By Odeisel

An eternity is nothing to an immortal, but to fans of Marvel Comics character Thor Odinson, props have been a long time coming to the character. Created by legend Stan Lee as the only viable option to create something stronger than the Hulk, Thor has served as Marvel’s answer to Superman, one of the few Marvel heroes to wear a cape.

Thor has enjoyed a half century of publication as a character. After a few years off, the character returned to the spotlight in 2007 with a new comicbook series written by “Babylon 5” writer Joe Michael Straczynski and his run of popularity has finally extended to the silver screen. Marvel Studios has brought Thor to “life” with its feature film Thor, fourth movie in the Avengers shared universe. The star-studded, Kenneth Branagh-directed film features Tom Hiddelston as the sly, cunning Loki, screen legend Anthony Hopkins as one-eyed Odin, king of the gods and chiseled Australian Chris Hemsworth as the lead role.

While the trailers relied on shtick and comedy (mainly from Kat Denning’s Darcy) to draw in those who aren’t familiar with the character, the movie remained true to its character’s roots: Thor is arrogant, has major daddy issues, and is in dire need of humility. His banishment to Earth (Midgard in Asgardian cosmology) is intended to do just that.

The casting of the film is masterfully done. Hopkins is regal and powerful as Odin but possessed of a sadness at Thor’s brazen headstrong nature. Hiddleston masters what makes the character of Loki so awesome: he is the adopted child, raised in the house alongside the favored son, who is the smartest guy in the room, doomed to take a back seat because of his own ego driven jealousy. He is the most dangerous kind of liar; one convinced of his own righteousness with lies fueled largely by a slanted truth. Hiddleston’s portrayal allows the audience to actually feel sympathy towards a fratricide attempting, traitorous scoundrel.

Hemsworth’s Thor is also spot on with an arrogance fueled by supreme confidence and the possession of ultimate power. It isn’t mean-spirited, but aloof, with an edge dulled by chivalry and the willingness to go balls to the walls for his friends…even if his own foolhardy petulance was what got them in trouble in the first place.

Asgard is like Oz on steroids and is every bit as expansive and mythical as you would imagine. Idris Elba makes an imposing and powerful Heimdal, guardian of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, a dimensional portal that connects Asgard with the rest of the universe. Jotunheim, the land of the frost giants is also brilliantly characterized; a dark, shadowy land of endless winter immense in scope and suitable as a point of danger for someone as powerful as Thor. By using the frost giants, Branagh instantly allows for the raw power of Thor to be put on immediate display. This is not an all-powerful Superman relegated to fighting evil geniuses. This is a god with a big hammer that smashes things.

The chemistry between Hemsworth and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster is evident, but the plotting of the movie leaves little in the way of the normal evolution of attraction. In addition, Thor’s lesson is learned far too quickly for someone centuries old. If it was that easy, you would think his father would have been able to affect that change without imperiling the universe. Dennings’ Darcy can get a bit annoying as a pseudo narrator. Her purpose is to ground the film and keep it hip, but her Facebook talk and her jibber-jabber make it hard to believe her as a legit intern for a scientist.

Overall, Thor is highly successful at conveying a grand cosmic tale by managing the scale of myth and sustaining the believability of the story. The Asgard scenes evoke the Lord of the Rings aesthetic while on Earth, the obstacles faced by Thor are hurdled too easily.

Thor ranks very high in the pantheon of super hero movies; arguably the best Marvel Studios has produced. It makes a powerful cornerstone for Marvel’s Avengers shared universe and a film that 50 years of readers can enjoy alongside movie goers with no link to the character’s continuity.
Out of 5 

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