Unwinnable

On May 6th, Kenneth Branagh brought the Mighty Thor of Marvel Comics fame to the big screen. On its face, the movie looks like a surefire success. Chris Hemsworth, a relative unknown, stars in the title role and is surrounded by such top shelf talent as Natalie Portman, Stellan Skaarsgard and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Critical response to the movie has been overwhelmingly positive and while Thor brought in less money its opening weekend than Fast Five ($86.2 million), the movie’s take at the box office ($65.7 million) wasn’t anything to sneeze at.

Unwinnable contributor Chuck Moran put in $11 of that $65.7 million and he thinks it was worth every penny. Kevin Dreyfuss, co-writer of the forthcoming movie Knights of Badassdom, begs to differ and has challenged Mr. Moran to a verbal duel to prove it. Two men shall enter, but only one shall leave the victor – and with that man will go the fate of Thor, Asgard and the entire World Tree. Verily! (more…)

Somehow, against all odds, Marvel Studios found the one person in Midgard truly worthy of lifting Mjolnir.

Before his star-making turn in Thor, hitting movie theaters today, Americans had exactly one scene from J.J. Abrams’ reboot of Star Trek with which to judge Chris Hemsworth.  Sure the actor had done some television work in his native Australia and had worked on two movies, Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods and the remake of Red Dawn, which have yet to see the light of day.

But there wasn’t enough of a track record to justify anointing the 27-year-old as heir to the throne of Asgard and putting two franchises (including The Avengers) on his broad shoulders.

Director Kenneth Branagh, however, told this reporter for a Wizard Magazine interview that after searching through the nine realms and despite the pressure to cast a name actor for the top of the marquee, he knew he found his God of Thunder. (more…)

Loki!  Destroyer!  Frost Giants?!

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios released the second full length trailer for Thor yesterday and I have to say, I never once thought to make an Adventures In Babysitting joke.

The previous trailer and the Super Bowl spot gave fans a glimpse of Kenneth Branagh’s take on the Odinson but this trailer gives fans an idea of what kind of movie Thor will be. (more…)