Thor: Love and Thunder **BEWARE SPOILERS**

[Victοr]

Yes, I have believed this for awhile now. The world is OCD... well, at least our small part of it.

But as we can see, there are more and more people succumbing to the lure of false realities and rabbit holes that quickly become an overwhelming addiction. Humans are geared for it.

Exactly. And I wonder where this will lead. This isn't how you build a healthy society. Not with "Young" Adults taking their life lessons from the Hulk... 80s Cyberpunk came true, the difference is we don't have all the cool tech. "High Tech, Low Life" they used to say...

There is something to be said about a concise well-told story that is complete and finished in its time. The endless retrofitting to accommodate modern times is useless and pointless. Some of these stories are going the way religions have been passed down or great myths that got so convoluted between Greek and Roman duplication. I guess I just realized we've been doing this as a species for a very long time.

That is a good point. I'd say the difference is that back then those things were of religious-esque nature. They were tied to a specific culture and were used to explain the world around them. Fables and stories, allegories and all, meant to pass down certain virtues and lessons. Capebooks are still in circulation because of greed and nothing more. There's no inherent value to them. It's not someone's artistic vision at least, let alone the cultural glue that holds a people together. I don't know, I've never liked the "dood, [pop culture thing] is totes just like Ancient Mythologies brah" take. It cheapens everything. Next thing we'll hear that the lessons they took from the MCU are as important and life changing as reading Plato and Schopenhauer, or reading the Bible and the Buddhist Texts.

Had these things been finished and laid to rest, I'm sure some would survive the "Great Filter" and get passed on. But at this point I hardly think anything from the 1900s and onwards will actually survive in memory. They'll keep propping some things and whatever's left will fade away. I don't know, maybe Star Wars will have some presence in the far future. But I hardly doubt people will remember Batman. Remember, there were the Pulps before him. There was a time Namor was THE anti-hero and F4 sold like hotcakes. Everything we take as cultural icons today aren't sure to be the same decades, let alone centuries, from now.

What the hell you want me to **** my toys lol

I read once, in another forum, about a guy. He was housesitting and his friend had a collectibles room. The guy gets drunk and starts getting horny. Long story short, he jerked off and hotglued a Hot Toys Black Widow. Then he passed out. He wakes up, gets out of there, and pretends it's all alright. He cleaned the figure as best as he could and everything. Then his friend calls him on the phone; turns out he had a camera in that room.

 

[Victοr]

This is why I don't game.

I have thoroughly enjoyed gaming in the past. I played some RTS games with friends online, had the original PlayStation back in the day, got a character up to level 33 or something in WoW which I played with real-life friends (as opposed to people on the internet) ... but I very intentionally dropped gaming because those were hours I would have rather spent doing something else.

If I picked it up now I'd enjoy it, but the opportunity cost is too high for me, personally.

MMOs. Now that was a timesink. I remember internet cafes and having set times to play with everyone. So many of those games.

I haven't gamed in about a decade. Wait, that's wrong. The last game I finished was Bioshock: Infinite. Hell, I still haven't finished Deus Ex: Human Revolution. I install it from time to time, play an hour and uninstall it. Someday I'll finish it... I've started a full MGS playthrough in the recent years though. I finished MGS3 back in December. I take it very slow but I hope to be done at some point. Generally my VG interests extend to just wanting to play some things from my youth that I never finished. I'm scouring eBay and the such for old copies. I'll probably not even play them all, but I want to have those games I looked at as a kid but never bought for one reason or another.

As for the timesink, yeah, it's dangerous. Collectibles may withdrawl your cash much faster, but games steal your time. But having tried all forms of "virtual escapism", I'd say that vidya triumphs over watching movies and shows. I'm glad I watched Mad Men and Sopranos, but there are tons of other series I've consumed over the years that had literally 0 merit and impact. No matter how many 70s European Arthouse I've watched to impress some imaginary art snob, nothing really "got to me". I find reading the classics to be a better way to "flex", as they actually grow the brain. Watching is still just a passive activity. It's telling when most directors don't even watch many films; they just create. So, all that said, if you absolutely want to kill an hour at home, I find playing a game's better. At least for me. I get more enjoyment out of doing something, even virtual.

I have always had a constrained, love-hate relationship with collecting and I'd say my collection has expanded and contracted 3 times ... while I always knew it would as I sorted out what I really cared about, I think this time is probably the last time -- I won't have much left when it's over but it'll be stuff that I truly care to see in my space.

My collection has been pretty steady, I just usually drop lines and things at some point. And I was young when I started so I never hard a personal disposable income to go over the top. Recently I put everything down, books, comics, figures, games, whatever, and narrowed it down to a few properties. A few characters, a few specific runs, all that. And I have a set goal of a "mixed-media" collection I want to eventually form. Not now, obviously. It'll take years and years, but I find that it's easier to have a program. That also keeps my hoarding tendencies in check as I'm forcing myself to choose between various lines and whatnot. Now, there'll be the odd exception here and there, but I'm keeping myself on a tight leash.

And honestly, it's freeing. After years and years of ceaseless consuming, it's nice to just have a certain list of wants. Or a vision of what you want your "Collection Room/Cabinet" to look like. Even if it's a piece that's not as highly regarded by the general audience, but I care about it for one reason or the other, I wager it has a spot in my display over something objectively superior. Because at the end of the day a collection is supposed to be a personal expression of sorts, with all its quirks and faults.

 

[screamingmetal]

Just watched Thor The Dark World again the other day. I haven't seen this in years, liked it back then and was puzzled why most people didn't like it, yeah now I see the bad. All the stuff with Natalie Portman and her group was terrible. I don't think Portman's Jane Foster is at all that compelling of a character and Portman just phones it in. Every time they shifted from the A story to the B story I wanted to fast forward. I didn't care about most of the human characters ( I still like Selvig because of his other appearances) and the comedic tone felt forced like Selvig's desperate gag of wanting to constantly remove his clothes. I also think showing a war going on in the first few minutes of the movie was the wrong move, we don't know or care why people were fighting so it just felt like uninteresting action fluff. The main story was good and I think the villain Malekith had potential but it's all hampered by the Portman Scooby gang pablum.
Now that she's back and central to the L&T I don't have any interest seeing it when it comes out.

 

[Spartan Rex]

Just watched Thor The Dark World again the other day. I haven't seen this in years, liked it back then and was puzzled why most people didn't like it, yeah now I see the bad. All the stuff with Natalie Portman and her group was terrible. I don't think Portman's Jane Foster is at all that compelling of a character and Portman just phones it in. Every time they shifted from the A story to the B story I wanted to fast forward. I didn't care about most of the human characters ( I still like Selvig because of his other appearances) and the comedic tone felt forced like Selvig's desperate gag of wanting to constantly remove his clothes. I also think showing a war going on in the first few minutes of the movie was the wrong move, we don't know or care why people were fighting so it just felt like uninteresting action fluff. The main story was good and I think the villain Malekith had potential but it's all hampered by the Portman Scooby gang pablum.
Now that she's back and central to the L&T I don't have any interest seeing it when it comes out.

For the reasons u mention and the fact that Thor seems way under powered. It’s a good looking film but wasn’t as Thor focused as it should’ve been. Had to have Loki again and all the others. Thor didn’t seem to distraught over losing mom. Seeing bada$$ Bor and his soldiers get the job done was cool. Has it ever been made clear to Thor,Odin or Loki that Loki was responsible for Friggas death? Don’t think it has. The Asgardian funeral scene was beautiful.
It could’ve been more and now we’re stuck with bro Thor because the serious tone didn’t make money.

 

[ObiGlennKenobi]

New Thor set at Little Bay,Sydney!!

 

[matticus]

You guys asked for her, now you got her!

 

[Spartan Rex]

I think that?s Melissa McCarthy as Hela.

Thors goats, a better look :

 

[Wor-Gar]

It was so funny the first time... that we brought Matt back with Melissa... it will be a hoot.

Taika: If its not funny, it won't make my cut.

 

[Dave_W]

Natalie Jackedman

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

Natalie Jackedman

View attachment 508169

Ok, that's pretty good. Much respect. I've been complaining for a while about actresses not putting enough muscle to play super heroes like the male actors do, so that's nice to see for a change.

 

[jye4ever]

Nope don’t believe it that has to be a photoshop joke.

 

[Dave_W]

Well the full set of pics are here

https://natalieportmanbr.sosugary.com/thumbnails.php?album=96

 

[loki2371]

Natalie Jackedman

View attachment 508169

I highly doubt that's Portman. It's either photoshopped or that's her stunt double.

Picture looks off.

Here's a video that says it's her stunt double (in the video). Looks just like her.



If it is her, it's sad that she managed to get more muscular in less time than Gadot did for Wonder Woman..

 

[matticus]

Natalie Jackedman

View attachment 508169

She looks weird there....WOULD NOT BANG

 

[ShadowGuardian]

Was just catching up on the conversation a few pages back, despite it greatly deviating from the thread topic. XD Very fascinating and both ZE and darthkostis - you guys have excellent points. I just have a few random thoughts; sorry if they come off as jumbled lol.

At the end of the day all this is entertainment, and it can be simply that - entertaining. But once it begins to define a person then I feel like it's gone too far. It's okay to enjoy and nerd out a bit, but when it becomes obsessive and it starts to take away from the rest of life.... There has always been entertainment but there has never been a time like today where "pop culture" is this massive money making behemoth that people get engulfed by. When I was a teenager I definitely got obsessed with a lot of pop culture properties in a way that would be too much now. As a teenager I think it's alright; it's just part of growing up. But once I went off to college things changed; I still enjoyed those things but I began to focus on the things that really matter in life and began to invest more time into my relationships and growth instead of keeping up with every ounce of news for an upcoming property. That's not to say pop culture is bad, but it could have negative effects if you are indulging in it too much. You could have a delicious cake, and a slice or two can be tasty. But if you eat the whole thing in one sitting then obviously that's unhealthy. Baker Micky may want you to eat the whole cake right away so you buy another and get caught up in constantly buying more cake, but that doesn't mean you should.

I am still extremely adamant that the greatest stories are the ones that have a definitive ending. All good things must come to an end. I enjoy Marvel, DC, Star Wars, whatever but my absolute favorites are still the things that have ended (whether it be LOTR, or TDK trilogy, POTC trilogy, or even the original SW trilogy - they all have proper endings). Just taking Marvel and Star Wars for example now, I'll still watch/read to be entertained but when there is no end in sight, I not only become less invested in new content but it also just never really seems to satisfy. It's missing a lot of heart.

As far as collecting specifically, I've said this before on the forum but while I find it enjoyable, the longer I collect and partake in the collecting community the more everything just kind of blurs together and I find myself not caring quite as much or not being satisfied. There will ALWAYS be some new figure for a new show, or a new figure for an older movie you like, or an updated version of something you already have, etc. At some point a line must be drawn. There have been numerous times where I've been like "okay this is it," and then I almost inevitably get bored of a piece and sell it, with my eyes set on something else. Sometimes it does make me ask "what's the point?" Though in being more picky for the past few years in what I buy, most of the time each item I do get becomes more special and enjoyable since it's more of a rare occurrence. And I have the belief that if you've properly budgeted and you have some extra money on hand, it's totally okay to spend it on a Hot Toys or a statue to enjoy for a while even if you end up selling it.
But as I was saying I am slowly feeling less invested in collecting as a whole because just like with stories, all good things should have an end. I want a definitive end to my collection and I am trying to once and for all settle on what that looks like. A big part of me just wants to go all out and get a couple Prime 1 statues, essentially having my collecting culminate in a big, beautiful, expensive piece or two. Everything else would be sold save for 1 or 2 smaller things. Though to be fair my collection is also drastically smaller than it used to be (I can count all the pieces I have on my fingers lol).

Reading this all over I am not sure how much it directly relates to the previous conversation, but the freaks got my gears turning and this was the result.

 

[Victοr]

At the end of the day all this is entertainment, and it can be simply that - entertaining. But once it begins to define a person then I feel like it's gone too far. It's okay to enjoy and nerd out a bit, but when it becomes obsessive and it starts to take away from the rest of life.... There has always been entertainment but there has never been a time like today where "pop culture" is this massive money making behemoth that people get engulfed by. When I was a teenager I definitely got obsessed with a lot of pop culture properties in a way that would be too much now. As a teenager I think it's alright; it's just part of growing up. But once I went off to college things changed; I still enjoyed those things but I began to focus on the things that really matter in life and began to invest more time into my relationships and growth instead of keeping up with every ounce of news for an upcoming property. That's not to say pop culture is bad, but it could have negative effects if you are indulging in it too much. You could have a delicious cake, and a slice or two can be tasty. But if you eat the whole thing in one sitting then obviously that's unhealthy. Baker Micky may want you to eat the whole cake right away so you buy another and get caught up in constantly buying more cake, but that doesn't mean you should.

Exactly. The last few generations grew up with pop culture. The latest ones did so with a wide array of mediums to choose from. So all these products and meaningless ways of escapism started being core points of their personality. The problem arises when one cannot move on and remains stuck in the "lessons" spouted by a cape in a serial magazine. When something that its own creators see as just a way to make cash, is treated like an important piece of literature. The more I see people swing towards that side, the more I resent all the money and time I've wasted on pop culture.

I am still extremely adamant that the greatest stories are the ones that have a definitive ending. All good things must come to an end. I enjoy Marvel, DC, Star Wars, whatever but my absolute favorites are still the things that have ended (whether it be LOTR, or TDK trilogy, POTC trilogy, or even the original SW trilogy - they all have proper endings). Just taking Marvel and Star Wars for example now, I'll still watch/read to be entertained but when there is no end in sight, I not only become less invested in new content but it also just never really seems to satisfy. It's missing a lot of heart.

When I was younger I used to like the endless nature of such big IPs. It was more good stuff, right? But at some point I realized that there's no point in caring about any sort of product, since it's subject to retcons, retellings, reboots and whatever else, motivated purely out of just the need to sell more. So yeah, I'm gravitating towards "finished" stuff as well, even in my pop culture. I've gotten rid of all Big 2 stuff my pull list now, and just follow some indies. I've gone back to playing some older vidya that have concluded for a long time now. I'm just too tired to care about anything ongoing. If I want some easy escapism, I need to know there's an endpoint to it all.

As far as collecting specifically, I've said this before on the forum but while I find it enjoyable, the longer I collect and partake in the collecting community the more everything just kind of blurs together and I find myself not caring quite as much or not being satisfied. There will ALWAYS be some new figure for a new show, or a new figure for an older movie you like, or an updated version of something you already have, etc. At some point a line must be drawn. There have been numerous times where I've been like "okay this is it," and then I almost inevitably get bored of a piece and sell it, with my eyes set on something else. Sometimes it does make me ask "what's the point?" Though in being more picky for the past few years in what I buy, most of the time each item I do get becomes more special and enjoyable since it's more of a rare occurrence. And I have the belief that if you've properly budgeted and you have some extra money on hand, it's totally okay to spend it on a Hot Toys or a statue to enjoy for a while even if you end up selling it.

I've been feeling that for a while now, which is why I sat down and made a couple of lists. What IPs I still care about, what I have some fond memories of, all that. I broke them down by medium, filtered them to leave only the most "important" ones and so on. Now I know what Omnibuses I want to buy, what figures, everything. I have a clear vision of just exactly what I need and I'm sticking to it. There's a chance I'll deviate once or twice and buy some new thing, but I'm done chasing the new fads or trying to be an uber-completionist.

But as I was saying I am slowly feeling less invested in collecting as a whole because just like with stories, all good things should have an end. I want a definitive end to my collection and I am trying to once and for all settle on what that looks like. A big part of me just wants to go all out and get a couple Prime 1 statues, essentially having my collecting culminate in a big, beautiful, expensive piece or two. Everything else would be sold save for 1 or 2 smaller things. Though to be fair my collection is also drastically smaller than it used to be (I can count all the pieces I have on my fingers lol).

I'm still not that far into downsizing, but I do more or less see the whole idea of a collection as a way for me to close the chapters. An Omnibus for each of my favourite comic series, an HT figure for my favourite characters, basically a way to represent certain things. After that I'm done. Once I buy the "necessary" merch the chapter is closed, my "completionism" is satisfied, and all is well. I've shortened my "wish list" a LOT over the years though, and that's something.

 

[ironwez20]

When I was a mere boy I use to want to collect toys from each marvel film, collect many hot toys and collect iron man toys. I didn?t have the money sometimes. Idk why I use to bust my ass trying to get these things. I don?t why I didn?t just save money. Now I just buy what I think I really want and not buy it just to buy it to finish a collection. In my age now I don?t get the same fulfillment as I did opening a new figure cause months later a new version gets announced of that same toy. But I still enjoy the hobby sometimes cause I love the characters and it does look nice on the shelf

 

[Victοr]

When I was a mere boy I use to want to collect toys from each marvel film, collect many hot toys and collect iron man toys. I didn?t have the money sometimes. Idk why I use to bust my ass trying to get these things. I don?t why I didn?t just save money.

I know exactly how you feel. I cleaned up the whole place the other day, went through every nook and cranny. And when I was done, I sat and looked around. So many useless things. With no importance or significance, just sitting there, wasted money. Comics, figures, random things. I never dived deep into 1/6th back then, so whatever I do have from there is specific. But I have so much useless clutter from other lines and products. I even ended up with a huge box compromised only of comics I cancelled and random issues. I had series I never even remember collecting. The "leftovers" alone were an entire shelf, imagine that...

Now I just buy what I think I really want and not buy it just to buy it to finish a collection. In my age now I don?t get the same fulfillment as I did opening a new figure cause months later a new version gets announced of that same toy. But I still enjoy the hobby sometimes cause I love the characters and it does look nice on the shelf

Exactly. Now whatever I buy or think about buying goes through an "inspection" of sorts. I don't get random or useless things. Every little merch has to mean something. I have an idea of what I want my future collection room to look like, and I'm not deviating from that. I'm sticking with 1/6th because it's the perfect balance between realistic representations in a high end collectible, and a reasonable enough pricetag. I'm not getting into statues, but they are maybe 5 or so characters that'd tempt me in the future. My "problem" is that a lot of the stuff I like probably won't ever get figures, so I'll probably go get the BluRay boxset or something. Or I'll break down and get the Barbie Mad Men dolls... Bottom line, to the average person this whole ordeal is nonsensical. Cut the cord and stop buying overpriced dollies. But we're here, and we're unlikely to completely dump it all, so limiting it is a good way to control it. You got into it, might as well finish it gracefuly. But you need an endgoal for that, and that's how I'm approaching the whole thing now.

 

[ironwez20]

Yea I see some grail pieces and some very cool figures of characters I always wanted I?ll definitely buy . Instead of instantly buying like I use to I admire from afar.

I see the new wanda vision figure. Very cool. I see the same old discussion about rooted hair and not accurate to her face or whatever. I just admire the toy and leave the thread. Cause I?m not going to buy it. Sure it?s a cool costume but now if I want a wanda or vision toy the older ones will now go down in price. Then they?ll be another wanda toy and that new one will go down in price. So there is no rush anymore to get these.

Plus it?s just something I don?t want. Again I look at my old avengers 1 figures and I think about how I spent 1000 to get them including Loki and I don?t even like him and I ask myself why the hell did I do that .

It?s crazy how I just use to buy just to have. But I was young

 

[Victοr]

That's completionism for you. You like say one character. But then you get his BFF and his archnemesis, so why not get the Character-But-Woman and Character-But-Teen versions, and then you might as well get the entire team and- It quickly gets out of hand. And at that point, money aside, it loses its value. You basically have a bunch of overpriced Barbies. Nothing sticks out and that's the worst thing in a collection. Evey piece must have a story. Otherwise, what's the point? That's why you have to know exactly what you want. For example, I'm not the biggest Batfan these days, but I want a Batman at some point, just because way back when I was. Maybe I'll hunt down a Batfleck or Arkhamverse, or wait and get a Battinson, we'll see. Hell, I still don’t know if I’m going to keep my TDKR PO. I'll get a Ledger Joker too, but I'm not trying to create an entire shelf or buy the entire Nolanverse. Likewise I'm a pretty big Ironfan, but I only need just the one figure. Maybe I'd buy a Tuxedo Tony or something. At the same time, I used to like the X-Men quite a bit back in the day, but I'm now completely over them to the point of disliking them, so I wouldn't even buy a single figure. There are a thousand other things I once liked, played, read, watched, whatever, that I got some enjoyment out of. If I kept them all on the same level of "attachment", I'd never be done with anything. There'd always be something to buy and to consume. Hell, I wouldn't even have any actual favourites or preferences, because I'd be unable to choose anything from the entire "list". You are meant to outgrow the vast majority of entertainment.

It's honestly just an easy hole to dig yourself into, with all things.
"Oh, I like Westerns & Cowboys, so I might as well watch this subpar tv show because hey, it's got Cowboys."
"Well, I do like Cyberpunk so I might as well watch all these Cyberpunk anime, regardless of quality or if they're grabbing me; I mean, I love Blade Runner and read Neuromancer!"
"I do remember once seeing this game in passing, and I kinda want to relive my nostalgia, so I might as well pour 30 hours in this, regardless if it's appealing to me or not, because hey, that one moment in time is bringing me some pretty mild feelings of joy and I'll take what I can get."
And so on and so forth. Especially with collectibles it's even easier since it's just money. If you have it, you throw it. You get it and it's onto the next one. A game/show/book takes time to get through, and at some point you might get enough fatigue to drop it. A collectible just needs the cash and clicking on a button.