Sulking Thor, Futuristic Glam-Rock Odin, and Loki the Ballet Dancer

Posted by: Tony – Jul 19, 2010

Some might argue that comic book adaptations have become a genre in and of themselves. Every new season boasts such a film these days, and some of them have become international sensations. Marvel has released some official photos from Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming Thor picture, a highly anticipated venture that will debut sometime in 2011. The results are bit too pretty for my taste. I want to withhold judgment until I see a trailer, but I’m less than thrilled with this shot.

Thor comes across best, which is good I guess, but Odin looks like someone magically transported from Flash Gordon. I like Flash Gordon, I really do*, but I don’t know about a Flash Gordon treatment of Thor. And what of our villain? Well, Loki could wear his costume on any of those dance shows my wife loves so much and no one would so much as bat an eye. I don’t use that metaphor to suggest that his costume is dashing and innovative but to suggest that it’s hard to imagine anyone quivering in fear at Loki’s feet unless they were getting ready to face him in a walk-off.

I’m still hoping Branagh managers to deliver an exciting film, and I know it’s rash to judge something based on a single image, but this worries me.

*Flash Gordon is perhaps the first movie I can remember watching. It was something I saw at the drive-in with my dad as a wee one. It is entirely possible that Flash Gordon saved my life at some point as the scene where Flash must stick his arm into the hollow stump on Arboria provided me with a lifelong fear of reaching into dark places.
This includes the sock drawer.