Thor
by Cheeto
Posted on 18 January 2022
Rating -
Thor is a 2011 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it is the fourth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It was directed by Kenneth Branagh, written by the writing team of Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz along with Don Payne, and stars Chris Hemsworth as the title character alongside Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins. After reigniting a dormant war, Thor is banished from Asgard to Earth, stripped of his powers and his hammer Mjölnir. As his brother Loki (Hiddleston) plots to take the Asgardian throne, Thor must prove himself worthy.
This is going to be a very short and to the point review. There’s plenty of pros, but I’m afraid to say, there are many cons. Let’s first get into the pros.
First off, Marvel have the best casting directors anywhere in Hollywood, they put both time and effort into casting the perfect person for each role, and they certainly didn’t disappoint in this film. Chris Hemsworth is absolutely brilliant in the role of The God of Thunder. Standing at 6’3, with half of his body weight, that of muscle, the similarities to the comics is almost uncanny. You can tell he really went all out with the character, he became Thor, and you can well and truly see the acting ability he possesses.
As-well-as Chris Hemsworth, I think that Anthony Hopkins and Tom Hiddleston put in brilliant shifts as both Odin and Loki. I mean, I don’t need to tell you that Anthony Hopkins gave a brilliant performance, it’s common knowledge now. As Odin, you need someone who has that grace, but can also boss the screen even when someone like Chris Hemsworth is in the same scene, and Anthony Hopkins does just that. Tom Hiddleston, a relative unknown at the time, put himself on the map with his portrayal of Loki. He has that wit, cutting edge ness about him, that is almost synonymous in every performance he gives. He’s just a great watch, and it’s cool to see him give this good of a performance, this early in his a-list career. I also like all of Thor’s warrior friends, they exchange banter with one-another to a point, where it’s believable that they’ve been friends for many years.
I think Asgard looks beautiful, the colours, the atmosphere, it’s really like you’ve just ripped it straight from a comic. I also like the way in which there’s almost a blush filter whenever we’re in Asgard, it just helps us immerse ourselves into the setting just that tad bit more, which is always welcomed.
Lastly, I appreciate the direction Kenneth Branagh went with this film, it has his style woven out. You definitely can tell he comes from a Shakespearean background, it’s as if Shakespeare directed it himself. It’s very refreshing to get this type of film as it’s much removed from the MCU altogether.
Unfortunately, that’s about where the positives end. First off, I don’t really like Natalie Portman as Jane in this film. I was excited when she was first announced, I mean she was the current lead actress Oscar winner, unfortunately, that doesn’t guarantee a great performance. She isn’t terrible, it’s just she is rather forgettable, and that just simply isn’t good enough when you’re playing someone as important as Jane Foster.
Leading on from Jane, I don’t like the whole Thor and Jane romance angle in this film. Yes it needed to be included, as it’s a huge part of the story, but unfortunately, their chemistry is just as bad as another Natalie Portman film *cough* Attack of the Clones *cough*. It really gets in the way of my enjoyment of this film, and I just wish it could’ve been that bit better.
This film truly is a film of two halves. The first half, the Asgard scenes, showcase the absolute best of the MCU, unfortunately, all of the momentum they create in the first half is brought to a complete halt, when the Earth scenes begin. It’s just such a different movie in the second half, and not in a good way, the characters change, the story isn’t as compelling, it’s almost as if Kenneth Branagh was forced at gunpoint to include this cheap fish out of water story.
I also think that the main antagonist in this film is completely forgettable, definitely on the low tier of MCU villains, and that’s saying something.
Overall, I think Thor is a decent introduction to The God of Thunder, at times, it showcases how good the MCU can be, unfortunately, it all come down to execution. You still need to watch this film as it’s entertaining, but don’t expect a high-tier MCU film.
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