2009 November - SeanPAune.com

2
Nov
2009

Is Marvel Entertainment Angling For Its First Oscar With Thor?

Written by Sean P Aune | under Movies | No Comments

thor Is it possible that a comic book movie could be trying to stack the deck to win some Academy Awards?

As more news about the upcoming Marvel Entertainment Thor movie comes out, one has to wonder what exactly is going on. Starring in a comic book movie was once akin to an actor saying, “I have a house payment due, and it was quick money”, but now not only are big names flocking to them, but the extremely well respected.

The whole ordeal with Thor started when Kenneth Branagh was announced as the director. He is best known for his Shakespearean work, and while Thor is rife with mythology and odd speaking habits (it is based on Norse mythology after all), it still seemed like a rather odd “get” for a comic book film.

Then came news of Natalie Portman (yes, I still want her to shut up in her everyday life) joining the cast. While V For Vendetta was her first comic book movie, it wasn’t quite as traditional as Thor may be. True, we’re dealing with Norse Gods here, but there are still capes, tights and bulging muscles, something her last foray into comic book movies was missing.

The biggest “you have to be kidding me” moment came with the announcement that Sir Anthony Hopkins was joining the cast as Odin, the leader of the Norse Gods, and most specifically, Thor’s father. While Sir Hopkins has made some less than stellar films in his career, they are so rare, they are difficult to name. He is an amazing actor, and to see him in a comic book movie is just not something I ever envisioned happening.

The actor cast as Thor, Chris Hemsworth, is still a relative unknown to the majority of the world, but with the talent surrounding him on this project, it would be difficult for him not to shoot for the stars with his performance.

So, what exactly is Marvel trying to pull off here? Are they just trying to make the best movie possible, or are they aiming for a bigger prize? Could we possibly be seeing the first planned attempt for a traditional comic book movie to make a run at some Oscar nominations? (Road to Perdition was based on a comic book, although that was severely underplayed at the time of its Oscar nominations) There is no saying how this film will play, even with these very talented people involved, but it just seems like Marvel is throwing a lot of weight behind this movie, a lot more than it has behind some of their other projects.

This is all pure speculation on my part, but something sure feels different about this project.

EDITED TO ADD: Yes, I forgot about Heath Ledgers’ Oscar for the Joker in The Dark Knight. So, yes, a caped hero movie has won an Oscar already, but this still feels like Marvel is gunning for one of their own, and is loading the deck in its favor.

1
Nov
2009

Shut Up, Natalie Portman

Written by Sean P Aune | under General Rants | 1 Comment

portman Natalie Portman, like Bono, needs to learn to shut up.

Every single person in this world is entitled to their opinion, and to their freedom of speech. I obviously consider this one of the main tenants of the world as I shoot my mouth off here on my blog on a constant basis. I feel everyone should have opinions, and they should also feel free to express them, but you know how that old saying goes about “opinions are like …”, you know the one I mean. Well, Ms. Portman has apparently discovered that orifice on her body.

This story is a couple of days old now, and I have been debating since it broke if I even wanted to talk about it. I am about to tell someone (believe me, I know I am writing this for myself and no one else) to keep a certain “I’m better than you” attitude to herself when I run a blog where I rant about Scientologists on a regular basis. However, some things are just so monumentally stupid that you can’t stop yourself from commenting.

You see, Ms. Portman wrote an article for the Huffington Post about how she has converted from being a vegetarian to an out spoken vegan. I have no problems with vegetarians or vegans in any way, my belief is that is their choice, good for them. However, just like I won’t wave meat in their face, I prefer the not wave their choices in mine. I’m willing to have open discussions on the subject so long as they remain civil, but this is one of those subjects like politics that rarely does. I have known many of both types of people over the years, and we have never once had a problem … course, none of them before have likened me to a rapist.

Yes, you read that right … a rapist.

In her defense of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book, Eating Animals, which she says is what brought about the change in her views, she postulates a scenario that would be the most awkward dinner conversation ever.

I say that Foer’s ethical charge against animal eating is brave because not only is it unpopular, it has also been characterized as unmanly, inconsiderate, and juvenile. But he reminds us that being a man, and a human, takes more thought than just “This is tasty, and that’s why I do it.” He posits that consideration, as promoted by Michael Pollan in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which has more to do with being polite to your tablemates than sticking to your own ideals, would be absurd if applied to any other belief (e.g., I don’t believe in rape, but if it’s what it takes to please my dinner hosts, then so be it).

I think there is a small difference between eating, something all humans have to do to live, and an act of violence taken upon another human.

As I said earlier, I have known many vegetarians and vegans over the years, and to see me, you would have no doubt I eat meat. I have always been able to get along because they know they aren’t going to change me, and I have no desire to change them. I applaud their convictions to be honest, but when you begin preaching to me, that is when I have a problem with you, no matter what the subject might be. If I respect your decisions, surely you can do the same for me? The quickest way to turn me off to your beliefs or causes is to lecture me, which is exactly what it sounds like Ms. Portman plans to begin doing.

This has always struck me as one of the biggest problems with this sort of “debate”: the other party automatically assumes I have made my choice out of some form of lack of education on the matter, and it is now their duty to correct that. You have no clue how or why I have made the decisions I have made, and you instead of trying to “educate” me, or confronting me at a dinner party about it (Anyone else think Ms. Portman’s dinner part invites just dropped like a rock?), how about you stick to your choices and I’ll stick to mine?

It is a beautiful thing to have convictions and to stand up for them, but if your plan to get your voice heard is to liken people such as myself to being a rapist, well … good luck with how far you’re going to get.