“Thor” Review
(From Left) Thor (Chris Hemsworth) learns responsibly for his powers after having them stripped by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins).
When Marvel first started to make these films, even when I was a kid, the hero I was most nervous about was Thor. Bringing a god to a world where we were used to more grounded heroes on Earth was a big gamble. Fortunately, “Thor” was a very good film that made me say “if they can get this right, then this is a franchise that is worth watching.”
In the world of Asgard, the Norse gods that are cemented in Earth’s myths actually exist, although they are not gods but instead superpowered beings with lifespans of thousands of years. Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the god of thunder, is an arrogant thrill-seeker who loves fighting in battle with his trusty hammer Mijolner. When he nearly causes war with the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) strips him of his powers and hammer and banishes him to Earth.
While there, he meets a team of astrophysicists led by Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and begins to learn humility and respect. But when Thor’s villainous brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) conspires to take over the throne of Asgard, Thor must try to earn his powers back and learn what it means to be a hero.
In more recent years, “Thor” is seen as one of the lesser Marvel films and, compared to more recent films featuring the character, it’s easy to see why. But back in 2011, audiences weren’t ready for something like “Thor: Ragnarok.” Having the film mostly take place on Earth with a decent amount of time on Asgard was the smartest choice to introduce Thor into the MCU.
Much like Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth brings all of his charm to the role of Thor. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in this role. What I love most about Thor is that, while he starts the film as kind of a bully, he’s consistently likable. When he loses his powers, he begins to learn about responsibility and helping others, mainly Jane and her colleagues Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and intern Darcy (Kat Dennings).
Unlike most Marvel films at the time, with bland villains, Loki is easily one of the best superhero villains of this franchise. His motives are understandable, his connection to Thor is investing and he has such a diabolical personality that it’s infectious. He loves to do wrong because it’s what he’s called to. It’s like if Alex from “A Clockwork Orange” got superpowers.
Tom Hiddleston’s performance as Loki was, for the longest time, the gold standard for Marvel villains. His balance of likability and maniacal plotting make him a far more complex villain than anything seen prior in the MCU.
Like I said, having the main plot see Thor get used to Earth and its culture feels standard but was also necessary, especially to get Thor as part of The Avengers. But when we are on Asgard, the spectacle is amazing. The director of the film is Kenneth Branagh who is best known for directing/starring in some of the best adaptations of Shakespeare like “Henry V,” “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Hamlet.” They all take classic tales and bring an large scale to them which brings out the cinematic elements of the story which is what Branagh does for “Thor.”
As a huge fantasy fan, I loved seeing Asgard brought to life. Haris Zambarloukos’ cinematography really brings out the color and flash that this kind of environment requires. Even when we’re on Earth, I still am engaged with how good looking the film looks. I love seeing Idris Elba as the all-seeing Heimdall and Thor’s warrior friends, Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) and the Warriors Three (Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano and Ray Stevenson). I just wish there was more Asgard but I understand why that’s not the case.
With that said, the film really comes together at the end when Loki sends a destructive robot to Earth to kill Thor. When Thor offers his life to save his friends, he regains his powers and goes to Asgard to take the throne away from his brother. This conflict between brothers is epic and shows the great sacrifices Thor must make to become a good man.
Out of the big three Avengers (Iron Man, Thor and Captain America), this is the weakest first film. It feels like your standard origin story elevated by charming characters, good action and a sense of spectacle that the god of thunder deserves. While Thor’s solo films did become the fantasy/science-fiction spectacle that I envisioned, this first film was definitely the right first step to take in introducing the MCU to the worlds of gods.
