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On Sunday October 29th, Topa Mountain Winery hosted the 10th Annual Concert Fundraiser for local nonprofit, Safety Harbor Kids (Shk) to support music education programs for orphans, foster and homeless children.

The event, sponsored by Ventura Land Rover Jaguar and Maserati of Bakersfield, was emceed by actor/comedian Hal Sparks and featured music by Chicago co-founder and drummer Danny Seraphine, Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer, Jeff Beck bassist, Phil Chen, singer Tony Grant of Az Yet and Shk Music Director and band leader, Edward Roth.

The evening began with a special performance by Italian actress/singer, Maria Elena Infantino whose infectious personality and song got people out of their seats to dance. Then, as the sun set creating an Ojai “pink moment”, American Idol top four finalist Jessica Meuse took to the stage to keep the crowd going for the All Star Band to follow.

Enter The All Star Band with Danny,...

Don’t go into hibernation yet, all you Marvel movie maniacs! Face front, because for the first time we’ll take another trip into the multi-connected film universe begun way back in 2008 (can it really be a decade next May). Now, this past spring we took another joyride through the cosmos in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2. Then, just a couple of months later, the web-slinger headlined his first solo (he did get some mentoring from Iron Man) outing (a team-up between Marvel Studios and Sony) in the entertaining Spider-man: Homecoming. So, is this new flick another big many-hero slugfest? Yes, a bit, as was with Captain America: Civil War, but just one hero’s name precedes the colon, the mighty Thor. He’s overdue since it’s been over four years since Thor: The Dark World. During that time he helped saved the Earth once more as a...

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is undoubtedly the talk of the town following last night’s magnificent, plot-ridden trailer, but there’s another film teetering on the edge of Disney’s production line.

Its name? Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel and Taika Waititi’s star-studded threequel that has so far been championed as a “fun, hilarious” addition to the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe. Critics have also spent the past 24 hours gushing about Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, a badass mercenary operating on Sakaar who supposedly comes very close to stealing the show from Loki and Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder, the warring stepsons of Odin.

And though Ragnarok has angled Thor vs. Hulk as the undisputed main event – the fight of the century, if you will – Thompson’s Valkyrie is also poised to clash with Loki, who will no doubt be living up to his title as Asgard’s God of Mischief come November.

Surtur’s dragon has been unleashed…no thanks to Disneyland’s forthcoming Guardians of the Galaxy ride.

The “Monsters After Dark” adventure begins September 15th and continues through until October 31st, hence the nod toward Halloween. But Surtur’s fire-spewing beast will soon be of great importance to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and, in particular, Thor: Ragnarok, as it’s set to feature in Taika Waititi’s galactic threequel come November.

It’s one of two mythical creatures included in Ragnarok – you know, aside from the God of Thunder and Mark Ruffalo’s volatile Hulk – after those who combed through the film’s showcase at San Diego Comic-Con spotted the Incredible Hulk getting to grips with Fenris Wolf. By the looks of things, that brawl takes place on Asgard’s Rainbow Bridge, so there’s a good chance Marvel has reserved that particular clash for Thor: Ragnarok‘s mind-melting climax.

As we all know, Thor: Ragnarok uses elements of Planet Hulk to tell a story of Thor and Hulk teaming up to fight Hela and prevent Ragnarok from destroying Asgard. Early on in the film, Thor ends up on the planet of Sakaar when he comes face to face with The Hulk in the gladiator arena to battle it out. 

Even though we know Thor ends up on Sakaar, we still have no idea how he exactly gets there. A lot of fans just assume that he was banished there by Hela, but according to executive producer Brad Winderbaum there's so much more to it and it involves an "amazing sequence." If you don't want to know the teasing details then don't read ahead.

Winderbaum begins by saying:

"Basically there's any number of ways that one can end up on Sakaar. And a lot of times if someone - the...

Cate Blanchett’s Goddess of Death invades Asgard in this all-new TV spot for Thor: Ragnarok.

Said to be harnessing the power of the sixth and final Infinity Stone (read: Soul), Hela declares war on the God of Thunder’s home world, shatters Mjölnir, and banishes Chris Hemsworth’s hulking hero to the other side of the universe. And that’s where his journey of self-discovery begins.

Directed by Taika Waititi (Hunt For the Wilderpeople), Thor: Ragnarok is undeniably one of the best-looking entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date, and today’s scintillating TV spot really drives that point home. From the junk planet of Sakaar (Aka Planet Hulk) to the iconic Rainbow Bridge, Ragnarok certainly doesn’t skimp on spectacle. Whether the actual story is up to snuff, though, is another question entirely.

New Batch Of Thor: Ragnarok Pics 1 of 13

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This right here, is the face of a man who is very pleased about his glove. Look at his face. It's like he got exactly what he wanted for Christmas. Or Thanosmas. Deathmas? I'm not one hundred percent what space holiday Thanos celebrates, but it's obvious, he is celebrating.

Marvel just released a new Comic-Con poster quite different than many we've seen in the past. We're used to a poster with a bunch of heroes striking poses, usually with at least one girl facing her butt towards the front, with a bunch of destruction around them, but this focuses on just the villains. Like a team of villains all united in on purpose.

The poster focuses mostly on Thanos but has the guard in battle position down at the bottom. I also love the broken Avengers symbol near the guard and what appears to be the Rainbow Bridge zapping down to earth.

Don’t put away that passport! And stop unpacking! After taking a cinematic road trip to New Zealand last week for the superb documentary Tickled, we’re back in that lush locale once more. Seems there’s more to that place than elves and hobbits. While David Farrier and friends lived in the city, the action in this fiction flick takes place out in the wild, also known as the “bush”. Our guide/director is the talented film-making actor Taika Waititi. You might recall that gem he released to theatres two years ago, the clever, hilarious “mockumentary” What We Do In The Shadows, about a quartet of vampires sharing a big New Zealand estate (it’s streaming via several services, so watch it after you see this). Now it looks like Mr. Waititi has been “called up to the majors”. Those savvy talent scouts at Marvel Studios have recruited him...

This charming documentary charts the progress of four retired astronomers as they talk about life, the universe and everything under the stars

There is enormous charm and food for thought in Alison Rose’s documentary about four retired, snowy-haired English astronomers and their road-trip reunion in the American south-west; they are recreating a journey they took together decades previously, as gung-ho twentysomething students at the California Institute of Technology.

Donald Lynden-Bell, Roger Griffin, Neville “Nick” Woolf and Wallace Sargent are four eminently likable and distinguished academics who appear like gentleman explorers as they tackle a hike in the burning sun that might dismay people much younger. Their final goal is the remarkable Rainbow Bridge in Utah; on the way, they chat to each other and Rose about astronomy, the unimaginably vast reaches of the universe, about life on other planets and on our own. Oddly, the film reminded me of...

The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon finally lost his battle with colon cancer over the weekend...

Sam Simon, who co-created The Simpsons, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles at 59. The Emmy winning writer, who was diagnosed in February 2013 with terminal colon cancer, spent the last few years of his life as a philanthropist, giving millions to charity. Much of his work focused on helping animals. After Simon was diagnosed with colon cancer, he bought zoos and circuses and freed the animals.

Simon was an honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which named its headquarters The Sam Simon Center.

"It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over", the Sam Simon foundation said in a statement. "We all miss him, and in his honor, we will continue bringing his vision to light through our work at The Sam Simon Foundation.

The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon died on Sunday after a long battle with colon cancer, his foundation announced on Facebook. He was 59.

Post by The Sam Simon Foundation.

News: Simpsons Co-Creator Sam Simon Talks Terminal Colon Cancer

"It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over," they wrote. "We all miss him, and in his honor, we will continue bringing his vision to light through our work at The Sam Simon Foundation. We take comfort in knowing how many greetings he is receiving across that Rainbow Bridge. We love you Sam!"

The writer/producer reportedly passed away at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by his family and his dog. As an animal rights advocate who worked closely with PETA and various other animal welfare organizations, Simon's dog was an important part of his life. He continued to fight for the rights of animals up until his last days, most...

Sam Simon, one of the co-developers of the long running animated series The Simpsons, passed away Sunday in Los Angeles of colorectal cancer. He was 59. "It is with much sadness that we must let you know that Sam Simon has passed over," the Sam Simon Foundation wrote on Facebook Monday afternoon. "We all miss him, and in his honor, we will continue bringing his vision to light through our work at The Sam Simon Foundation. We take comfort in knowing how many greetings he is receiving across that Rainbow Bridge. We love you Sam!" The Simpsons showrunner Al Jean also confirmed the news by tweeting his condolences. ".@TheSimpsons #EverySimpsonsEver Just heard terrible news of death of @SimonSam,"...

Butch the Boston terrier struggled for most of his life, but the Buzbee family of Pinson, Alabama, made sure his final days were a wonderful treat. According to Al.com, Butch was initially adopted by a careless owner, who tried to control the dog with a shock collar. When that failed, the owner abandoned the Boston terrier to fend for himself on the streets. For over two years, Butch survived by living on garbage and the generosity of others, but never managed to find another home or the help of an animal shelter until around Thanksgiving of this year. Butch...

Ragnarok #1

Written and drawn by Walter Simonson

Colored by Laura Martin

Published by Idw

Ragnarok #1 opens in a suitably operatic manner as Thor and the last remaining Asgardians hold their ground against the Midgard Serpent and the world-devouring wolf Fenrir. Writer/artist Walter Simonson quotes directly from the Icelandic epic Elder Edda and shows that he can still draw gods, trolls, and elves 28 years after his run on Thor wrapped up. Simonson’s artwork is incredibly detailed with each piece of armor, weapon, or seemingly mundane things like a tavern’s interior and denizen sharply depicted by his pencils and inks. His storytelling is a little on the methodical side, and there is a lot of zooming onto characters doing something, or showing them ride into the horizon for several panels while dialogue still flies. This isn’t a bad thing, but unfortunately, Simonson’s plot and characters are underdeveloped.

Thor: The Dark World Blu-ray The latest Marvel movie, Thor: The Dark World, is a sequel to the 2011 flick Thor. It.s a movie that somehow manages to recapture the entertaining aspects of humans interacting with Asgardians, as well as pull in all the fan favorite characters, without telling the same fish out of water story this time around. The flick is set two years after the Rainbow Bridge fell on Asgard. On Earth, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and her merry band of scientists (Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgard) have encountered portals linking worlds. On Asgard, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is in prison following the events of The Avengers, but a Dark Elf named Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) has come across a powerful weapon known as the aether and is hoping to wreak havoc on Asgard, with only Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and his fellow fighters to protect the realm. Thor.s fish out...

Your Nine Realms experience doesn't have to end with "Thor: The Dark World." There's some pretty sweet Asgardian gear waiting for you at "Thor: Treasures of Asgard," a new relic-filled exhibit that's made its home inside Innoventions at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

For the sake of science, Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) has acquired some pretty cool stuff (on loan, of course) from Thor's home realm of Asgard. Items on display include Loki's helmet and shackles, some heavy-duty swords and shields (including Heimdall's blades), and one of those seriously creepy masks worn by the sinister dark elves.

But that's not all. After taking in some of the Asgardian artifacts, visitors will hear a familiar voice. It's Odin, King of Asgard, announcing that the Bifrost -- the magical Rainbow Bridge that connects Midgard (that's Earth) and Asgard -- has been fixed, and you've been granted a tour of the throne room.

At the end of Kenneth Branagh's Thor, the titular hero (Chris Hemsworth) was forced to destroy the powerful Rainbow Bridge in order to stop his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) from killing many innocent people. This action had severe personal consequences, of course, as this meant that Thor was cut off from his love, the beautiful, brilliant Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). During the events of The Avengers, when Thor actually managed to travel back to Earth to once again stop his sibling, he was still cut off from Jane, as she was moved away by S.H.I.E.L.D. for her own protection. It's been a long, long time since Thor and Jane have been able to see each other, and as you can see in the latest clip from Thor: The Dark World above the wait is not something that Jane been too happy about. This may...

Let’s be honest: For those of us who stuck with Siberia — NBC’s scripted series about a Survivor-esque competition gone horribly wrong — to the 11th and final episode, expectations were barely perceptible.

I mean, the show’s scripts seemed like they’d been written on damp cocktail napkins. Various cast members (the Evenki translator in particular) seemed like they’d been selected based on their ability to work for nothing more than a bagel and a cup of coffee. And heading into the final hour, we still didn’t have any real answers about whether the weird roaring noises,...

We've already been treated to character posters showcasing Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki (Tom Hiddlestone), Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Malekith (Christopher Ecclestone), but, by the burning beard of Neil Fallon, it's not over yet. Here are two more Thor: The Dark World banners, giving Hiddlestoners yet more Loki, and, er, Hopkinites a welcome dose of Odin. And yes, that would be appear to be Great Odin's Raven on Mr Wednesday's wrist.The Dark World, in case anyone has just awoken from Odinsleep, finds Thor once more tasked with saving the Nine Realms from Malekith’s once-banished evil legions, who have begun to spread terror and conflict in the wake of Loki’s actions and the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge in the first film.{New Thor: The Dark World Character Posters}Despite his better judgement, Thor will have to seek his adopted brother’s help to figure out this latest threat,...

We’ve seen the reaction that our latest subscriber covers – featuring Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki – have caused online. Now they’re here as part of a range of character posters for Thor: The Dark World that also feature the favourite son of Asgard with human lady love Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Dark Elf Malekith, played by Christopher Eccleston. The Dark World, in case anyone has just awoken from Odinsleep, finds Thor once more tasked with saving the Nine Realms from Malekith’s once-banished evil legions, who have begun to spread terror and conflict in the wake of Loki’s actions and the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge in the first film. Despite his better judgement, Thor will have to seek his...

Entertainment Geekly is a new weekly column which examines contemporary pop culture through a geek lens and simultaneously examines contemporary geek culture through a pop lens. So many lenses!

The superhero movie is the defining product of contemporary Hollywood. Last year, Avengers made $1.5 billion and roadmapped a multi-spinoff franchise structure that basically allows a single studio to make two successful sequels per year. This summer, Hollywood released four super hero movies. Two of them were pretty good and two of them were pretty bad. But financially speaking, Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel were megahits, the kind of monstrous...

This is it folks, the moment you’ve been waiting for, the whammy of Comic-Con photo galleries: The Cosplay Heavy Edition! Inside we’ve got beautiful women, mutants, Star Wars, Super Heroes, and the cast of True Blood! Okay, so maybe I’m over selling you on this, but we do have some great looks at Steam Punk Star Wars and the sexiest Asgardians you’re likely to see this side of the Rainbow Bridge. If that doesn’t light your fire, we’ve thrown in some neat upcoming collectibles, and some giant balloons. No, really. Click here for more Comic-Con 2013 coverage.

by Brett White

The first teaser for "Thor: The Dark World" has arrived on Midgard via the powerful rivers of Internetia, and verily, it is mighty. Okay, cutting out the classic Thor speak now, but I can't help but speak that way after watching the "Thor" teaser on repeat all morning. It's just that great. This teaser isn't just a bunch of scenery panning by and slow motion action shots with a foreboding narration over it; this is a full-blown preview of this fall's most anticipated film. The major stars are all there (Chris Hemsworth! Natalie Portman! Tom Hiddleston! Anthony Hopkins!) as are our favorite supporting characters. We get a taste of the plot and enough battle sequences to get us just the right amount of pumped.

We've isolated 15 moments worthy of further examination and listed them below. Let's dive into "The Dark World"!

» The teaser opens up with this...

For fans of The Wire, Idris Elba will always be known as the drug king Stringer Bell. But in the Marvel movie universe, the actor is recognized for his portrayal of Heimdall, the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge on Thor's Asgard.

Even though he was absent from The Avengers, Elba is returning to the role in Thor 2. In an interview this week with Collider, Elba said he hopes the sequel explores the character's background.

I'd just like to get to know him a bit more. Who is Heimdall? He guards the gate. Okay. Is there anything else? I don't know what is in the script because I haven't read it yet. But, the audience has responded to Asgard and wants to know more about who lives there and what it's about. I'm sure, if they do that, Heimdall will be featured more.

Next Showing: Thor 2 opens Nov.

In last year's Marvel blockbuster "Thor," Idris Elba played Heimdall, the staunch guardian of the Rainbow Bridge who constantly scans all the realms for danger with his godly eyesight.

And just what does Elba see on Asgard's horizon today?

Himself co-starring in the sequel. Hey, being a god has its privileges.

Of course, given the monumental success of 'The Avengers," which prominently features "Thor" star Chris Hemsworth as the God of Thunder, you might expect that pretty much everybody involved with "Thor" would be clamoring for a return engagement. But until now, Elba's participation has been up in the air, which isn't really a surprise when you consider just howbusy and in-demand he is these days (see: "Prometheus," just for starters).

Now, though, Elba has confirmed in an interview with Collider that he will indeed be returning as Heimdall, just as soon as he finishes playing another larger-than-life figure: Nelson Mandela.

” I’d like to speak with you about the Avengers Initiative ”. Can it really be four years ago that Shield director Nicholas Fury ( Samuel L Jackson ) spoke those fateful words to a surprised Tony Stark ( Robert Downey, Jr. ) at the end ( the very tail end, after the final credits ) of Iron Man ? Marvel fans around the globe were ecstatic. The fabled comic book company was now in the film business ( other characters were licensed to other studios ) and Jon Favreau’s rollicking action hit was the first in their partnership with Paramount. With this bit of dialogue, were they announcing their intentions to team up some of their greatest heroes in one massive movie event? Fans were teased again later that Summer when Stark strode into the bar where General ” Thunderbolt ” Ross was drowning his sorrows at the end of The Incredible Hulk. Expectations rose two years later with Iron Man 2...

The Avengers is a film I’ve been waiting for since 2008. With one line delivered by Samuel L. Jackson playing his comic book counterpart Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man, “I’m here to talk to you about the Avengers initiative,” Marvel Studios launched the imaginations of a thousand fanboys like me everywhere. This is the first Marvel film that Walt Disney Pictures will be distributing (not publicly apparently, thanks to Paramount Pictures). The mere idea of taking six different superheroes and placing them together in one film has never been accomplished before (right, George Miller?) and, thanks to the ownership of Disney, now it can be done! In the past few days, many major movie sites have posted their set visits from last year just before the release of the film. Rather than having to read all of the posts, why not let GeekTyrant (specifically Me) do all the work for you?...

When the lengthy list of candidates for the visual effects Oscar was released last month, Green Lantern was noted for being the only 2011 comic book movie not on the list. Now that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has whittled that down to the following short list, it's Marvel Studios' Thor which has been snubbed - a somewhat peculiar decision after the amount of praise the movie received for its stunning portrayal of Asgard and the Rainbow Bridge. Captain America: The First Avenger Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Real Steel Rise of the Planet of the Apes Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Tree of Life X-Men: First Class According to Variety, the members of the visual-effects branch will view 10-minute excerpts from each of the 10 films listed above and will then nominate...

Chicago – As a refreshing departure from the snarky, shrill and soulless time wasters passing for children’s entertainment these days, this wholesome, fact-based drama works perfectly well. It captures some of the innocence and warmth that characterized ’60s-era Disney fare, as well as the blandness and exceedingly high cheese factor.

What initially steered me away from this picture was its awful marketing campaign, which made the film seem as if it were a retread of the “Blind Side” formula: sunny white family helps transform a damaged creature into an inspirational beacon. It’s a sad fact that the titular animal in “Dolphin Tale” has more personality than Michael Oher in “The Blind Side,” which surely stands as one of the worst films ever to be nominated for Best Picture.

Blu-ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

Yet while “The Blind Side” was a smugly self-aggrandizing bore celebrating the tolerance of a Southern conservative mamma grizzly,...

Release Date: Dec. 20, 2011

Price: DVD $28.98, Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD $44.95, Blu-ray $44.97 (Jan. 17, 2012)

Studio: Warner Home Video

The inspirational family movie Dolphin Tale is even more sweet and inspiration as it’s based on a true story — and the subject of the film is also its star.

Rated PG, the drama tells the story of an injured dolphin who’s found by a boy (Nathan Gamble, TV’s Hank) and brought to a marine hospital for help. Named Winter, the dolphin (played by the actual dolphin that inspired the film) loses her tail, but without a tail, she may not survive. Thanks to the devotion of the boy, a marine biologist (Harry Connick Jr., Copycat) and a prosthetist (Morgan Freeman, Red), Winter gets a new tail and a second chance at life.

Kris Kristofferson (Blade) and Ashley Judd (Tooth Fairy) also star in the film, which was directed by Charles Martin Smith,...

The last few weeks have seen a lot of big, official media releases for The Avengers – Marvel’s tentpole superhero film – including the first big trailer and a New York Comic-Con panel with additional footage.

Recently, Tom Hiddleston – the man who played Loki, Thor’s adoptive brother in Thor – talked about his role in the upcoming film and the significance of particular shots from the explosive trailer. Plus, Kevin Feige discussed the importance of The Avengers ensemble over any single actor/character.

According to Tom Hiddleston – courtesy of MTV Splash Page – the shot of Loki in a portal surrounded by S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel is “the god of mischief” arriving on Earth.

Says Hiddleston:

“He’s landed.”

When asked if Loki has traveled by way of the Rainbow Bridge, Hiddleston says:

“There’s ...

Click to continue reading Kevin Feige Talks ‘Avengers’ Ensemble; Tom Hiddleston Talks Loki on...

I think we have heard more from Tom Hiddleston than any other Avengers star so far. But I am still genuinely interested to hear what he says. This time, speaking again with MTV Splashpage - he shares some information on how Loki 'arrives' on Earth. Watch the video below. Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog One of the biggest scenes from the trailer is arguably a threatening shot of Loki in some sort of portal as military personnel close in. Hiddleston confirmed that this scene is Loki's big arrival to Earth for "The Avengers." Hiddleston comments that, "He's landed." The last time we saw Loki, at the end of "Thor," he was falling into the abyss after the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge, but Hiddleston says that a line just before the final battle between the royal brothers is a telling hint. "There's a line in 'Thor' I...

Now that everyone's had time to digest the "Avengers" trailer from two weeks ago, (if you haven't, do so now!) MTV News asked Tom Hiddleston, who plays the villain set to face off against Earth's Mightiest Heroes, to talk about his role in the trailer and just how Loki gets to Earth this time around.

One of the biggest scenes from the trailer is arguably a threatening shot of Loki in some sort of portal as military personnel close in. Hiddleston confirmed that this scene is Loki's big arrival to Earth for "The Avengers." Hiddleston comments that, "He's landed."

The last time we saw Loki, at the end of "Thor," he was falling into the abyss after the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge, but Hiddleston says that a line just before the final battle between the royal brothers is a telling hint. "There's a line in 'Thor' I...

Comedy is probably the most subjective genre of all, and what makes one person shoot milk from their nose in laughter may make another person yawn. To that end I’m happy to point out that two of the year’s funniest movies are hitting DVD today. They’re both perfectly cast and filled with plenty of laugh out loud moments, and that’s a guarantee. Whether or not you respond appropriately to them is your business… but I recommend soy milk as the nasal spurting liquid of choice. As always, if you see something you like, click on the image to buy it. Erik the Viking (UK) Erik (Tim Robbins) is a really nice guy, but he’s a pretty shitty viking. Weary of looting and pillaging, and having never really discovered a taste for rape, Erik convinces his fellow vikings to head to sea in search of the legendary Rainbow Bridge. In...

We break down our first good look at the superhero supergroup.

By Eric Ditzian and Josh Wigler

Chris Hemsworth in the "Avengers" trailer

Photo: Marvel

The first full trailer for "The Avengers" is here, though at first glance, it seemed much more like the work of Michael Bay — a little citizens-ominously-watching-the-skyline "Armageddon" here, a bit of city-block-destroying "Transformers" there — than the handiwork of Marvel and writer/director Joss Whedon.

But that voice-over you hear in the beginning (the one assuring us humans were made to be ruled) is none other than Loki, who makes his first appearance about 20 seconds into the new footage, kick-starting a furious visual procession of superheroes, superheroes and more superheroes. While the trailer didn't deliver everything we were hoping for — nor did it have the ineffable coolness we might have expected — it gave us a whole lot of Marvel goodness to unpack, which we did with...

We break down our first good look at the superhero supergroup.

By Eric Ditzian and Josh Wigler

Chris Hemsworth in the "Avengers" trailer

Photo: Marvel

The first full trailer for "The Avengers" is here, though at first glance, it seemed much more like the work of Michael Bay — a little citizens-ominously-watching-the-skyline "Armageddon" here, a bit of city-block-destroying "Transformers" there — than the handiwork of Marvel and writer/director Joss Whedon.

But that voice-over you hear in the beginning (the one assuring us humans were made to be ruled) is none other than Loki, who makes his first appearance about 20 seconds into the new footage, kick-starting a furious visual procession of superheroes, superheroes and more superheroes. While the trailer didn't deliver everything we were hoping for — nor did it have the ineffable coolness we might have expected — it gave us a whole lot of Marvel goodness to unpack, which we did with...

Fear not, ye coward Northlanders! If the trickster Loki hath something up his sleeve, we will suss it out first!

All this is a way to say that we're your front line of defense against Loki, inasmuch as we just got off the phone with Tom Hiddleston, who turns out to be a really nice guy!

Read on to hear what he's got to say about working with Kenneth Branagh on Thor and what we can expect in Joss Whedon's The Avengers.

Chris Radtke: Tom, the Lord of Mischief himself!

Tom Hiddleston: Indeed.

Chris Radtke: Working with Kenneth Branagh on a sci-fi fanboy film must be a heckuva unique experience. How did his sensibilities effect your role?

Tom Hiddleston: He is monumental, and an extraordinary leader. He’s an inspiring director and fantastic actor with an encyclopedic knowledge of mythology and storytelling. Plus he’s got a...

Thor 3D Blu-Ray Limited EditionParamount Home Entertainment2011/Rated PG-13/Running Time 114 minsList Price: $54.99 - Available September 13, 2011Marvel's grand movie scheme had me a tad nervous about a year ago with the release of their sequel to Iron Man. The film was an entertaining and engaging follow-up to the 2008 original that established Marvel as a bona fide movie studio. It not only made star Robert Downey, Jr. a commodity in Hollywood, but initiated a plan where various comic book characters would be brought to the silver screen in separate yet interconnected films. The sequel wasn't as well made a film as the original, with its weak plot and rather poor story. It felt more like Iron Man 1.5 rather than a second chapter designed to take the series to the next level and that may be due in part to the fact that it was made so quickly. With Marvel's latest release,...

To no surprise, Marvel Studios is already pushing for a sequel to Kenneth Branagh’s Thor for release in June of 2013.

However, the studio is now faced with the issue of replacing Branagh as he has decided to cross the Rainbow Bridge again. But while speaking at Comic-con (via Lation Review), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) revealed himself that a replacement should be found shortly.

Of course, that’s not much of anything to go on, and Hemsworth could just be playing damage control. But with a release date already set, you can be sure Marvel is already searching the nine realms for his replacement. Hopefully, the studio will release a shortlist of names they have in mind soon.

Ever since the release of the first X-Men movie back in 2000, there has been an intelligent attempt to build up the layers of the Marvel film universe. With thousands of characters created throughout the years, and millions of people now familiar with the heroes that populate the Marvel universe, the creators of the modern Marvel movies, as well as the executives running Marvel Studios, are trying to appease fans by giving them quick cameos or mentions of characters and equipment from the comic books.

With every new Marvel movie there seems to be more linkage between other Marvel films. Captain America: The First Avenger doesn’t stray away from that trend, and now with the release of the movie Coming Attractions can give you a list of what easter eggs you may have missed and why the ones you caught were in there.

Yggdrasil and the Tree of Life:

After...

Superheroes are packing audiences into cinemas this summer. Rob looks at ten other comic book characters that deserve a break on the big screen…

With X-Men: First Class gaining fantastic reviews, Thor surprisingly well received, Green Lantern arriving today, Captain America ready and waiting just around the corner, and Spider-Man, The Avengers, Superman and the final Nolan-influenced Batman tempting us next year, the big names of the comics scene are once again packing audiences into the cinemas.

As such, the archives are being raided for other property’s characters and ideas to translate to film. But is this the best way of getting fan favourite characters onto cinema screens? The masses aren’t going to be queuing around the block to see ‘Aquaman the movie’, meaning that second string or lower tier characters, no matter how visually fantastic or exciting (actually, Aquaman is neither of these things) will see the light of cinema interiors,...

Unlike other Marvel Studios films so far, Thor has gone beyond the confines of Earth and brought a cosmic world from the comics to the big screen.

It was a challenge for Kenneth Branagh to create otherworldly realms that would not only feel in keeping with the earthly settings that are also in the film, but with the other movies in the superhero franchise.

They need to feel cohesive because all the heroes - Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Nick Fury - will be sharing the screen in next year's The Avengers. All of them need to feel like they inhabit the same reality.

The end result worked, introducing Asgard, Jotunheim, interdimensional portals, gods and giants in a way that slots seamlessly with the Marvel movieverse. And it seems to be connecting with audiences too, as Thor stays atop the box office in the USA...

...about why Thor has the wrong ending (spoilers, of course): Thor has the wrong ending. I don’t know that a different ending would have made it a better film, but I do know that a slight change in the final minutes would have certainly made the character arc of Thor himself feel more full, and it would have made the entire film feel more purposeful. How should Thor have ended? Like this: Thor should have been stranded on Earth at the end. It’s as simple as that. Everything else should have remained the same, with the final confrontation on the Rainbow Bridge and Thor being forced to destroy the Bifrost, but instead of Loki screaming ‘You’ll never be able to see her again!’ he should have been yelling ‘You’ll never be able to go home again!’ Thor’s decision to destroy the Rainbow Bridge should...

Marvel's new Thor film has swung its hammer into the top spot at the Us box office with a solid $66million, according to this weekend's official estimates.

We'll bring you an update when the actual figures are released but in the meantime, if you want to grab yourself some more Asgardian adventure, then you'll love the idea of a Thor prequel.

Hollywood is packed with prequels (along with sequels, remakes and reboots) so it's no surprise that even the Norse thunder god wants to get in on the act. Check out the details below...

The new story takes the character back to his comic book roots. Marvel Studios' Thor Official Movie Special magazine (priced £3.99 in the UK) includes a full two-part prequel comic strip called Citadel of Spires, intended to lead in to the new film.

In the magazine's exclusive tale, Thor, Loki, Sif and two of the Warriors Three...

By Matt Adler

It’s been a long journey for Marvel Comics’ Thor from the four-color pages of his origin to the big screen, but what’s nearly 50 years to an immortal God of Thunder anyway?

This weekend, "Thor" hit theaters nationwide, and because it's part of the official Marvel Cinematic Universe, the comics that inspired it aren’t drawn upon just for passing references or surface similarities, but instead are woven throughout the film and form the basis of its story.

With that in mind, we took an in-depth, scene-by-scene look at the film, and examined exactly which classic stories played a role in making this latest comic book film epic. We've done the research so you don't have to, and you can consider this your unofficial guide to the source material that inspired Thor's big-screen debut.

Oh, and if you haven't seen the film yet, you might...

Week one for EW’s 2011 Summer Movie Body Count begins with Marvel Studios’ Thor, starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Anthony Hopkins. Click here for a reminder of our highly scientific guidelines for what counts as a death, and how we’re counting them. And since we’re going to be talking about deaths here, the requisite spoiler alert should almost go without saying, but we’ll say it anyhow: Spoiler Alert!

Frost Giants are not, we can all agree, a very agreeable species. They are tall, blue, and ugly. They appear to have no hobbies besides fighting and refrigeration.

Happy Friday!Boy, Community really killed it last night. Which made me feel better about Justin Lin pooping all over my reporting that I did last week, saying that he hasn't heard anything about the original Terminator cast coming back.Which makes total sense, because without a script, you can't attach and without official attachment, who is going to confirm that? No one. One of the worst things Terminator 5 can do right now is start making promises about what it's going to be (Remember McG's "I promise you can trust me with this franchise" promise?).Anyway. Justin Lin and I disagree about the pitch that has his name circling it like an electron cloud. And like electron clouds, we can know where the electrons are or what speed they are moving at, but not both. We know Lin and Arnie are approaching the package with the highest speed, but...

Face front, True Believers! According to our calenders, officially the first day of Summer is June 21, but movie Summer really starts with the first weekend in May ( sorry Fast Five ) especially with the release of a big comic book superhero movie. For the last few years this has featured a hero from the fabled House of Ideas-Marvel. With 2008′s Iron Man the comic company has been producing their film properties through Marvel Studios ( along with Paramount ). After two Iron Man movie adventures the studio is now tackling another Marvel hero. While Tony Stark was thought of as a second tier character, this big guy has been one of their comic superstars since his introduction in 1962′s Journey Into Mystery number 83-the mighty Thor. The Norse god had primarily been adapted in animation. First in the ( very ) limited animation TV series The Marvel Superheroes by Gantry Lawrence in 1966. He later made...

Getty Actor Tom Hiddleston, director Kenneth Branagh and actor Chris Hemsworth at the “Thor” premiere on May 2, 2011 in Los Angeles

Kenneth Branagh is best known for his many Shakespeare adaptations, going as far back as his breakthrough effort, “Henry V,” in 1989. This week he tackles a different kind of theatricality with his adaptation of “Thor,” a Marvel comics superhero based on the Norse God of Thunder. The new movie stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston. Speakeasy sat down with Branagh in Los Angeles.

I am excited to see Thor when it arrives in theaters this Friday, May 6th. In a recently interview, Kevin Feige (Marvel's president of production) revealed some cool details about Thor and a bunch more. I highly recommend you check out the full interview at Collider, below are some excerpts.

Here is what Feige had to say about why Thor was released internationally

Well, it could be…the studios are the ones that control this and set the dates. So Thor could’ve easily have been a day and date release. But the experts at Paramount, I don’t want say this viciously because they are experts at this, said that we would do better if we opened two weeks before to take advantage of the 6 day holiday that happens in Australia and to take advantage of certain holidays that were happening in the U.K. So far, I don...