#1: The Marvel Studios Formula for a successful superhero movie, as evidenced by Iron Man (smash hit) and The Incredible Hulk (give it time): Take one well-known but difficult-to-translate character; add one completely unexpected, incredibly risky but undeniably interesting famous creative personality who could be a disaster but also makes a perverse kind of sense in either the writing, directing or acting capacity; then roll the dice.
#2: It has been a running cigars-and-brandy joke among old-guard film snobs that Hollywood is now treating *snort!* 'superhero movies' like it used to treat Shakespeare. Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw.
With these observations in mind, take note that Variety has reported that Kenneth Brannagh is, apparently, being offered the director's chair on The Mighty Thor.
Yikes.
Want to know a great irony of our age? If he were alive and working today, Sir Alec Guiness would be FIGHTING for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi...
[Unrelated sidebar- To those who are wondering what has happened to my movie and games reviews; well...I can't buy anything at the moment seeing as I'm poor, jobless and back at university. If anyone wants me to review any of the following, please buy them and deliver them to my home (Or send me money!):
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
Prince of Persia
LittleBigPlanet
Mirrors Edge
Fable 2
Any game which I may enjoy
Any game which I may hate and enjoy ripping to shreds.
*sigh* It was worth a shot...]