Thor Review

Rated PG-13 (Sequences of Intense Sci-Fi Action and Violence)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 55 Minutes

Cast-

Chris Hemsworth-Thor

Tom Hiddleston-Loki

Natalie Portman-Jane Foster

Anthony Hopkins-Odin, King of Asgard

Stellan Skarsgård-Dr. Erik Selvig

Kat Dennings-Darcy Lewis

Clark Gregg-Phil Coulson, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Colm Feore-Laufey, King of Jotunheim

Idris Elba-Heimdall

Jaimie Alexander-Sif

Ray Stevenson-Volstagg

Tadanobu Asano-Hogun

Josh Dallas-Fandral

Rene Russo-Frigga, Queen of Asgard

Jeremy Renner-Clint Barton/Hawkeye

Samuel L. Jackson-Nick Fury

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

Director Kenneth Branagh nails the central conflict between Thor and Loki in Marvel's latest film, "Thor."

Inspired by the deity of the same name from Norse mythology and created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, Marvel Comics' Thor, who first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 in 1963, is perhaps one of the more difficult superheroes to adapt to the big-screen and much of it has to do with humanizing a god in such a way that audiences can identify with and care about. Well, selecting Kenneth Branagh to direct was an inspired choice on Marvel's part as his background in Shakespearean adaptations gives "Thor" the dramatic heft needed to stand out from other big-budget summer blockbusters. It may not reach the cinematic heights of "Spider-Man 2" or "The Dark Knight," but Branagh's "Thor" successfully mixes humor with drama, blending classic Norse mythology with comic book action and Shakespearean undertones to create a thoroughly entertaining film that stands tall with the upper echelon of Marvel's film résumé.

"Thor" begins with a narration by Odin (Anthony Hopkins), ruler of Asgard, who recounts to his two sons, Thor and Loki, about the war with the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, led by King Laufey (Colm Feore), and their eventual defeat and subsequent truce. To prevent them from starting another campaign of conquest, the Asgardians seize the power source of the Frost Giants, the Casket of Ancient Winters, and puts it under heavy guard in their armory. In the present day, Thor (Chris Hemsworth)—now a brave but reckless warrior—is preparing to ascend to the throne of Asgard in a lavish ceremony but it is interrupted when three Frost Giants sneak into the armory in an attempt to steal the Casket back. Odin uses his automaton creation, the Destroyer, and stops the theft but Thor wants to confront Laufey and demand answers. Against his father's orders, Thor, along with his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and friends Sif (Jaimie Alexander), Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Fandral (Joshua Dallas) and Hogun (Tadanobu Asano), travel to Jotunheim through the Bifröst Bridge. After a tense exchange, Thor's arrogance gets the better of him and he and his companions are forced to battle against a legion of Frost Giants. Odin arrives to intervene and with the truce now shattered, he takes away Thor's power and banishes him to Earth. He enchants his hammer, Mjolnir, with an unbreakable spell: 'Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.' Now powerless, Thor awakes in New Mexico and finds himself tagging along with a group of astrophysicists which includes Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her mentor Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), and their assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). Mjolnir lands and creates a huge crater, with the site coming under quarantine by agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, led by Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg). As Thor spends time with Jane, he begins to fall in love with her and comes to realize the reason why his father banished him. Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Loki takes advantage of the situation and schemes to take the throne to eliminate his brother, and those who oppose him, once and for all.

With "Thor," Branagh has successfully mixed the fantasy elements of Asgard with the real-world, something a lesser director would've screwed up. Instead of making them out-right gods, the Asgardians are essentially an inter-dimensional race whose science and technology is misunderstood as magic by humans. The Bifröst Bridge actually leads to a massive, spherical portal-device that is activated by Heimdall's (Idris Elba) sword, transporting anyone to the world (called a realm in the film) of their choice by opening a wormhole in space. Yggdrasil, the world tree, is interpreted as a network that connects all the other realms. Despite being a massive comic book fan, I do not read Thor as religiously as Spider-Man but I do dabble from time-to-time. The central conflict has always been between Thor and his adopted brother Loki and this is where the Shakespeare inspiration is clearly felt. It is this complicated relationship that Branagh takes full advantage of, making it the driving force of the film. Loki, played with excellence by Tom Hiddleston, lacks the physical prowess of Thor and uses guile and deceit to win his battles. He is a snake who purrs wisdom in your ears but then does not hesitate to stab you in the back. He is like Iago from "Othello." Of course, the best villains are the ones who don't see themselves as evil, which is why Lex Luther has been such an enduring foil to Superman. His methods may be underhanded and occupies a moral gray area, but Loki, in his heart of hearts, genuinely believes that what he is doing is to the benefit of Asgard and his people. Branagh also balances the drama with a healthy dose of humor. Thor's time on Earth is a classic 'fish-out-of-water' experience as he struts around the fictional small town of Puente Antiguo, acting all high and mighty. He smashes cups to the floor to demand more coffee and walks into pet stores yelling, 'I NEED A HORSE!' When the owner says they only have cats, dogs, and birds, he says, 'Well...give me one of those that is big enough to ride!'

Still, "Thor" isn't a perfect film and the main issue I have is with its brevity as everything goes by too quick and certain subplots, like the romance, are rushed. An extra twenty to thirty minutes would've benefitted but you know how impatient the masses are. Thor's exile lasts only a few days and just like that, he falls in love with Jane and realizes the error of his ways. It just doesn't build up to it organically. Audiences looking for non-stop explosions will be disappointed as there are essentially only three action scenes. The film's major set-piece is at the end of the first act when Thor and his companions confront Laufey, leading to a massive battle between a seemingly unending army of Frost Giants. The other two action scenes are rather short. The Destroyer arrives to tear up the town but Thor handles him without breaking a sweat. Of course, he and Loki meet at the end and engage in a rather epic melee battle, although it's certainly smaller in scope compared to the fight with the Frost Giants. The visual effects, while nothing to write home about, is certainly impressive enough to convey that alien sense of wonder when the camera majestically sweeps around Asgard. As for the 3D, I didn't bother. Hollywood has burned me too many times with lazy post-conversions such as "Clash of the Titans" and "The Last Airbender" that it's just not worth the extra surcharge. I have read that "Thor" is another lazy conversion as the fight scenes end up being a blurry grey mess, which I'm not surprised to hear. However, seeing it in 2D may be a problem as theaters go out of their way to limit these showings to only four or five, while there are 15 to 20 showings of the 3D version, including IMAX.

When it comes to superhero films, one of the great things is that it can turn unknown actors/actresses into overnight stars. Chris Hemsworth, last seen as Captain James T. Kirk's father in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" reboot, nails the role of Thor with aplomb. He is arrogant and does not think of the consequences of his actions, driven more by anger than forethought. While his change is a little abrupt, it is his sincere delivery that convinces us. Even more impressive is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. He doesn't play him as full-on evil but as an outcast desperate to leave his brother's shadow and convince his father that he is every bit as capable in leading Asgard as Thor. In fact, Hiddleston makes Loki sympathetic as he only wants to do what he feels is right, even if it is not morally right. The rest of the supporting cast isn't given much to work with however and it's more to do with the script than their actual performances. Natalie Portman giggles and acts all flustered but is not convincing as an astrophysicist. I can buy that she and Thor are attracted to each other but a full-on romance? The film's running time just isn't long enough for it to develop. As Jane's mentor, Stellan Skarsgård delivers some sage advice while Kat Dennings serves as the film's comic relief. Anthony Hopkin's presence adds some gravitas to the proceedings but his role doesn't grow beyond that of a stern father. Thor's comrades-in-arms, played by Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Joshua Dallas, and Tadanobu Asano also have limited screen-time but at least their camaraderie results in some funny moments.

"Thor" was released on May 6, 2011 and officially kicks off the summer movie season. Reviews have been positive, with a solid 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics called the film 'a dazzling blockbuster that tempers its sweeping scope with wit, humor, and human drama.' The real test is at the box office and whether audiences will accept "Thor," seeing as he is not as popular as Spider-Man or Batman. Well, it looks like they have as the film has grossed $26 million on Friday, on its way for a $60 to $65 million weekend total. It has already made an additional $133 million from foreign grosses. While this may not seem impressive compared to last weekend's "Fast Five," "Thor" has more hurdles to overcome. Also, "Fast Five" is what I call a 'junk food film': easily digestible entertainment for the masses but lacks soul. A lot of things could have gone wrong with "Thor" and it could have a been cheesy farce but Branagh skillfully grounds the fantastical elements in a way that we can actually believe that such a world like Asgard can exist, whose inhabitants, despite wielding extraordinary powers, are just as human as you and me. That is what Branagh has done and makes "Thor" another winner for Marvel.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"For the first time in my life, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do..."

Note: Make sure to stay after the credits for a special scene involving a certain 'cube' with 'cosmic' repercussions in the upcoming film, "The Avengers," coming to theaters May 4, 2012!