To Fight The Horde, Sing And Cry: Valhalla, I Am Coming

By TK | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (62)

Some of us are going to take back some of the shit we’ve said.

So, here’s the trailer for Thor, Marvel Entertainment’s big screen adaptation of the comic book character. Most of us know the story — God of Thunder, lives on Asgard, flies, strong as hell, lightning bolts, big fuckin’ hammer, eventually joins The Avengers. The film, starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom HIddlesworth, Anthony Hopkins, and a million others, is directed by Kenneth Brannagh. We’ve seen a few images, and we’ve been skeptical. We’ve been curious how the adaptation would translate — Thor is something of the outlier with The Avengers. The only character that isn’t science-based… or even Earth-based for that matter.

And then the trailer, which premiered at Comic-Con, got leaked. And it’s a decent copy, too. And you know what?

It looks pretty goddamn good.

Yeah. Hemsworth’s got the look pretty much nailed. Hopkins looks kind of ridiculous, but he’s got the gravitas to carry it. Hiddlesworth looks like the malevolent schemer that Loki is. The trailer doesn’t actually show much action, other than a mess of ‘splosions, a brief shot of a fight between Thor and Loki, and a nice long shot of Asgard.

Oh, and Destroyer. You know, the Odin-forged suit of armor that renders its user invulnerable, comes with massive power, and slowly corrupts the mind of its occupant unless they’re strong enough. That’s the money shot at the end.

Also, it’s nice to see Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulsen get more screen time than he did in either Iron Man movie (it was recently confirmed that Samuel Jackson’s Nick Fury would not show up in Thor, and that Coulsen would be the main SHIELD representative).

Finally, the goofy Asgardian dialogue isn’t too bad. It will always feel a little out of place, but it works here.

So there you have it. The God of Thunder. I’m digging it.

(update: New video courtesy of Comic Book Resources)

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Comments

Verily, this movie shall kick ass.

Posted by: henchman for hire at July 29, 2010 8:09 PM

That was the longest trailer ever! Looks good, though.

Posted by: Laura at July 29, 2010 8:10 PM

Hm. Damn.

Posted by: Meander at July 29, 2010 8:20 PM

Ummm...FUCK YES!

Posted by: superasente at July 29, 2010 8:21 PM

Looks like they're going Asgard as alien planet/dimension, which is a fair interpretation. Not seeing any Donald Blake, though.

Posted by: Meander at July 29, 2010 8:21 PM

Of all the Avengers characters, I've always thought that Thor would be the hardest to integrate because he's Old World Magic mixed into a New World Science-based universe. It's easier to accept the mix in comic books -- what is Superman but a god?

I think Branagh and his writers got it right though. Fingers crossed they do pull it off.

Posted by: Fredo at July 29, 2010 8:23 PM

OK, I'm in. The look that Thor gives Gregg totally sells it for me. "I'm a fucking God, you piss-ant."
And Asgard looks a little silly, EXACTLY like it looks in the comics. I'm pretty stoked.

Posted by: Dave at July 29, 2010 8:24 PM

And that got yanked quickly!

Posted by: Fredo at July 29, 2010 8:32 PM

Lovely Chris Hemsworth
Your arms are unparalleled
In this universe

Posted by: general rhubarb at July 29, 2010 8:37 PM

Try it now, Fredo.

Posted by: TK at July 29, 2010 8:39 PM

Love your use of the lyric in the title of this post, TK. I raise a scotch to your health.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at July 29, 2010 8:49 PM

I am SO in. I might also be into climbing Chris Hemsworth like a sexy, sexy tree. Wooohoo, shirtlessness!

Posted by: figgy at July 29, 2010 8:56 PM

Destroyer looks awesome!

Posted by: John W at July 29, 2010 9:01 PM

I'm there.

Also, I heartily concur with figgy.

Posted by: lizzieborden at July 29, 2010 9:05 PM

OK, so I've seen the movie now.
Thanks for saving me the money!

Posted by: Sofía at July 29, 2010 9:09 PM

Hmm. Not impressed.. seems.. camp.

I'll stick to Valhalla Rising.

Posted by: The Only New Zealander at July 29, 2010 9:11 PM

Nice, very nice. I question the non-inclusion of Sam Jackon's Nick Fury. I mean why the hell not, if he's going to be in the other ones. It gives them all a nice common thread and sense that we are in the same continuity.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at July 29, 2010 9:19 PM

Oh I did have to stop watching, otherwise I would've seen the whole damn movie. Already saw a lot. But...if it's coming out next year it's bound to get changed a lot. Hopefully the CGI will look less shiny.

Posted by: figgy at July 29, 2010 9:44 PM

Nine months! That's a full term pregnancy!?! Ah hell. The distrction movies between The Expendables and this better be damn good.

Posted by: Four Eyes at July 29, 2010 9:45 PM

ok, that looked and sounded cool. fine. but ask yourself, when does any film need a 4 minute trailer?

Posted by: idleprimate at July 29, 2010 10:12 PM

By the Midgard Serpent, the louts at Paramount have removed the clip hence! A pox upon their nether regions!

Posted by: The Wanderer at July 29, 2010 10:33 PM

when it's a movie dat everyone has been skeptical bout.

i for one have fully converted after dat 4 minutes of pure ossomness.

"Where you're from? Afghanistan? Chechnya?" Hahaha.

May 2011 cud not come sooner.

Posted by: haplo at July 29, 2010 10:41 PM

I had no idea what was really going on, but it looked awesome. I'm in!

Posted by: ForbiddenDonut at July 29, 2010 10:51 PM

It's a lot more interesting to make the Destroyer a part of this movie than the stone men from Saturn. Wow.

And it doesn't appear to be corny, which is a pretty deft feat.

Posted by: hater from Siloam Springs at July 29, 2010 10:57 PM

I thought Thor didn't actually fly...didn't he throw his hammer and kind of trail behind it? Or am I lost?

Posted by: DeistBrawler at July 29, 2010 11:20 PM

Meh.

Posted by: Craig at July 29, 2010 11:36 PM

Pass.

Posted by: Chickaboom at July 29, 2010 11:52 PM

oh.my.god.

FUN!!

Things exploded! Campy dialog! hunky men! Comic books! what more do you want from a summer (?) movie?

me? I can't wait.

Posted by: diane at July 30, 2010 1:09 AM

Okay, caught the trailer elsewhere (great thing about the Internets - the Toobz go every which away). YES! I shall see this movie.

Posted by: The Wanderer at July 30, 2010 1:14 AM

I feel like I've seen the whole movie now, albeit in the tiniest frame of any internet video player I've ever come across.

Was that my secret girlfriend Kat Dennings in there?

Posted by: Jim at July 30, 2010 1:18 AM

Brannagh just realised he could make a Shakespearean film set in the present day, peppered with moneyshot Baysplosions.

Clever boy.

Posted by: Somnopolis at July 30, 2010 3:02 AM

Was that my secret girlfriend Kat Dennings in there?

Posted by: Jim at July 30, 2010 1:18 AM

Yes, but I saw her first.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at July 30, 2010 3:21 AM

Natalie Portman?

NATALIE PORTMAN?!

WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING IN A COMICS CONTINUUM MOVIE?!

Posted by: LordNinja at July 30, 2010 3:43 AM

I like the more mercenary approach to Thor. He's not all righteous and shit.

Posted by: Lucas at July 30, 2010 4:45 AM

ok, i'm halfway through the trailer and i had to stop it to call bullpuckey. so, we have thor renditioned or something, i guess as a suspected terrorist, but he is disdainful and not not chatty. fine, not a great opening, but in line with the iron man, g.i. joe military type superhero movies. but then we jump the shark, and by jump the shark, i mean become incontinent when hopkins comes on as Odin giving a grave judgment about Thor not being able to keep the peace.

Now, the Norse pantheon were created by vikings. they represent war and battle and pillaging. they were tidied up at the edges to have some chivalry, a later nicety from the british but still supposed to be warlike, just for the good. basic story for man is fight good, go to heaven, heaven is fighting food every day and getting drunk and wenching every night.

so thor sitting around for interrogation and odin making farty ponderous speeches about the importance of peace is just a big ugly craptacular. odin doesnt give thor crap for breaking the peace. not in any world. he would be spilling ale and saying, "good on you boy, and hey, sodomize somebody while your taking the enemy down.

just sayin

Posted by: idleprimate at July 30, 2010 4:58 AM

on the upside, buddy sells thor. but i hate this mythology that all incumbent and dying empires try to create: oh, we are weary, and we want peace, we only get all warlike and bombfuckery to try and extend our noble purpose.

we actually live with a dying warmongering empire, that pretends it represents peace. it would be nice to have some myths alive that just celebrate the shit out conquering, and battle for the sake of battle, but nope, we get sexy gay Thor, rebelling against the hard won peace, cuz, like, really, all we want is peace, that's why we forge all the armour and weapons. we just want that peace that includes us as the victor of all spoils. C'mon, can't you just get on board?

Posted by: idleprimate at July 30, 2010 5:07 AM

who needs honesty in the news or stories.

Posted by: idleprimate at July 30, 2010 5:10 AM

Hey, great profile! How long have you been single? No sex for a year??!! wow!! don't think I can make that!! especially when it comes so easy to hook up with some hot models and sexy chicks on ~~ ----Sugarmommamatch.c o m ----- ~~ the place you really should not miss out!! just think about how sensual and beautiful they are!! hwee...

Posted by: ada at July 30, 2010 5:22 AM

and to extend the metaphor, if you oppose thor, you oppose peace and democracy. if you are against us you are against everything nice and peachy and apple pie-y and baby bottom-y. therefore we have to smite the shit out of you. so sorry, but that is how it goes. By the way, if you are going to be anit-peace and we have to come knocking with way bigger guns than you have, and bombs bigger than your goats, we'd like you to give up your oil to the greater democratic peace in America too.

ahh, now that we have smote, we want you to watch movies where our father is depicted as warm fuzzy fathery hopkins odin saying peace is what is most important. suck that democracy up your tailpipe mofo.

Posted by: idleprimate at July 30, 2010 5:28 AM

Was that my secret girlfriend Kat Dennings in there?
Posted by: Jim at July 30, 2010 1:18 AM
Yes, but I saw her first.
Posted by: Uriah Creep at July 30, 2010 3:21 AM

Hello. My name is Vermillion. That is TK.

We would like to have a word with you about Ms. Dennings and any paramours she might or might not have.

That word is "pain".

Posted by: Vermillion at July 30, 2010 7:06 AM

idleprimate, maybe you should get a little more sleep in before posting? Becasue you are kinda going off the deep end there. Just sayin'.

Posted by: Vermillion at July 30, 2010 7:10 AM

Vermillion, you take the one on the left, I'll take the one on the right.

After that... to the death.

Posted by: TK at July 30, 2010 8:31 AM

Where's Sarah Jessica Parker as Beta Ray Bill?

Posted by: sars at July 30, 2010 9:06 AM

America is a warmonger and steals everyone's oil and so does thor and odin raves about peace and america is evil because it is a warmonger and never did anything good for anyone anywhere and is a dying empire and if you don't like it you don't like thor and that is b.s. because countries like cuba are where it's really at and where we can find true peace and happiness and america just tries to keep it down and they have really great health care and freedom of speech unlike america where you never hear what the real news is.

Posted by: Chewster at July 30, 2010 9:15 AM

Eh, I thought that extended trailer was boring. Cheesy dialogue, not a lot of action, the old “let me take in this stranger” motif, etc. The big fiery fetish model at the end was kind of cool, but consider me underwhelmed. Interesting accent choice for Thor, though, makes me totally believe he’s not from Earth.

Posted by: Harry Coverts at July 30, 2010 10:21 AM

I'm... not convinced yet. I mean, unless it gets staggeringly bad reviews I'll be there, because Thor is my favorite comic book character ever. But a lot of that looked kind of cheesy, and as we've already discussed, Loki does NOT fight Thor himself. (At least, it looked like that's what he was doing.)

And getting even more comic book geek, the Destroyer generally shoots beams of energy from his hands to deal with gnats. When he shoots beams from his face? That's when he wipes a continent off the face of the earth.

Posted by: Todd at July 30, 2010 10:40 AM

I guess this looks good if you get excited about yet another movie based on a comic book, but to me it just looks like a big, overblown mess.

Posted by: jimbob at July 30, 2010 11:37 AM

Gotta say, not digging the whole peaceful Odin thing. On one hand, I've never read the comic book, so the portrayal might be faithful to that.

On the other hand, the mythological Odin went by names like "war-merry," "god of battle," "The one in gaping frenzy," "Smith of Battle," and "Father of Victory/War Father." So, yeah.

Also "Lord of the undead" and "Völsi" (lingam/phallus.) No, really.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_names_of_Odin

Posted by: Royalewithcheese at July 30, 2010 1:05 PM

Is it weird that the only thing that provoked any excitement was the Stark mention? And the pecs, of course. Otherwise, I cannot get excited for this one. Regardless, I'll be there opening night.

God of Pecs, take me away.

Posted by: sillytwoshoes at July 30, 2010 3:11 PM

Looks boring.

Posted by: kayla at July 30, 2010 3:24 PM

But is the hammer his penis?

Posted by: Me at July 30, 2010 3:32 PM

I agree with Kayla. Looks boring. And predictable. And hokey. Ugh.

Posted by: Jarsh at July 30, 2010 5:41 PM

A Thor Internet classic:

http://www.forkparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/xaNzA.gif

Posted by: Odin's Beard at July 31, 2010 8:07 AM

Damn Sif looks amazingly hot. Screw Natalie Portman I want Sif to be the main female character

Posted by: YesPlease at July 31, 2010 10:11 AM

Looks AWESOME.

Somehow I completely missed any and all news that the Destroyer would be in this film, so that was a welcome shock in seeing the badass metal giant show up on film.

Posted by: gordo at July 31, 2010 11:34 AM

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Posted by: alice at July 31, 2010 12:10 PM

neat

no complaints

Posted by: grendel at July 31, 2010 4:54 PM

Meh, I'm underwhelmed.

Posted by: tallulahc at July 31, 2010 5:43 PM

I am convinced that this movie is going to be pretty great.

Posted by: Sassafrass Green at July 31, 2010 10:47 PM

trailer was decent til the end. Then came the Destroyer and the sh8+ turned gold. the destroyer is in the mix! Damn! I am down!

Posted by: Mr. West at August 1, 2010 5:31 AM

Good Godtopus this looks AWFUL.

And the most annoying thing about it;

This sucks. It will suck. I do not believe this can be good.

So American Gods will now never, ever be made.

*sigh*

I'm going to go and be sad

Posted by: Nadine at August 1, 2010 8:10 AM

@idleprimate: Thor's origin was that he was banished from Asgard for arrogance by Odin. The bits of the origin they show in the film are practically spot-on for the original, barring one or two changes they always have to make for the switch from the page to the screen.

And for the record, Thor has ALWAYS been my favorite Marvel here. This is THE comic book film I've always waited for. And all the fanboy bait's got me sold. The Destroyer Armor! The Warriors Three! Sif! The helmet!! JOY!!!

Posted by: Danny from Puerto Rico at August 1, 2010 4:25 PM

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To Fight The Horde, Sing And Cry: Valhalla, I Am Coming

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