Although production has been underway for quite a while now, we were finally treated to a first look at Thor as he appears in the upcoming film today, courtesy of Yahoo.

To get straight to the point, view the picture below:

This is the first official image from the film, and shows how close this movie is aiming to be to the comics. Although it’s not much (no hammer or helmet yet), it should whet your appetite for another addition to Marvel’s ever-expanding cinematic universe.

As I’ve said before, I absolutely cannot wait for this movie! I don’t even know the comics that well but I think this film has potential to be one of the greatest superhero flicks ever.

Thor is directed by Kenneth Branagh, stars Chris Hemsworth as the hammer-wielding god/superhero, and smashes into theaters May 6, 2011.

I am not a Thor fan, so I was never particularly interested in the upcoming movie. However, an interview with the director over at Hero Complex, has me very excited for the film.

So, here’s a quick primer on the upcoming Marvel film, Thor: (WARNING: I wouldn’t consider the following spoilers as all it is is general backstory from the comics. However, if you wish to remain completely clean, you may want to stop reading.)

• The character was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby and based on Norse Mythology.
• The general plotline is this: The Mighty Thor, a powerful warrior in the realm of Asgard, is cast down to Earth by his father, Odin, in order to teach him humility. While forced to live among humans, he learns what true hero really is and must use all his strength to thwart an invasion by the darkest forces of Asgard.
• The film will switch between Asgard, the home of the Asgardians, and present-day earth.
• Chris Hemsworth will play the titular role, with Sir Anthony Hopkins portraying his father. Tom Hiddleston is Thor’s stepbrother and arch-nemesis, Loki. Natalie Portman and Jaimie Alexander are Thor’s two love interests, from Earth and Asgard, respectively. Joshua Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, and Ray Stevenson are the warriors known as The Warriors Three, and the rest of the supporting cast includes Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Kat Dennings, as well as Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
• The movie is being directed by Kenneth Branagh, who is best known for his several Shakespeare adaptations.
• Thor is set to be released May 6th, 2011.

So, what changed my mind about the movie? In the interview, Branagh had this to say about his film:

“Inspired by the comic book world both pictorially and compositionally at once, we’ve tried to find a way to make a virtue and a celebration of the distinction between the worlds that exist in the film but absolutely make them live in the same world. It’s about finding the framing style, the color palette, finding the texture and the amount of camera movement that helps celebrate and express the differences and the distinctions in those worlds. If it succeeds, it will mark this film as different…. The combination of the primitive and the sophisticated, the ancient and the modern, I think that potentially is the exciting fusion, the exciting tension in the film.”

This shows how much passion the director, who is a huge Thor fan, is putting into the project. He is taking the comic book and, rather than hype it up for mass appeal, bringing the inherently Shakespearean aspects of the story to the forefront. Combine this with a stellar cast, and you should have an amazing film.

After seeing the comic-book movie genre explode, this is the kind of creativity that distinguishes a “Dark Knight” from a “Wolverine.” Exciting action is fun, but a fantastic story and good filmmaking are what really matters, and that is why I am really looking forward to this film.

The last time we talked about Woody it was the news of Owen Wilson’s joining Woody’s next project. Since then the yet-untitled project has picked up a pair of beautiful Hollywood starlets in Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (La vie en rose) and Rachel McAdams (probably won a Teen Choice Award for something). Filming on this project begins this summer in Paris with an expected 2011 release date.

Set to release this fall is Woody’s You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger starring Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Gemma Jones, Freida Pinto and Lucy Punch. Filmed August 2009 in London and premiering at this year’s Cannes Film Festival You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger has been purchased by Sony Pictures Classics for U.S. distribution. Sony Pictures Classics also distributed Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown (1999) as well as 2009′s Whatever Works.

Atomic Popcorn has an awesome opportunity for 40 of you to attend a screening for Universal’s highly anticipated horror-action film, THE WOLFMAN starring Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt. THE WOLFMAN will hit theaters February 12^th and the promotional screening will be held Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at a local Baltimore theater.

For those of you not watching Atomic Popcorn or living under a rock, here is a short synopsis of the movie.

Inspired by the classic Universal film that launched a legacy of horror, The Wolfman brings the myth of a cursed man back to its iconic origins. Oscar® winner Benicio Del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot, a haunted nobleman lured back to his family estate after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father (Oscar® winner Anthony Hopkins), Talbot sets out to find his brother…and discovers a horrifying destiny for himself. Lawrence Talbot’s childhood ended the night his mother died. After he left the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor, he spent decades recovering and trying to forget. But when his brother’s fiancée, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt), tracks him down to help find her missing love, Talbot returns home to join the search. He learns that something with brute strength and insatiable bloodlust has been killing the villagers, and that a suspicious Scotland Yard inspector named Aberline (Hugo Weaving) has come to investigate. As he pieces together the gory puzzle, he hears of an ancient curse that turns the afflicted into werewolves when the moon is full. Now, if he has any chance at ending the slaughter and protecting the woman he has grown to love, Talbot must destroy the vicious creature in the woods surrounding Blackmoor. But as he hunts for the nightmarish beast, a simple man with a tortured past will uncover a primal side to himself…one he never imagined existed. Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III) directs The Wolfman, and six-time Oscar®-winning special effects artist Rick Baker brings his design and makeup talents to transform Del Toro into the fearsome title character.

We have also included the trailer.

Now on to the part that you all have been waiting for: how do I win? That is the easy part. The first 40 people to sign up below wins an admit “two” pass – good for two to the above screening. Again, if you want to bring a date you still only need to enter once! This is a pass good for two of you! The only rule is that if you signed up for our last screening you are not permitted to attend this screening. If we have any doubts about a name it will be removed from our listing.

This screening is now closed. Thanks for signing up!

I do ask that due to the size of the screening that you try and be there by 6:30pm as this will guarantee you a seat. This will allow all of you fine folks to grab your passes and a great seat for the film.

Your email will be put on a “list” at the door and you will be notified of the theater and showing time via email!

Make sure you check out our other free screenings in the Baltimore Area.

My buddy over at Movieguys has the scoop on what will happen tomorrow on The Scream Awards. The Scream Awards is the premiere event that honors the best in Comics, Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror. With that said, I may have to Tivo this bad boy. The actual awards ceremony has already been had but airs tomorrow night on October 21st on Spike TV.

Any questions??

Without further ado, I will announce the winners (more of a small recap, hit up the source URL above for the full notes) of the 2008 Spike Scream Awards.

Spoilers Ahead Spoilers Ahead Spoilers Ahead

SCREEN LEGEND AWARD: SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS (who else would this go to?)

BEST FANTASY FILM: HELLBOY 2 THE GOLDEN ARMY

BEST COMIC BOOK: Y: THE LAST MAN (announce by none other than Stan the man!)

BEST FANTASY ACTOR / BEST VILLAIN: HEATH LEDGER AS THE JOKER (umm who else would it be?)

Make sure you swing by and read up on the full article over at Movieguys!!