Thor-ing Around- THOR: THE DARK WORLD

Here’s what I want, said Thor: The Dark World cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau: I want a real slow tilt up Hemsworth’s abs. I want the Asgardian light to be especially slanty and dramatic in this little gazebo here and I want Hemmy’s pecs to look absolutely humongous. Got that? I mean I want those suckers to look huge. And I don’t care if this body shot has nothing to do with the story. That’s irrelevant. This is Hemmy we’re talking about. So I want water from the sieve — yes, of course there’ll be a sieve — to drip slowly down his beautiful cosmo-Nordic hair and face, over the mountainous (again, almost gluteal) pecs and languish in the crevices of his abs… READ MORE  Sam Allard Scene

Now that’s a cinematographer that knows what he’s doing!

Got to see this 2nd installment of Thor directed by Alan Taylor and starring the beautiful Chris Hemsworth (see T&T Rush post) on a nice big Imax screen! The first Thor I rented after seeing The Avengers, realizing I needed a back story on Loki (Tom Hiddleston). The original was directed by heavy hitters Kenneth Branaugh and Joss Whedon, yet I wouldn’t say Thor was any better served under two such respected directors.  This sequel is equal, if not better.

I still have yet to see Captain America, but there is a fun cameo with that Marvel American Hero in Thor: The Dark World, which picks up two years after the first. In those two years between the melee in NY aka The Avengers and the out break of wars on and around Asgard, Thor’s been too busy to see his lady love Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).  I have a love/hate relationship with Portman (who shares my birthday), sometimes she can be brilliant like in Garden State and Black Swan, but when it comes to her acting in fantasy flicks like Star Wars, V for Vendetta and this Thor franchise, she’s just an empty shell.

So those are my only critiques on the movie. As is my norm, I don’t like to review franchise films. I like to enjoy them like a day on the Boardwalk, where you devour all your favorites eats in quick succession without a care for calories or cost.

According to Your Guide to the Gods Thursday is Thorsday, in honor of that, Marvel and Disney Studios should have had the offical opening on November 7th instead of the 8th. It also says the actual Norse God patrols the sky, riding through the clouds in a chariot pulled by two goats (Tanngniost and Tanngrisnir). During a storm you can hear him approach — that distant rumble is the sound of his chariot wheels thundering across the sky. If you listen very carefully, you might even hear the goats.

To bad they didn’t add this into into the movie. The goat chariot would look so great on screen and a more romantic mode of transportation for bringing Jane to Asgard.

Christopher Eccleston plays the villian Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves. He and his kind tried to take over the Universe the last time the 9 realms were aligned, 5000 years ago.  His means of accomplishing this feat – a smokey, gaseous matter called Aether: According to some mythology research for any reference to Aether—there was no reference in the Marvel comic universe of the Aether being an artifact. Aether is something out of Greek mythology and is best described as being the indestructible power of Zeus. READ MORE The Daily SuperHero

Thor was introduced into the Marvel Universe in 1962. The most valuable of these comics is the first one:

Journey Into Mystery #83
Thor’s first appearance.Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby , the Mighty Thor is the God of Thunder and a denizen of Asgard. Banished by his father Odin, Thor is forced to live a dual life with Dr. Donald Blake – the man who finds his hammer and brings to life the power of Thor! J. Gordon The Top 10 Most Valuable Thor Comics

The Cain and Able type relationship between Thor and Loki is the most compelling part of the movie. Working together brains and brawn they could accomplish almost anything. It’s just too bad Loki refuses to give in to that part of himself who loves and respects his half brother.

However,  it’s no wonder the 3rd most valuable Thor Marvel comic is the one introducing Loki:

Journey Into Mystery #85
Loki’s first appearance.Thor’s archenemy is also his half-brother, Loki. Always jealous of Thor, Loki is a conniving being who traps his brother through trickery time and again. This story marks Loki’s first appearance in the Marvel Universe. Loki was also instrumental in bringing about the formation of The Avengers. J. Gordon The Top 10 Most Valuable Thor Comics

Special shout out to Idris Elba as Heimdall the seer and protector of Asgard’s gateway in both Thor movies. Although, I think he’d be better as one of Thor’s battle brigand. An odd, character-type actor like Orlando Jones should play Heimdall.

Photo credit: Walt Disney Pictures & Marvel (Virtually Yours)

Kelly Stilwell of the blog Virtually Yours (click link for Kelly’s The Dark World Red Carpet Premiere post) is living the life I have been dreaming about for the last 5 years. Really, longer than that, but I didn’t know how to explain the lifestyle I wanted to lead or the job description until Tinsel & Tine. I’m so jealous that she’s figured it out!

Kelly is a full-time blogger, seemingly sponsored by Disney. She goes to all the red carpet premieres. Still has her own voice when it come to writing her posts and gets paid to do exactly what I do every day, except blogging actually cost me money.

I wrote to her to ask how she managed this feat, which everyone around me tells me is impossible. I hope she’ll have some good advice as to how I can take Tinsel & Tine to the next level. (facebook.com/kellyastilwell)

No Food in Film Moment: But I did go to the new ShakeShack across from the Regal Imax in King of Prussia and brought in a Shack Cheeseburger and Fries as Tinsel &Tine’s Cinema Sneak n Snack 🙂

T&T Lamb Score: 3 outta 5

Philly Film, Food, Events Blog