Ah a great time to be a movie geek. You know what? Its a great time to be a geek in general especially comic books. This summer has the most made from comic books movies ever! Featuring Thor, X-men; First Class, Green Lantern, & Captain America. And it started off right. I had mentioned here slightly that Disney had bought Marvel Comics and planned to give it the proper funding that it needed. So everyone and there mother knows about Iron Man and some may remember The Incredible Hulk (2008, Not shitty Ang Lee one). Well Disney had no part in them. But they did toss some money their way and let Marvel use their facilities. Iron man was a fantastic movie, both of them, from a nerd point of view. I believe since Marvel started up Marvel Studios and retrieved most of their properties back, they ]have found this movie formula. Their movies are always entertaining for both sides of the viewing spectrum, geek and non-geek. and I had hopes that this summer will be no different for Thor & Captain America (X-men is still owned and produced by Fox Entertainment). So it is with great viewing pleasure I had the opportunity to see and review Thor when its still very fresh. Here is my review on Thor.
I will skip the detailed plot summery to avoid spoilers. Its a tale of the Norse God of Thunder, Thor Odinson, who is rash and hot-headed. He goes against his father, the All-Father Odin,'s orders. He is banished from the wonderful realm of Asgard to the realm of Midgard (Earth) without his mighty weapon, the hammer Mjölnir or his godly powers. While Thor is on Earth, mischief is afoot in his home of Asgard whilst Odin slips into his yearly slumber. While Thor is on Earth he finds what it truly means to be a god and heir to his father's throne. Starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, & Anthony Hopkins as Odin. Directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Okay so I will really try not to ruin this movie for anyone because I strongly advise people to go see it. I wish I didn't know so much about the topic and didn't have a giant stack of Thor comics in my room right now so I could give a non-biased opinion about the movie. Buuut at the same time I can be brutally honest about it comic wise.
The movie starts up very fast throwing you into action within the first 30 seconds with a massive battle between Asgardians and the Frost Giants of Jotunheim. The main opening credit scene opens up with a beautiful panning view of Thor's home, Asgard. I honestly can't stand the new 3D but with this movie it worked very nicely. It gave Asgard the extra depth the really enhanced the beauty of it. Unfortunately the glasses a nuisance when it comes to extremely fast action. It blurs out and its hard to focus in on it. But all things considered this is really my only really big complaint about the movie. The movie was well paced with big action in the begging giving you this euphoric high of epic-ness that lasts you whilst the movie slows down in the middle for the character and plot development. But picks back up again when Thor tries to retrieve his mighty hammer at the S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) Facility. As a squeeming fanboy I was very happy with this scene thanks to a Cameo appearance by a certain superhero with a bow. "Spoilers..." -River Song- So I won't ruin that for anyone who know what the hell I'm talking about. If not click here. Thor gets caught and questioned by S.H.I.E.L.D. until he is bailed out under the alias Donald Blake. Once again another fan-service. In the comics Donald Blake is Thors mortal body.
Then comes the romance between Thor and Jane Foster, Natalie Portman. I like how there are romances in these Marvel movies but they're not super in-your-face about them. What did kind of pissed me off was towards the end, when the inevitable kiss comes, Thor and Jane kiss right in front of one of the Asgardians, Lady Sif. In the comics, even though Thor had a romance with Jane Foster he was also betrothed to Sif in Asgard. So I don't really know what to think. Grant-it it is the movie and things get changed. I end my detail of the plot there because if I say anymore I will ruin the whole movie.
Overall for being a comic book movie it is very well put together. I think that partly goes to the amazing directing by Kenneth Branagh. Beautiful visuals tha make you really feel like you've been sent to Asgard. And I would like to mention the casting. In most movies people note the main role casting was good or bad, but Thor had just fantastic overall casting. Whether it was the main parts; Thor, Odin, Loki, Jane or the secondary like the Warriors 3 (who are my favorite), Lady Sif and Heimdall. Shit even the Frost Giants were well casted. Or at least the voices were. So in summery very well done 4/5 I strongly urge people to go see it.
