I made a bet about a year ago with a buddy of mine (Kenny) after we had heard that production was wrapping on a LIVE action version of the comic book Thor. Kenny thought the movie was going to be the second coming of ‘greatness’ and I told him he was dreaming; specifically that the movie would bomb all to hell and that no one has any interest in watching a guy with a winged hat and a hammer (unless it was Vincent D’Onofrio from 1987’s “Adventures In Babysitting.”
It’s not that Thor wasn’t an exciting comic hero, but what translation could it possibly make to the big screen that would garnish a box office bonanza? He doesn’t fly unless you count whipping his hammer towards the heavens and letting the inertia pull him skyward, and all he really has to offer is strength – and how can you make a viable movie out of that?
Well, after seeing the latest trailer, I have to revise my opinion (but not our bet!) buddy. The trailer gives insight to the comic character that even those who did follow the hero in comic book form would be intrigued by. An arrogant son of Zeus, a fallen demi-god, and an actor who may look slightly familiar to sci-fi fans, Chris Hemsworth (father of James T. Kirk, George who nobly gives his life to save the crew and passengers of the USS Enterprise). Throw in the always visually delightful Natalie Portman (The Professional) and veteran screen siren Rene Russo (The Thomas Crown Affair) with a splash of Anthony Hopkins (Freejack), and I think they’ve got something here…maybe.
This is only a minor revision to our bet since the trailer now touts 3D as the film medium. We all know the cost of 3D tickets can drive the box office through the roof. I told him it wouldn’t make $100 million, now I’ll say it’s easily $100 million in 3D form but will still ‘bomb’ as a movie.
Check out the trailer here in HD:
Sorry,son of Zeus?Hello,this is Northern Mythology,not Greek.It’s Odin.O-D-I-N!
I knew I should have paid more attention in mythology… thanks for the correction loyal reader!