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Minute Fifteen: From Team-Building to Bridge-CrossingAshley Coffin from the MCU Podcast is joining us this week to invade Jotunheim. Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the fifteenth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Thor reminds the Warriors Three and lady Sif what his father Odin went through to defeat Laufey and bring the casket back last time. He says they would just be going for answers. They're not going to invade Jotunheim. How many times have you heard that before? “I swear, I’m only having one drink.”
• After Sif says it’s forbidden, Thor chuckles then seems to take a page from Loki’s book as he tries to manipulate them all into agreeing to join. What terrible reasoning though! He’s basically just saying how much fun they had before and that’s enough reason to invade Jotunheim this time. So silly!
• But what's forbidden? To disobey Odin? Or to invade Jotunheim?
• Maybe it’s Thor’s charisma, then, because they all agree to join.
• Even Loki, in the extended scene, agrees to join the fight. Did Loki expect to be going? Or did he make a quick pivot when Thor asked him to go? He’s pretty crafty so it would make sense.
• What’s with Volstagg’s strange flourish he does with his seasonings for his Dagwood-style cheese and bread sandwich?

And off they go to invade Jotunheim.

• The overhead shot of the six riders racing along the streets of Asgard is breathtaking. We love seeing the giant statues hovering over them.
• So the rainbow bridge isn’t just a rainbow like in the comics. It’s impressive how they designed it to be solid of some sort with light streaks inside that are the colors of the rainbow.
• How do they get through the gate? How much sneaking is involved with their plan of theirs? It seems like a lot of people know. But obviously Loki’s up to something as we see him whisper to a guard in the extended scene.
• Hogun sees as well. Why doesn’t he say anything? Maybe it’s that whole thing of assuming Loki’s making an excuse to Odin as to why they’re going somewhere.
• The extended scene also has some terrible exposition about Heimdall. As if they’d never met him before. Glad that’s gone.
• Definitely moments of bad wig vs. great hair here!
• Did you notice the electronic notes rising up and down under Thor’s theme as they cross the bridge? We’re pretty sure Mark Mothersbaugh did as well because these seem to be at the forefront of his score for Thor: Ragnarok.

Everything’s great in this minute as the six head to invade Jotunheim, but that rainbow bridge shot is worth writing home about. We have a great time covering all of these elements and more. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Fourteen: From Manipulation to MadnessAshley Coffin from the MCU Podcast is joining us this week as the Warriors Three and Lady Sif join Thor and Loki. Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the fourteenth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Loki sits and listens to Thor. Eventually, he finally speaks. He tells Thor he’s right and that Daddy’s wrong. He’s also concerned the frost giants might be coming through with an army soon. That leads to Thor getting riled up. Now, he is ready to ride to Jotunheim.
• That's when Loki tries to make it clear that he didn’t want this, but we really know he did. Damn, he’s good.
• And how many times has Loki sat through Thor’s tantrums?
• But is it weird Thor calls his coronation day his ‘day of triumph’? Like it’s some victory to be won?

Forget about all that! It's the Warriors Three and Lady Sif!

• So the Warriors Three arrive with Lady Sif. They seem surprised by the upset table, Volstagg in particular. And this is the same entrance we saw in the extended scene last minute.
• So why does Volstagg have to be played for the jolly fat man jokes? We get it – it’s in the comics. We just don’t like it. Perhaps that’s why they were all thinned out so much. They’re not that great.
• Because of their arrival, Loki gets conspiratorial with Thor. Sif watches with suspicion.
• Outside of that, have we mentioned how much we love the production design?
• Apparently, the Warriors Three and Sif can’t really hear what’s being said. They all just watch like creepers. In fact, it’s not until Loki says "It’s madness" that it piques Volstagg's curiosity: “What sort of madness?” And that's when Thor reveals they’re going to Jotunheim.

Wait... Fandral is here? We almost forgot he was one of the Warriors Three.

• Fandral says it’s serious – it’s not just a fun trip to Earth to hang out with the mortals. But is it weird that he calls it Earth, not Midgard? And that he refers to them as mortals? Or is this just the filmmakers speaking down to their audience?
• But really, it’s great seeing Fandral and the rest pipe up. Without the deleted and extended scenes, however, this is really the first time we see these three interacting at all with Thor, other than his nod to them at the coronation. How are we meant to know they’re prominent characters? Isn’t it odd that this is essentially how we meet them?
• The extended scene gives us more of the Warriors Three and Sif trying to convince Thor it’s a bad idea. Again, do we need more of them?

We love Loki and his manipulation, and this is a good minute for it. We have a great time covering all of these elements and more. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Thirteen: From a Broken Truce to a Creeping BrotherAshley Coffin from the MCU Podcast is joining us this week to talk war with Jotunheim. Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the thirteenth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Thor complains about Laufey breaking the truce and he wants war. Odin believes the guilty party – these three frost giants – paid for their actions with their lives. So who’s right? Should they be more concerned about an impending attack by the frost giants? Does diplomacy work using the gentler approach? And will Odin call Laufey on the red phone to chat with him about this?
• But Anthony Hopkins plays Odin so perfectly here with such calm. It’s only when Thor pushes too far that Odin raises his voice, and it’s one of the best moments in the movie.
• Meanwhile, Loki just watches. It’s such an interesting portrayal that Tom Hiddleston does here. What’s he thinking? Was he assuming the Destroyer would kill the frost giants? And was this all a big ruse just to get Thor to go to Jotunheim? Regardless, he’s such a fascinating character. Easy to love, and dead sexy.

Thor pouts about not getting to invade Jotunheim.

• Because he didn't get what he wanted, Thor has a tantrum by flipping a table. We’re glad they didn’t use the extended scene because it shows how awful Thor is to the wait staff here in Valaskjalf. He really is a spoiled prince. Probably doesn’t tip either.
• But what’s with all the pumpkins on the tables? And did you notice the golden apples of Idunn?

Loki sneaks in, just like frost giants from Jotunheim sneaking into Odin's vault.

• As that's happening, Loki arrives, but in the extended scene, we see the Warriors Three and Lady Sif get there first. Volstagg’s concerned about the destroyed food from Thor’s tantrum. Sheesh. We debate if the movie would benefit with more of the Warriors Three or less.
• So when Loki arrives, it’s from behind a pillar. He had to have been watching Thor have his tantrum, and how he’s creeping in to weave his web. It’s pretty brilliant.

Odin kills it in this scene, Loki hasn’t said a word yet which works for his character really well, and Thor just wants war with Jotunheim. So typical. We have a great time covering all of these elements and more. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Twelve: From Odin's Destroyer to Odin’s TruceAshley Coffin from the MCU Podcast is joining us this week to take on the Destroyer. Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the twelfth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Odin unleashes the Destroyer from behind his magical bars in the vault. He does it by again striking gungnir on the floor of the throne room. Why does this striking of gungnir release the Destroyer whereas before it just was something to silence the crowd?
• Doesn’t matter because the Destroyer is awesome. The way it looks is so cool and pulls so perfectly from the comics. Plus, that hellfire that comes from its face? Intense. We talk about its comic origins and how Loki first used it against Thor.
• The Destroyer burns each of the frost giants to bits. Like literal bits of char floating in the air. Damn. Oh, and while it’s doing that, we get a glimpse of the infinity gauntlet, which we later learn to be fake. And what is that in the nook opposite the gauntlet? Some sort of sword? Possibly Odinsword?

The Destroyer sets everything right... for now.

• With a fade to white, the Destroyer retreats. It must’ve put the casket back on its pedestal because there certainly wasn’t a cleaning crew coming through before Odin, Thor, and Loki arrive. But how much time does it take to get from the throne room to the vault?
• They arrive helmetless. Should they have kept them on just, you know, in case there were still frost giants? Or is the Destroyer that reliable? Or perhaps the production team just wanted to see more of their beautiful faces.
• They survey the damage. It’s a bit confusing. Two dead Einherjar guards. But whose arm is frozen in the ice? Or is that a piece of a frost giant? Yuck.
• Thor says the Jotuns must pay for what they’ve done, and Odin reminds him they did pay with their lives. But Thor wants to know why they broke in and Odin reminds him they have a truce with Laufey.
• Loki just watches. It’s kinda delicious how Hiddleston just plays it so silently.
• Great parallel to the first time we see Odin with Young Thor and Young Loki in here.

It’s a busy minute with the Destroyer’s introduction and family conflict. We have a great time covering all of these elements and more. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Eleven: From a Warlock’s Eye to a Frost Giant’s FistsAshley Coffin from the MCU Podcast is joining us this week to talk about Loki and Thor (if we can just get past his eyebrows). Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the eleventh minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• The Einherjar guards should be suspicious in Odin’s vault. After all, the Warlock’s Eye is watching them, Branagh is throwing them into another dutch angle shot, and there’s a frost giant freezing the wall behind them.
• What’s the sword opposite the Eye? Is it the Space Traveling Sword?
• Odin’s ravens! We haven’t talked about them yet but they’ve been in the film since minute eight. They’re sitting ever so pleasantly on each arm of Odin’s throne. We touch on their histories.
• It’s time for Odin’s oath, and clearly he’s in a hurry because he’s only just started but is almost done with the coronation ceremony. Maybe he just wants to get to the banquet?
• Odin runs through three questions for Thor, who gets more and more convinced of his own awesomeness as he says “I swear!” in reply. It’s almost a surprise he doesn’t throw moljnir in the air on that third one.
• Thor’s wig. It’s tough. So are his eyebrows. Which are worse? But Chris Hemsworth, amiright? Why did they do that to him? At least they learn how to make him look in later films.

Does Loki enjoy what seems like Odin taunting Thor? Or is he thinking about what's going on downstairs?

• Loki’s watching. In hindsight, we know why but it’s interesting to look at what Hiddleston is bringing to his performance that’s so subtle.
• Meanwhile, Odin once again seems to hint at his terrible parenting by stopping just as he’s about to announce Thor as king. Is he taunting Thor by dragging the moment on even longer? Or is he seeing frost appear on the banners as was originally scripted?
• The frost giants don’t care. They kill the Einherjar guards by freezing water, slicing them with ice swords they make on their arms, and just good ol’ throttling them to death.

What's with Odin's ability to sense danger? And is Loki worried?

• Okay, so Odin wasn’t just taunting Thor. Turns out he’s got Odin-sense with things happening in the royal palace (lest we forget, it’s called Valaskjalf) and realizes frost giants are here. We never see a shot of frost in the throne room, so assume it’s just his awesome connection to Valaskjalf.
• But why didn’t his radar turn on when the frost giants first entered Asgard? Or Valaskjalf? They had to make it all the way into the dark cave where the vault is hanging from the ceiling and kill the guards before his radar went off? That doesn’t seem like great radar.
• Doesn’t matter than much anyway because the frost giants have honed in on what they want, and it’s the casket of ancient winters. The three of them dash to it and pick it up.

It’s an oath- and action-filled minute today! We have a great time covering all of these elements and more. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Ten: From One King’s Speech to Two Guards’ PatrolWe have our first guest! We’re joined by Ryanne Bennett from the Black Girl Nerds podcast joining us in the throne room to hear Odin's speech this week. Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the tenth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Odin continues his speech and Loki doesn’t look too happy about it. What’s up with that? Should we be reading into that more than we are?
• Odin seems like he’s about to cry as he calls Thor his first born. Is he just overtaken with emotion or should we think that Kevin Feige was planning so far ahead that he knew the subject of Hela would come up later in the MCU?
• Odin has a nice little chat about mjolnir. Again, could anyone pick it up now? It doesn’t have Odin’s knot on it.
• Is there a reason Sif is giving Loki a bit of a dirty look here?
• Yeesh... those eyebrows...

Meanwhile, in Odin's vault...

• Odin has what seems to be a typical royal speech. The cameraman’s so bored he flies outside and down through a vent into the basement. Turns out, their basement is a giant spherical cave. But hark! What’s with the funky architecture? A room hanging from the ceiling? I guess this is Odin’s vault. Total comic book location that defies all logic. But yeah, it looks pretty cool.
• Inside, two Einherjar guards are on patrol. They pass several iconic Marvel relics – the Tuning Fork and the Tablet of Life and Time. Interesting that a lot of people initially thought the Tuning Fork was the Orb of Agamotto. Little did they know that it does, in fact, say ‘TUNING FORK’ in runes on the wall behind it. Too bad you can only read it in a production still!
• More dutch angles leading us back to the casket of ancient winters. These shots paired with rather foreboding music could only mean one thing... trouble.

But that’s all we get in this minute! We’ll have to wait until next week to see what’s in store for these guards! For now, enjoy this minute of Odin’s speech and the mysterious vault! Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Nine: From Odin’s Look to Odin’s SpeechWe have our first guest! We’re joined by Ryanne Bennett for Thor's Coronation from the Black Girl Nerds podcast this week. Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the ninth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Odin looks on with a stone face as Thor continues his walk through the Asgardian crowd and the rows of Einherjar Honor Guard. Why does Odin actually look like he may be about to cry?
• Chris Hemsworth just owns this role. He’s clearly having fun as he works the crowd here.
• We get an insane perspective shot from the top back of the throne room giving us a sense of this whole space. It’s immense, ornate, and full of people. But are there representatives from all of Yggdrasil here like the script says?
• And where does that giant door go that’s behind Odin’s enormous throne? Is it his royal chambers?

Is it Thor's Coronation or the official announcement that he's Odin's heir to the throne?

• Meanwhile, Thor gives a wink to his mother who shakes her head ever so slightly at him. It seems perhaps she gives in to him too often? And is this the straw that broke the camel’s back for Odin, who finally decides to stand up?
• So this is where we would’ve met the Warriors Three if it wasn’t for the deleted scene in the last minute. These characters were completely created by Kirby and Lee for the comics. They don’t appear in Norse mythology anywhere. Again, it would’ve been nice to know how important these characters are in Thor’s life before this moment.
• That's when Odin strikes Gungnir on the floor and its sound echoes through the throne room, silencing everyone. Wow, we all need something like that to quiet a room.

Odin settles the crowd for Thor's Coronation.

• So now it’s time for Odin to talk. And this is definitely a more aged Odin. Raising Thor would turn any parents’ hair gray though, amiright?
• And it’s again incredibly clear how much Branagh loves his dutch angles.
• Odin starts speaking but doesn’t get to say much. Again, though, he seems like he’s about to cry. Why is that?
• Finally, we play the IMDb game for Rene Russo, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, and Josh Dallas.

It’s Thor’s Coronation – or is it? – in the biggest throne room we’ve ever seen. What’s Odin going to say next? Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Eight: From Rival Brothers to Regal ParentsWe have our first guest! We’re joined by Ryanne Bennett from the Black Girl Nerds podcast this week, swinging Mjolnir around because she's clearly worthy. Check her and her shows out at the links below!In the eighth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Odin lays out to young Thor and Loki that a good king can’t be war hungry but has to be ready for it. The boys both say they’re ready to lead, and this is where we start questioning Odin’s parenting. He says only one of them can become king, but that they were both born for it. Is he pushing for sibling rivalry? Then again, maybe it’s just his way of hinting to Loki that he’s actually the son of a different king...?
• Meanwhile, Mjolnir makes its first appearance. We talk a bit about how it was forged and debate when it became something that only someone worthy could pick up and wield.
• But why is Mjolnir in Odin’s vault? Is he just holding it for Thor until he’s big enough? Is he afraid someone else could wield it and cause Ragnarok?

Now that story time is done, let's return to the present with Thor waving Mjolnir around.

• It's Thor’s coronation. Or is it? Was Odin actually about to crown Thor or was he just making the official announcement that Thor is his heir for when he dies?
• Before we jump into that, however, we have not one, not two, but THREE deleted scenes to discuss. The first involves Thor and Loki. This would’ve been where we first meet Thor. Does it work better? It’s fun seeing him drinking, throwing his goblet into the fire and shouting “Another!” but those eyebrows are offputting...
• This also would’ve been where we first meet Loki. It’s a great reveal of him in his magnificently designed (cow) helmet and outfit. We also get a conversation between the brothers that gives us a better sense of their relationship. Andy likes it but Matthew and Ryanne are fine to see it excised.
• The second deleted scene would’ve been the introduction to the Warriors Three – Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun the Grim – as well as Lady Sif. Considering they get no prominent introduction at the coronation, Andy feels this would’ve helped give us a sense of their importance in the story and Thor’s life.
• The third deleted scene would’ve been a moment between Thor and his mother Frigga. It’s short but sweet. And Rene Russo looks incredible in the costume.

Meanwhile, back at the coronation where Thor's waving Mjolnir around...

• Thor’s a boastful braggart who knows how to work the crowd – and us. Chris Hemsworth is a pure delight in this role and does the himbo oh so well. He tosses Mjolnir in the air and wins everyone over with ease.
• But what’s with that guy in the crowd who is so excited to see Thor? Was he directed to act that big or is it just him being genuinely excited?
• We see Lady Sif and Frigga react to Thor’s antics. Again, it would’ve been great to have the context of them from the deleted scenes before seeing this.
• Lady Sif has more of a story in the myths, including being Thor’s wife. She has some origins in Beowulf as well. Where’s her golden hair?
• Through all of this, Odin remains completely stone-faced.
• And we do the IMDb game for Chris Hemsworth and Jaimie Alexander. We forgot Rene Russo but will get to her next time. We promise!

It’s a minute full of content with three deleted scenes, so there’s a lot to cover. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Seven: From Soaring Sights to StorytimeWe have our first guest for our trip to Asgard! We’re joined by Ryanne Bennett from the Black Girl Nerds podcast this week. Check her and her shows out at the links below.Ah, Asgard! In the seventh minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• We continue our flight through Asgard – quite the city. We talk about the general look of it, what production designer Bo Welch, producer Kevin Feige, and director Kenneth Branagh were trying to achieve with the design of this city.
• But just how do you pronounce the actual name for the royal palace, as well as the name of the church organ in Iceland from which it gets its look? Not easy to say...
• And like the Star Wars universe, why do Asgardians seem not to believe in any sort of hand railing system.
• The city is full of canyons, fantastical buildings, and enormous statues. It’s a shame we never really get to explore any of these areas in this film or later ones.

It's all been a story to young Thor and Loki in Odin's vault in the bowels of Asgard.

• We find out that Odin’s voiceover is, in fact, him telling this story to his young sons, Thor and Loki. We see that Odin looks about the same age he did during the Asgard-Jotunheim battle so how much time has passed?
• These two actors playing young Thor and Loki are great. They look the parts and carry the personas of their adult selves very well. So what’s happened to Dakota Goyo and Ted Allpress?
• Branagh really saw this story as this issue between a father and his sons. You can really get a sense his Shakespearean roots were drawn to this aspect of the story.
• But the relationship between Thor and Loki in the myths is different than what we get here.
• Speaking to production design, triquetras are everywhere in Asgard. These are also called Odin’s knots. It’s interesting how this symbol is often interchanged with the valknut. But are they technically the same thing?
• And hey – is that the eternal flame behind young Thor?
• Outside of all of this, there was a scripted scene immediately after this that revealed Odin feeling ill and in desperate need of the Allsleep. Was it cut because it would’ve been too confusing?

Our first time visiting Asgard and we’re loving it. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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Minute Six: From Ice Attack to AsgardWe have our first guest! We’re joined by Ryanne Bennett from the Black Girl Nerds podcast this week. Check her and her shows out at the links below.In the sixth minute of Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film Thor...

• Laufey smashes one of the Einherjar soldiers that he just froze. Not a fun way to go.
• Meanwhile, the battle rages on. Branagh continues putting us in the middle of it in close shots which feel chaotic and makes it feel like we’re actually there. Unfortunately, it makes it hard to tell what’s going on.
• But it's pretty easy to see Laufey form a spiked ball of ice in his lowered palm. He then hurls it at Odin, nailing him in his right eye. So this is different from the Norse mythology just a bit. Why the change? Well, it puts it in the action.
• Also, by keeping Odin in the battle instead of on a hill or something watching the battle play out, we do at least get a better sense of the type of king that Odin is. And Laufey for that matter. We definitely appreciate that they’re willing to join the fray.
• So Odin can shoot fire from Gungnir. Who knew?

The Asgard-Jotunheim war clearly is waged for a long time and Laufey and Odin are always in the frey.

• Meanwhile, the battle rages on from Midgard back to Jotunheim. It actually looks like a decent place. A tad cold, but the cities aren’t crumbling. That being said, we do see bodies strewn on the distant streets. And who’s that on the landing between the two towers?
• Turns out it’s Laufey, Odin, and two Einherjar guards. Looks like Odin’s won. He has Laufey on the ground at the end of Gungnir. Odin’s about to kill him but seems to hold his spear for some reason. Considering the myths about Odin losing his eye were in relation to him wanting to gain wisdom, does this moment perhaps tie to the myths and show that Odin gains wisdom when it comes to war and see value in not being a bloodthirsty tyrant? Should we read into this as the change from the Odin who warred with Hela in Thor Ragnarok?

The war is over. Odin takes the Casket of Ancient Winters from Laufey.

• So Odin doesn’t kill Laufey. That being said, he does have his Einherjar soldier take the casket of ancient winters. But why does it look like it was plugged in? Does the planet start shutting down now? Did we need it to be so visually obvious?
• Meanwhile, Odin and his troops hop into the bifrost for a trip back to Asgard. Our second trip so far in the bifrost and it already is far less... atmospheric.
• They’re heading back to Asgard. We assume it was the crystalline peaks but turns out, this is the bottom. Why did they decide to construct the film this way? It kinda throws you initially, but it looks cool. Especially when we flip over and move through the water to reveal the actual city.
• We don’t get to see much of it other than the canyon patterned after Black Canyon in Gunnison National Park, but we do see some cool city buildings built into the wall of the canyon and in the distance... some sort of floating building? It's very difficult to figure out. But we like it.

Laufey and Odin battle on! The epic Asgard-Jotunheim war comes to an end in this dramatic minute. Tune in!Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on TruStory FM’s Discord channel!Film Sundries

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