Thor
The latest piece of Marvel Studios’ puzzle, leading to next summer’s “The Avengers” has arrived, and it is undoubtedly their riskiest venture yet. It does not achieve the same level of entertainment as 2008’s “Iron Man,” but director Kenneth Branagh’s epic adventure hits all the right notes in terms of fantasy, personal drama, and development of the characters who will play a larger part later.
When all is said and done, the hiring of Branagh as director was inspired in how obvious it was. True, his adaptation of “Frankenstein” was problematic to say the least, but who better than the director of such instant classics of Shakespearean filmmaking as “Henry V,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” and an unabridged “Hamlet” to bring Marvel’s God of Thunder down from Asgard to Earth as the reckless and arrogant son of Odin, banished from his mythical home after he wages war with the Frost Giants of Jotunheim when they try to steal an ancient device of power as he is being coronated King by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins, whose gravitas has returned after years of over-the-top performances).
At its core, “Thor” deals fundamentally with issues of sons who hope to live up to their father’s highest wishes. Like Tony Stark in the first “Iron Man,” Thor and his younger brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) are both trying to aspire to their father’s plans for them. But Thor’s reckless nature after his coronation is interrupted threatens not only his own fate but that of Asgard as well; his father fought hard to negotiate the truce they have in place with the Frost Giants. Driven by emotions that he lacks the wisdom to handle, Thor acts rashly and pays the price of not just banishment but the loss of his powers. When he lands on Earth and runs into scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman, who does fine work in a thankless role), her mentor, Professor Andrews (Stellan Skarsgard), and their assistant Darcy (a sassy and adorable Kat Dennings), he is without his powers– he still has his God-like strength, but he is unable to use his hammer, MJolnir, which has also found its way to Earth. Through his interactions with Jane and humans in general, he must learn humility and sacrifice if he is to be truly worthy of the crown.
The film’s scenes in Asgard and the mythical realm are visually beautiful and thrilling to watch– and not just for the action scenes of these Gods facing off with the Frost Giants and, at times, themselves. It is here where Branagh was the ideal choice for director: he brings a level of believability to this artificial world that grounds the film dramatically, even when the theatricality of the Asgard scenes borders on bombastic. Part of the risk in bringing “Thor” to the screen was whether this fantasy world could co-exist with the reality in which the remainder of these Marvel Universe films (the two “Iron Man” films, “The Incredible Hulk,” and July’s “Captain America: The First Avenger”) operate. Branagh has succeeded exceptionally well in this regard, especially when the fight is brought to Earth as Loki seeks power for himself and is prepared to destroy anyone in his way, be it Thor or Heimdall (the guard of the Observatory and the Bifrost, which connects the Nine Realms, played by Idris Elba) or even the innocent people of Earth. And the post-conversion to 3D is a benefit to the film, adding depth to an already enriching visual experience without getting in the way of enjoying the story that unfolds.
In the end, however, the film’s biggest asset is Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Best known as Kirk’s father at the beginning of J.J. Abrams’s “Star Trek,” “Thor” is just the beginning of Hemsworth’s coming rise to fame. In addition to his upcoming appearance in next year’s “Avengers” with the rest of Marvel’s major superheroes, he also has a remake of “Red Dawn” and the horror film “Cabin in the Woods” (co-written by “Avengers” writer-director Joss Whedon) that have been awaiting release until MGM sorts out its financial concerns. But “Thor” is the breakthrough, and he brings all the qualities of this character to life in a way that makes it difficult to wait to see how he butts heads with Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, Chris Evans’s Steve Rogers, Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nicky Fury a year from now. And make sure you stay until the end credits; I’m betting you’ll feel the same way I do– the Avengers can’t assemble soon enough.
