It’s a little fitting that nearly a year to the day we cover another Marvel movie – one of the @rcade’s first reviews was the Iron Man 2 movie and here we are now with our movie fangs sunk deep into the latest offering from Marvel Studios, Thor!
The movie is available in both 2D and 3D screening rooms but before you go and throw your hard earned Euros on a pair of 3D glasses, it really isn’t worth it with only a handful of gravel and one or two hammer throws flying across the screen!
So let’s begin this review with a quick Marvel/Thor tutorial. Thor first appeared in 1962 the creation of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Larry Lieber, the trio had been searching for a way to make a new hero, someone stronger than their strongest when they came up with making their new hero more than a man and thus Thor, the God of Thunder found his way into the comic scene. Wielding M’Jolnir, his might hammer, and colossal strength and stamina Thor become a member of the Avengers and has been a part of the superhero team in every one of its incarnations. Thor constantly does battle with Loki, the Enchantress, the Executioner and Hela to name but a few!
Lesson wrapped up!
Thor, the movie, is directed by actor/director Kenneth Branagh (Chamber of Secrets, Frankenstein) and stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Tom Hiddelston (Loki) and Kat Dennings (Darcy). The movie is centred around Thor and his quest to become a man and King of Asgard, after his coronation ceremony is interrupted by a Frost giant attack Thor, his brother Loki and some warriors cross into the realm of the giants and wage battle against the King, ending an age old truce and starting a new war. Odin upon learning of his son’s actions banishes him from their home in Asgard and strips him of his power, sending him to the mortal world, Midgard/Earth.
Here he meets or is rather run over by Jane Foster, an astrophysicist and when the young scientist realises the man she ploughed down with her van came from some astral storm she does everything in her power to help/study him. Meanwhile with Thor banished, Loki assumes the throne when Odin falls into his slumber and sets about ensuring he will remain King and his brother will never return to Asgard alive! On top of all his problems Thor finds his trusted weapon now in the hands of SHIELD and unable to lift it he finds himself beginning to understand the lesson his father had tried for so long to teach him, but is it too late to redeem himself and save the two worlds?
Thor is by all accounts a very entertaining and enjoyable movie, particularly with performances by Hemsworth and Hopkins who are perfectly cast in their roles as Thor and Odin. Hemsworth plays the Norse God with ease and is a near perfect human replica of the Thor we’ve grown to love in the comics. The movie mixes, much like Iron Man, humour with big action and chaotic drama scenes and although at times very silly, they do blend in well with the movie. It isn’t going to leave you wondering about the cosmos or your fate on Earth but it will certainly give you a few laughs and have you marvel(get it?)ing at the fantastic visuals!
One thing we found with the movie was how much we really don’t like SHIELD, something that we’ve felt since the comic books and the movie hasn’t helped it either. Keep your eyes peeled however for a certain archer hero cameo!
The movie is by no means perfect and while starting off well, in particular the fight scenes against the Frost Giants in Jotunheim and Thor’s banishment, the movie feels a little rushed toward the end and while we understand that movie love is different to real love, the relationship between Jane and Thor just seemed to happen out of nowhere (why can’t real life be like that?) and the final clash between Thor and Loki is a little short-lived!
In saying all of that though, none of it really detracts from the whole experience of the movie and as long as you’re not expecting Oscar material then you are sure to enjoy it as much as we did!
Thor is available in cinemas nationwide and in 3D where screens are available!
