Thor 2

[clevermanka]

Oh My God So Good

I'm prepping a Tumblr collection of spoileriffic posts for later this week because FUCK YEAH I CAN GET BACK ON TUMBLR NOW but in the meantime if anyone wants to talk Thor 2 in the comments, feel free.

Comments

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

OH MAH GAWD IT WAS SO AWESOME I EXPLODED AND DIED

I seriously only have one tiny gripe with it, and it's that I think Sif gets jipped as a character with the whole thing where she's supposed to be all schmoobly over Thor now, but they don't even take 5 minutes to say why, it's just there, and I'm like really, she can't just be awesome in her own right? Bah.

Darcy got to be even much more awesome in this one, and I LOVED it. She was fantastic.

And then of course, there are ALL THE FEELS, because this movie played with my emotions like an accordion, but still, I don't think I've ever laughed more during an action movie, because the funny parts and bits were just so damn good. When Chris Evans had his cameo, I nearly fell out of my seat laughing. Chris Evans playing Loki pretending to be Captain America was one of the best and funniest things I have ever seen. That boy is an amazing actor.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oh, bb, please please please don't use the term "gypped" in any spelling. It's one of those hidden racist terms (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gypped). I didn't know about it until a few years ago, myself.

I agree with you about Sif, too, but I'm not sure what they could have done without making the movie way too long. TBH, I spent the entire movie (and a lot of the time since the first movie) selfishly hoping Jane would meet her demise because THOR + SIF 4EVER. mckitterick pointed out to me, though, that it's really only a matter of (very short) time before Jane is gone from completely natural causes and my OTP can be together for thousands of years..

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

Yikes, I did not know that - thank you for that info! I will refrain from using that in the future.

I don't know what they could've done either, but at the end of Thor 1, obviously Thor's gone through all this massive character development, and it's obvious that Sif cares about him as her friend and is sorry that he's sad. So I can totally see where she could develop different kinds of feelings for him because he's changed and grown as a person, but we just don't get a chance to see any of that. She should totally have had more of a chance to get some character development and angst and stuff - I like her a lot too. MORE SIF.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You're welcome about the word issue. I was horrified when I found out, too.

She should totally have had more of a chance to get some character development and angst and stuff

I don't think we got insight into any of the characters except Thor and Loki, though. Shit, Hogun doesn't even get to participate in the plot of the movie! I suppose we got a bit more exposure to Odin's motivations, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing since it meant we now understand he's an even bigger egocentric jerk than we thought.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

I know! I guess the actor that plays Hogun has a lot of other projects too, though, so maybe it was more that he wasn't available. :/

Darcy got a decent amount of screen time, but it does convey that what you see is what you get. She's confident, smart, a bit quirky, and can figure out how to handle pretty much anything. She's an awesome character, she knows who she is, and she doesn't really need any life-changing angst to make her more interesting.

Frigga got a bit of development, and then they killed her. :(

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

maybe it was more that he wasn't available.

Yeah, that was my theory, too.

Frigga got a bit of development, and then they killed her

Yeah, well, it's a Joss Whedon thing. He's a fucking one-trick pony when it comes to emotional manipulation so I expect someone to die in everything he does. YOU ARE PREDICTABLE, JOSS. AND THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. So I wasn't surprised at all when she died. Because who else was he going to kill? And also, it was key to Loki's endgame that she was removed from the picture, so killing her really did serve the plot.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

Killing her did serve the plot, and I'll admit to being emotionally traumatized by her death and funeral and how it affected Thor and Loki. It did have a LOT of impact, and it wasn't just a dramatic movie death solely for the sake of emotional manipulation.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, even in the middle of the movie I had a moment of "Oh, well done, Whedon, for not killing someone just for the hell of it."

Edit: I'm gonna admit straight-up that I have a hate-on for Whedon.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

I understand and respect your hate-on. He does things that I really enjoy, and things that I really dislike.

Did a bit of checking though, and while it looks like Joss did some editing/consulting on a few scenes, he wasn't primarily involved with either writing or directing it. The actual director is some guy named Alan Taylor, who's done a lot of television directing.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I knew he didn't direct Thor 2. I was super impressed with this Alan Taylor, too. When I found out Branagh wasn't directing the sequel, I admit I was super nervous.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

Okay - I was just confused because I thought maybe Joss had more to do with Thor 2 than I originally thought.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oh!!! No, sorry, in my admittedly massive Joss paranoia I just assume somebody awesome is going to die in anything he remotely touches. =D

I should probably get over it, already.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

It's not completely paranoid - one of the articles I found said that Marvel was keeping him updated with all of the individual movies because of him being in charge of Avengers 2. So he does have access to everybody else's stuff.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I didn't meant to cause you horror and rage.

Here are some pictures of Martin Freeman flipping off many things on the set of The Hobbit. (http://www.buzzfeed.com/kimberleydadds/the-21-most-glorious-photos-of-bilbo-baggins-giving-the-fing?sub=2698342_1859450) Hopefully that will make you feel better.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

HIS FACE.

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

this link was awesome!

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

I thought:

* Uh, she's goddess-like. All it takes is a sword to the side? I'd think a beheading or something would be needed to take an Asgardian out.

* I thought she should have lived but Loki was told she died in order to manipulate him to work with Thor, basically turning Loki's manipulation from Thor 1 back at him.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Asgardians are god-like, but so are the elves. She was fighting against a stronger (and probably better trained) opponent. So they're stronger and tougher, but I think a sword through your abdomen is going to kill anyone. Look how that little pigsticker Loki used on Thor in Avengers seriously hurt him.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

I read a comment last night that she was killed off because Renee Russo wanted out of the franchise, not sure if that's true or not.

I was also wondering why she didn't use more magic.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Well, if you want to get REALLY meta (and disregarding things like the actress wanted out), Frigga is a prophet. She knows the future, and knew she was going to die, and she only had to postpone Malekith just long enough for Thor to arrive.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, good point!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Frigga's funeral scene *choke*.. I was distraught that Loki didn't get released to be there, although that completely built up the rage and was fabulous.

I, too, wanted PadmeJane gone because I'm sick of seeing her.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

was distraught that Loki didn't get released to be there

I KNOW! I thought the same thing?

Why all the hate for Jane? I want her out of the way to make room for my beloved SIF, but it's nothing personal against Jane. As a character, I think she's pretty awesome.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

No, there's no hate for Jane, I'm just done with seeing Natalie Portman all over the place. I don't feel that she's that strong of an actress
(Hence the Padme reference)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh. Got it.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

I was thinking the same thing, or they could have projected it to him but he couldn't BE there be there.

I loved how they conceived the funeral, the thought in my head is that it was like she was being set in the sky as a new constellation.

I was also thinking, "Yeah, if that could be done when I die I'd go for it."

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I loved it. Also HEIMDALL !!!! I HEART HIM.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It was SO GOOD to see him get more screen time because YES. He's such a complex and fascinating character.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

He is all that and also HAWT!

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

SO hot and intriguing, I agree!!

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen it yet but BRING ON THE SLEIPNIR JOKES AGAIN ERRBODY

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You know I'll pass along to you any that I see.

XOXO

[theslice.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of this ^^^

They moved kinda quickly in showing that Loki glamoured himself as the other dude tot hook up with the search party that went back to Asgard and I didn't catch it my first viewing. Yes, I've seen it more than once already. It's quite good, yes.

I did have a nit (other than the neglected Sif time) as to where the heck Odin was when Loki!Odin was rapping with Thor at the end. bountifulpots said he was busy taking an Odindump. Fair enough.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

Some little thoughts that I haven't said already in replying to comments:

* Man, they really did some things for the fans this time. Darcy. Shirtless Thor (WHY NO SHIRTLESS LOKI, WHY?). Loki with his disheveled curls. The almost fight/make up/kiss already in the boat-ship. More Darcy.

* I was wondering at the end if Odin is in on Loki being back, if Loki jumped on the throne while Odin was off doing Odin things, or if Loki overpowered him (though surprise?) and Odin's in the dungeons or something.

* I really liked the aether effects, especially as it's channeled out of Jane. I did not like Thor's sometimes ok, sometimes wigtastic hair.

* I was the only person in the theatre who laughed in recognition of the Collector. My friend and I were the only people who stayed through the second credits. I think I need to find a gif of the bounding beastie.

* My friend I saw it with mentioned how the prosthetics used for the Dark Elves meant they lost nuanced facial expressions which them makes it hard to really connect with the characters. Or even really care about them.

* On that note, I was all "Ho hum, bad guys they have to fight." I did like how the alignment of the Nine Realms was conceived with them popping in and out of places, but the inevitable show down was just there. But I was thinking of how the Dark Elves could have been played in a way that was more . . . sympathetic. From what I got, for the film universe, they were around first, the light (and everyone else showed up) and the elves have been trying to get back to what they had before. I felt there could have been a wishful sadness yet ruthlessness that could have been used for them. Basically a more identifiable villain, so though you're sad to see them defeated there's also a smidge of understanding of and identification with the why of their actions even if they were quite nasty.

* I just realized what the masked elves reminded me of: Teletubbies.

I'm sure I'll have more at some point.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Odin is totally languishing in some hellhole somewhere. TOTALLY.

Jane was the only person with decent hair. I didn't even like Sif's (pull it back already you're fighting for godssake) or Frigga's (oh honey, those side puffs are way too much).

BOUNCING BEASTIE FOR THE WIN. I want Avengers 2 to have a bit about them capturing it and keeping it for a pet in the basement of Stark Tower.

I agree about the Dark Elves. I really wanted them to be more sympathetic (rather along the likes of Khan in Star Trek). Oh, and thanks so much for the Teletubbies comment. Now I can't unsee it.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

I knew I was dooming you with the Teletubbies comment.

*sings the doom song*