Casino Royale (2006)

This is the first James Bond movie to feature current actor Daniel Craig

Summary

-Now that he has a 00 status and legitimate license to kill, James Bond is given a new mission. He must investigate a banker who is funding terrorists through a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale in Montenegro

Cast

-Daniel Craig: James Bond

-Eva Green: Vesper Lynd

-Mads Mikkelsen: Le Chiffre

-Judi Dench: M

-Jeffrey Wright: Felix Leiter

-Giancarlo Giannini: Rene Mathis

-Caterina Murino: Solange

-Simon Akbarian: Alex Dimitrios

-Isaach De Bankole: Steven Obanno

-Jesper Christensen: Mr. White

Did You Know?

-Daniel Craig was hesitant to take the role of James Bond because he felt the series had settled into a standard format. After reading the script, he changed his mind

-When Bond orders his first vodka martini, it's the same way that James Bond ordered them in the Ian Fleming novels

-For the iconic scene where Daniel Craig comes out of the water in Speedos, the film crew were out of camera range in boats fending off the paparazzi, who heard there was a movie being filmed

-To prepare for his role as James Bond, Daniel Craig read all of Ian Fleming's novels and he also talked with British Secret Service agents and Mossad agents who worked as advisers for the 2005 film Munich

-Daniel Craig had gotten a call from producer Barbara Broccoli stating he won the role of James Bond while he was grocery shopping. He left everything behind to celebrate with martinis. She told him "Over to you, kiddo."

-To prepare for this movie, Daniel Craig had managed to gain twenty pounds of muscle by doing cardio on the weekends, training five days a week, eating mostly proteins and limiting intake on carbs

-The character Le Chiffre was said to be based on English occultist Aleister Crowley

-For most of the shooting, Daniel Craig stated he was in pain due to the rigorous stunts he was required to perform

-This is the first film to show James Bond as a rookie MI6 agent. In the previous movies, he was already an established spy

-A lot of news was made about Daniel Craig's incredibly muscular form in this film. Being in good shape is nothing new to him; he was a semi-professional rugby player at one point

-Daniel Craig had quit smoking and hired Simon Waterson to work as a trainer to help him get into shape

-During a fight scene in Prague, Daniel Craig lost two of his front teeth. He had his dentist fly all the way from London to fix them

-Former James Bond actors Sir Sean Connery, Sir Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and George Lazenby were all in high support of Daniel Craig being the new James Bond

-Prior to Daniel Craig being hired for the role of James Bond, actor Henry Cavill was seriously considered for this role. But, according to director Martin Campbell, Henry was only 22 years old and considered too young for the role

-Barbara Broccoli's first choice for James Bond was Daniel Craig after seeing him in 2004's Layer Cake

-Daniel Craig stated he wanted to stay faithful to the book by showing the character's vulnerabilities and showing that he makes mistakes. He also stated that the drama would be there when he gets it right and make the audience think it's all going to go wrong and that when it goes all right, the audience would get more excited

-This was the highest grossing James Bond film until 2012's Skyfall beat it

-The navy-blue three-piece suit worn by Daniel Craig at the end resembles the gray suit worn by Sean Connery in 1964's Goldfinger

-There is a supposed nod to Honey Rider's entrance in 1962's Dr. No in this movie. That is because Daniel Craig hit a sandbar that he didn't know was there, forcing him to stand up and walk to the shore

-Some of the actors considered for the role of James Bond included Henry Cavill, Gerard Butler, Dominic West, Alex O'Loughlin

-When it was announced Daniel Craig would be the new James Bond, controversy erupted everywhere. It was due simply to the fact that Daniel Craig was blonde and didn't have dark hair like the other actors who played this character. Because of this, Craig had earned the nickname "James Blond" because of his blond hair

-The original novel has Le Chiffre as an unattractive, overweight man. The actor who plays him in the film, Mads Mikkelsen, doesn't fit that type

-The poker dealer at The Ocean Club is a woman named Jessica Miller. In real life, she is the Poker Room Manager at the Crystal Palace Casino in Nassau, Bahamas

-At 5'10'', Daniel Craig was the shortest actor to play James Bond, compared to George Lazenby, Sir Roger Moore, Sir Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan, who were all around 6'2''

-On October 14, 2005, the day that Daniel Craig was announced as the new James Bond, former James Bond actor Roger Moore was celebrating his 78th birthday

-The character Steven Obanno was based on terrorist Joseph Kony

-When Le Chiffre explains his bleeding eye, he says "Weeping blood comes merely from a derangement of the tear duct, my dear General. Nothing sinister." In optometry and ophthalmology, the medical term for the left eye is the Latin term Ocular Sinister or OS. The Latin word for left is sinister. Left side or left handedness was always associated, historically, with evil

-When he first got the role of James Bond, Daniel Craig ran to the previous actor who played Bond and he told Craig to take the role because of Craig being hesitant to take the role. Later on, in an interview, Pierce Brosnan stated Daniel Craig is a great James Bond and that he enjoyed watching him a lot

-M's personal assistant is named Villiers. It's a nod to Amherst Villiers, a British automotive engineer best known for creating the supercharged 4.5 liter Bentley that James Bond drove in the novels

-Some of the actresses considered for the role of Vesper Lynd include Jennifer Connelly, Vera Farmiga (who was turned down for being "too American), Kimberly Davies, Rachel McAdams, Michelle Pfeiffer, Olivia Wilde and Rachel Stirling. Ironically, Rachel Stirling's mother is Diana Rigg, who appeared in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service

-The gambling scene was inspired by the Casino Estoril in Lisbon, Portugal. During WWII, German high command figures would frequent this casino, because of its relatively close distance to Germany. On his visit there, Fleming lost three times, but was unaware that his future novel series starring a British spy names James Bond, would have a title made into three movies

-When Bond is poisoned at the casino, the condition is diagnosed as Ventricular Tachycardia Digitalis. It's an increased heart rate that leads to uncoordinated heart contractions called ventricular fibrillation, which leads to death. The digitalis references digitalis-induced ventricular tachycardia, which is caused by a drug called Digoxin or Lanoxin. This is a medication for cardiac issues that can kill if done in overdose conditions. It's derived from a type of foxglove plant called Digitalis Lanata, better known as either Grecian Foxglove or Woolly Foxglove

-It isn't until 2012's Skyfall that M's real name is revealed as Olivia Mansfield

-When James Bond realizes he's been poisoned in the casino, he grabs a salt shaker and a glass. In medicine, it's known that salt water is an emetic, which means you will throw up if you consume it. He is trying to clear the poison out of his body

Die Another Day (2002)

The last film of the James Bond series, at least for Pierce Brosnan. Daniel Craig would be the new James Bond now

Summary

-International spy James Bond is on to his next mission. This one involves investigating the connection between a diamond mogul, a North Korean terrorist and the funding of a deadly new space weapon

Cast

-Pierce Brosnan: James Bond

-Halle Berry: Jinx Johnson

-Toby Stephens: Gustav Graves

-Rosamund Pikes: Miranda Frost

-Rick Yune: Zao

-Judi Dench: M

-John Cleese: Q

-Michael Madsen: Damian Falco

-Will Yun Lee: Colonel Moon

-Kenneth Tsang: General Moon

-Emilio Echevarria: Raoul

-Michael Gorr: Vlad

-Samantha Bond: Miss Moneypenny

Did You Know?

-The book that Bond picks up, in addition to a revolver, is A Field Guide to Birds of the West Indies by James Bond. Ian Fleming is an avid birdwatcher and named his famed character after the author of the book

-Pierce Brosnan didn't like the overuse of gadgets and technology in this film. He wanted it to go back to its simpler, more low key, darker roots. After Brosnan left, the next Bond film was indeed darker and more low key. Casino Royale (2006), which was simpler, without the heavy use of gadgets and visual effects.

-Rosamund Pike's theatrical debut

-The crew encountered a problem with shooting North Korean segments in England. There were only two stunt men of Asian descent in the UK. To relieve this issue, local martial arts clubs were visited and recruited for the movie

-While filming in Cuba, Halle Berry had started choking on a fig. Pierce Brosnan successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on her, thus saving her life

-Rosamund Pike was incredibly intimidated by her first on screen role because she was acting along side Dame Judi Dench.

-While filming, Rosamund Pike had to leave the set for one day to attend her graduation from Oxford University for English Literature

-This is the first James Bond film to feature an Aston Martin since 1987's The Living Daylights

-For his scenes as a captured prisoner, Pierce Brosnan spent three hours in makeup every day having a false beard and long hair attached

-Less than a month after this movie hit theaters, fencing clubs in the UK saw an increase of interest in the sport and more people taking up the sport

-There is one scene where Gustav Graves arrives in London to be knighted by the Queen. The actor who plays him, Toby Stephens, his parents are Sir Robert Stephens and Dame Magge Smith, both of whom have this prestigious honor

-The scenes showing North Korea were bleached of color on purpose to give the area a feel of inhospitality

-Pierce Brosnan stated he was glad John Cleese's character was "Q" and not "R". Because of Brosnan's Irish accent, it would have been difficult to pronounce "R" with a strong, but convincing English accent

-This is one of the few James Bond movies to use other types of music. This film used The Clash's "London Calling" while A View to Kill from 1985 used "California Girls" by The Beach Boys

-The fuschia-colored dress Jinx Johnson wears to the Ice Palace Party was designed by Donatella Versace. Lindy Hemming, who works as a costume designer, saw a similar design in a magazine and made a request to Donatella to make one special for Halle Berry

-The device that is used to identify James Bond is a Sony Ericcson P800 mobile phone. It was the first appearance of a smart phone in a James Bond film

-This was Pierce Brosnan's final James Bond film

-The diamond-encrusted makeup on Rick Yune took three hours to put on

-The UK premiere of this film took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London with Queen Elizabeth II attending

-The abandoned station on the London Underground, references the actual address of the real headquarters for MI6, which is located at 85 Vauxhall Cross

-Despite being shown as a US base, the aircraft and personnel are actually British in real life

-Actual active duty US Marines appeared in various scenes in this movie, including the prisoner exchange scenes and helo hangar scenes

-Deborah Moore, the daughter of former James Bond actor Roger Moore, appears briefly as a flight attendant on the British Airways flight

-Madonna appeared briefly as the fencing instructor, Verity

Wendy Dio Says Ronnie was "always overlooked" during his career

The late legend's wife Wendy says that during his career, Ronnie was "always overlooked"

In a new interview, the late wife of legendary singer Ronnie James Dio, discusses the legacy he left behind and his influence on fans both old and new. "I just think that Ronnie was always overlooked during the time that he was alive. And after his passing, I just felt that his music was something he wrote for the fans, he performed for the fans. He loved his fans and that should continue and carry on. That's one of the reasons why we did this documentary, was so that people could understand him, understand his life and where he came from and the trials and tribulations he had. He wasn't an overnight success. He paid his dues, for sure. And also to get his message out there. Ronnie's message was always like, follow your heart, follow your dreams [and] don't give up."

In the same interview, Wendy, who helped produce the documentary, Dio: Dreamers Never Die, she revealed her first reaction to seeing it. It will hit cinemas worldwide on Sept. 28 and Oct. 2. "When they put the film together, and we had a private screening for me, it was my first chance to see all the little bits put together and it was very bittersweet. I broke down and cried. And it was just exactly how I wanted Ronnie to be portrayed. They had done such a magnificent job. And that was just really, really - after all the hard work we all put into it, it was like 'woah.' I think the fans are absolutely gonna love it."

The new documentary had been fully authorized by the artist's estate and explores the creative life, rising from a 50s doo-wop crooner to his early days in Elf and Rainbow to replacing Black Sabbath front man Ozzy Osbourne and finally fronting his own self-named band. The film also includes never-before-seen footage and photos, in addition to close scenes with some of his peers, family and friends. They include: Wendy Dio, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Vinny Appice, Glenn Hughes, Lita Ford, Judas Priest front man Rob Halford, Sebastian Bach and Jack Black

Paul Di'Anno undergoes surgery on his leg

The former Iron Maiden vocalist undergoes leg surgery.

Paul Di'Anno, known best for his gravelly vocals and fronting Iron Maiden from 1980-1981, had to recently undergo surgery on his leg that, if he had not done that, would have lost the leg. He's been bound to a wheelchair as a result of bilateral knee surgery and having an abscess the size of a rugby ball removed from his lungs. He has a Croatian caregiver, Stjepan Juras, who has been incredibly helpful in caring for Di'Anno. He has been assisting the singer in raising money for medical treatments. He has this statement. "In short...the operation is over, the doctor is satisfied, he solved the problem. Paul's skin is now being stitched up and he will be woken up soon. If the wound heals well, the operation can be considered a success."

He's been bound to a wheelchair for seven years and has suffered from a difficult condition that could have robbed him of a leg. But, a doctor in Croatia was able to help him. Since November 2021, he has been undergoing treatment in Croatia, where he received lymphatic drainage treatment and courses of daily physiotherapy. Fans and friends alike raised the money to help him get back to normal.

When his former band, Iron Maiden, began their Legacy of the Beast tour on 5/22/22, Paul was invited backstage, where he reunited with manager Rod Smallwood and bassist Steve Harris. For those unfamiliar with Di'Anno, he had sung on Iron Maiden's first two albums, 1980's Iron Maiden and 1981's Killers. He spent the last few months in the Croatian capital city undergoing treatment involving lymphatic drainage prior to his knee surgery.

During an interview on The Metal Voice, Di'Anno recounted the meeting with Harris and Smallwood. He referred to it as "quite emotional". "It was brilliant because I met up with Steve's sister Linda first, whom I hadn't seen her in about 30 years. And then...Steve was amazing, and then Rod as well, it's made my whole year, actually. It was fantastic. It was pretty awesome. It was quite emotional. If it had been the first time we spoke together in 30 years, it would have been maybe a little bit more weird. But, as I said, we talk about football and stuff like that, and Steve phoned me up a couple of times (from his home) in the Bahamas."

Below is an update from Juras that was posted in August.

"As you know, the entire community of Iron Maidens fans rose to their feet and gave a helping hand to the legendary singer Paul Di'Anno. Iron Maiden and Phantom Music also joined this grand action. This story would not be complete without the legendary monster Eddie and his creator Derek Riggs. Derek offered his special artwork that we will print on a T-shirt, along with a special certificate. The shirt will be unique and you have never seen anything like it before. Let's remember: Eddie "killed" Paul on the Venezuelan edition of the EP Maiden Japan, and now we will raise him again and give him a chance for a new life on his own two feet. You can order the last bundles with the 2022 event t-shirt and signed Warhorse DVD single at maidencroatia.com/warhorse."

"Although there were various suggestions and ideas about what to put on the front of the shirt, Derek chose one of his never-before-used illustrations directly related to the Killers album. He called the illustration "Axes High" in order to playfully play with the theme of the illustration and the name of the famous Maiden single from 1984. We thought it would be most appropriate to follow up on Derek's idea and write a message of support, Axes High for Paul Di'Anno!"

"The back design of the t-shirt will not be revealed until September 1st, after the design is ready for publication. What is so special and unique about that design is that it has to be revealed a whole month later? For the first time in the history, the names of the fans who helped do a good deed with this purchase, will be printed on the t-shirt. It means each shirt will be personalized. We want to present it to you in more detail what it will look like. Namely, under the illustration at the top of the back, the inscription 'Axes Crossed Tour 2022' will be written, and instead of the names of the cities and dates of the imaginary tour, the names of the fans will written in the same form as tour dates, that are usually found on the bands' t-shirts. It is for this reason that we cannot show you the final design. Only a limited number of names will be able to fit on the back of each shirt, so, if you want to be part of history and have your name included, you better order quickly (you can choose not to have your name printed if you don't like to, just to let us know.)"

This is the first time that Derek has drawn Paul, since the Venezuelan edition of the single "Maiden Japan" in 1981, where Eddie decapitated him. Today, Paul is smiling, proud and thanking all the fans who helped him survive the road to recovery. Someone would normally say "fingers crossed" for a speedy recovery, but in this case, it might be more appropriate or even better to say "Axes Crossed" for successful operations and a speedy recovery. You can order a gray, white or even black version of the shirt. You can even order all three. That way, you'll help Paul 3x as much. Pre-ordering can be done at this link and the shirts will be shipped out September 2022.

September Birthdays

Since it's September, time to say Happy Birthday!

Joe Perry

-Birth name: Anthony Joseph Pereira

-DOB: 9/10/1950

-Where: Lawrence, Massachusetts

-In the "Love in an Elevator" video, his current wife Billie is the woman he is making out with since he says that he is a "one woman man"

Jeremy Irons

-Birth name: Jeremy John Irons

-DOB: 9/19/1948

-Where: Cowes, Isle of Wight, England

-He considered becoming a veterinary surgeon before going into acting

Freddie Mercury

-Birth name: Faroukh Bomi Bulsara

-DOB: 9/5/1946

-Where: Stone Town, Tanzania

-DOD: 11/24/1991

-Where: London, England (AIDS-related complications)

-He named the band he was famous for, Queen, because of the sexual innuendo of the name and him being a strong supporter of the British monarchy

Colin Firth

-Birth name: Colin Andrew Firth

-DOB: 9/10/1960

-Where: Grayshott, Hampshire, England

-His parents were both college professors. His mother taught comparative religion at the Open University and his father taught history at Winchester University College. He also worked on education for the Nigerian government

Scott Travis

-Birth name: Mark Scott Travis

-DOB: 9/6/1961

-Where: Norfolk, Virginia

-Played drums for Racer X before joining Judas Priest

Charlie Watt's Passing: A Year Later

The Rolling Stones are still performing, despite long time sticksman Charlie Watts not being behind his iconic drums

It was first announced in August 2021 that Charlie Watts was not going to participate in the upcoming Rolling Stones tour. In a statement released by him: "For once my timing has been a little off. I am working hard to get fully fit but today I have accepted on the advice of the experts that this will take a while. After all the fans' suffering caused by COVID, I really do not want the many fans who have been holding tickets for this tour to be disappointed by another postponement or cancellation. I have therefore asked my great friend Steve Jordan to stand in for me."

Everyone assumed that Watts would return as soon as he recovered from what a spokesperson described as a "completely successful" procedure. Details were not released. It was 2004 when Watts had beaten throat cancer, which he chalked up to smoking heavily long ago. He had revealed any other health scares since then. It was on Aug. 24, 2021 that the news was out: Charlie Watts had passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in a London hospital

A mass flood of condolences poured in. Ringo Starr wrote on Twitter "God bless Charlie Watts. We're going to miss you, man." Many who gave their sympathies also complimented him on his unique style of drumming. Robbie Robertson commented "Charlie's drumming is powerful and unique. His approach is entirely his own and helped shape the sound of rock 'n' roll." Guitarist Ronnie Wood was closest to Charlie. He recalled his last visit with him. "We watched horse racing on TV and shot the breeze. I could tell he was pretty tired and fed up with the whole deal. He said, 'I was really hoping to be out of here by now.' Then after that, there was a complication or two and I wasn't allowed back. No one was." The last show Watts played with the Stones was a year earlier on Aug. 30, 2019 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It was one stop on the No Filter tour, which started in 2017 and was scheduled to end in 2020. The COVID pandemic put an end to all major touring

One of the first things on the minds of all Rolling Stones fans was whether the band would carry on with their rescheduled 2021 tour dates. It was to be confirmed they would, with Steve Jordan on drums. Prior to the tour starting back up, The Rolling Stones performed at a private event at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. At the show, Mick Jagger said "We all miss Charlie so much. We miss him as a band, we miss him as friends, on and off the stage." About a day later, the band kicked off the tour in St. Louis, performing at The Dome at America's Center. It marked the first time in 59 years the band has toured without Charlie Watts, but his presence was still strong in the photos and videos shown on the big screen. It was a sort of nod of respect to the passing of a fellow band member and friend

Steve Jordan, who replaced Watts on drums, was no stranger to the band. He had extensive experience working with them. He'd played with them and Keith Richards' solo band, The X-Pensive Winos. Keith Richards mentioned he was hesitant to tour without Watts. But Charlie encouraged him. "Charlie said to me 'You can do it with Steve. He can take my seat anytime.' And he talked me into it." Despite the positive encouragement and long resume, about mid-tour Jordan admitted it was still a tough job to have. In October 2021, Jordan admitted "There are people that don't understand that I lost a friend. So they're happy for me, but they don't understand that I'd rather not have this be the case. But The Rolling Stones have really, really done everything in their power to make the transition smooth and sympathetic and empathetic. They've been cognizant of everyone's feelings. I personally appreciate that."

Days prior to Watts' death, a special 40th anniversary box set edition of Tattoo You from 1981 was released. The special reissue included nine songs that the band returned to the studio to finish up, blissfully unaware it was the last time they would work with Watts. In a September 2021 interview, Mick Jagger said "I did some stuff with him in the studio very recently, while we were doing the Tattoo You things. Charlie did some work on just a few fills and stuff like that. And then we started messing around, we did some other things." A year later, a documentary titled My Life As a Rolling Stone debuted on Epix. Each episode was about a different member of the band. Work on the series had just begun when Watts passed away. Like the tour, the remaining band members had to finish what they started

Executive producer Steve Condie told Ultimate Classic Rock in an interview. "In a strange way, it made [the band] think we should be doing this because we want to show their appreciation of him." The final part of the series was about Watts, featuring his fellow Stones members and other musicians, talking of old times and showing their appreciation of him and his talent. "They wanted a program that would be devoted to him, in which they themselves - Ronnie, Keith and Mick - could say what they felt about Charlie, but also an opportunity for a broader audience to understand this extraordinary guy. It was a difficult period for them, obviously. It threw things into a little bit of doubt, but in the end, I think we all came around to the feeling that, actually, you know what? We've got to do this."

For the remaining band members, this tour and adjusting to life without their good friend and drummer doesn't happen overnight. Keith Richards told CBS in March 2022 "[It] is strange to turn suddenly and, you know, after all these years, you expect that face there!" Despite the fact Jordan has kept the drumming up to par, Watts is considered irreplaceable. In a 2021 interview, Jagger stated "It seems like only yesterday that I was in the studio with Charlie, joshing around. It's just so weird and then very sad. And I mean, it's such a long time that you work with someone like that, and you get to know someone so well and their quirks and their idiosyncrasies and they know yours. And there's a language in communication with musicians, obviously, or anything else...That's very rare. I miss that so much."

On the first anniversary of his passing, Mick Jagger posted a clip of photos and videos set to the 1974 Rolling Stones song "'Til the Last Goodbye" on his Twitter feed. In the clip, Jagger said "He had a great sense of humor. Outside the band we used to hang out quite a lot and have interesting times going. We liked sports, we'd go to football, we'd go to cricket games. We would have other interests apart from just music." Ronnie Wood also posted a series of photos, mentioning Watts' late wife Shirley, their daughter Seraphina and granddaughter. "Charlie, missing you every single day. Shirley, Seraphina and Charlotte, we hold you close in our hearts."

Watts had a reputation as "The Quiet One" in the band, compared to his rowdier bandmates. He was more content to stay in the hotel room or even visit local jazz clubs than engage in post-show parties like some rock musicians would. In a 2012 interview with Classic Rock, Watts stated "I'm very private. I'm not really that interested in talking about me." Watts was interested in music first. Everything else that came with it, be it fame, money, legacy, was sometimes a burden. He was also highly respected among other drummers. His style of playing was heavily influenced by jazz, but was simple and powerful. He was powerful without being aggressive. Complex without showing off. Judging from the level of tributes pouring in, he was definitely respected among his fellow drummers. The impact he had on music won't soon be forgotten. In the 1966 film Charlie is My Darling, he stated "Maybe it's an inferiority complex I've got. Or maybe I am great after all."

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

The most recent addition to the series of Marvel movies concerning the famed blond, hammer-wielding Viking god

Summary

-Gorr the God Butcher is looking to make all gods extinct. Thor must team up with ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, Korg and Valyrie to stop him

Cast

-Chris Hemsworth: Thor

-Natalie Portman: Jane Foster

-Tessa Thompson: King Valkyrie

-Christian Bale: Gorr

-Taika Waititi: Korg (voice)

-Russell Crowe: Zeus

-Jaimie Alexander: Sif

-Dave Bautista: Drax (voice)

Did You Know?

-Chris Hemsworth's family appears in this film.

• Sons Tristan and Sasha play young Thor
• Daughter India Rose plays Gorr's daughter Love
• Brother Luke Hemsworth plays a stag actor playing Thor
• Wife Elsa Pataky plays a former love of Thor

-Christian Bale initially turned down another comic book film after The Dark Knight Rises. He seen the genre as uninteresting from an acting point of view. He accepted a role in this film after his kids begged him to do it

-This being the 8th time he's played Thor, Chris Hemsworth was up to his biggest physique ever. He was up to 231 pounds and said, according to his trainer Luke Zocchi, to be the heaviest he's ever been. Hemsworth's physique required him to eat 8 times a day to maintain his musculature

-Russell Crowe wanted the character Zeus to speak with a Greek accent while director Taiki Waititi wanted Zeus to speak with a British accent. Takes were done, one with the Greek accent and one with the British accent. Waititi discovered Crowe was right; the Greek accent worked best

-On Thor's vest is an image of a tree with nine orbs surrounding it. This is a representation of the World Tree of Yggdrasil. In Norse mythology, it's the depiction of the cosmos and its nine realms

-In one part, Thor wears a vest over t-shirt and jeans. This is the uniform of Thunderstrike, a superhero who inherits Thor's powers

-The title of the film was inspired by the 1980s "sword and sorcery" subgenre

-Because Natalie Portman is a vegan, Chris Hemsworth would abstain from eating meat on days where kissing scenes were to be filmed

-The movie was shot in Australia, which is the home country of Chris Hemsworth and the neighboring country of New Zealand, the home country of director Taika Waititi and Russell Crowe

-In the beginning, when Korg telling the story of Thor, Thor can be seen wearing the classic costume of the comics

-In one scene, where Jane is having nightmares about Thor's battle, she sits straight up in bed. This is eerily similar to the "November Rain" video by Guns 'N' Roses, where Axl does the same thing. In fact, Jane was listening to "November Rain" at that time

-In this film, Jane's condition was listed only as cancer. In the comic Thor: God of Thunder #12, it was listed as breast cancer

-Guns N Roses has a very prominent role in this movie. The soundtrack is predominantly Guns N Roses tracks. Teenager Astrid only wants to be called "Axl" and in one scene, a child has a poster of Guns N Roses hanging on their wall

-In the comics, Heimdall has three children: Thrall (the first serf/slave), Karl (the first churl/peasant) and Jarl (the first earl/nobleman). In the film he has a son who goes by the name Axl (formerly Astrid). He is said to represent a new generation of Asgardians

-Heimdall's teen son Astrid asks to be known as "Axl" in honor of a "rock band from Earth". This reference is to Axl Rose, front man for LA-based rock band Guns N Roses. But in Norse, "axl" means "helmet"

-In the scene where Zeus flicks off Thor's clothes, a tattoo on Thor's back can be seen. A tribute to his brother Loki, who was killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

-In the storyline of the comic issue "Death of The Might Thor", very close to the film, continued use of Mjollnir was sapping what was left of Jane's strength, despite protecting her from cancer and her last transformation into the Mighty Thor would lead to her death. One difference is that in the film, Jane remained deceased while in the comics, Odin revived her so she could go to chemotherapy treatments to overcome her breast cancer

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The third film in the Thor series

Summary

-While imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must save Asgard from destruction at the hands of Hela

Cast

-Chris Hemsworth: Thor

-Tom Hiddleston: Loki

-Cate Blanchett: Hela

-Idris Elba: Heimdall

-Jeff Goldblum: Grandmaster

-Tessa Thompson: Valkyrie

-Karl Urban: Skurge

-Mark Ruffalo: Bruce Banner / Hulk

-Benedict Cumberbatch: Dr. Strange

Did You Know?

-Sir Anthony Hopkins was reluctant to reprise his role as Odin. But after reading the script, he changed his mind

-Prior to the destruction of the sets for 2016's Doctor Strange, director Taika Waititi used them for a scene that had been written for the movie. It featured Thor meeting Dr. Stephen Strange

-In both the Marvel comics and Norse mythology, Loki is the father of Fenris the Wolf and Hela

-This is the first time that the Incredibly Hulk is voiced by Mark Ruffalo, not Lou Ferrigno. Lou Ferrigno voiced the Hulk in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, 2012's The Avengers and 2015's The Avengers: Age of Ultron

-Cate Blanchett accepted the role of Hela to please her children. Her eldest son, Dashiell John Upton, said that it would be a good career boost

-In one scene, when Thor becomes a gladiator, his iconic long hair is cut short. In the history of ancient Roman gladiators, those chosen to become the iconic arena fighters were sent to gladiator school and had their hair cut short. Thor also wears a winged helmet, which is a nod to both the Marvel comics and Norse mythology

-On the soundtrack for this film is Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song". Led Zeppelin is often very choosy and known for rarely, if ever, allowing their music to be used in TV, films or video games. The times that their music has been used, it's been in connection with rock journalist Cameron Crowe

-Like the other Thor movies, Chris Hemsworth had to follow a strict diet to put on additional muscle weight for this film. He did this by working out almost all 7 days of the week and eating 6,000 calories a day

-While on Earth, Thor disguises his hammer, Mjollnir, as an umbrella. In the comics, while out and about in his mortal form of Dr. Donald Blake, he disguised his hammer as a walking stick

-Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" was chosen to appear in the film because of its Norse mythology lyrics "I come from the land of the ice and snow / from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow / the hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands / to fight the horde and sing and cry Valhalla I am coming"

-To train for her role as Hela, Cate Blanchett studied the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira

-In one scene, where Dr. Strange leaves his business card, the address reads 177A Bleecker Street. It's accurate to the comics and similar to 221B Baker Street (the address of Sherlock Holmes, who Benedict Cumberbatch played on 2010's Sherlock). It's the real life address of Dr. Strange writer Roy Thomas

-During the scene that introduces The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), a sort of synthesizer sound is heard. In real life, Goldblum is a highly talented pianist. He and a jazz combo band he has play semi-regular concerts at the Rockwell in Los Angeles, California

-Cate Blanchett's character Hela was the first female villain in a Marvel movie

-In both the comics and Norse mythology, Valkyrie was fair skinned, blonde, typical features from in and around Norway. In the movie, she is played by a black actress named Tessa Thompson. Director Taika Waititi said "This was not a deliberate decision to diversify the movie. It's about choosing the best person. You're working with comic book Vikings, so you have to look at the source material as loose inspiration. A character's skin tone and hair color doesn't matter. I think the story is king, and you want the best person for the job, and Tessa was the best person."

-This movie was released on the 55th anniversary of the debut of the original Thor and Incredible Hulk comics in addition to the centennial of creator Jack Kirby

-Director Taika Waititi based the character Korg on Polynesian nightclub bouncers, who didn't have to be aggressive, so they could be friendly and mild mannered

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

The second film in the Thor series

Summary

-Thor is now on a mission to save the universe from being plunged into eternal darkness and, in the process, is reunited with an old love interest, Dr. Jane Foster

Cast

-Chris Hemsworth: Thor

-Natalie Portman: Jane Foster

-Stellan Skarsgard: Dr. Erik Selvig

-Tom Hiddleston: Loki

-Anthony Hopkins: Odin

-Rene Russo: Frigga

-Christopher Eccleston: Malekith

-Jaimie Alexander: Sif

-Zachary Levi: Fandral

-Ray Stevenson: Voldragg

Did You Know?

-Unlike what he had to do in 2011's Thor, where he wore a wig, he grew his hair out to have it long for this film

-In one scene, Thor destroys a statue of Bor, his grandfather and Loki cracks a joke, saying he killed him. In the comics, Thor killed his grandfather as a result of a deception from Loki

-Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was so impressive in doing his own stunts that director Alan Taylor let him do them instead of stunt men, who couldn't do as well as him

-For the dark world of Svartalfheim, Iceland was chosen because of its black volcanic areas. In Old Norse, svartalfheim means "Home of the Black Elves"

-The waterfalls in Asgard were based on the Dettifoss Waterfall in Iceland

-There was a lot of trouble filming at the famed Stonehenge in England. Permission had to be obtained from local historical societies. They could only be among the stones during normal visiting hours. To do this, the crew had to film early in the morning before visiting hours started. Because it was a heritage site, no one could touch the stones or walk on them

-Filming was done in Norway to give Asgard a more natural feel. Director Alan Taylor said "The first Thor was quite shiny and it was a very conscious, smart choice. I wanted to get more of a sense of the Viking quality, the texture and the weight of history. They've been around for thousands of years."

-In both Norse mythology and the Marvel universe, Einherjar are souls of the dead in Valhalla. In the film, they are guardians of the city of Asgard

-The effects of the black hole grenade were based on the effects of depth charges

-To gain the necessary amount of muscle weight, Chris Hemsworth adopted a high protein diet. But he had to keep changing it because of the filming schedule and locations

-In the scene where Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) first speaks, he is wearing blue and yellow pants. Blue and yellow are the colors of his home country of Sweden

-When Loki is in his prison cell, tossing a ball against the wall and catching it, it's a nod to Steve McQueen in The Great Escape

-This is the only Marvel movie where Loki doesn't wear his famous horned helmet

-The major fight scene in the film takes place at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, England

-For his role as Fandral, Zachary Levi had to dye his hair blonde

-This is not the first time Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje played a villain. He played Lok-Nah in The Mummy Returns and meets a gory end in the film. He appeared on Game of Thrones, playing a character named Malko and also played Killer Croc in the Suicide Squad film by David Ayler

-In the post-credit scene where Thor and Jane finally kiss, Natalie Portman was not available to do the scene. Instead, Chris Hemsworth did the scene with real life wife Elsa Pataky