Sunday, March 9, 2014

True Detective 1x08 Promo (SEASON FINALE)

Son of Batman - Trailer




FROM WIKI

Batman learns that he has a violent, unruly pre-teen son with Talia al Ghul named Damian Wayne who is secretly being raised by Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins. When Ra's is apparently killed by the skilled assassin Deathstroke who usurps his position, Bruce must take his newly discovered son into his care and prevent him from murdering the man who has killed his grandfather.

Jason O'Mara as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Stuart Allan as Damian Wayne / Robin
Morena Baccarin as Talia al Ghul
Giancarlo Esposito as Ra's al Ghul
David McCallum as Alfred Pennyworth
Xander Berkeley as Kirk Langstrom MANBAT
Thomas Gibson as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
Sean Maher as Dick Grayson / Nightwing
Bruce Thomas as James Gordon

Justice League: War - "Now What?"

Revolution - Exposition Boulevard (Preview) (+playlist)

Marvel's Thor & Thor: Dark World



While I enjoyed these movies, they are not my favorite of the Marvel film series. But they are far from the bottom of my list. I think - maybe - these movies are less superhero movies and more Lord Of The Rings meets Vikings. More historical epic poem along the lines of Class of the Titans or Beowolf. With the attack on Asgard, the second movie almost becomes an episode of Star Wars. I would rank it above Hulk (both recent incarnations) and Fantastic Four films. I generally like all of these films more than recent DC Comics' offerings. 

I will say I find these movies visually stunning. The 2011 movie was one of my favorite in 3D. The intergalactic travel was beautiful. Really felt like you are flying though the cosmos.

Thor:
I love the way the movie introduces Hawkeye. And Clark Gregg  agent Coulsen probably earned his right to a TV series starting with this movie- solidified by work and death in the Avengers.

This movie seemed a little anti climatic from the epic hero style around these days, HOWEVER, you really felt the quality of movie form the story and actors was tremendous thanks to Kenneth Branagh. Many of the Asgardians did the movie because of Branagh and gave the script a Shakespearean treatment. Perhaps being a small midwest town as a backdrop for the big fight is small compared to New york. 

I do love the Character Loki played by Tom Hiddleston. We have a modern Iago. Someone that will never be happy. Plagued by jealously, he is full of hate. But this type would never be happy with success. I remember Michael Cain form Dark Night "Some people just want to see the world burn". Such is this Loki

Chris Hemsworth makes a great Thor. This is a tough character. He is not human. He is not truly a God. This origin story of Thor as a Earthly Hero is very good. But I feel we have seen it before. Almost like Starman with Jeff Bridges. A brilliant interstellar being that seems off guard by the newness of Earth - Especially the United States South West. Thor is ready to take the thrown - or so he thought. Hubris - so common in epic tales, right - gets the better of his judgement and Odin has to rescue the whole Asrgardian team form the world of the Frost Giants. Stripped of his powers he is a fallen god on Earth - Think Misha Collins with Muscles. But sacrificing himself to save his friends is just the things he needed to prove worthy to reclaim Mjolnir. He destroys the Destroyer (Anyone else think this is a rip off of GORT - name that movie) and then returns to Asgard, destroys the Bi Frost, and fights with Loki. All is almost lost until daddy saves them both once again. 


2011 Thor Trailer



Thor: Dark World

While the writing and acting and directing of the first movie are far superior, this movie is full of action. Apparently a lot of background on the Dark Elves and Malekith were left on the cutting room floor - or computer database these days I suppose. I hope we seem them in the DVD release. While the movie is a roller coaster of action from Svartalfheim to Asgard to Earth. But - while Malekith comes off as epically powerful and older than time itself, we don't get much more. We understand he is motivated by revenge as Asgard detroyed most of his kind 1000s of years ago. But I feel if you are not a reader of the comics you probably missed a bunch there.

Malekith from Comics v Dark World Movie

Dr Jane Foster and crew find a portal between worlds created by planetary alignment. Missing for 5 hours, she is infected by the Aether, a power Asgardians - led by Odin's father Bor (Asgardian for "life of the party") - ripped from Malikith in the prehistoric times. As Jane releases the Aether, Malekith is awakened from eternal sleep.

Odin is not pleased when Thor bring Jane to Asgard for help. The Aether is deadly and foretells an ancient prophesy. Malekith attacks Asgard, sending Algrim (as Kursed) ahead to infiltrate defenses. Protecting Jane, Frigga sacrifices herself. Kurse barely gets Malekith out of Asgard alive - suffering a severe burn on his face - once Odin and Thor catch up to scene.

This is just enough to get Loki to help revenge their mother's death. They trick Malekith to remove the Aether form Jane, but fail to destroy the evil force. Loki is mortally injured in the fight. Thor and Jane find another portal to Earth, just in time as Malekith arrives to use the convergence to spread th Aether throughout the universe.

The ensuing battle is confusing. Although once again visually stunning. Gravity and reality are both bent out of shape due to the convergence. portals between various worlds send the combatantsevery which way - fighting while out of control of various forces. Thor keeps missing Mjolnir as gravity shifts. Basically the movies best showing of string theory to date...

Thor finally sends Malekith back to Svartalfheim where his ship crushes the Accursed.


Trailer








Chris Hemsworth as Thor: The crown prince of Asgard, based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name. Director Kenneth Branagh and Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige chose Hemsworth after a back-and-forth process in which the 27-year-old actor was initially dropped from consideration and then given a second chance to read for the part. Hemsworth stated that he gained 20 pounds for the role by eating non-stop and revealed that "It wasn't until Thor that I started lifting weights, it was all pretty new to me." Regarding his take of the character, Hemsworth said, "We just kept trying to humanize it all, and keep it very real. Look into all the research about the comic books that we could, but also bring it back to 'Who is this guy as a person, and what's his relationship with people in the individual scenes?'" About approaching Thor's fighting style, he remarked, "First, we looked at the comic books and the posturing, the way [Thor] moves and fights, and a lot of his power seems to be drawn up through the ground. We talked about boxers, you know, Mike Tyson, very low to the ground and big open chest and big shoulder swings and very sort of brutal but graceful at the same time, and then as we shot stuff things became easier."

Natalie Portman as Dr. Jane Foster: A scientist and Thor's love interest. Marvel Studios stated in an announcement that the character was updated from the comics' initial portrayal for the feature adaptation. When asked why she took the role, Portman replied, "I just thought it sounded like a weird idea because Kenneth Branagh's directing it, so I was just like, 'Kenneth Branagh doing Thor is super-weird, I've gotta do it.'" Portman stated that she really wanted to do a big effects film that emphasized character, and getting to do it with Branagh was a new way of approaching it, relative to Star Wars. Regarding her preparation for the role Portman remarked, "I signed on to do it before there was a script. And Ken, who's amazing, who is so incredible, was like, 'You can really help create this character'. I got to read all of these biographies of female scientists like Rosalind Franklin who actually discovered the DNA double helix but didn't get the credit for it. The struggles they had and the way that they thought – I was like, 'What a great opportunity, in a very big movie that is going to be seen by a lot of people, to have a woman as a scientist'. She's a very serious scientist. Because in the comic she's a nurse and now they made her an astrophysicist. Really, I know it sounds silly, but it is those little things that makes girls think it's possible. It doesn't give them a [role] model of 'Oh, I just have to dress cute in movies'". Hiddleston promoting the film in London in April 2011.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki: Thor's adoptive brother and nemesis based on the deity of the same name. Hiddleston was chosen after previously working with Branagh on Ivanov and Wallander. Initially Hiddleston auditioned to play Thor but Branagh decided his talent would be better harnessed playing Loki. Hiddleston stated that "Loki's like a comic book version of Edmund in King Lear, but nastier." Hiddleston stated that he had to keep a strict diet before the start of filming because "Ken [Branagh] wants Loki to have a lean and hungry look, like Cassius in Julius Caesar. Physically, he can't be posing as Thor". Hiddleston looked at Peter O'Toole as inspiration for Loki as well explaining, "Interestingly enough, [Kenneth Branagh] said to look at Peter O'Toole in two specific films, The Lion in Winter and Lawrence of Arabia. What's interesting about ... his performance [as King Henry] is you see how damaged he is. There's a rawness [to his performance]; it's almost as if he's living with a layer of skin peeled away. He's grandiose and teary and, in a moment, by turns hilarious and then terrifying. What we wanted was that emotional volatility. It's a different acting style, it's not quite the same thing, but it's fascinating to go back and watch an actor as great as O'Toole head for those great high hills".

Idris Elba as Heimdall: The all-seeing, all-hearing Asgardian sentry of the bifröst bridge, based on the mythological deity of the same name. Elba said Branagh's involvement was a major incentive to take the role: "[Branagh] called me up personally and said, 'I know this isn't a big role, but I would really love to see you play it.' It's Kenneth Branagh. I was like, 'Definitely'". About the role Elba remarked, "I did green screen for the first time! I wouldn't like to do a whole movie of green screen, though. You kind of forget the plot a little—like being in a Broadway play and doing it over and over and forgetting your line halfway through". Elba stated he has made a four-picture commitment with Marvel Studios. Elba's casting prompted a proposed boycott by the Council of Conservative Citizens and a debate amongst comic book fans, some insisting it was wrong for a black man to play a Nordic god. In response Elba called the debate "ridiculous".

Anthony Hopkins as Odin: The ruler of Asgard, father of Thor, and adoptive father of Loki, based on the mythological deity of the same name. In an interview Hopkins stated he knew nothing of the comic. About the film he said, "It's a superhero movie, but with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in". Hopkins stated, "I'm very interested in that relationship between fathers and sons", and that, "My father's relationship with me was cold. He was a hot-blood character but to me, cold. When I was young, he expressed his disappointment because I was bad in school and all of that. He didn't mean any harm, but I felt I could never meet up to his expectations." Hopkins expressed that he found a personal resonance in the Odin role, saying, "He's a stern man. He's a man with purpose. I play the god who banishes his son from the kingdom of Asgard because he screwed up. He's a hot-headed, temperamental young man... probably a chip off of the old block but I decide he's not really ready to rule the future kingdom, so I banish him. I'm harsh and my wife complains and I say, 'That is why I'm king.' He's ruthless, take-it-or-leave-it. Women are much more forgiving; men are not so forgiving. I know in my life, my karma is, 'If you don't like it, tough, move on.' And I move on. I'm a little like Odin myself".

Christopher Eccleston as Malekith: The ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim. About Malekith's motivation, Eccleston said, "There is a kind of tragic quality to his quest. Because he’s lost his wife, he’s lost his children. He’s lost everything. And he returns for revenge. And the agent for his revenge is the Aether. If he gets hold of that, he is omnipotent." Eccleston continued, "What I thought about a great deal was revenge—there's huge amounts of revenge. One quote is: 'When you seek revenge, be sure to dig two graves.' I did a film called Revengers Tragedy where I played a guy called Vindici—from the word 'vindictive'—and he is the distillation of revenge. So, in a way, that was what I had to think of: how revenge can make you absolutely monomaniacal—though you're still trying to make it recognizably motive-led. It's just the personification of movie evil." However Taylor stated that a lot of scenes involving Malekith's backstory had to be cut from the film to make it more efficient. Eccleston revealed that he speaks an invented language for the film explaining, "The Elvish language is definitely based on European languages. I think there’s probably some Finnish in there. It does have its logic and its rhythms. It also has many syllables and it’s very difficult to do while remaining naturalistic. It’s been a particular challenge for us but hopefully it gives the film some complexity and variety." Eccleston also said the role required six hours of make-up and 45 minutes in wardrobe 

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Algrim / Kurse: A Dark Elf, and Malekith’s trusted and loyal lieutenant, who is transformed into a monstrous creature in order to destroy Thor. Akinnuoye-Agbaje described Kurse as "an amalgamation of a bull and a lava-like creature. He has very animalistic tendencies but with this insatiable and unstoppable power. As an actor, that’s one of the hardest things to embody. You have to realize you are probably the most powerful thing you could imagine. And you have to be that. You can’t pretend, so that when you face Thor, it’s real."[28] Akinnuoye-Agbaje stated the role required three hours of make-up a day and had to put on heavy duty prosthetics explaining, "The outfit weighed about 40 pounds. I’m sure there will be a certain amount of CGI but a good 80% was me in that suit."[28] About the character Akinnuoye-Agbaje said, "I suppose Algrim and Kurse would be the quintessential baddies, but in reality they are what I perceive as the scorn and the victims of the story. They are the elves who have basically lost their planet and their race to another race, the Asgardians. Here is a man/alien who places a noble objective beyond his own life and I think there is something extremely inspiring about that because he looks at the bigger picture and sees himself as a means to that end." Akinnuoye-Agbaje added, "I worked with director Alan Taylor in trying to maintain Algrim’s humanity all the way throughout Kurse’s transformation, so that even when you see Kurse the beast, you can still relate to him as being Algrim inside. And symbolically we did that by keeping the same piercing blue eyes throughout."

Stellan Skarsgård as Dr. Erik Selvig: A scientist doing research in New Mexico who encounters Thor. Skarsgård stated that he was not initially familiar with the comic book version of Thor. As to why he took the part, Skarsgård remarked, I "chose Thor because of [director] Kenneth Branagh. The script was nice and we got to rehearse and talk to the writers and do some collaborating in the process to make it fit us. So I had a very happy time on it. What I always try to do is immediately do something I just haven't done so I get variation in my life. I've made about 90 films and if I did the same thing over and over again I would be bored by now. I try to pick different films, I go and do those big ones and having done that I can usually afford to go and do some really small obscure films and experiment a little".

Colm Feore as Laufey: King of the Frost Giants and Loki's biological father, based on the mythological being of the same name, who in myth was actually Loki's mother. Feore stated it took five hours for his makeup to be applied. About his character Feore remarked, "I am the King of Frost Giants. And if you've seen any of the Frost Giants, you know that I am, of course, the Napoleon of Frost Giants. We've got some massive, fabulous guys who dwarf me and come in at around eight-and-a-half feet, nine feet. But, no. Can't you tell by the commanding presence? I am the boss". He said the Shakespearean training he shared with Hopkins and director Branagh helped keep production moving briskly, saying that "during the breaks, Tony, myself and Ken would be talking in Shakespearean shorthand about what the characters were doing, what we thought they may be like, and how we could focus our attention more intelligently. These were discussions that took no more than a few minutes between takes, but they allowed Ken, Tony and [me] to understand each other instantly without Ken taking an hour away to explain to the actors exactly what was going on. So that was enormously helpful."

Ray Stevenson as Volstagg: A member of the Warriors Three; a group of three Asgardian adventurers who are among Thor's closest comrades, known for both his hearty appetite and wide girth. Stevenson previously worked with Kenneth Branagh in the 1998 film The Theory of Flight, and with Marvel Studios as the titular character in Punisher: War Zone. Stevenson wore a fat suit for the role, stating, "I've tried the suit on, and what they've done is kind of sex him up: he's sort of slimmer but rounder.". Stevenson said, "He's got every bit of that Falstaffian verve and vigor, and a bit of a beer gut to suggest that enormous appetite, but he's not the sort of Weeble-shaped figure he is in the comics. He's Falstaff with muscles. I've got this amazing foam-injected undersuit that flexes with me."


Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis: A political science major who is Jane Foster's intern. Dennings described her character as Foster's "little helper gnome". Dennings stated that her role was expanded during the rehearsal process. Dennings explained, "She's kind of like a cute, clueless, little puppy or maybe a hamster. There wasn't much on the page for the Darcy role to begin with and I didn't even see a script before I took the job so I didn't really know who Darcy was at first. But she really evolved—she's so much fun now even. She's very Scooby-Doo if that makes sense. She's always three steps behind and reacting to what's happening with these great expressions ... She gets things wrong and doesn't care."

Rene Russo as Frigga: The wife of Odin, queen of Asgard, mother of Thor and adoptive mother of Loki, based on the mythological deity of the same name. Russo stated in March 2011 interview that she has signed on for possible sequels, joking that, "Eventually they'll kick me out, so who knows how many I'll do".

Tadanobu Asano as Hogun: A member of the Warriors Three, primarily identified by his grim demeanor and as the only member who is not an Æsir. Ray Stevenson said of Asano's character, "He doesn't speak much but when he does, everybody shuts up. But also in the healing room where everyone licks their wounds, he's the guy who just goes about his business".

Joshua Dallas as Fandral: A member of the Warriors Three, characterized as an irrepressible swashbuckler and romantic. Stuart Townsend was initially cast after Zachary Levi was forced to vacate the role due to a scheduling conflict. However, days before filming began, Townsend was replaced by Dallas citing "creative differences". Dallas said he believed that Fandral "would like to think of himself a philanderer. He would like to think of himself, I was saying, as the R. Kelly of Asgard. He's a lover, not a fighter". Dallas mentioned that Errol Flynn was an inspiration for the character stating, "He was a big inspiration for the character and for me. I watched a lot of his movies and kind of got that into my bones. I tried to bring out that little bit of Flynn-ness in it. Flynn had a lot of that boyish charm that Fandral's got...."

Jaimie Alexander as Sif: A warrior and Thor's childhood friend based on the mythological deity of the same name. Alexander was best known for her portrayal of Jessi XX on the ABC Family series Kyle XY.[47] Alexander said that she was familiar with Marvel Comics before having taken the part, having grown up with four brothers. Alexander said the part required hours a day in the gym, though training is not unfamiliar to her, explaining she was one of few girls on her Colleyville, Texas, high-school wrestling team. Alexander described her character as "one of the guys" and that, "She's a very talented, skilled warrior and can stand on her own against any villain in the film". About her relationship with Thor she stated, "She is very loyal to Thor and cares a lot about protecting him and protecting Asgard"

MORE FROM 2011 Movie
Clark Gregg reprises his role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson from Iron Man and Iron Man 2.[51] Adriana Barraza plays diner owner Isabella Alvarez and Maximiliano Hernández plays S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jasper Sitwell. Actors Joseph Gatt, Joshua Cox and Douglas Tait portray Frost Giants.[52][53] Stan Lee[54] and J. Michael Straczynski[55] have cameo appearances as pick-up truck drivers. Samuel L. Jackson has an uncredited cameo as Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., who as revealed in Iron Man is coordinating the "Avenger Initiative". Jeremy Renner has an uncredited cameo as Clint Barton.[56] Dakota Goyo and Ted Allpress play Thor and Loki, respectively, as children.

MORE FROM 2013 MOVIE

Additionally, Clive Russell plays Tyr, based on the deity of the same name. Benicio del Toro, who plays the Collector in Marvel Studios' upcoming film Guardians of the Galaxy, appears in a mid-credits scene with Ophelia Lovibond, who plays his aide. Alice Krige portrays Eir, an Asgardian physician. Jonathan Howard plays Ian Boothby, Darcy's intern. Tony Curran plays Bor, Odin's father, based on the deity of the same name. Richard Brake portrays a captain in the Einherjar. Chris O'Dowd was cast as Richard, a suitor of Jane Foster's. Chris Evans makes an uncredited cameo appearance as Loki masquerading as Captain America, while Thor co-creator Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance as a patient in a mental ward.