Thor

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Josh Dallas, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure
2011

Times Seen:
Tim: 4

Summary: After starting a war in Asgard, the warrior Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is banished to Earth.

Review:

Tim: Thor is an important movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was the first big film outside of the Iron Man franchise (I'm overlooking The Incredible Hulk), which would serve as the stepping stone to the summer 2012 tentpole, The Avengers. It needed to be successful, to prove Marvel's ambitious team up could actually work. I am happy to say that Thor delivered. It is not just a good set up movie, but a great film in it's own right.

This was a tricky film to pull off. Marvel had to convince audiences to believe that outside of Earth, there is a mythical realm called Asgard where gods live. This was no easy feat. Luckily, they chose absolutely the right man for the job, director Kenneth Branagh. Branagh has no experience in big budget special effects movies, but he does have experience directing Shakespearean dramas. Thor is, at its heart, a story about a fractured family. Branagh wisely focuses mostly on that aspect. Because we care about the characters and their familial struggle, we are more ready to believe the more outlandish aspects of the film.

The cast was brilliantly put together. Chris Hemsworth was a relative unknown, but he was fantastic in the lead role. He bulked up so significantly that at one point, his costume was cutting off circulation to his hands. He is massive in the role, which is exactly what Thor should look like. He physically matches the Thunder god, but he also conveys a sense of vulnerability and human warmth. It really is an impressive performance.

The supporting cast is very good as well. Natalie Portman was a fantastic choice for Jane Foster. She brings the intellectual ability needed to make her character believable as an astrophysicist. Tom Hiddleston, a very unknown actor, brings his brilliant stage experience flawlessly into the role of Loki. Loki becomes a tragic, complex, fascinating character in Hiddleston's hands. There is a scene where Loki is screaming, almost crying, and simply exploding with emotion- the scene is jaw-dropping and Hiddleston was fantastic. Anthony Hopkins was perfectly cast a Odin- there is not another actor who so perfectly embodies the role. Kat Dennings brought some much needed light humor to the film. Stellan Skarsgard was very good and I loved the class he brought to the film. I also liked seeing Rene Russo in a small role.

I like that Thor simultaneously feels like a massive epic and a very small, little film. The scenes in Asgard are stunning beautiful and massive. The battle with the Frost Giants is pretty amazing. The Asgardian scenes bring a sense of epic largeness to the movie. When the film shifts to Earth, it feels very small, even claustrophobically small. Most of the action takes place either in an incredibly small town or out in the desert. I liked this dual feeling of largeness and smallness in the film.

I also liked the balance of action and character development. I think Thor struck a good balance between them. There is the previously mentioned Frost Giant battle, a battle with the Destroyer, against SHIELD agents, and a brother verses brother battle on the Bifrost Bridge. We also get some quiet moments between Hemsworth, Portman, Skarsgard, and Dennings. It really was a fantastic balance.

I love that Kenneth Branagh took a film that had no guarantee of success and made it believable, entertaining, and interesting. This could have come across as forced and silly, but it never even approaches that territory. The elements are all weaved together beautifully, and we have an incredible, unique superhero film. I loved Thor.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: The First Avenger