Thor
I have to say that Thor is probably my favorite MCU character, and I’ll be honest, a lot of that has to do with Chris Hemsworth. Not only is he incredibly handsome, but he has personality for days. He is an actor that has proven, time and again that he is not just a pretty face (and body), and that he has the skills of an intense dramatic actor, when the need arises. He can also do comedy, which is sometimes harder than drama. Hemsworth has it all.
But on top of all that, the character of Thor is awesome. I have always had a love for the mythology of Greek gods and goddesses. Norse is a little less known to me, but I know a bit, and as far as I can tell, from what I know of Thor from comic books, I think the script captured the God of Thunder perfectly. So he was acted wonderfully, and written accurately. What’s not to love. This being the beginning of the Thor franchise within the MCU, Thor starts out as a vain, brash, hot-headed boy, son of a King, powerfully played by the incomparable Anthony Hopkins, and a powerful warrior.
But the movie was so much more than just Thor. We were introduced to another major player in the MCU, Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. In fact, Loki was so well-played and was such a popular character, that he eventually got his own TV series, which was really good! And we got a few minor characters. The Warriors Three, Fandral, Volstaag, and Hogun were there, though I would have liked a little more back story on who they were and why they were there.. True, they were only minor charaqcters in the comic books, but I think a little more could have been done with them. And there was Lady Sif, a good, strong female hero.
So of all the new cast members, I want to make special mention of Anthony Hopkins’ Odin. He was incredible, and practically stole every scene he was in. He played the All-Father, and there wasn’t a hint of weakness in him. Even when his emotions of love, guilt, and regret at his treatment of Loki caused him to falter and fall into the Odinsleep, there was still a core of strength that was impressive, and that was all Hopkins. And his improvised growl of fury at Loki while disciplining Thor was both powerful and appropriate. I mean when your son disobeys you and ignites a war because of his arrogance, I guess rage is the only response that will suffice. Just one more example of how great an actor Anthony Hopkins is.
So the main thrust of the movie is Thor’s story arc, how he grows from that brash, disobedient boy, into a mighty hero with a sense of responsibility and respect for the world around him. But to follow that journey, we have to experience that fall from grace, and his redemption, coming in the form of self-sacrifice. In the end, he is willing to sacrifice himself to save innocent lives, and his girlfriend. Oh yeah, he meets Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman, a beautiful young Earth scientist who turns into an infatuated schoolgirl whenever Thor is around. Not that I can blame her. He’s just so incredibly nice to look at.
The visuals and the aesthetics of the movie are beautiful. The glowing colors, the majesty of Asgard, even the arid beauty of the New Mexico desert, all made for a gorgeous backdrop to the story. The costumes, the sets, and the digital effects were simply spectacular. The Rainbow Bridge looked fantastic on the screen, as did the boss fight that allowed Thor to redeem himself and once again become worthy of lifting his hammer. The whole movie just looked incredible, though I could do without all the tilted angle shots. The film’s director, Kenneth Branagh, put in around one hundred eighty Dutch angle shots in the film because he said that is the way they appear in the comic books, and it helped to translate the dynamism from the pages to the screen. But I think it should be used as a purposeful effect, and when used too liberally, the effect is lost. After a while, it just becomes distracting. But that is only a minor complaint for a movie that was all part of Feige’s master plan to establish the major characters of the MCU before bringing them all together to create the larger tapestry, which is still being woven today.
Top 10 Favorite Parts
- Odin’s exposition at the beginning to set up the narrative.
- Thor’s battle with the Frost Giants
- Odin punishes Thor and the growl.
- Loki discovers that he is a Frost Giant
- “Another!” Thor smashes the mug.
- Thor attacks the SHIELD facility to get his hammer.
- Lady Sif stabs the Destroyer
- Thor’s powers are restored and he kills the Destroyer.
- Thor’s battle with Loki, and the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge.
- Odin’s conversation with Thor at the end. Reconciliation between father and son.