Most movies are introduced by trailers or commercials of trailers. Some movies are announced by fanfare, and some are announced through new media. Thor is the first movie I can think of that was announced through, of all things, another movie…if anyone cares to remember the end of Iron Man 2.
On first impressions, here’s what caught me off-guard. Directing this film is Kenneth Branagh. THE Kenneth Branagh. The Shakespearean actor has also directed some of the better quality Shakespeare films – a difficult feat. Now he’s directing Thor? This stands to be interesting…
What also caught me off-guard is the appearance of Anthony Hopkins as Odin. I’d really like people to cease the claim that Hopkins is some masterpiece worker and that he must only be in the highest quality movies. The man is an actor, just like other actors – let him be in The Mask of Zorro, Beowulf, and Thor.
Chris Hemsworth plays the title character of Thor, the God of Thunder. A “diplomatic dispute” (this is how I’m phrasing it, trust me, the actual event is far more appealing) provokes Odin to strip Thor of his godly power and castigates him out of Asgard. Thor’s hammer Mjolnir (me-YO-near) is then enchanted, to only let the worthy wield it (and a legend is born…)
I watched this film as a not-fan of the Thor comic series. I have to say that I’ve payed to see worse films. Natalie Portman believably plays an astrophysicist (she did go to Harvard, people), who believes that Thor’s presence can prove the existence of wormholes…ok, letting that slide. That is such a not-important factor in the movie that it’s dismissed at just the right moment.
Branagh’s directing is reminiscent of his directing in Frankenstein, but you can tell that he doesn’t take himself as seriously as he used to. Thank God. Treating this film seriously would have turned this into another Iron Man 2. Do you like crossovers? Because this film has Hawkeye and the Cosmic Cube (the latter guaranteeing more Captain America goodness).
There are worse things one could do than watch this movie – and that’s not a compelling reason. Here’s are two compelling reasons:
1) If you like attractive dudes, this is a movie that admits it’s male lead is hot.
2) If you’re attracted to the ladies, there’s Natalie Portman (with romance scenes far more believable than anything involving Anakin Skywalker), Kat Dennings, and Jaimie Alexander. (I like Dennings, more, but there’s no accounting for taste, here).
One thing that bothered me. The ‘romance’ scenes with Portman and Hemsworth felt more like two hot people that wanted to make out because they’re hot. That’s pretty much the start and end of my list there.
FINAL GRADE: B+
TRR Movie Revue by Geoffrey Beebe
