Thor (2011)

Let me start my review off by saying that I have never read a Thor comic book. I have read a few small crossovers, but never a comic solely dedicated to the Marvel version of the Norse god. And after seeing this movie, I would want to read some of the comics. Simultaneously because I enjoyed the movie, and also because I want to see a better version of the story. The story of the film is that Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth; based off of the Norse god of thunder) did something wrong (I won’t say what because it is pretty awesome) and he got banished to Earth. He had lost all of his powers, including a hammer that is pretty awesome. And while he searches to find his hammer and his powers, he keeps running into (or better said, having their car run into him…like three times) three scientists, played by Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, and Stellan Skarsgård. The latter is very skeptic, the former is forgetting every law of science she has EVER learned, and the middle one is a comic relief that really didn’t belong. Also, Thor’s brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston; also based on Norse mythology) is trying to take over Asgard. The film takes these two storylines (Asgard and scientists) and alternates them constantly. It alternated them so much that is becomes insanely confusing, as the two storylines have insanely different tones. Asgard is a guys’ movie, with special effects and action and fun. The scientists present the girls’ movie. It is a romantic comedy, with some jokes that are funnier than in some of the lesser romantic comedies I have seen. But it is still a romantic comedy that is placed in a superhero movie. And that was never meant to happen. And there is a reason. And not that it is a bad romantic comedy, it’s just that it’s a superhero film, and it is supposed to stay a superhero film. It really irritates me. I am perfectly fine with a romantic subplot, but the two plots co-exist to a point that the romance seems to trump Asgard at times. And now to talk about Asgard. The Asgard plot is very well done, and has a lot of fun action scenes. It is interesting, and a blast. As said before, the movie’s main problem is that the script doesn’t know where it wants to go with the material. The film has as much trouble finding itself as its main character does, which is a lot. But, despite the script having some major flaws, the acting, especially Chris Hemsworth as Thor, is very good. Hemsworth knows the material and delivers it greatly. Portman, Dennings, Skarsgård, Hiddleston Idris Elba as the gatekeeper for an inter-dimensional (?) portal, and even Anthony Hopkins in a smaller role as Thor and Loki’s father Odin, do really good jobs in their respective parts. The direction is also very good. Thor is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who has directed many film adaptations of the plays of William Shakespeare, and he does very good. He brings his expertise into this very Shekespearian world, and it fits. But still, the plot jumps are inexcusable. Thor doesn’t really seem like a film, it seems more like a season of a TV show crumpled together. But still, I’d be a TV show I’d watch.
8/10