Thor Movie

[BentonGrey]

Ehh, this kind of thing bothers me, not because of issues of race, but just because it doesn't make sense to me.  Movies are visual mediums, and when I see something that doesn't make sense, it annoys me, pulls me out of the story.  The Norse gods were the deities of a particular culture and people group, so they should look like it.  Having a black Asgardian just doesn't fit.  Will it ruin the movie for me?  Of course not, but it does mildly annoy me in the interim.  Having white Wakandans would also annoy me.  It just doesn't make sense.  It's not a big deal, but that doesn't mean that people's complaints about it are somehow inappropriate or racist.  

[Shogunn2517]

It's hard not to sound racist when saying an actor shouldn't have a job in a movie because of his or her race because it's so racist. By definition. I know no one is trying to be racist, and just nitpicking about comic book accuracy.
"Certain groups" don't complain when their "members" don't appear in every movie. In fact some of these "groups" don't even have regular meetings at all, and certainly not where they boycott films which don't have any characters who are in their group. In fact some groups are so broad and far-reaching that they don't actually have representatives with the authority to complain on behalf of those groups. Some movies are still able to get many of "certain groups'" members to see the movies anyway and they become the highest grossing films of all time.

Actually, by definition if you say an actor shouldn't have a job in a movie because of his or her race, it's NOT racist.  No one is saying Idris Elba isn't a good actor becuase he's black.  The argument is that the source material is of a specific characteristic.  Personally, as a Black man myself(and avid fan of Elba), I have a problem with the cast and at the same time okay with it.  Like many of you, I don't like casting ethnic actors just for diversity reasons.  That's really not doing anyone any favors.  However, when you're casting decisions make sense and race isn't an essential part of the character(ie Kingpin), I don't have a problem with it.  But from what I can tell, they're not simply casting for the sake of diversity.  From what I can tell, they're taking a entirely different spin on Asgard.  I could be wrong but didn't they have an Asian in there too?  Either way, I'm sure it will be fine.  It's not like the movie is call "Heimdall and Thor".  It's called "Thor".  I'm confident it won't break immersion.

I know this is a bit of a tangent, but hasn't the trend not been to make a character black, but to make a black version as a separate character(John Stewart Isiah/Eligah Bradley, Icon, Static, etc).  I'm not sure if anyone else can understand it, but there's something about having "one of your own" to identify with.  Like saying I don't identify with the wise-cracking white teenager growing up in the suburbs of New York(Spiderman).  I can more identify with the wise-cracking black teenager growing up in the projects(Static).  Or like saying I don't identify with the super-powered alien who grew up on a farm in Kansas.  I'd much rather identify with the super-powered alien who grew up as a slave.

It's kinda why Stan Lee made a Spiderman and a Fantastic Four and the X-Men.  He wanted to make sure he can have someone that all of his readers can identify with.

[steamteck]

I can see where you're comimg from. However for myself, I guess I'm odd that I've always  iidentified  more with the guy I'd like to be than the guy with the similar background. As a result I've always identified more with Superman, Doc Savage, Captain America and Thor than say, Spider-man.

I also find very hard to identify with many modern comics character whose principles and morals seem vastly inferior to my own. Flawed heroes are Ok but ....

[Previsionary]

Thor One-Sheet movie poster is up: http://marvel.com/news/story/14785/behold_new_thor_movie_poster

Trailer will be there tomorrow and in select movie theaters this weekend.

[Uncle Yuan]

Here ya go: trailer

[Tomato]

K, I'm sold. Marvel needs to come out with this now.

[Trelau]

According to my "inside source", th Fx look good (i should hope so, that's his job...), there are some spectacular action scene, the "humor" is bordeline not-funnny at at all (but he says there's no music, so maybe it will help) and an relatively large amount of tilted plan (he called that the battlefield earth effect, when you tilt the camera sideway with no justification at all)
All in all it seems that the movie will be relatively fast-paced (but keep in mind that as a visual artist, he probably didn't see many talk scene) and quite enjoyable as far as an action movie go. Not being a thor fan, he however has no idea if the characteristion is good, but he criticized the performance of the secondary cast, mainly the asgardians, who sounds/look cheesy (since that's kinda the point, i'm not surprised...but for the non-thor fan i understand it can be puzzling); and after the last projection, he seems to think the movie is as good as Hulk (the edward norton one) but clearly inferior to both Iron man 1 & 2.
I should note he's an action movie fan (he liked transformer, and he didn't knew about the toys or the cartoon either, so no nostalgia excuse there) so he may be overly enthousiastic due to the fight scenes.
But yeah, it seems like it will be worth watching.

NB:i'd rather not say his name or the name of the compagny where he works, just in case "they" google for leak

[Glitch Girl]

and an relatively large amount of tilted plan (he called that the battlefield earth effect, when you tilt the camera sideway with no justification at all)

The camera move is called  a "Dutch Tilt".  And yes it was way overused in Battlefield Earth to the point that if you made a drinking game of it, you'd get alcohol poisoning. 

[BentonGrey]

Ohh, I really, REALLY want this movie to be good.  The trailer looks great, and I'm really hopeful.

[captmorgan72]

Hmm, I saw this trailer awhile ago. Didn't everyone else?

[BentonGrey]

Perhaps, but I feel like this one is longer.

[JKCarrier]

Yeah, I think there were some added scenes in this version, like the Destroyer rampaging, and more hammer-throwing. Looks pretty cool!

[captmorgan72]

  My bad. I thought this was the same trailer I saw before and stopped watching when Thor was beating up the S.H.I.E.L.D agents. After Benton said it was longer, I watched it all and drooled.  

[herodad1]

really liked watching him throw his hammer and clobberin' that monster.

[thalaw2]

I just saw the trailer and I liked it!  I'm not super excited about the movie, but at least the trailer was good.  I like the sound the hammer makes when it hits stuff. 

[UnkoMan]

Hey, dutch angles are awesome. Did you know each different villain had their own angle degree on the '60s Batman show? It just makes a scene more visually arresting.

As to the Heimdall thing thing, it's weird and they keep showing random shots of him, but I don't remember Heimdall ever doing anything but stand on that danged rainbow bridge. In fact I remember him waxing on about how he COULDN'T join in battles because he had to stand on that bridge. Yet any time somebody stormed that bridge he got taken out.

Of course in real Norse legend he and Loki kill each other in the end. Hmmm... I wonder if they are going to set up for that?

And as to Hogun being asian... I actually always thought he looked asian and always wondered why.

This trailer looks swell. I love Thor. Destroyer looks fantastic. Hopefully they have a lot more Asgard stuff than Midguard stuff, but I doubt it. It does make me seriously pumped for the Avengers movie though.

[Previsionary]

For Hemsworth, the challenge of playing such an iconic, established hero on the big screen proved no more difficult than any other role he's undertaken.

"There's a lot of pressure with something that existed for so many years before you were involved and already has a fan base, but you don't let that affect the way you approach the film," remarks the actor. "I approached it by doing it as well as I can. Whether it's a small film, or something like this, it's very exciting and daunting."

As fans gleaned from the trailer, Jane Foster—played by Natalie Portman—will play a large role in Thor's cinematic odyssey, something Hemsworth teased further.

"It's a big breaking point in Thor's journey," he promises. "He learns some humility. He starts out as a brash, cocky, young warrior and she certainly influences him in a different direction and gives him a different angle to look at life from."

Thor's hubris and heroism define two key aspects of his character, aspects that reflect "an ongoing battle [within Thor], taming the berserk warrior that is in him," according to Hemsworth.
Chris Hemsworth grips Mjolnir in "Thor"

"Certainly, that's a big part of this film. He has to be that warrior and he still has to have those elements. That's what makes him Thor. But also, you don't want to watch a guy for too long on screen who's just a jerk all the time. You get moments of it, where it's kind of cool and bad, but then it just gets old. You've got to find that balance, and at the right times, sneak a bit of it back in."

Working with director Kenneth Branagh gave Hemsworth a particular insight into Thor's character, as the filmmaker encouraged the star to gain inspiration wherever he could.

"It's been brilliant," beams Hemsworth. "It's the most character development, discussions on scenes and back-story that I've ever had. He always had the attitude that you should read books--read this, look at all these influences, talk for hours. Maybe it means nothing or maybe it gives us one moment in the film, and it's worth it. That's part of the fun for me, all that research and speaking to as many people as I can and soaking up all that stuff."

More at link.

[BentonGrey]

Thanks for the post Prem., that was interesting.  I like that they (both Branagh and Hemsworth) seemed to put a lot of thought into who Thor is and why he's doing what he's doing.  That's just good storytelling.  I hope it pays off.  Hemsworth's description of Thor seems pretty good.  I know that my friend Hank, who is a huge Thor fan, would appreciate it.  He always talks about how overconfidence and arrogance are Thor's weaknesses.

[marhawkman]

And as to Hogun being asian... I actually always thought he looked asian and always wondered why.

The vikings were slave traders(along with looting and pillaging)  and sometimes traded with the monguls.

[Previsionary]

New Thor photo (in costume):



http://marvel.com/news/story/15011/new_thor_movie_photo

[Courtnall6]

I don't know about that pic...something is missing...

I wonder if they'll make decent replicas of that hammer to buy?

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

If you mean the helmet, he does wear it, just not all the time it seems.

[Courtnall6]

Ya I know...just goofing around. 

[Panther_Gunn]

I dunno.....he looks more like he belongs in Metallica, not Asgard.

[Previsionary]

Superbowl spot: http://marvel.com/news/story/15139/watch_the_thor_super_bowl_spot

[JeyNyce]

I saw this as well as the new Cap spot and I can't wait to see them!!

[Tawodi Osdi]

I have a problem with all of these 3-D movies is that I where prescription glasses.  I've seen those 3-D shades like look like they'd comfortable enough, but I'm afraid I'd be stuck with those old card board shades that will actually fit over my glasses.

[BentonGrey]

Hmm, pretty much the same stuff we've seen already, but it looks good.

[Alaric]

I have a problem with all of these 3-D movies is that I where prescription glasses.  I've seen those 3-D shades like look like they'd comfortable enough, but I'm afraid I'd be stuck with those old card board shades that will actually fit over my glasses.

I have a different problem- the 3D glasses fit easily over my glasses, but, because I'm slightly cross-eyed, they don't actually work for me. Current 3D movies, while I'm wearing the glasses, just look a little blurred and give me a headache (of course, it's worse without the glasses).

[UnkoMan]

I've got big ole' horn-rims and the current 3D glasses fit over mine. They work fairly well though...

Of course the majority of 3D movies these days aren't actually shot in 3D, so it looks totally fake, and the current polarized 3D is just like slapping a neutral density filter over your face, so everything is darker and the colours far less vivid, so all in all I feel pretty lacklustre about the 3D experience in general. Needless to say (but I will), I won't be seeing this or Cap in 3D.

Although I still did want to see Tron in 3D. Should have got around to that.