, but this news changes that.

[Sxottlan]

*Spit take*

[MadMan]

Interesting. To say the least.

[Morris Schæffer]

Don't know if Branagh directed anything amazing, but it's an odd choice. And that makes it good.

I do recall seeing Henry V ages ago and I do vaguely remember something rather worthwhile.

[Ezee E]

Heard good things about Kenneth, and one of his movies is in 70 MM, so maybe I should check something out from him finally.

[EvilShoe]

I remember his Hamlet-movie being rather good.

[Fezzik]

I've liked most of his Shakespearean stuff (Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing and Henry V most notably), as well as Dead Again (severely underrated film, imo) and Peter's Friends.

Then again, he totally botched Frankenstein.

That's more reasons to be happy than not, so I'm intrigued to say the least.

[Ivan Drago]

Hmmm. VERY interesting. What'll be even more interesting is who plays Thor.

[bac0n]

I have heard that pro-rassler Triple-H was lobbying for the role. If he gets it, count me out.

[Ivan Drago]

I have heard that pro-rassler Triple-H was lobbying for the role. If he gets it, count me out.

Yeah as a wrestling fan, I think it'd be bad-ass, but as a movie fan...no. HELL no.

[number8]

As a wrestling fan, I think Triple H can go suck his lame sleeping-with-the-boss'-daughter crotch.

[Fezzik]

I have heard that pro-rassler Triple-H was lobbying for the role. If he gets it, count me out.

I'm a wrestling fan, and I agree 100%. The two names I see bandied about the most for Thor are Karl Urban and Sean Bean.

With Branagh directing, maybe we'll get Brian Blessed as Odin.

Yes please :D

[bac0n]

I'm a wrestling fan, and I agree 100%. The two names I see bandied about the most for Thor are Karl Urban and Sean Bean.

With Branagh directing, maybe we'll get Brian Blessed as Odin.

Yes please :D

Ooh, I can see Karl Urban or Sean Bean as Thor, totally. And man, Brian Blessed is a dead ringer for Odin.

[The Mike]

I heard Kevin McKidd mentioned, which would ROCK.

[Ezee E]

Because someone had to do it.

http://www.ecanadanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/thor-450x300.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

w000000t

[megladon8]

I really, really, really hope this is good.

I do.

I am just not thrilled with that footage. And like I said in the other thread, Chris Hemsworth doesn't seem to be oozing charm and charisma. Yes, he only has 4 lines in the footage shown, but it took less than that from Robert Downey Jr. as Stark to know he had nailed it.

[[ETM]]

Downey had to pull this off:
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/smart_heroes/image/tony_stark_iron_man.jpg

while Hemsworth has to make this work:
http://chud.com/articles/content_images/5/thor-movie.jpg

My hopes for this one were always almost non existent, no matter who got attached, for this reason alone. I'd be amazed if it's any good at all. I hope it is, for the sake of ambitious comic book adaptations in the future...

[Ezee E]

They should've just gone with a true father/son approach. They were almost there too. Have the Skarsgards play the roles.

[Winston*]

I think it looks good.

[bac0n]

All they need to do to make this movie awesome is to cast these guys as The Warriors Three (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warriors_Three).

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr264/bac1n/Brigg1.jpg

[Skitch]

The guy on the right looks like a young Ron Perlman.

[KK2.0]

I don't know anything about Thor besides the basics, that robot/golem thing in the end of the trailer is a significant character or just a random cool looking monster?


I am just not thrilled with that footage. And like I said in the other thread, Chris Hemsworth doesn't seem to be oozing charm and charisma. Yes, he only has 4 lines in the footage shown, but it took less than that from Robert Downey Jr. as Stark to know he had nailed it.

well... he takes his shirt off !!

[number8]

I don't know anything about Thor besides the basics, that robot/golem thing in the end of the trailer is a significant character or just a random cool looking monster?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_(Thor_character)

[Dukefrukem]

It's pretty neat they think it's some new Stark weaponry at first.

[KK2.0]

yeah, i dig these little crossovers they're doing.

[number8]

I love that they got even Kenneth Branagh, who admits that he's not a comic book fan, to geek out over the crossovers.

During the Captain America panel they showed a clip where Red Skull goes into some Asgardian tomb to find the Cosmic Cube (which they're calling "The Tesseract"). Later on the Thor panel, Brannagh was geeking out over that footage and saying, "Wow, I love that the Tesseract plays a part in the Captain America movie, that's so cool!"

So apparently Brannagh didn't know that the Cube is more of a Cap thing than a Thor thing and didn't realize that it's in his movie just to set up the plot for the Cap movie, ha.

[Dukefrukem]

Whoa wait... you saw Captain America footage?? Or it was animated.

[number8]

Eh, animated? No, it's from the movie. Something they just shot the other day with Weaving.

[Dukefrukem]

Shit that's awesome. I just googled and found out that both the Thor footage and CA footage will be on the Iron Man 2 Blu-ray.. badass.

[Watashi]

http://bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/thor-trailer-header.jpg

Trailer. (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810026342/trailer)

It's basically a slimmed down version of the Comic Con trailer but with more polished effects.

I still think it looks like a lot of fun and with the director behind it, it has the most potential to be great.

[DavidSeven]

I think it looks stupid as hell.

On the bright said, I am now considering which MCer I will reserve use of "AND YOU ARE AN OLD MAN AND A FOOL!" for.

[Watashi]

I think it looks stupid as hell.

Of course you do.

I'm still able to have fun at the movies.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I'm with D7.

[DavidSeven]

Of course you do.

I'm still able to have fun at the movies.

Oh, but so am I. Just less so at ones that are stupid.

BTW, does the fact that they're crossing over Iron Man with everything else mean that every subsequent Marvel film has to co-opt Favreau's glossy, artless and undistinguished aesthetic? What zee heck. They must be going for something here because, visually, all these new Marvel flicks look exactly the same!

[Winston*]

Does Thor traditionally have an Australian accent?

[Ezee E]

Same complaint as before. Hemsworth is godawful. And would there be any interest in this if it weren't for the Avengers tie-in?

[Sycophant]

Looks dumb! Ergo, I hate movies!

[Irish]

On the bright said, I am now considering which MCer I will reserve use of "AND YOU ARE AN OLD MAN AND A FOOL!" for.

Is there an application process for this or is going to be based on a lottery kind of selection?

[Spinal]

I'll see it.

[megladon8]

That left a much better taste in my mouth than the ComicCon footage, but I'm still very worried about this.

Hemsworth seems to be a big nothing. He looks the part, sure, but he doesn't seem particularly charismatic.

I like what we've seen of the effects and action, though. I'm anxious to see what Colm Feore looks like all costumed up as the Ymir.

And that hammer smash at the end was suitably epic.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'm really confused by this one, because it looks so goddamn stupid, but it looks so knowingly stupid, like Branagh's like, "This isn't opulent and absurd enough, I need MOAR," to the point that I'm not sure it's stupid at all.

It may be genius.

[Barty]

Looks awesome.

[Morris Schæffer]

Maybe I'll see this, but him coming to Earth just feels awkward. Thor in jeans?! Perhaps it'll work in the movie and the parts that take place in Thor's realm are rather good.

[Scar]

I was very apprehensive about this project, but I kinda liked the trailer.

[bac0n]

Eh, looks alright.

And I love movies!

[Spun Lepton]

I made fun of the project from day 1, and I'll be the first to admit the trailer makes it look like a lot of silly fun. If reviews are positive, I may check it out.

[Wryan]

It's a shame that Americans are the way they are, cause that trailer would be even more awesome if they flashed at the end: "Directed by Kenneth Fucking Branagh."

[bac0n]

It's a shame that Americans are the way they are, cause that trailer would be even more awesome if they flashed at the end: "Directed by Kenneth Mother-Fucking Branagh, asshole."

Fixed

[DavidSeven]

It's a shame that Americans are the way they are, cause that trailer would be even more awesome if they flashed at the end: "Directed by Kenneth Fucking Branagh."

My position on the trailer would have 180'ed if this was the case.

[Spinal]

My position on the trailer would have 180'ed if this was the case.

It was implied.

[Grouchy]

I want to see this. That's all.

[number8]

I want to see this. That's all.

First Your Highness, now this?

Grouchy and Natalie Portman, sitting on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

[Grouchy]

First Your Highness, now this?

Grouchy and Natalie Portman, sitting on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
Hahahah!

But seriously, :eek:

[Dukefrukem]

For some reason I like this trailer a lot better.

[Skitch]

That was far better than I imagined it was gonna be. I'm in.

[Ivan Drago]

Why the fuck is this in 3D? The effects looked horrendous when I saw the trailer before Tron. Same goes for the Green Hornet trailer. And the Pirates of the Caribbean trailer...3D just needs to die.

[[ETM]]

What does the quality of the effects have to do with 3D? Are you saying 3D needs to die because they're doing it wrong?

[megladon8]

The movie is getting backlash from people who are appalled by the idea of Idris Elba (a black man) playing one of the gods.


Sounds like an awesome time for an "I'm not racist, but..." statement to be made by these people.

:lol:

[Sven]

The movie is getting backlash from people who are appalled by the idea of Idris Elba (a black man) playing one of the gods.


Sounds like an awesome time for an "I'm not racist, but..." statement to be made by these people.

:lol:

Perhaps people are more upset by the obvious stunt casting of a black man as "the white god"...? Complaints don't strike me as racist so much as an irritated response to the transparent hypocrisies of "post-racism." Because it is pretty flat-footed.

[number8]

I like how no one's complained yet that Hogun is Asian.

[Sven]

I like how no one's complained yet that Hogun is Asian.

People can accept that because it rhymes with "Shogun".

[megladon8]

Perhaps people are more upset by the obvious stunt casting of a black man as "the white god"...? Complaints don't strike me as racist so much as an irritated response to the transparent hypocrisies of "post-racism." Because it is pretty flat-footed.


The god Elba is playing is specifically called "the white god"?

I did not know that.

If that's he case then yeah, that's a little odd...but I imagine it was also done on purpose for some reason.

Maybe it'll be a running joke through the movie where everyone calls him "Whitey".

[Sven]

The god Elba is playing is specifically called "the white god"?

Well, he's Heimdall. A quick Wikipedia glance confirms that I was not wrong to remember that Heimdall is sometimes known as "the White God." (Scandinavian heritage comes through for me again!)

I love how Stellan Skarsgård, the one actual Norse person in the cast, is "Professor Andrews".

[number8]

It's not like this is new. When he was announced, people made a big deal about it. There were a bunch of articles written basically calling it stunt casting. I remember one ridiculously saying how Brannagh is bravely breaking down race barriers by casting a black man as the god who is described in myths as one with the whitest skin—which is obnoxious.

[number8]

Here it is. http://blastr.com/2010/04/how-thor-breaks-down-raci.php

[megladon8]

He's so white, he's black.

[lovejuice]

I watched the mute trailer in my office, and really like it in fact.

[transmogrifier]

Got through 30 seconds of the trailer. That will be about all I can give to this project, me thinks.

[D_Davis]

I thought it was Thorrible.

[Spun Lepton]

I thought it was Thorrible.

:|

[Grouchy]

I thought it was Thorrible.
Imaginary negative rape + ∞

[Scar]

I thought it was Thorrible.

http://patrickschmidt.baked.net/albums/internet2/rambo3.gif:pritch:

[[ETM]]

negative rape

There's positive rape?:pritch:

[Sycophant]

I thought it was Thorrible.

Post of the day.

[lovejuice]

94% so far! Considered the less than stellar trailer, this is surprisingly good.

[[ETM]]

The Thor trailer in 3D is one of the worst things I have ever seen.

[Barty]

Seeing this tomorrow.

[Lazlo]

I'm having trouble finding a theater in my city that's not playing this in 3D. Since it's a post-conversion job I'm gonna try to see it in 2D but it seems I might not have a choice. *grumblegrumble*

[[ETM]]

I wouldn't see it in 3D if it was the choice between that and waiting for the DVD. And I like 3D.

[Sxottlan]

My sister is expecting her second child and she married a man with the last name of Lipp.

My folks told her if it's a boy, they should call him Thor Lipp.

[Bosco B Thug]

Called it in my mind about two weeks ago that this was going to be legitimately good. That counts, super jazzed it's getting fresh reviews.

[Sxottlan]

Yeah the early impression appears to be that it's pretty good, but not great. However, that there's 94% liking the film so far seems like a pretty good sign. Especially when relatability was a chief concern with this "obscure" Marvel title.

I'm pretty surprised by the number of good reviews for Fast Five too.

[KK2.0]

94% so far! Considered the less than stellar trailer, this is surprisingly good.

I'm shocked as well, 37 positive reviews against 2 so far. Branagh going blockbuster.

[MadMan]

This looks at least fairly solid, and the cast is enough for me to consider seeing it. I also liked the trailer, and I still think it will be better than say, Captain America.

[megladon8]

I predict next weekend the Tomato-Meter will be down to the 60's.

[Irish]

I predict next weekend the Tomato-Meter will be down to the 60's.

Likewise. If you look at the reviews, only two of them are from major US media outlets (Variety and the Hollywood reporter).

The others are from overseas (mostly Australia) and local media (ie, bloggers) who are breaking the PR embargo and posting reviews early.

This always happens with movies of this type.

[number8]

The lukewarm responses I've been hearing from people mirror my criticism about the first Iron Man. That the mid-section of the movie where it's just Thor going day-to-day and bantering with Jane Foster is really fun, but when he gets on the costume and pounds shit with his hammer it becomes generic and a little boring.

[Ezee E]

And Hemsworth is no Downey.

[Watashi]

Early reviews have all highlighted that Hemsworth's performance as Thor is the best part of the film.

[number8]

Early reviews have all highlighted that Hemsworth's performance as Thor is the best part of the film.

If true, and judging by how perfect Chris Evans looks, the casting peeps at Marvel Studios REALLY know what they're doing.

[lovejuice]

Love it. Very Shakespearean. While I can't say how it fares out compared to the original comic, whoever brings in Branagh makes the right decision. The movie fashions itself almost as a costume drama first, superhero movie second. In fact, my only beef is the action set pieces which are as exciting as...well, a battle scene in the bard's play.

And my mom now develops this creepy crush on Chris Hemsworth. :)

[MadMan]

The lukewarm responses I've been hearing from people mirror my criticism about the first Iron Man. That the mid-section of the movie where it's just Thor going day-to-day and bantering with Jane Foster is really fun, but when he gets on the costume and pounds shit with his hammer it becomes generic and a little boring.I agree with this (concerning Iron Man) to a certain extent, although I was still entertained by both Iron Man and Iron Man 2's action sequences.

[megladon8]

I thought the first Iron Man had some great action. I really dug the hell out of it.

The second film was a huge mess, and disappointing on every front. The character interaction was not near as fun as the first, the action was mundane (particularly he pitiful final confrontation), and Scar-Jo's character was completely unnecessary. The movie would have been unchanged if her scenes did not exist.

It really was just a feature-length commercial for the upcoming Marvel movies, and it was terrible.

[Dukefrukem]

I thought the first Iron Man had some great action. I really dug the hell out of it.

The second film was a huge mess, and disappointing on every front. The character interaction was not near as fun as the first, the action was mundane (particularly he pitiful final confrontation), and Scar-Jo's character was completely unnecessary. The movie would have been unchanged if her scenes did not exist.

It really was just a feature-length commercial for the upcoming Marvel movies, and it was terrible.

Agree and agree. Side note, Iron Man was on FX yesterday and I watched a little of it.

[lovejuice]

when he gets on the costume and pounds shit with his hammer it becomes generic and a little boring.
As said earlier, it's like a battle scene in a play. Such scene can be spectacular sometimes, but that's not the point. It is there to drive the plot. In that respect, I think it is above the action scene in Iron Man.

[Dukefrukem]

Well Howard Stern loved this, so I think it's safe to say I'll hate it.

[Yxklyx]

Does Stellan Skarsgård have a big part?

[megladon8]

Well Howard Stern loved this, so I think it's safe to say I'll hate it.


Why?

I thought you loved Howard Stern.

[number8]

Does Stellan Skarsgård have a big part?

Important enough to re-appear in The Avengers, apparently.

[Henry Gale]

I don't think Howard Stern has bad taste in terms of the movies he singles out. He seems to see a lot of stuff and then only tends to talk about the things he genuinely liked. In recent years, I remember him praising things like The Wrestler, Star Trek, District 9 and Source Code before they were released.

If I listened to him more I'd probably have better examples, but for the most part, his opinion is always a different sort of impression I have going into something.

[Dukefrukem]

Why?

I thought you loved Howard Stern.

I do. We're talkin about a guy who doesn't watch sports and watches American Idol and the Bachelor religiously. Sure he loves ALL comic book movies and we do share some taste, but he generally ignores content for the most part if it involves a topic he had prior knowledge of. He also didn't like Inception.

[Dukefrukem]

Seems ridiculous to base your opinion of the movie on whether he likes it or not.

huh?

[elixir]

huh?

Saying that it's safe to say you are going to hate it now? Because of one person's opinion? Pretty ridiculous. Especially since you said you share taste sometimes.

[elixir]

What's with people deleting their posts. This is the second time I've quoted someone who decides to delete their post and make it seem like I'm talking to myself.

Well, I responded to you above. I don't think it's hard to imagine why someone would want to delete their posts. It's not to bother you.

[Dukefrukem]

Well, I responded to you above. I don't think it's hard to imagine why someone would want to delete their posts. It's not to bother you.

What are you talking about?

[elixir]

Apparently I'm not being clear. Can we just stop this conversation? K, cool.

[Dukefrukem]

Apparently I'm not being clear. Can we just stop this conversation? K, cool.

:lol:

[megladon8]

Duane Dudek of the Miluakee Journal Sentinel wrote...

"It is as close to a thinking person's comic-book superhero movie as the genre gets..."


Is this true?

Didn't really look like a "deep, thought-provoking" movie to me. Maybe the trailers just fail to touch on that element?

[D_Davis]

I don't know much about this movie, but last night I saw a commercial for the official car of the movie. Does Thor drive a car?

[[ETM]]

I think there were a couple of prominent Kias in the film. The humans drive them.

[Ezee E]

Fairly sure no superhero would ever drive a Kia.

[[ETM]]

There's a joke in the movie, involving superhero transportation. Again, I applaud Hemsworth for pulling it off straight-faced.:lol:

[number8]

;342952']There's a joke in the movie, involving superhero transportation. Again, I applaud Hemsworth for pulling it off straight-faced.:lol:

Are you referring to this exchange:

"I need a horse!"
"We don't have that... We just have dogs and cats."
"Fine. I will have one of those big enough to ride!"

Because I was dying from laughter at that.

[lovejuice]

Much of what transpires then fittingly resemble a Shakespearean costume drama, especially with Loki’s arc, whose entire descent into supervillainy is motivated by a humanized ache for daddy’s love and jealousy of his brawn-over-brains brother...The success, as most Shakespeare productions go, is dependent on the actors; and Hiddleston’s Loki is one that has to be seen to appreciate.

Read more: http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/theatrical-reviews/7773-thor.html#ixzz1LX50yr9r

Love your review and totally agree with this paragraph here. Though I don't think the presence of SHIELD is as problematic as in Iron Man 2. In fact, Branagh handles that rather well since the story calls for some government agencies to show up, so SHIELD fits in with the overall arch.

[Irish]

Has this movie been hyped a lot? I'm sorely tempted to see it opening weekend.

[Irish]

Both Asgard and the costumes of its inhabitants are gaudy—like, Zhang Yimou gaudy.

Man, that's a great line. I totally disagree with the Zhang Yimou snub, but great line. :lol:

[[ETM]]

Are you referring to this exchange:

"I need a horse!"
"We don't have that... We just have dogs and cats."
"Fine. I will have one of those big enough to ride!"

Because I was dying from laughter at that.

Yes.:lol: I died at almost everything Thor said on Earth.

[Thirdmango]

Saw this last night, it was my favorite of all the avengers movies so far.

[Ezee E]

It's a very quick two hours, and a good start to the summer. While the action might be mediocre, and everything on earth just seemed too easy, it's the reason Branagh was brought on that the movie works. Everything in Asgard is quite dramatic, and works very well between the main characters. Not surprisingly, the standout is Idris Elba as The Guardian. He steals any scene he's in. Hiddleston, as Loki, also does a great job, keeping it lowkey compared to the rest of the acting in the movie, and being a villain to look forward to in The Avengers.

Again, on earth, it's all too easy. The best parts might be the comedic stuff, whether it's the dialog or the reactions to seeing people in armored costumes.

I had some major doubts on Hemsworth, and while I find him the least interesting out of the superheros, he doesn't insult the character, and he pulls it off fine. He kind of reminds me of Heath Ledger before Ledger got good.

[megladon8]

Hehehe...Hiddleston kept it lowkey as Loki.

[[ETM]]

I was looking at the "Top Critics" on RT, and stuff like this makes me giggle:


Essentially, when the movie comes down to Earth it's pretty good. But when it spends time across the universe -- and it spends a lot of time across the universe -- it's pure geek fare. Which may thrill geeks but leave others yawning.

[Ezee E]

He might be right though.

[Ezee E]

I'm also thinking this isn't going to fare as well as Iron Man for similar reasons. The Asgard stuff looks silly in the trailer, but it works fine in the end.

I'll say $40-$60 million... It's no Fast Five in that regard...

[Pop Trash]

Saw this last night, it was my favorite of all the avengers movies so far.

What counts as these so far? Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Hulk Reboot, Thor, and Wolverine maybe? The first Iron Man was the first one to mention The Avengers, so I'm assuming all Marvel movies since then are part of that thread.

[number8]

Not Wolverine. The X-Men movies are 20th Century Fox.

[Dukefrukem]

Wow. Blown away. Second best comic book movie I've ever seen.

[Dukefrukem]

8 wasright. Acting is top notch. More later. On my phon

[Sxottlan]

Wow! This was a ton of fun. I really didn't know what to expect. A near perfect balance of lightheartedness and gravitas. It certainly seemed like a crowd pleaser where I saw it.

Thor getting hit by a car the second time was the funniest thing I've seen so far this year in theaters.

[Watashi]

I liked it quite a bit, but I still have some problems:

Asgard isn't epic enough. A lot of the Asgardian extras looked bored and didn't sell how huge Asgard is. I wanted to see a huge fucking crowd and how big of a rule Odin has over his kingdom.

Jane's romance with Thor is rushed, but that's kind of expected. Needed more screen time to buy her relationship. Thor's sacrifice needed more oomph to really sell that he is a changed man/god.

Hawkeye was completely pointless. Almost made me angry that they forced his cameo for mere fan service.

The Warrior Three needed more to do instead of just mope around while Thor does all the ass kicking. They kind of hinted at a romantic attraction between Sif and Thor, but never explored it all.

About The Avengers.... Since Jane Foster is not in The Avengers, I wonder how they are going to address this once Thor returns to Earth and joins the team.

Other than that, I loved the rest. The humor was great. Hemsworth and Hiddleston were terrific. Loved Loki. Loved how intentionally hammy Hopkins was as Odin.

I have no idea how the hell Whedon is going to pull off The Avengers.

[Watashi]

I'm also thinking this isn't going to fare as well as Iron Man for similar reasons. The Asgard stuff looks silly in the trailer, but it works fine in the end.

I'll say $40-$60 million... It's no Fast Five in that regard...
It made around 30 million just on Friday, so I'd say you're off.

[number8]

About The Avengers.... Since Jane Foster is not in The Avengers, I wonder how they are going to address this once Thor returns to Earth and joins the team.

EVERYONE in Thor signed four-picture deals, even Idris Elba and Rene Russo, specifically so they can roust them up if they need a scene or two in the other movies.

[Mara]

I'm genuinely surprised by the warm response here. I thought it looked dumb.

I have to see The Avengers, though, because Whedon, so I guess I should give this a shot.

[[ETM]]

I'm genuinely surprised by the warm response here. I thought it looked dumb.

I hated the trailer, HATED it. Especially in 3D, as it played in front of Tron: Legacy.

[number8]

What's meowmeow?

[Mara]

What's meowmeow?

The sound of a cat with an echo?

[[ETM]]

Mephedrone?

[TGM]

Eh, it was good. It has a few problems, such as the forced romance plot (which is given far more importance than it deserves, considering how rushed it is), and some of the earlier action scenes suffered from shaky cam, which just immediately pisses me off anytime I see it at this point. Seriously, I can't see shit! What's the point of an action scene where I can't see shit?!?!

But those minor complaints really don't drag this movie down in the end. It's a lot of campy fun, and oftentimes hilarious at points. The scenes with Thor readjusting himself in his new role on Earth are definitely the best parts of the movie.

It actually reminded me of the first Iron Man, both in quality, and in its general tone. But after seeing this, I'm now expecting pretty much that same general quality going into the Captain America and Avengers movies, so while I won't expect them to blow me away anymore, I'll expect to at least be entertained by them.

[Ezee E]

I'm hoping Captain America is a lot different actually. 20-30 minutes of him becoming Capt, and then some mission... Hopefully.

[Dukefrukem]

Why can't they just rebuild the bridge thing? I mean, they built it to begin with right?

[Wryan]

This was great fun. Hiddleston was fantastic, and I can't believe I didn't recognize Colm Feore as the frost giant king. Love that man. And Elba just walked away with everything. I want Thor 2: Heimdahl's Revenge.

[Ezee E]

Why can't they just rebuild the bridge thing? I mean, they built it to begin with right?
I think they mentioned that it takes time or something corny.

[Ezee E]

It made around 30 million just on Friday, so I'd say you're off.
Forecasters are thinking mid-60's. Not too far off.

[Dukefrukem]

So what was that thing in the box at the end? "POwer Supply?"

[number8]

So what was that thing in the box at the end? "POwer Supply?"

Cosmic Cube. Single most powerful item in the Marvel U.

http://film-book.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hugo-weaving-captain-america-the-first-avenger-cosmic-cube-tesseract-2011-01.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

Cosmic Cube.

Still had to google it. It just show how shallow my knowledge is in this universe.

I thought the climax in Thor was pretty epic. I can't possibly think of a scenario where they need Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America to face a common foe.

[lovejuice]

I have no idea how the hell Whedon is going to pull off The Avengers.


I can't possibly think of a scenario where they need Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America to face a common foe.

This and this. I remain a skeptic about that whole project.

[eternity]

The main plot points:

Thor...you're grounded!

Loki...you're adopted!

RHOWEUGNOWEURBNOEURWETHNOFWBVH UESRBGEURFBVOSDIVMOSRGNJERUBNE ORUBJNOOERUHGR

The end.

[number8]

I 100% agree with this:

http://www.badassdigest.com/2011/05/07/why-thor-has-the-wrong-ending

[Sxottlan]

$66 Million for the weekend. $242M worldwide.

It bugs me however that much of that was because many people were forced to opt for a 3D screening. So the attendance for this is far lower than even the amount suggests. I had to get up earlier than I wanted to see one of just four 2D screenings at my theatre.


I 100% agree with this:

http://www.badassdigest.com/2011/05/07/why-thor-has-the-wrong-ending

I'll concede that kind of ending would have saved time from The Avengers, but I liked how the film ended as is. It was not what I was expecting and was more, I thought, poignant.

[Ezee E]

Agreed on the part of wasting a minute of getting Thor back to earth though.

[TGM]

I 100% agree with this:

http://www.badassdigest.com/2011/05/07/why-thor-has-the-wrong-ending

I'll echo that agreement. I thought it was absurd that after, what, a day or so at the absolute most, we're supposed to believe that he's so in love with this girl who he just met, who he barely knows, and who he honestly barely even interacted with, that leaving her like that is supposed to be this big huge sacrifice or something?

Having a romantic side-plot in a story like this is fine. However, like I said above, it bothered me that they placed so much actual importance on their so called "romance".

Maybe if he had been stranded for a much longer period of time, or we were shown some more actual interaction between the two, then maybe. However, that's not a movie that I'd actually want to see.

That article got it right on the money. In fact, had they ended it that way, I'd probably be able to see it as a good all around movie, rather than just a decent comedy, as I currently look at it.

[[ETM]]

To me, it just further proves that there should be a substantially longer version.

[Ezee E]

At least the movie makes sense the whole way through, as opposed to random happenings like Iron Man 2.

[Dukefrukem]

$66 Million for the weekend. $199.6M worldwide.

It bugs me however that much of that was because many people were forced to opt for a 3D screening. So the attendance for this is far lower than even the amount suggests. I had to get up earlier than I wanted to see one of just four 2D screenings at my theatre.

I fall into this category. I was so mad I was forced to see it in 3D.

I love hawkeye's 10 second appearance. (sarcasm) Are there plans to use him more?

[number8]

;343342']To me, it just further proves that there should be a substantially longer version.

I just remembered something. Last year in July when I saw Branagh at Comic-Con, he stuck around to watch the Captain America clip where the Red Skull robs a tomb and retrieves the Cosmic Cube. Branagh commented his surprise and said it was really cool that the Cosmic Cube is in the Captain America movie also.

This, to me, suggests that the script probably had some kind of subplot involving the Cube, which they cut.

[Wryan]

So which was more successful to y'all? Earth or Asgard?

Seems a lot of people are really happy with the Earth stuff, and I am, but I didn't think Jane/Portman really worked nor the romance, as has been discussed. Stellan and Hemsworth were great. The action decent and fun.

But really...I loved the gaudy Asgard stuff more. It has the benefit of those reeediculous costumes and sets that fly in the face of all reason but work. It has the benefit of Colm Feore. It has the benefit of a remarkable Idris Elba. It has most of Loki. It has Hopkins doing some genuinely decent work and workin that fucking gold eyepatch. It has the goddamn rainbow road from MarioKart. I liked Asgard a wee better.

[number8]

My favorite scene is easily Loki's visit to Thor in the interrogation room. Rich stuff.

[Henry Gale]

Yup, this is more like it. Absolutely as fun as I could have hoped for it to be, with an nice amount of scope and grandiose, great characters (each with their own unique presence and impact on the film), effective goofiness, and even some psychedelic imagery to keep me surprised and enthralled at most turns.

I don't find it too difficult to call it my favourite of the Marvel movies so far either, and even if we're going outside the Avengers-tied ones, I'd put this just a tiny step below the likes of the second Spider-Man and X-Men movies. Not sure where my expectations stand on Captain America, but the fact that Iron Man 2 was my previous favourite of these precursor films, I gladly welcome Cap to surprise me in a big way.


I just remembered something. Last year in July when I saw Branagh at Comic-Con, he stuck around to watch the Captain America clip where the Red Skull robs a tomb and retrieves the Cosmic Cube. Branagh commented his surprise and said it was really cool that the Cosmic Cube is in the Captain America movie also.

This, to me, suggests that the script probably had some kind of subplot involving the Cube, which they cut.

Without saying too much for those that haven't seen it: Did you not stay until after the credits?

[megladon8]

So my friends and I are trying to go see this tonight.

I don't understand why the theatre is only showing this once tonight in 2D (at 8:30) and twice in 3D (7:30 and 10:15), yet Water for Elephants is showing 4 times between 7 and 10:30, and Something Borrowed is showing 4 times between 7 and 10.

Why??

[Henry Gale]

So my friends and I are trying to go see this tonight.

I don't understand why the theatre is only showing this once tonight in 2D (at 8:30) and twice in 3D (7:30 and 10:15), yet Water for Elephants is showing 4 times between 7 and 10:30, and Something Borrowed is showing 4 times between 7 and 10.

Why??

Are you asking why they would jump at the chance to charge more for a movie they know people want to see, no matter which way?

The only reason I saw it in 3D is because it was a more convenient time for most of my friends. Luckily it was cheap Tuesday so even with the three dollar extra charge, it worked out to the same price as if we had seen it in 2D any other day. Even under those circumstances I felt cheated having to watch it that way. The 3D is so poorly done, even when it's not noticable whatsoever.

[megladon8]

No, I'm asking why the brand new and most popular movie out right now only has 3 showings tonight, while a terrible romantic comedy and a terrible romantic drama have a fairly wide selection of showings.

[Henry Gale]

No, I'm asking why the brand new and most popular movie out right now only has 3 showings tonight, while a terrible romantic comedy and a terrible romantic drama have a fairly wide selection of showings.

Ah ok, true. I was even going to guess that Thor was the longest of them, but that doesn't seem to be the case either. Maybe the theatre has that thing for Water and Borrowed where they split it each day with more kid-aimed movies in the afternoon and then swap those more adult-oriented ones in at night on those same screens. Seeing as Thor arguably applies to both age groups, they may just be running them all day on the same screens, leaving little reason to cram them so close together.

[number8]

Or maybe meg's local theater is just a shitty one.

[number8]

Without saying too much for those that haven't seen it: Did you not stay until after the credits?

Yeah, but was inferring something more than just that.

Learned something today. The tags after the credits are actually conceived by the production team of the next movie. So the after-credits scene after Iron Man 2 was done by the Thor team, and the one after Thor was done by Captain America's team.

[Henry Gale]

Yeah, but was inferring something more than just that.

Learned something today. The tags after the credits are actually conceived by the production team of the next movie. So the after-credits scene after Iron Man 2 was done by the Thor team, and the one after Thor was done by Captain America's team.

That's pretty cool, and makes a lot of sense too. I looked back and the Iron Man 2 after-credits scene is indeed the same series of shots we see in Thor, even with the locals and their trucks in the background. Does this mean that for Cap America's potential post-credits scene with him and Nick Fury in Times Square could have been thought up and shot by Whedon and his Avengers crew? The timeline of filming would make sense.

[Spinal]

Hey, this was pretty darn good. I really enjoyed all that Branagh brought to the project including his sense of bombast and his underrated sense of humor. The split between worlds worked effectively, I thought, and kept me involved. The 'fish out of water' humor worked quite nicely. Many of the supporting characters blend together into a mush, but I liked the overall arc of Thor's journey. Maybe not an adventure for the ages, but enough to be the adventure for this particular Sunday afternoon.

[Derek]

Hey, this was pretty darn good. I really enjoyed all that Branagh brought to the project including his sense of bombast and his underrated sense of humor. The split between worlds worked effectively, I thought, and kept me involved. The 'fish out of water' humor worked quite nicely. Many of the supporting characters blend together into a mush, but I liked the overall arc of Thor's journey. Maybe not an adventure for the ages, but enough to be the adventure for this particular Sunday afternoon.

Did you see it in 3D? I'm still annoyed I saw it in 3D since it was obviously done in post and darkened the image. I'm sure it looked a lot better in 2D.

[Spinal]

Oh, I forgot to say that I really appreciated that it wasn't one of these comic book adaptations that takes itself so seriously trying to prove itself with cynicism and realistic violence. BUT, it also wasn't one of those adaptations where everything is goofy and self-referential. It was just right.

[Spinal]

Did you see it in 3D? I'm still annoyed I saw it in 3D since it was obviously done in post and darkened the image. I'm sure it looked a lot better in 2D.

2D on a screen of unexceptional quality. I kind of wish I had seen it at a more high end place to be honest. But it was playing for cheap just down the street.

[Spinal]

Not surprisingly, the standout is Idris Elba as The Guardian. He steals any scene he's in.

Yes! My son asked me who my favorite character was and he was the first one to pop into my mind.

[Spinal]

Before Thor, can you guess what the highest grossing Branagh film was?

Answer (http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Director&id=kennethbranagh.htm)

[Watashi]

I'm surprised Hamlet opened up so limited.

[Spinal]

I'm surprised Hamlet opened up so limited.

Remember that it was 4 hours long.

[Morris Schæffer]

How is Patrick Doyle's score by the way? I'm asking because his tracks Central Station (Carlito's Way) and Battle at Azincourt (Henry V) are respectively pulse-poundingly exciting and supremely moving.

[Spinal]

How is Patrick Doyle's score by the way?

Awesome. I loved it.

[Pop Trash]

It's been years but I remember liking Dead Again a lot. Is my 12-year-old self's opinion on this wrong?

[Raiders]

It's been years but I remember liking Dead Again a lot. Is my 12-year-old self's opinion on this wrong?

Not at all. Your 12 year-old self was wise beyond his years. Still Branagh's best film.

[eternity]

Before Thor, can you guess what the highest grossing Branagh film was?

Answer (http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Director&id=kennethbranagh.htm)

That just made the choice of having Branagh direct even stranger. Never having a film make over $40 million and then directing *this*.

[number8]

That just made the choice of having Branagh direct even stranger. Never having a film make over $40 million and then directing *this*.

The same studio handed their biggest output to a guy with a history of failing to get people to watch his stuff.

[Raiders]

That just made the choice of having Branagh direct even stranger. Never having a film make over $40 million and then directing *this*.

The name of the director has nothing to do with marketing these films.

[number8]

The name of the director has nothing to do with marketing these films.

I think he was more referring to the studio having the faith that Branagh can be trusted with a commercial venture. This is Hollywood, after all.

[Spinal]

I think he was more referring to the studio having the faith that Branagh can be trusted with a commercial venture. This is Hollywood, after all.

Yes, I guess I had forgotten how badly Frankenstein flopped. Perhaps because I'm one of the few that actually liked it.

[Scar]

Yes, I guess I had forgotten how badly Frankenstein flopped. Perhaps because I'm one of the few that actually liked it.

I tried revisiting that one. Unfortunately, the wireless connection at my hotel slowed way down about an hour in, and I've never gone back to it.

I think I need to rectify that.

[Skitch]

Yes, I guess I had forgotten how badly Frankenstein flopped. Perhaps because I'm one of the few that actually liked it.

I've always been rather partial to it myself.

I talked my parents out of Pirates 4, and into Thor. It was a bit of a risky gamble. My parents review: "We both loved it. We were sad when it ended. There was nothing we could think of that we would change. We can't wait for another one." :) A little more excitement from my folks than I've seen from them on a comic book based story.

[[ETM]]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/sf_anime/Heimdall.png

BAD. ASS.

[Wryan]

;347488']BAD. ASS.

Yeah, he annihilated this movie.

[megladon8]

Going to try to see it this weekend with Jen.

[Sxottlan]

Going to try to see it this weekend with Jen.

I think I'm going to try and catch it a second time this week if I can.

[Watashi]

Really hope all the deleted scenes make it in a director's cut. This really needed to be longer.

[Sxottlan]

Some thoughts after a second viewing:

1. I adore the little moments in this film. Heimdallur watching Thor from afar as he fails to retrieve Mjolnir. Coulsen letting Thor get to the hammer because he's curious to see what will happen. Selvig pausing to flip through a book of his native mythology. He then tries to out drink his ancestors' god. The focus on characters really comes through.

2. The music by Patrick Doyle gets better upon second viewing. The music right when Thor is captured by SHIELD is particularly moving. Unfortunately, I don't seem to find that bit in any of the songs from the soundtrack. EDIT: scratch that, it's at the end of "The Compound."

3. The production design deserves at least a nomination. Not only in building Asgard, but also the New Mexico town. Now it's was pretty obviously built in the middle of nowhere for the film and the product placement does stand out as a result, but I liked the detail to it. Especially the old 50's car dealership where the scientists set up shop. Overall, the film creates a great sense of place in all of the settings.

4. This whole thing could have so easily descended into silliness. Well, maybe it did from your point of view, but I thought Branagh's confidence in the story and his filmmaking shines through and makes it believable (look at Branagh's signature profile shots of characters just like he had in Hamlet). It just so happens I've recently become interested in the idea of technology so advanced as to be like magic, so it was easy for me to view Asgard as just super advanced technology.

5. It's been muttered here and there, but yeah, Agent Coulsen needs his own movie. This guy's backstory needs to be told. Maybe if they ever do a Nick Fury film. Branagh had Clark Gregg give Coulsen a little bit more of a dark edge here and it was a nice change. I liked the detail of the pouring rain getting on his suit and he didn't even seem to notice.

6. Love the internal consistency to the Marvel universe. For example, upon seeing the Destroyer, SHIELD just assumes it's another one of Stark's inventions. It sure looks like it and its face opens just like his creations do.

7. Overall, it's just as entertaining the second time as it was the first. I think I'd stack this right along side Iron Man as the best of the Avenger saga so far.

[megladon8]

This was great!

My biggest worry - that Chris Hemsworth didn't have the chops or charisma to carry a film like this - was averted. He felt totally natural, and really did embody the role as well as Robert Downey Jr. with Iron Man.

Loved how unabashedly big and cheesy it was at times. It felt like Branagh totally embraced that he was making a comic book superhero movie, and injected it with humor while not at all losing the impressively rich characterizations.

Family drama in Asgard was great, and agree with those who wanted more of Idris Elba.

I really hope there is a 3 hour cut somewhere that we get to see on DVD.

[Dukefrukem]

6. Love the internal consistency to the Marvel universe. For example, upon seeing the Destroyer, SHIELD just assumes it's another one of Stark's inventions. It sure looks like it and its face opens just like his creations do.


I liked this too. I like the line: "he never tells me anything" referring to Stark and how he turned to his men and said "here we go"

[Grouchy]

Yes, I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. It's more of a film-film than Captain America, with the right amount of comedy and character development. And the cast really came through with some scenes that would end up being ridiculous with lesser acting.

One thing I thought could have been used more is the "fish out of water" joke regarding Thor's upbringing as a barbarian. There was the bit where he breaks the cup at the diner and then he seemed to adjust to civilian life kind of magically. But maybe there was just too much to cram into one film.

[Sxottlan]

One thing I thought could have been used more is the "fish out of water" joke regarding Thor's upbringing as a barbarian. There was the bit where he breaks the cup at the diner and then he seemed to adjust to civilian life kind of magically. But maybe there was just too much to cram into one film.

Well, Thor did mention that he and Selvig got drunk and brawled off screen. Although I don't know exactly how long the good doctor could trade blows with Thor and stay standing. Maybe that's why he was carrying him.

[Scar]

Well, Thor did mention that he and Selvig got drunk and brawled off screen. Although I don't know exactly how long the good doctor could trade blows with Thor and stay standing. Maybe that's why he was carrying him.

I don't think they actually got in a physical altercation. Thor just drank him under the table.

"He's fine! We drank, we fought - he made his ancestors proud!"

"Oh, I still don't think you're the god of thunder. But you ought to be!"

[Dukefrukem]

bump to merge with other thread

[Dukefrukem]

pretty cool

t0C0xEjHrEg

[Raiders]

bump to merge with other thread

I'm fairly certain everyone was cool with this thread laying dormant forever.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm fairly certain everyone was cool with this thread laying dormant forever.

Considering all the crap I get for making new threads, I assumed we'd want to keep this place clean and tidy. Since I happened to be searching and updating the Thor thread anyway, while adding a cool deleted scene I found, I thought I'd help out and bump it or a quick and painless merge.

But since my action was so out of line, you can now decide whether it's easier to delete three posts rather than merge two threads.

Good day.

[number8]

I'm not sure what just happened.

[MadMan]

Anyways, I really liked this movie a lot and thought it was a really entertaining action movie. Thor, like Iron Man, is more of my kind of superhero, and Loki was a great, somewhat tragic, villain. Plus yes Idris Elba ruled in what was too minor of a role for an actor of his level of awesome to embody, but hey its all good.

Thor drinking and then throwing down the glass while yelling for more is still my favorite part of the movie. Its a funny bit and its sold really well.

[Ezee E]

I liked the thread title in CAPS more then without.

[Dead & Messed Up]

This was fun. Wasn't expecting that.

Hiddleston and Elba, as mentioned many times in this thread, are the highlights, and I agree that Thor should've made his exile permanent (rather than return to Asgard).

I wish there were more jokes at Thor's powerless expense. I loved them accidentally backing into him, and the sedative at the hospital with his face crunched against the window. It's rare to see a superhero film be that iconoclastic with its protagonist.

There's something very cool about how Branagh takes the Asgard scenes at face value. It's not like he makes them pompous or deathly self-serious. He just accepts that Asgard is and then places the drama there.

Love the Flash Gordon look of Asgard. I even liked how they looked cheap at times. It's okay for these kinds of images to look a little rough around the edges.

Good times. I'm really looking forward to Hiddleston's Loki as a villain in The Avengers.

[Dukefrukem]

Has anyone read that the Infinity Gauntlet is in this movie? Could this be woven in to the next Avengers or Thor synopsis? Or something Branagh just threw in for comic geeks?

http://www.10mfh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Thor-Movie-Infinity-Gauntlet-Hi-Res-580x246.png

[Grouchy]

Thanos is in the post-credits scene in Avengers so it's pretty clear now that the Infinity Gauntlet will make an appearance.

[number8]

Thanos is in the post-credits scene in Avengers so it's pretty clear now that the Infinity Gauntlet will make an appearance.

Loki used the blue Mind gem in the movie.

[Dukefrukem]

Ohh