//Okay so evidently I’m the only person on my dashboard who derived even minimal pleasure from seeing these stills. Since this blog is going to keep on trucking, and is going to make an effort (likely a MINIMAL one) to incorporate SOME canon MCU content in the future, I feel like I need to make a few quick observations of the plethora of new media circling Tumblr.
1) I was braced for this since the director, Taika Waititi, expressly said he was going to make this film openly farcical and silly, and base it in a 1980′s pseudo-Viking aesthetic. Braced, but not happy, but I suppose it didn’t come as much of a shock to me for that reason.
2) Yes, it’s bad. And it’s bad on many levels. And I can understand how it would be not only bad media, but offensive media, to practicing Norse pagans. I appreciate this, and am sorry for how it is causing you pain. I am still looking for a silver lining, perhaps because I see the Thor films as very loose adaptations of Norse religions, just as I see Supernatural’s angels as very loose adaptations of Abrahamic religions.
3) The first still that I saw was of Loki in his new costume, and frankly, I was just so happy to have new media of the character who defines something deeply personal and special to me, that I was willing to overlook the problems of his costume. In fairness, there are good and bad things about it. The good things: it accentuates his slenderness and underscores that he is a wit more than he is a brute warrior. Unlike other people, as an artist and designer I also find the yellow lining of the cape to be an interesting color scheme, and I find the silhouette of the costume menacing but in a mellower sense, which I appreciate because I think that it highlights Loki’s character arc, and the growth of his psyche past the traumatized, forced menace of Avengers Assemble, and even further past the still-raw edged sharpness of The Dark World. The horn motif, which from a distance looks like a “V,” on his chest, is also an interesting nod to the motif we see in the newer comics, such as on Kid!Loki’s helm; I’m neutral about it. The other colors seem a bit egregious, in keeping with the acid bright tones of the rest of the set and character designs. The actual fabric material seems like a foolish choice. His hair and gloves however I find flawless. The biggest transgression that I can note here is that the costume strays extremely far from attire that is rooted in historical accuracy.
4) I am mostly in this for Loki at this point, so I am gladdened to see him looking smugly content in the photograph. Has anyone stopped to acknowledge that? I don’t think so, and it’s important. Loki is obviously in control of the situation pictured above. What he’s doing might not be savory, and it might lead to further convolutions of justice that in the end bite him in the ass. But right then and there, there’s a moment when he’s at the top of his game of deceit, and he’s pleased with events that are unfurling. I will take anything and everything that makes this ravaged and traumatized person happy. Even if it’s for just a moment.
5) Hela’s design is a travesty, but I’m frankly glad it’s not sexualized. The black paint on her eyes is a bit egregious. I was hoping to see something more like Viking war or funerary face paint. I’m pretty sure the character is meant to be a parody of the deity she represents, which may suit general audiences, but is highly unfortunate.
6) Thor’s short hair is an incomprehensibly stupid choice. It might be my own personal highest complaint. Thor’s golden mane of hair is so much of who he is, a ferociously loving lion of a man. Bad bad decision. I’m thinking however that it’s going to be the result of some sort of humorous plot twist; someone suggested Loki pranked him into losing it, which given Loki’s history with Sif’s hair seems appropriate. Let’s hope.
7) I am very concerned about Jeff Goldblum’s character and costume (who is he even playing?), as well as Valkyrie’s. Especially Valkyrie’s. If we’re making Valkyrie into the new chief love interest, it’s a bit abrupt given how much film time (across three films: Thor, The Dark World, and Age of Ultron) Jane Foster was granted, and how Sif is still pining away, but I’m up for it, if she’s treated well as a character. I’m not entirely optimistic.
8) I don’t know if anyone has considered this, but a good deal of these scenes could have been taken from a kind of crack dream fantasy scape conjured by Dr. Strange, since we’ve already seen a teaser from the end of that film that Strange and Loki are going to have a run-in. Considering the extremely…well, NORMAL….appearance of some of the “New York” filming in Australia, with Thor in the hoodie and Loki in the black suit, I would be willing to bet that this early in the game the media managers are deliberately throwing our expectations. That doesn’t mean I think that the film isn’t going to be overly colorful (cinematographically speaking), silly and flippant. But it might not be AS BAD as it currently looks.
9) Overall I can handle the bizarre tone of this installment as long as it doesn’t commit crimes of representation against disenfranchised viewers (racism, ableism, homophobia, misogyny and sexism, and the like). Of course, what I’ve seen already is not promising. But we can’t be sure yet, so what I’m concerned most about right now is that the humor and the buddy film element are going to backpedal character development between Thor and Loki and compromise the integrity of the worldbuilding we’ve already seen.
10 If the wrongdoings in #9 are NOT committed…then, this is not something I usually say, since I am a huge media critique person, but….let people just enjoy themselves with this movie. Please. Don’t make them feel stupid for looking for a silver lining in this mess. You’re probably right, and they’re probably wrong. But let them have hope.
