THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Going through the 2000s, average viewers felt like they’ve seen it all in terms of superhero movies. But by the time the MCU was growing in the 2010s, this would only be the beginning of the popular genre. So in 2011, Hollywood got introduced to a character that is now as popular as the superheroes that got movies before him.
PLOT
Thor follows the titular prince of Asgard who is punished for resurrecting a war between his kin and the frost giants of Jotunheim. He is stripped from his powers by his father Odin and is sent to Earth to learn his lesson. He also sends his hammer Mjolnir separately, summoning a spell that only the worthy can wield it. When Thor crash lands in New Mexico, he makes contact with human astrophysicists Jane Foster, Erik Selvig & Darcy Lewis. Because they accidentally hit him with a car when meeting him, they choose to look after him. When Mjolnir crash lands, SHIELD agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) makes sets up a perimeter and base of operations to research the hammer. He even confiscates the research that belonged to Jane. On Asgard, Thor’s brother Loki discovers that he is an adopted frost giant, and his biological father is the leader Laufey. Odin explains that his adoption was intended to unite Asgard & Jotunheim. Loki’s outburst towards him causes the O’Father to go into Odinsleep. When Thor finds out about Mjolnir, he quickly goes after it. Although wanting to go on his own, Jane gives him a lift. He fails to get it back, realizing the that he isn’t worthy yet. Loki does briefly visit Earth, lying to him that Odin died and his banishment must remain intact. As he gets questioned by Coulson, he does get bailed by Selvig, claiming that he is Jane’s ex boyfriend Donald Blake and only acted under the use of steroids. Despite suspicion, Coulson lets him go. The Ashardian officially gets used to his new life as a mortal by sharing drinks with Selvig and explaining the Nine Realms to Jane. By morning, his his friends Lady Sif and the Warriors Three (Ray Winstone’s Volstagg, Joshua Dallas’ Fandral and Tadanobu Asano’s Hogun) go to Earth to bring him home, also revealing that his dad’s still alive. Loki plots to frame the frost giants of attacking Asgard in order to have an excuse to destroy their planet and sends a ‘destroyer’ to kill Thor. When discovering Thor’s friends have left, he freezes the gatekeeper Heimdall to forbid anyone else to leave. When the Destroyer makes way to New Mexico, Sif and the Warriors Three fight it off before Thor steps in. Luckily, the god of thunder regained his powers becoming worthy again as he attempted to sacrifice himself, protecting the town he was laying low in. Once he gets them back, he defeats the destroyer with ease. Before going home, he promises Jane he’ll come back for her. Heimdall breaks free from the ice and brings back the Asgardians. When Thor comes home, he does fight Loki when returning but in order to save Jotunheim, he has to destroy the Bifrost bridge. This sacrifices the chance to see Jane again. Odin wakes up and attempts to rescue his sons from falling off the bridge, but Loki falls after letting go of his father’s staff. The film ends with Thor accepting he’s not ready to be king yet and discusses with the gatekeeper Heimdall that Jane is searching for him.
THOUGHTS
Looking back, I recall having a blast in 2011 as much as I do now. Having said that, this superhero film has a fair share of flaws that I gotta call out before I continue expressing that I like it. In the opening, Jane is super reckless for attempting to drive into a portal. That could’ve been a tornado and she could’ve died along with her group. I know she’s serious on discovering the unknown through astrophysics, but that was not smart from her. I know that superhero movies like this are meant for kids, but I have a hard time believing Thor didn’t have blood on him after going through that Frost Beast during his fight in Jotunheim. I know that Thor needs to be out of the hospital to continue his story and become worthy, but it’s also unbelievable that no one spotted him leave when he still had his patience scrubs on. If you ignore all of that, you can still enjoy this film. Other than that, this remains a good movie. Returning to the goods, this film isn’t the better superhero origin compared to Iron Man, but is able to hit the right marks thanks to a good cast. Thor is unlikable at first due to his arrogance and learns the hard way of being a better person. That is why Chris Hemsworth does a great job with the role teaching us not to be cocky with our gifts. When he catches his hammer, it is satisfying to witness because you know he’s truly changed at that point. By the end, you look up to him because became strong enough to make a decision others likely wouldn’t do. Destroying the Bifrost bridge when being aware he wouldn’t see Jane is a bold moment because he was willing to make a self sacrifice to save others, proving that the need of others sometimes need to come before your own. Tom Hiddleston is also great as Loki because he does go through a sympathetic path like Magneto, which continues to be used in the MCU. Loki went down the path of becoming a calculating person because he was hurt, broken of such a secret that was his adoption. No one likes to be kept a secret like that, but I don’t think anyone would go as far as him. When he fell off the destroyed Bifrost, we would’ve not guessed that he’d survive but the after credits proved otherwise. Idris Elba is honestly pretty good as Heimdall because you feel his sense of loyalty to those that are right to rule. He isn’t here much compared to the sequels, but him kill two Frost Giant after breaking from ice comes to show he’s more powerful than we expect. The ending of telling Thor that Jane searches for him is the friendliest thing that he could’ve done, and I personally believe that was the beginning of their friendship. Sif and the Warriors Three aren’t as iconic as the Avengers, but I do respect the effort to bring back their friend. Jamie Alexander stood out the most as Sif because she does a great job portraying her as the most honorable. Sir Anthony Hopkins brings such an ideal presence Odin is all about. He owns the aspect of being a wise king. It was also thoughtful of him to exile his son because in a medieval perspective, he had to something that would teach him a lesson. While it sounds irrational, you respect that it actually worked. I personally believe that the romance of Thor and Jane works here unlike its sequel. They fall for each other because they show each other the world differently. Natalie Portman does do a good job with Jane as she gets more than she bargained for, searching for her answers about the universe. We like her because we admire her intelligence and dedication of her work. Kat Dennings is hilarious as Darcy. She stood out for acting impulsive in moments such as teasing Thor. I never thought I’d see a moment like that, but I’m glad I did because I’m still laughing about it years later. I also like Stellan Skargård as Selvig who may not be idealistic like Jane, he is a loyal friend. Jeremy Renner’s cameo as Hawkeye may have been forced because he doesn’t do anything but it is still a clever build up to The Avengers. The visuals hold up better than Iron Man 2 because whenever you look at Asgard, it is still beautiful to behold. To close it, Kenneth Branagh provides a good superhero movie that can be good on its own if you don’t plan to watch the entire MCU. If you are still watching the MCU and enjoy Branagh’s directing filmography, this one is worth the price of admission.
Comments