So, here's the thing....

[conuly]

There's this group that wants you to boycott this movie because they OMG cast Thor as white, and that's SO WRONG because THOR was NORSE and therefore WHITE, and I guess I can see that, yeah (although the only Thor I've ever met in real life was a little boy with an Icelandic mother and an African-American father, so there you go), but they're ignoring the much greater issue here.

In their quest for historical accuracy they seem to have forgotten something much more important than petty issues of race: VIKINGS DIDN'T WEAR HORNS ON THEIR HELMETS! Why would they do something so stupid? That's like giving your enemy a great handle to grab! But this group is okay with dumb and ahistorical fashion choices that make Thor and the Vikings look like twits, just so long as they're all white twits, is that it?

That's just wrong.

Comments

[dragonwolf]

At first I was like "wait, what?", but then I read the article. Don't you mean they got their panties in a twist because Heimdall is played by a black man?

While I don't agree on their view on it and the whole "rawr, boycott!" thing, there is a certain irony to casting Heimdall of all the Norse gods as black. Heimdall is also known as "the White God" (though that could arguably be due to the Ram being his representative animal).

That said, the movie isn't really either historically or mythologically accurate. It, like 300 is at least once removed, with a comic book/graphic novel in between, which means it's basically a caricature of a caricature. For example, Thor isn't blond, but a fiery red-head. Oh, and he and Sif are actually married. And I don't think he was ever cast out of Asgard (and considering he's the God of Thunder, that's probably a good thing).

Personally, though, as a Heathen/Asatruar, I thought the movie looks pretty good, and will be seeing it when it comes out, despite the historical/mythological inaccuracies.

But then, maybe I was just too distracted laughing at the fact that they casted Anthony Hopkins (of all people!) as Odin. :D

[conuly]

Yeah, I typo'ed big time.

[ironychan.livejournal.com]

They're, uh, gods. They can look like whatever they want.

[darkpoole.livejournal.com]

I was a little surprised at the casting of Heimdall because, yeah, adapted from a comic book based on a northern European pantheon. But if he can play the part well, who cares? Besides, there's an easy fanwank: since the "Marvel Universe" in the comics has established that all of these pagan pantheons (Norse, Greek, Egyptian, I think Hindu, maybe some others) actually exist and they visit one another from time to time, just say that "Heimdall" immigrated from some other culture's pantheon to Asgard at some remote time in the past.

As for the sets and costumes, I'll be impressed if they're actually able to bring Jack Kirby's Asgard to life and make it look good.

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

I'm confused. You say they're mad because they cast Thor as white, even though Thor is white? If they cast a white actor, and Thor is white, then what exactly is the problem?

[conuly]

Let me edit.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Verisimilitude is important. Heimdall should only be played by an actor who is the grandson of a sea giant and who has nine mothers, each of whom is a different kind of wave, or else I just won't be able to muster the suspension of disbelief. And Sleipnir had better be played by a real eight-legged horse too.

[darkpoole.livejournal.com]

Ah. So that's why they cast Idris Elba. I was wondering.

Handle to grab?

[marveen.livejournal.com]

If they're that close (having gotten in past your battleaxe, warhammer, greatsword, spear or other armslength weapon) and have already dealt with your seax and shield, you're pretty much screwed already.

Not that you're not absolutely correct, mind you (the horned thing was apparently ceremonial at best, the Sutton Hoo helmet is more accurate).

*sings, to the tune of "Horse With No Name"*
I've been through the battle,
I'm a Norse with no pain,
It feels good to stand over the slain....