Kiddie Thor

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"You didn't hear this from me," says a Boston-based movie critic, "but Paramount just moved the press screening of Thor, a PG-13 film, from Tuesday, 5.3 -- or three days before the 5.6 opening -- to a 4.30 Saturday morning screening at 10 am, presumably with a packed kiddie audience. And this is Boston's only press screening, mind. My guess is that they're doing this everywhere outside New York and LA."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 22, 2011 at 2:43 PM

comment #1

THE MovieBob says ...

Not a spectacular sign, but it fits nicely with what most of the (shockingly positive) reviews out of Sydney were saying about it being the most "kid friendly" of recent superhero movies - i.e. it really is ALL about the crazy fantasy adventure stuff whereas Iron Man etc were also trying to be about "grownup" stuff a'la Dark Knight.

It would be DELIGHTFULLY ironic if the reason the marketing for this has been so mezzo-mezzo was that Marvel/Paramount etc have been following the Batman model of making/selling superheroes to nostalgiac 30somethings who want "gritty, mature" versions of stuff they loved as 8 year-olds that, when Brannagh went and delivered one that was - appropriately - for ACTUAL 8 year-olds they didn't know what to do with it.

Posted by THE MovieBob at April 22, 2011 3:07 PM

comment #2

George Prager says ...

To MovieBob, this is kind of like the moment when he realized the Playmate of the Month in the magazine he just bought was younger than him.

Posted by George Prager at April 22, 2011 3:16 PM

comment #3

LexG says ...

May 6 is all about SOMETHING BORROWED, which I'll be seeing two or three times before I get to THOR.

What are you guys, 12?

Posted by LexG at April 22, 2011 3:37 PM

comment #4

Rashad says ...

Are you a woman?

Posted by Rashad at April 22, 2011 3:57 PM

comment #5

York "Budd" Durden says ...

I'm sold on Thor so long as Clark Gregg shows his FEET.

Posted by York "Budd" Durden at April 22, 2011 4:02 PM

comment #6

Krillian says ...

Bout time some superhero movies are kid-friendly. Besides the Fantastic Four.

Posted by Krillian at April 22, 2011 5:05 PM

comment #7

The Hey says ...

The screening is available on Gofobo so the theater will be full of families.

Posted by The Hey at April 22, 2011 5:47 PM

comment #8

Ray DeRousse says ...

Why even show this thing to critics at all? It's like opening a Thundercats movie at Cannes.

Posted by Ray DeRousse at April 22, 2011 5:54 PM

comment #9

AlexG says ...

They're doing the same thing in Chicago too. At first we heard it was going to be a May 3 screening then we got hit with a Saturday morning screening too

Posted by AlexG at April 22, 2011 5:56 PM

comment #10

Pinko Punko says ...

Speed Racer (not a super hero), was extremely kid friendly- an actual crazy, fun kids movie, and most critics didn't get it.

Posted by Pinko Punko at April 22, 2011 6:21 PM

comment #11

Kakihara says ...

Speed Racer was fun if you think tentpole movies should be directed by Tarkovsky.

Posted by Kakihara at April 22, 2011 9:15 PM

comment #12

reverent and free says ...

Superman Returns was pretty innocent. Certainly it was the only superhero film in recent memory in which the superhero doesn't commit a single act of violence in the entire film.

Posted by reverent and free at April 22, 2011 11:15 PM

comment #13

Wiggumx says ...

You SERIOUSLY want to see the rom-com chick-flick directed by the guy who did "The Animal" two or three times before you see Kenneth Branagh's new movie?

Unhinged.

Posted by Wiggumx at April 22, 2011 11:55 PM

comment #14

Sam Cleveland says ...

Guys, I've seen it twice and I can confirm right now:

Thor is the best pure blockbuster since T2 and 100 per cent deserves the 'token blockbuster' best picture slot.

Big, clean, confident storytelling throughout (including the heavy lifting of communicating an entirely new mythology).

The dialogue never falters; the shape of the story itself delivers plenty of switcheroos and confounded expectations.

You're basically over Thor's shoulder for the whole ride and as HE learns his lessons about right and wrong etc, YOU learn them as well. Real Swiss watch stuff in a few places.

Hemsworth is essentially perfect as Thor; it's just such a well-written part. Easily the best 'arc' of any comic book movie character I can think (which is a lot).

Plus, the character Thor serves as a model of chivalrous manhood for us all. what a concept - a heroic hero!

The romance aspect - the dynamic, the pairing of a swaggering god and smart, shy girl - is very cute and miles ahead of any contemporary rom-com.

it's just an incredibly fun, easy watch. the knock-out visuals are, ironically, the LEAST of its many virtues.

The only reason people aren't doing backflips worldwide is that we're distracted by 20 million other media streams and maybe can't spot popcorn perfection when it finally does show up.

This is a major coup for Branagh. I still don't get how he pulled it off.

THOR POWER IS SURE TO COME A-RUNNIN' TO YOU.

Posted by Sam Cleveland at April 23, 2011 12:21 AM

comment #15

Sam Cleveland says ...

PS - I've given this some thought and I really mean what I say.

Thor is like Excalibur by way of Back to the Future.

Jeez I hope it connects in the US.

FF5 will beat it here for sure... big queues of Aussie red-staters (we'd call them 'bogans') for FF5 on opening night.

A solid, but not exceptional, turnout for Thor.

Posted by Sam Cleveland at April 23, 2011 12:25 AM

comment #16

Bob Violence says ...

Speed Racer was fun if you think tentpole movies should be directed by Tarkovsky.

you have never watched Speed Racer and/or Tarkovsky

Posted by Bob Violence at April 23, 2011 2:50 AM

comment #17

Kakihara says ...

Bob: Yeah, I did, and I'm bored by both. Though at least Tarkovsky's better at pointless exposition than the Wachowskis.

Posted by Kakihara at April 23, 2011 4:50 AM

comment #18

Tad Whatever says ...

"Thor is the best pure blockbuster since T2 and 100 per cent deserves the 'token blockbuster' best picture slot."

I'm going to make a concerted effort to remember this Oscar "prediction" so that eight months from now, I can have a good laugh.

Posted by Tad Whatever at April 23, 2011 9:28 AM

comment #19

Sam Cleveland says ...

Tad can you 'strongly agree' with the following statements:

A) i have seen thor
B) i know what i'm talking about

I'm a big 'YES' to both and I expect you're a big double-barrel 'NO'.

enjoy whatever 'laughs' you can wring from life, friend.

a ticket to Thor is a good place to start.

Posted by Sam Cleveland at April 23, 2011 6:48 PM

comment #20

MechanicalShark says ...

No, clearly, May 6th is about THE BEAVER. I may think Gibson is a total jackass in real life, but he's a terrific actor, and so I will probably see it.

Posted by MechanicalShark at April 25, 2011 11:29 PM

comment #21

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comment #22