Thor

I liked Thor quite a bit, and would have liked it more if the script had not been in such a rush, and had allowed the characters to breathe. This is a top class production all the way around, and a film that anyone can get into, even if they are not familiar with the Marvel comic book about the God of Thunder. But, the characters aren't as interesting as they could have been, the villain's not as evil or threatening as he should have been, and the movie didn't leave me quite as satisfied when it was over like the original Iron Man or the earlier Spider-Man films.

I feel the need to stress once again that this is a top class production, and that I did find a lot to like, despite its obvious flaws. Marvel's film studio made a smart decision in hiring filmmaker Kenneth Branagh to bring Thor to life. His knowledge of Shakespeare and theatrical drama actually lends a lot to the story of ancient gods based on Norse mythology. He also shows a strong sense of fast-paced action during the battle scenes. His combination of classic theatrical drama with modern day effects helps set Thor apart from most other superhero films. He has also cast the film well. Chris Hemsworth (best known for playing Captain Kirk's father in the 2009 Star Trek reboot) plays the title character with the appropriate amount of gusto, arrogance, and surprisingly strong comic timing in certain scenes. It was also a smart choice to place Anthony Hopkins in the role of Odin, king of the ancient gods, and Thor's father. If there's an actor who can talk about an invasion by the deadly Frost Giants from the realm of Jotunheim and make it sound convincing, it's him.

As the film opens, Thor has been chosen to succeed Odin at the throne of Asgard, realm of the gods. The fact that Thor has been chosen, over his younger brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), is a plot point that should not be ignored. During the ceremony, some of the dreaded Frost Giants sneak into Asgard to steal an artifact that is important to the gods. The Giants are dispatched quickly, but Thor is angered that they were able to get into the palace in the first place, and gathers Loki and his friends to journey to Jotunheim and face the Frost Giant king, Laufy (Colm Feore), in battle. Thor's actions of war threaten to shatter a very fragile treaty between the two realms, and as punishment, Odin strips him of his power, his mythical hammer weapon, and banishes him to Earth.

Here we come to the heart of the film. As Thor wanders a New Mexico desert lost and confused, he is discovered and befriended by a trio of scientists, which include the logical-minded Erik (Stellan Skarsgard), quick-witted Darcy (Katt Dennings), and most importantly, the lovely Jane (Natalie Portman), who will serve as Thor's eventual love interest, and his main portal of entry to understanding the world of mortals and learning compassion. This is obviously an important aspect of the Thor character, as it's supposed to be the key to him gaining entry back to Asgard and regaining his powers. But the screenplay kind of glosses over the relationship between them, to the point it seems that they're falling in love simply because the actors who play them have their names above the title. They have a couple nice moments, and stare up at the stars once or twice, but it was not enough to convince me of Thor's change of heart, or why he should become so protective of the mortals down on Earth once the jealous Loki takes control of the throne in Thor's absence, and sends a giant monster known as a Destroyer down to kill Thor and his human friends.

The script never quite seems to be on solid ground when its dealing with the human emotions of Thor, which is too bad, since he is an interesting character. The movie is much more confident and fun during the effects-heavy Asgard sequences, and the many battle and fight scenes placed throughout. The characters aren't weak enough to sink the film, but they are a constant problem. Every superhero movie needs a great villain, and Loki just never comes across as a serious threat. He's jealous and he's scheming, but he never truly seems evil. He's simply a god dealing with a lot of family and daddy issues. Even the interesting characters don't seem as fleshed out as they should be. Although I usually look down upon films that are overlong and wear out their welcome, Thor runs for nearly two hours, and I felt it needed to run longer. The movie tries to squeeze too much in, and as a result, the characters seem to be dragged along with the plot, instead of being a part of it.

Before this review gets too negative, I should emphasize that a lot of Thor does work, and works well enough for me to recommend it. Thor's initial attack on the Frost Giants early in the film is a fine blend of action, effects, and editing. There are touches of humor throughout the film that is actually quite funny. Plus, the cast is very likable. I feel that this could be a star-making deal for the relatively unknown Hemsworth. He not only has the physique to pull off the hero role, but he brings a lot of personality and warmth, even if his character is underwritten on more than one occasion. This is a well-made movie that's a lot of fun to watch, and could have been a great movie if the script has been tightened up.

Despite the flaws, we have an effective summer blockbuster here. Yes, Thor does ultimately boil down to being a very long lead-in to Marvel's upcoming Avengers movie, much like last summer's Iron Man 2. But, at least the filmmakers do a better job of hiding it than that film did. I can't picture this movie joining anyone's list of favorite superhero movies, but it is a lot of fun.

See the movie times in your area or buy the DVD at Amazon.com!

0 comments