Marvelous Mythology?
I don't normally analyze movie trailers in advance of a film's release, but Thor: Ragnarok is a special exception for me. From the day in my childhood that I first learned of the existence of non-biblical mythologies, I was fascinated with them, primarily Classical, Egyptian and Norse mythologies. Later I was naturally attracted to Marvel's comic book The Mighty Thor featuring the adventures of the superhero version of the Norse thunder god who Thursday is named after.
At my local library, I discovered and fell in love with The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland, which I read in junior high and again in high school. Now I have my own copy and it still is my favorite mythology book of any mythology.
Although they aren't my favorite MCU movies, I did enjoy first two Thor films. Elements of mythology from the first film include Yggdrasil, Bifrost/Rainbow Bridge, and the Nine Worlds. Marvel's "Nine Realms" are Asgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Nidavellir, Alfheim, and of course Midgard (although not all realms are shown). In addition to Thor himself, we have Odin, Frigg, Loki, Heimdallr, Sif and Laufey (although the last two are significantly different than in mythology). Buri and Bor, Odin's grandfather and father, are mentioned. Peoples included in the film are the Jötnar (frost giants in the movie), the Vanir, the Æsir (Asgardians), and the Einherjar (Asgardian army). Odin's animals are Sleipnir, Huginn and Muninn. The weapons Mjölnir, Gungnir, and Hǫfuð are present. Thor the Dark World shows Bor, and it adds Tyr, Eir, and the Svartálfar. Hel is mentioned (as a region of Niflheim). Now, below is the new trailer for the third Thor film...
In Norse Mythology, Ragnarök (the doom of the gods) is the prophesied climactic clash of the gods with the giants, an army of the dead, and several terrible monsters. Ragnarok is an epic tale where the Nine Worlds are destroyed and recreated. I've had my reservations about Marvel's version of the story beyond Mjölnir being destroyed and reports of the film's comedy level. Of course I've never expected a version of the tale that would be significantly faithful to mythology but I still want Marvel to take the original source material seriously. The new trailer has alleviated some of my concerns...
We see more of Hela, the new mythological character based on Hel the goddess of death. Hela also happens to be the first female major villain of the MCU.
Here we seem to have the army of Hel.
Here we have a version of the Valkyries lead by Brynhildr.
The lead Valkyrie seems to join Thor's "team" against Hela.
Here we seem to have the giant wolf Fenrir. In mythology this monster kills Odin.
This is undoubtedly Surt the fire giant. In mythology he sets fire to Asgard destroying almost everything in the Nine Worlds.
Notably missing from the trailers is the monster Jormungand, a giant sea serpent and Thor's arch enemy in mythology. In the final battle of Ragnarok, Thor slays Jormungand but gets sprayed by its venom and dies. They obviously aren't going to kill off Thor but I hope the film has the world serpent and they are just saving it so it remains unspoiled.
What else? I'm not a big fan of Hulk, but he isn't getting his own sequels and he logically wasn't in Captain America: Civil War, so I'm ok with Hulk being in Thor: Ragnarok. He seems more appropriate for an epic clash with monsters and giants. And from watching this trailer I learned that the versatile Karl Urban is in this film and he is always good. I'm still worried about Mjölnir's apparent destruction. It just can't be gone! I'd love to see a dramatic moment in the movie when Thor calls the broken pieces to his hand and reforges it with lightning.
Thor: Ragnarok opens on November 3, 2017.
