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There are so many ways in which a modern movie about a hammer-wielding god from Old Norse mythology could fail. Oh, so many ways. Thankfully, under the kinetically skilled direction of Shakespearean wonder-kid Kenneth Branagh, Thor is a blissfully operatic experience that rivals the thrill of Iron Man before it. Yet, the film never leaves the realm of the epically fantastical – even when it comes to Earth – and that is a plus. In fact, if I had to choose which one I responded better to it would be the charisma of Thor. More of a wondrous comic book than a skilled depiction of reality, Thor is able to balance an entertaining yarn with the already cinematically established Marvel universe with fantastic results.
The ever-expansive realm of Thor exists in a mystical area of space called Asgard in which the Norse gods dwell and protect their universe from all manners of attack and beings. With family drama (the best kind according to Aristotle) at its center, two brothers – Thor (Chris Hemsworth, in a deafening star-making role if ever there was one) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston, a baddie we will see again) – are in an unannounced dual to be the heir to their father’s throne, Odin (Anthony Hopkins, who finally delivers a performance that is not simply phoned-in). Out thwarted and outsmarted by the Frost Giants, Thor and his friends in Asgard defy his father’s wishes and enact an ass-kicking of brazen fury against them. When Thor is found out, his punishment comes swift and hard: he is banished and stripped of his powers; sent to earth as a mere mortal.
On Earth, specifically the desert of New Mexico, Thor is discovered by master physicist Jane (Natalie Portman), her mentor Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and their wisecracking assistant (Kat Dennings, who’s comedic timing keeps things interesting). Soon enough, S.H.I.E.L.D., led by agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) arrives and secures the area around where Odin has slammed Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, as it waits for Thor to learn the humility he so lacks in character. Trouble brews above the skies in Asgard, though. Loki has taken over his father’s kingdom while Odin recovers from a stroke and a team of Asgardians - Sif (Jamie Alexander) and the Warriors Three - assembles to bring Thor back for an epic battle, on Earth and Asgard, against his brother.
Equal parts Flash Gordon and Excalibur, Thor - written by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, and Don Payne - delivers a sweeping adventure that combines epic and fully-realized fantasy moments with some funny situations as Thor’s fish-out-of-water routine goes on display down on Earth. It might be a bit unfocused as it is a “bridge” film, but Branagh has done the characters of Thor and his actors a great service in that everything is well-rounded and played straight – which makes the intended humor, when it happens, so uproarious and enjoyable. The three fantastic battles that frame the story – one involving The Destoyer – are well-conceived and certainly favor Thor’s abilities to be, well, so completely badass and exciting.
Fancier that expected, the scenes in Asgard are absolutely stunning and mighty and every single bit fit for the universe as originally imagined by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The Bifröst Bridge is a holy set piece to gaze upon and its golden-eyed gatekeeper (Idris Elba) is also an important and impressive inclusion. Although, once again, the studios are scamming audiences with the inclusion of 3-D as nothing in this film warrants a 3D viewing. Still, Thor packs a lot of cinematic muscle for the buck.
While the red cape and flying abilities my make some long for DC’s Superman, Hemsworth performance as the proud titan is certainly rock solid and gives even more promise and faith that The Avengers movie will actually work when all its pieces are put together. Who needs Superman when you have a spinning hammer to circumnavigate the winds with? And speaking of The Avengers, adding Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) in a few choice scenes of Thor is certainly a nice and welcome touch.
With Captain America on the peripherals and the success of Thor (already grossing $100 million in Australia alone), things in the Marvel universe are coming along nicely…
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence..
