First Look: Loki, Odin, THOR; movie will be post-converted to 3D along with CAPTAIN AMERICA!
Despite both Kenneth Branagh & Joe Johnston not wanting to do it - Marvel insist the movies will be post-converted for 3D!
A rather underwhelming official still from Thor (May, 2011) has made its way online giving us a full costume look at Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Tom Hiddleston as Thor's evil brother Loki, and Chris Hemsworth as the thunder-God himself, holding in his hand the ever-so iconic "Mjolnir". Think what you must, but my instincts tell me that this film is dangerously teetering to cheesy, over-the-top, Flash Gordon style campness. Despite the impressive casting, we've been extremely worried about Thor ever since Kenneth Branagh landed the helming duties and although we think the movie could still kick all sorts of ass, we are concerned the suits are as dorky as the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers! Thor's suit I'm okay with. Loki's can pass. But Odin's? Come on, and that Hopkins grin? If he plays Odin the same way as he hammed up John Talbot in The Wolfman then we'll be pissed. In case you haven't already guessed it, both Thor and Captain America will be released in fanciful 3D. The bigger question is, were they shot in 3D? Nope. Both films will be converted to 3D during their respective post-production stages, similar to what was done for Clash of The Titans. Recent interviews with Branagh and Captain America director Joe Johnston reveal that the filmmakers tried to apply the process of filming in 3D, but decided that converting the movie later would be the better route to take. Yeah, sure...why the hell not. Joe Johnston, popular for directing such films as Jumanji, Jurassic Park 3, and more recently The Wolfman, said he found the 3D filming process to be rather nightmare-ish. Hes also been critical of the post conversion technique;
I think it tends to be overused and can be a little bit gimmickyA lot of people are using 3-D now because they feel have they have to that will come and go and the pictures that deserve to be in 3-D will continue to be. When its done bad, it can make you carsick.Nevertheless, that hasnt stopped Joe from "being optimistic" about the Marvel 3D post-conversion decision, as he mentions here: Its a new challenge and its exciting Kenneth Branagh, too, has been upfront about his initial skepticism, but has now been converted into a "true believer" himself;
We came to feel that in our case 3-D could be the very good friend of story and character for a different kind of experienceIts another draft of the story that can reveal itself in a different wayI had a healthy degree of skepticism up front Ive become somebody extremely excited about working with possibilities of doing it this way.To back these guys up and calm the stresses of wary fans and audiences, Marvel head-honcho Kevin Feige swears that 3D will enhance the experience of both films;
In being able to think in 3-D from the start and having every bit of our special effects rendered in true 3-D we have the opportunity to do it rightWhen youre working with a director like Ken Branagh or Joe Johnston, theyre not going to settle for less than perfect image. Theyre not going to settle for something that isnt up to the artistry of everything else theyve done on the film theyre not going to put on some overlay in the last 10 to 12 weeks of post-production for a fiscal reason.Honestly, I'll be saving my ticket cash until they fix the infamous "brightness" issue and maybe the overall look of 3D itself. What say you, mortals?