Thor (MC: 58, RT: 77%)

[Delirium]

Oh I know. I'm not complaining at all, and I know all that stuff. I just think it's funny people think they know all this stuff when they are clearly wrong. I think it gets confirmed in the end of Ultimates 2, when Loki brings his army of trolls and crap. Then Thor brings his allies in and everyone is in awe. I didn't bother with Ultimatum, but read the description and it was really annoying to me. Why even have bothered in the first place with the entire universe?

Was that 2? Hard to remember, I really couldn;t get into how dark the whole thing was(everyone dying, Hawkeyes family getting massacred, etc). At least it wasn't as horrible as the noir-verse

[6souls]

In the new trailer for director Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, we finally see star Chris Hemsworth in mallet-swinging combat against his backstabbing brother Loki, a planet of ice-giants, and the heaven-sent hellfire machine The Destroyer. Yesterday, Branagh talked exclusively with EW about the triumvirate of villains in the movie, opening in 3-D on May 6.

Now the director goes into more detail about how he attempts to humanize a comic-book god, Thor’s clumsy relationship with women, whether he’ll make a cameo appearance, and how Star Trek and Shakespeare helped him find his hero.

For all the action extravagance in the new Thor trailer, a surprising amount is devoted to comedy, with most of the jokes at Thor’s expense. That’s a tactical choice, because the movie’s biggest challenge is to make its all-powerful blond god relatable to the average popcorn-muncher. Branagh says to cut a god down to size, it’s important for Thor to be able to laugh at Thor.

KENNETH BRANAGH: I was convinced when it was in development that part of this happening on contemporary Earth was absolutely the right way to go. And with the fantastical element we’re asking people to go along with, one way to help that happen, and allow it to be dramatic and serious when it needs to be, is to have a sense of humor about it. The film was never designed to be portentous or self-important. It wants to have a really good time enjoying the consequences of the culture clash.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Thor doesn’t have a sense of humor about himself, but is that what’s funny about him?

We always felt there was a very strong mine of material in the fish-out-of-water. When you reduce a man who is arrogant by temperament, extremely oppressive and used to having his own way, dressed, um … unusually, you are immediately in a position where you have comic friction. This is a guy who continues to live his own reality. In his mind, he’s still prince of the cosmos and he’ll do what he wants. People from Earth getting in his way and asking silly questions is immaterial.

We know he’s an all-powerful god, but this movie also makes him kind of a screw-up. His belligerence gets him banished to Earth, which disgusts him. He has to prove himself worthy again to his father [Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins] — but is that what he’s doing with the audience, too?

Even in the case of a god, audiences — paradoxically — enjoy recognizing the human traits. In Thor’s case, we are thrilled by his powers, but I think we relate to his emotions. There are some flaws, some foibles, sibling rivalries at work, and romantic entanglements. The way into making a god attractive is to find out where his experience connects to a human one.

Is this a coming-of-age story in that way? A god with a bad attitude is cast down to Earth and learns humility, learns generosity …

It’s true that it’s an identity tale. These films can allow more space for the kind of character element that you accurately described, to allow more space for, as you say, a coming-of-age-story, a prodigal son story, an identity story … Hopefully you can layer into the larger entertaining experience and make it resonate with the audience.

Your first major film was 1989’s Henry V, with Prince Hal as heir to a throne, despite not seeming worthy at first. He has to prove himself, too. Is it blasphemy to speculate about a connection with Thor?

We talked about it, though not with the intent to aggrandize ourselves. But bear in mind, Shakespeare was a populist writer. If his stories didn’t work they closed after opening weekend. Like Prince Hal, Thor is also finding himself in a world of entitlement where the pressure to be good and the pressure to be best and live up to something is so extraordinary. We were happy to discuss in relation to Shakespeare, because he always stole his stories from other populist writers [laughs], whether it was the ancient Romans, ancient Greeks or medieval sagas from Denmark. He knew the fascination the population at large can have with those who are entitled, particularly royals, and particularly young men. We believed [Thor’s] story was he had to become his own man, or in his case — perversely enough — his own god. So we borrow, and if that includes Shakespeare, we’re happy to try and steal a few character notes.

Ancient mythology is full of stories of gods and goddesses falling in love with human beings. Is that part of this film with Natalie Portman’s character, proving to Thor that humans are worth protecting?

[Laughs] One of the more fantastical things for me would be that there’d be any problem with Thor falling in love with Natalie Portman. We’re very blessed with talented and beautiful women. We have Kat Dennings, as [Portman’s] partner in crime, we have Jamie Alexander as [the warrior goddess] Sif, Renne Russo as Thor’s mum. There are a lot of amazing passionate gals around. [Thor] is a man who has a Viking, atavistic sense of entitlement. In another life, he’d be suggesting everyone — particularly women — do exactly what he says. When you cast someone like Natalie Portman, the character can’t just be the love interest. She is already an interesting dynamic character in her own right. It helps to have that conflict and interplay.

Chris Hemsworth hasn’t done a lot of films, but most people who know him will have seen him in that opening scene in Star Trek, as James Kirk’s self-sacrificing father. Since Thor starts out so arrogant, was it that role that showed Chris could also play noble?

I think you’re right, that’s a marvelous film, with a brilliant opening to it, and it relied on a character we see only briefly suggesting depth of concern and passion for his wife and soon-to-be-born son that we could identity with. He needed, just by virtue of sitting there, to act nobly in action to convince us that he was the great father that Jim Kirk was going to have to live up to and be inspired by. He used good economy in that small part. In terms of the kind of self-knowledge and complexity that we knew Thor might arrive at, we knew Chris could convey that. He’s immense, magnificent and massive as a physical being, but there’s a lot going on in those eyes, and a lot conveyed in the atmosphere of the man.

Will we see you turn up onscreen at any point in Thor? A cameo?

I couldn’t possibly tell you. I’d have to kill you if I did. There may be, in the slightest, slightest, slightest way — but I don’t think visual. I was happy to be on one side of the camera. My God, there was plenty to do…

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/02/1...agh-exclusive/

[6souls]

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http://geektyrant.com/storage/page-i...ewposter1.jpeg

[Cichy]

nice, did not expect a black guy in the poster

[ZarakiKujata]

nice, did not expect a black guy in the poster

Stringer Bell is a big deal in the international market.

[Cichy]

I liked him in Rocknrolla, dont really remember seeing him in other roles

[chazzyphizzle]

He was Rhodes in Iron Man 2.

[6souls]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sit...r_2011_a_l.jpg

there is a article that goes with this image, but it's just a rant from black actors voicing their opinion about how not enough black actors are being cast in Hollywood.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-debate-164048

[grantlogan]

He was Rhodes in Iron Man 2.

Wat, no. Don Cheadle was Rhodes.

[ZarakiKujata]

I liked him in Rocknrolla, dont really remember seeing him in other roles

Note: I gave the role that is his most significant and not the actor's name lol. He's also the eponymous Luther in BBC's new cop show Luther that's gotten notice anywhere the BBC is broadcast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringer_Bell

[chazzyphizzle]

Wat, no. Don Cheadle was Rhodes.

No, Don Cheadle was in Blade.

[6souls]

hmm, so he's playing Moreau in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance & he'll be in Prometheus. Since being in The Losers, he now going for the "nerd" roles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idris_Elba

[6souls]

French trailer, few new scenes & funny accents.

[Pikarya]

Sucks to be French. All I heard was Odin sounding like a chipmunk.

[6souls]

http://i.blogs.indiewire.com/images/...r_zone_004.jpg

We sat down with “Kill The Irishman” star Ray Stevenson yesterday, and while we discussed the upcoming Jonathan Hensleigh thriller, we also had to ask about being a cog in the mighty Marvel filmmaking machine. The once (and future?) “Punisher” has the role of Volstagg in this summer’s “Thor,” a hefty, bearded pugilist that brings color to the group known as the Warriors Three. But could Volstagg appear in the future?

“I’ve got a three picture deal,” says Stevenson, who was excited for the chance to be larger-than-life for director Kenneth Branagh. “My agent said, people won’t recognize you. And I said, I don’t give a damn! Who else is gonna give me a chance to put a big fatsuit on and ham it up? And I said to Ken Branagh, I was nervous, and he said, you can’t be too loud! So I said fine, I’ll dip my toe into the river of ham. And he said, trust me, I’ve swam in that river many times. You enjoy that!”

Stevenson also suggested he may be a candidate to return as the Punisher, the vigilante he played in the poorly-received “Punisher: War Zone.” Regarding discussions with Marvel over the fate of Frank Castle, Stevenson said, “We have talked a bit. We have met about it. I would love to do it. We can definitely bring back Frank to the screen.” He warned that such negotiations may be premature, considering the shifting rights of the character. “I think they’ve just got the property back, it was with Lionsgate.” Though Stevenson memorably returned to voice the Punisher in Marvel’s animated “Superhero Squad” series, suggesting there are fond feelings on both sides.

Stevenson has another project coming this fall as well. “I just did ‘Three Musketeers’ in 3D, that’s coming out,” Stevenson crowed. “Paul Anderson directed, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun, lots of flashing swords. My Porthos is a sexy hedonist with a tendency towards violence.” Yep, sounds like Dumas!

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayli..._the_punisher/

[6souls]

http://geektyrant.com/storage/page-i...ternation.jpeg
http://geektyrant.com/storage/page-i...oster%201.jpeg

[Shuichi]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sit...r_2011_a_l.jpg

there is a article that goes with this image, but it's just a rant from black actors voicing their opinion about how not enough black actors are being cast in Hollywood.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-debate-164048

Interesting read. When I first saw the trailer and saw Heimdall, I was like "oh shit, they cast a brotha as Heimdall". Whoever the nerds that are QQ'ing over this needs to STFU. Cleopatra was played by Elizabeth Taylor, Prince of Persia was played by someone not Persian, ect. ect. Antyways, Thor movie looks like it's gonna be good. We are definitely going to IMAX 3D this one. Even tho I hate that damn 2 train to the movie theater.

[Pikarya]

http://www.joinshield.com/

[6souls]

http://www.sabotagetimes.com/wp-cont...ns-441x600.jpg

You seem to have enjoyed your time making Thor.
Yes, it might surprise you but it’s been one of the most positive experiences of my career. Of course, [director] Kenneth Branagh’s a lovely man, a fellow Celt. But everybody, from the cast along to the caterers, was wonderful.

Were you much of a comic-book fan before coming to the movie?
No. I mean, I’d heard of them and I knew about Spider-Man and Batman. But when you get to my age, you have other interests.

Such as?
Music – I love to play and compose; I wrote the scores for the three films I directed, which was a great challenge. And art – I staged an exhibition of my work last year and I was incredibly proud of that.

How do you prepare to play Odin, the Ruler of Asgard?
I suppose I could have read a thousand books and read a million comics. But, no – I just had a feel for the character and I followed my instincts. My Shakespearian background might have helped – I’ve lots of experience of playing ‘the king’. But I didn’t go to Scandinavia and sit on a mountain.

Do you think some actors put too much emphasis on research?
Absolutely. You see some of these young actors and the lengths they go to, and it leaves you exhausted. It’s like when I played Hannibal Lecter. If I’d wanted to, I’m sure the studio could have arranged for me to meet serial killers and spend time in solitary confinement. But life’s too short to spend time on such grisly matters.

Do you think Lecter will be the role you’re remembered for?
Yes, and that makes me very happy indeed. Hannibal Lecter has an amazing hold on people, especially women. The number of times I’ve been asked to recite the ‘fava beans and Chianti’ speech… They seem to like the chills, the ladies.

Is there anything you’re afraid of?
I’ve made a couple of films in Australia – Spotswood and Mission: Impossible II – and while I don’t mind spiders per se, I’m glad I didn’t run into one of the deadly creatures they have over there. In Sydney, they have these Huntsman spiders that are as big as your hand. They’re harmless, apparently, but I’m glad I avoided them.

Does Tommy Cooper still have a special place in your heart?
From now till the day I die. I love British comedy – Eric and Ernie, Only Fools And Horses and Tommy Cooper, of course. I was asked to unveil a statue of Tommy in Caerphilly a couple of years ago. What a privilege that was!

And have you a favourite Cooper gag?
Someone once told me about the time Tommy appeared at the Royal Variety. He was being introduced to the Queen and he said, “Ma’am, do you like football?” “No, not especially,” Her Majesty replied. “Oh, in that case, can I have your Cup Final tickets?!” The man was priceless.

http://www.sabotagetimes.com/tv-film...ls-the-ladies/

[6souls]