Movie Review: Thor

Thor was always going to be a difficult sell. In the final ultimate super group Marvel Avengers film the Asgard demi-god will be joining forces with tech genius Iron Man, the radiation bloated Hulk and 40’s throwback Captain America; all of which have some grounds in earth-bound science fiction. Thor however is, as the name suggests, a being from another realm: bearer of a mighty hammer and son of Odin who can fly, level buildings and travel through space all without the aid of a suit of improbably powerful computer aided armour, being blasted with gamma radiation or being the result of genetic enhancement. The point is Thor is an alien with all the powers of a god, whereas his peers are humans with powers grounded in scientific experimentation: and in this age of realism based superhero movies like Iron Man (2008) and D.C.’s The Dark Knight (2008), Thor’s flights of fancy may be too fantastical for people to really accept.

Just as Thor (an improbably good-looking Chris Hemsworth), in the realm of Asgard somewhere out in space, is about to take his rightful place as king from his aged father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the Asgardian’s ancient enemies the Frost Giants break into the Royal Palace and try to steal a powerful weapon. Despite the fact that they fail Thor takes it upon himself to make his way to the Frost Giant’s realm and try to destroy any scent of rebellion within the their ranks. Upon taking the fight to them Odin, who had forbidden his involvement, rescues Thor and his companions, only to strip Thor of his power for his disobedience and cast him down to earth as a mortal. Upon landing he meets physicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman; getting around isn’t she?) and his journey for redemption begins.

The first act of Thor is back story, setting up Thor’s rise and fall and in general the pontificating and CGI battles are pretty dull, with Anthony Hopkins’ Odin chewing up the scenery in true Shakespearean style. And the Shakespearean style is by no means an accident: director Kenneth Branagh cut his teeth making adaptations and in some ways is a strange choice to direct such a mainstream superhero blockbuster. Once the action is taken to earth however Branagh’s style is truly what makes the film. The fish out of water comedy works wonderfully, with Hemsworth smashing mugs of coffee shouting “ANOTHER!” when he finishes and striding into a Pet Shop and demanding to be given a horse. The opening act is only given any sort of scale once we reach earth, and the battles seem much weightier once Thor becomes a mortal. The cast are reasonably charming and once the opening section is over the comedy and action scenes are excellent; leading to cosmic battle that serves as a satisfying conclusion. Better than The Incredible Hulk (2008) and well in the same league as Iron Man, Thor serves as a meaty introduction to what could have been an incredibly problematic character to introduce: due to Branagh’s masterful comic direction and a likeable cast of misfits.