Gotta get down on Thorsday

THOR (2011)

I’ll be doing a great, good and bad kind of review for this one. This won’t be the most eloquent, traditional review so bear with me. 

Thor essentially is two narratives. One is Thor and King Odin’s father-son feud set in a constellation far, far away (a.k.a. the kingdom of Asgard). Thor is proud and arrogant and for that he is punished. This is where the other part starts, on earth (Midgard?). Specifically, New Mexico. The first is a sword and sorcery tale, the best of fantasy film comes alive here. The second is a sword (read hammer) in the stone, Superman-ish superhero on earth, quasi-comedy humility lesson. The first one is absolutely fantastic. The second not as much. (No, I didn’t say not “so much”. I said “as much” which doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. Just not great.)

The Great

·      The battle scene at Jotunheim between the frost giants and Thor and his pals, The Warriors Three (Xena, Jackie Chan and Robin Hood, apparently). This sequence has almost everything you expect from a summer Hollywood blockbuster and then some. It is just KICK ASS!!! 

·      The Drama. Kenneth Branagh taking a leaf out of the Shakespeare adaptations he directed, (Hamlet and Henry V being his best) gives us some of that magnificent unadulterated drama in the father-son story. “You are an old man and a fool!” “You are a vain greedy cruel boy!” Naaaice!

·      The visual effects. Outstanding. It looked fresh and had the perfect fantastical feel.

·      Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye cameo!! (You say it was pointless and down comes a hammer!)

·      Anthony Hopkins’ King Odin. Who else could have played that part?

·      The Iron Man reference made me laugh out loud. So did Jane Foster's appreciation of Thor's look. (This film was quite funny, non?)

The Good

·      I really liked Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and his don’t-know-whether-he’s-bad-or-good kind of character. We needed a new kind of villainy and here it is. Full marks to Branagh and the writers too.

·      The humor. Came out of nowhere but only enhanced the film.

·      Chris Hemsworth IS Thor. He totally nailed it.

·      Natalie Portman and Kat Dennings - TWO good-looking women playing scientists which means two good-looking women with brains.

·      Stellan Skarsgaard fulfilling his Nordic duties with aplomb playing Dr. Erik Selvig.

·      Stan Lee cameo! (Duh)

The Bad

·      The love story between Jane Foster (Portman) and Thor didn’t a have a “bridge” between infatuation and “I’ll come back for you” kind of love. But then again, love “just happens”, no?

·      Thor’s character development. From an arrogant prick to self-sacrificing human loving god. Again, very abrupt. But then again he’s a god. He could change character in an instant, no?

·      The ending seemed too preoccupied with the forthcoming The Avengers film. An amazing fight scene in the middle made my expectations rise for a thunderous climax and a possible fight sequence between Thor and Laufey, the ruler of the giants from Jotunheim. I wanted something that completely blows you away but all we got was a probable tributary to the upcoming Avengers Ocean and a kind of a cliffhanger.

It isn’t the greatest superhero movie like The Dark Knight (which.. is.. the.. greatest superhero movie ever) but it isn’t a lesser one either. I had a great time watching this film. It is mystical, funny, visually majestic and lots of fun. All in all, Thor is a worthy entry in the ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ movies. Can’t wait for Captain America!!

Rating: *** out of *****