Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures/Marvel Studios
Kenneth Branagh's highly-anticipated Thor is part of a glut of comic-themed movies scheduled to be released this year, and part of the resurgence of comic book-related media that has surfaced over the last several years. A major component of what has made this film interesting, prior to its release, was the knowledge that Shakesperean actor and director Kenneth Branagh was at the helm, and that Australian newcomer Chris Hemsworth would be starring in the lead role, alongside Natalie Portman. In fact, Thor is packed with an ensemble cast of first-rate actors who, indeed, manage to salvage a very predictable plot by delivering performances that leap forward from the heavily-CGI'ed background of the battles of gods and giants on Asgard and other realms. In addition to Hemsworth and Portman, Thor stars Anthony Hopkins (he is a 'sir', isn't he?), Renee Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Colm Feore, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, and Ray Stevenson, among others. Several members of the cast shine in the film, but the most remarkable was perhaps Hiddleston in the complex role of Loki.
Thor begins when Jane Foster, an attractive young astrophysicist (because there are so many of those), discovers a body that has crash landed in the desert in New Mexico while observing the stars with her friends (played by Skarsgard and Dennings). The body belongs to the Norse warrior Thor and the viewer is transported back to the events that have passed over the last several days in Asgard. During a ceremony in which Odin, King of Asgard and defender of the Nine Realms, is scheduled to step down and give his throne to his eldest son Thor, Asgard is infiltrated and Thor, along with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, travel to Jotunheim to confront the King of the Frost Giants. After being rescued by Odin, Thor is reprimanded by his father. Thor has disobeyed his father in travelling to the Frost Giants and he is deemed unworthy to be king and cast out of Asgard. After landing on Earth, Thor is hit by Foster's truck and is taken to a hospital, where he is eventually discharged after an unfruitful attempt at escape. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. (a government agency) has seized all of Foster's research equipment and data in order to discover what the strange physical disturbance that accompanied Thor's arrival to Earth was. The agency is also concerned that a giant object (Thor's hammer Mjolnir) has landed in the desert.
Initially, Foster and her friends believe Thor to be some sort of maniac because of his strange behavior and odd manner of speaking. In spite of this, Foster quickly takes a liking to Thor as she finds him to be, at the very least, genuine and gentlemanly. Meanwhile, Thor's brother Loki (who covertly convinced Thor to go to the Frost Giants in the first place) discovers that Odin is not really his father; Loki is actually the son of the evil king of the Frost Giants, and Odin saved him as a mere babe after he was abandoned in war. During an argument with Loki, Odin collapses into "Odin-sleep" and Loki assumes the kingship. Loki travels to Earth and tells Thor that he can never return to Asgard, but when he tries to retrieve Mjolnir Loki is unsuccessful. Loki eventually banishes Thor's friends to Earth and together they battle a giant that Loki sends to destroy them. Thor proves himself worthy of Mjolnir and defeats the giant. Heimdall (guardian of the Asgardian gate) allows Thor to return home and an epic battle ensues between Thor and Loki. Odin awakens from Odin-sleep in order to part the brothers, but when Loki realizes that he can never be the son that Thor is to Odin, he allows himself to fall into an abyss. Unfortunately, the gate to Earth was destroyed in the battle between the brothers and Thor wonders if he shall ever see Jane Foster again, while the physicist herself continues her research in order to find a way to reunite with Thor.
This film should really be called Kenneth Branagh Does Big Hollywood Blockbuster. As a comic book film, Thor is successful in introducing an entirely new character to a generally unfamiliar audience (not an easy thing to accomplish), while presenting an entertaining and visually-stunning narrative. Where the film fails, for me, is in the one-dimensional characters and the lack of real depth to the plot. The exception to these observations would be the character of Loki, who struggles with his love for his father and coming to grips with the knowledge that he is actually a monster and, in spite of his good intentions, he shall always be a monster. The character of Thor was well-meaning and genial, but Loki ends up being the most sympathetic in the film and the most memorable. This film is certainly watchable and it is only "disappointing" if one reminds oneself that it was directed by Branagh, as one is inclined to expect more from him. Indeed, Branagh certainly must have simplified the plot and the characters to make the film more approachable to a wide audience. The film is PG-13, but it really seems like a PG film to be brutally honest. All in all, Thor is recommended to moviegoers interested in an action film, but do not go in expecting Hamlet because you will be letdown when what you get is in fact Masters of the Universe (Dolph Lundgren in a loincloth, anyone?).
