Dec 9: Thor

“The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.”
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh, Rated: PG-13, 115 minutes

In the world of superheroes, the discussion of gods rarely comes into play. Every story seems to be based on earth, in reality, with the heroes being some a bit more “special” than the rest of us. Be it they’re bitten by a spider, get a dose of radiation, or buy their own gadgets and what not, we’ve been able to relate to each of them because they are man. With Thor, we’re introduced to a different kind of hero that’s much more than you’re mere mortal. A deity himself, Thor wields tremendous strength, a godly weapon, and faces danger with an arrogance you’d only find in that of a young immortal. We also lay witness to a little place called Asgard, which is the home of Thor and the gods, that’s both beautiful and dangerous.

It’s no Middle Earth, but it’s still a place you’d love to vacation to.

Chris Hemsworth plays the titular character who’s sent to earth after he’s banished from the other-worldy realm by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Selfish and quick to react, Thor is far from worthy of being called the king of gods. He thinks he knows how to rule a kingdom but proves time and again that he’s certainly not ready for the crown. Thus, his banishment. On earth, Thor falls in love with the beautiful Jane (Natalie Portman), an astro-physicist researching the possibility of a portal to another realm (Asgard), along with Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and Darcy (Kat Dennings). Thor realizes that he does not have the powers he had in Asgard and finds himself among people he can learn a lot from. It’s only after Thor’s brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) plots to destroy earth that Thor must find the power, confidence, and courage inside himself to save a planet he only just met.

Wallowing is apparently a prerequisite to becoming a king.

Compared to the other Marvel movies (Iron Man, Captain America), Thor is most certainly the one packed with the most magic and mythology. Asgard is a beautiful place to look at, full of color and wonder, it’s a place you would definitely want to visit. Director Kenneth Branagh manages to create a world that’s both believable and magical, and the characters that come from this place are equally other-worldly. Chris Hemsworth embodies Thor perfectly, and his muscular machismo fits the god all too well. He’s kind of a dick, but as he realizes what true power is, you begin to see a leader inside of him. His rival and brother, Loki, is equally impressive and Tom Hiddelston turns the god into someone you can easily fight against. It’s no wonder he returns in The Avengers. Cast-wise, Natalie Portman feels a bit out of place, and the love story between her and Thor feels more forced than anything else. It’s not necessarily pointless, as you understand their connection is what makes Thor the hero he is, but when you’re going back and forth between a godly realm and New Mexico, USA, the relationship of a scientist is the least of your concerns.

The last place I’d want to be banished to would be just outside of Albuquerque.

Thor jumps immediately into the action once the film begins and gets your imagination going. Asgard is a place of fantasy that’s brought to life and each scene set in the home of the gods is very memorable. It’s just a shame that the other bits (on earth) are far from as interesting. Even then though, there is plenty of action and humor throughout, and seeing the fallen god become a hero is more fun than anything else. Thor is a great introduction to the character and the reveal of an incredible place, but could use a bit more of the magic we’re teased with. As many first films in a superhero franchise do, it leaves you wanting more. You genuinely care about the characters on the screen (the gods at least), and you can only imagine the adventures that await us in the inevitable sequels.

The Good:
the beautiful Asgard, solid action, and quite a bit of humor
The Bad:
not enough of that Asgard and a rather mundane contrast when it comes to earth
The Ugly:
wanting to focus entirely on the realm of mythology, but knowing that somehow the story has to tie back to us, the mere mortal human race

Overall: 7.2/10

Discussion Question:
Where do you rank Thor among the other Marvel films? Do you prefer it over Captain America, another release of 2011?

Trailer: