Editor: Jeremias de Leon
For today's review for Comic Book Clash's "Avengers Month", I'm taking a look at a movie that (before The Avengers was released) was my favorite from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That film is the 2011 Fantasy/Sci-Fi Epic, Thor.
Based off the comic of the same name created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 2011's Thor was written by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne with story credits going to J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich, and the director of the film was Kenneth Branagh.
The film starts off with a short montage showing both Thor and Loki's Origins, from their childhoods to adulthood, we come to see that even though their not related, they do act brotherly to one another. We then cut to Thor, now as a adult (played by Chris Hemsworth) preparing to ascend to the throne of Asgard, until a group of frost giants try to retrieve the casket from Odin's vault which contains the Tesseract (the cosmic cube int this universe). and they failed. Thor wants to confront Laufery and the frost giants abbot this incident on their realm, Jotunheim. Odin forbids this, but that doesn't faze Thor, Loki, Sif nor the Warriors Three (Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun).
They proceed to the realm where the frost giants live, and due to a remake that Laufery utters, a fight insures. As this fight progresses on, it looks like they were at death's door until Odin intervenes and tries to play peacekeeper between the two races, however due to the god of thunder's arrogance that treaty between the two races was broken. Due to that arrogance, Odin strips his son's godly powers from him and banishes him to Midgard (our realm in the Marvel universe) to learn of Humility.
This films cast (excluding a couple due to some changes) was one that felt like it was literally taken out of the source material. Hemsworth's portrayal of the god of thunder was perfect, from the start of the film he was naive but as the film progressed you felt that he's matured due to his interaction with the humans on earth.
Tom Hiddleston as Loki was one of THE best portrayal on a comic film to date. He's a villain down to a T, but he's a simpifectic one and understand why as the films plot progresses, you understand his character and why he's takes these courses of action.
Not only does Sir. Anthony Hopkins' Odin brings some class to the film, but he's a King at not only thinks of Asgard's best intentions but for his son(s) as well.
The others that portray their respective roles (Stellan Skarsgard, Idris Elba, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Joshua Dallas, Jaimie Alexander and Rene Russo) are great additions to the film. However, the one I personally fell that was highly miscast as Jane Foster was Natalie Portman and Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis.
While Dennings was their for harmless padding in the comedic tense, I personally felt that while Natalie Portman as Jane Foster is the generic love interest in mainstream comics. Portman's portrayal comes off as both whiney, shallow and pedantic. Another reason why I disliked Ms. Portman's portrayal was the exhale in the character's background from her being originally a paramedic to an astrophysicist. I understand and acknowledge why they changed the character's backing to mesh with the films plot, but to a long-term Marvel zombie it may feel weird.
The score, done by Patrick Doyle was amazing. The tone and ominous flows wonderfully with the movie's fantasy element and with the contemporary earth setting. Even listening to it solely is an experience of its own.
The director of Thor, Kenneth Branagh was one of Marvel's best choices they made due to his Shakespearian background. He really brought out the feeling for both respective realms and also makes both Asgard and Jotunheim look awe-inspiring.
In closing, though The Avengers is now my personal favorites in the Cinematic Universe. Thor is still a close favorite of mine. From the plot, to the characterization of each actor/actress in this film is a mush see!
RATING: 4.5/5
SECOND OPINION by Jeremias de Leon
It was really, really, really, good. Natilie Portman's hot, Thor's Cool and some Frost Giants die. EPIC! I highly reccomend this film to anyone.
RATING: 5/5
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