Johann
05-18-2011, 11:59 AM
THOR
Marvel studios have got another winner.
Another Marvel Comics Legend has made it to the big screen and it was done right.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kenneth Branagh's Thor, even though it can be criticized a little.
I was hoping when I went into the theatre that this movie wouldn't stink. The potential was there.
Pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Thor has awesome special effects, great costumes and nice camera angles (geared more toward 3-D, but I opted out of seeing it in 3-D). The acting is good. Good, believable cast here, with Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins (flawless as ODIN) and new guy/star Chris Hemsworth.
Hemsworth is perfect for Thor.
He's got the height and build a man should have to play that role. Ideally Thor would be even taller and have bigger biceps than Superman, but given it's a human being playing him, you can't argue with who was cast to play the Norse God of Thunder.
The movie moves at a fairly brisk pace, opening with Portman's Jane running over Thor with her vehicle after he is banished to earth by his unhappy father Odin for being arrogant. Part of the fun of this movie is seeing a God from another "realm" mingle with hu-mons.
(and his buddies- referred by earthlings as "Xena, Jackie Chan and Robin Hood")
Basically, the story is:
God of Thunder is banished by his Old Man Odin to earth. His hammer is rendered inert and is also thrown to earth, creating a massive crater in New Mexico that soon has the federal government all over the site.
His diabolical brother Loki seizes power, the Rainbow Bridge figures prominently, and Thor must get his hammer once again, find a way back to Asgard, make peace with Odin and go back to fighting baddies in realms of his choosing. All the while trying not to fall in love with mortal Natalie Portman....
Kenneth Branagh should direct every Thor film. He's struck the cinematic template for the character and it's well done.
The biggest flaw for me was when Thor tries to get his hammer back at the federal/Shield crater site.
He beats the shit out of all of the Federal security guys (makes them look like "a bunch of mall cops" was the quote), gets captured, only to be let go within minutes! Because his new human "friend" says that Thor is misunderstood! He's not who they think he is!
OK....
No assault charges? No holding him? At all? He just walks out of the compound! WTF?!?
No way that would happen in real life, whether Thor was an alien God or not. He beat the crap out of serious security personnel and no one raises an eyebrow...
But it takes nothing away from the movie, I guess. Stranger and more bizarre shit has gone down in other movies and people let it slide, and this is a comic book adaptation...how "critical" can you be? This is summer blockbuster stuff.
Thumbs up for Thor.
I will be buying the DVD and I'm looking forward to his further adventures, in sequels and in the AVENGERS, a highly anticipated movie for fanboys. The trailer for Captain America was Awesome. And Green Lantern looks Great too, even though I do not like Ryan Reynolds in the Lead.
Clive Owen should've been given that role.
Marvel studios have got another winner.
Another Marvel Comics Legend has made it to the big screen and it was done right.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kenneth Branagh's Thor, even though it can be criticized a little.
I was hoping when I went into the theatre that this movie wouldn't stink. The potential was there.
Pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Thor has awesome special effects, great costumes and nice camera angles (geared more toward 3-D, but I opted out of seeing it in 3-D). The acting is good. Good, believable cast here, with Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins (flawless as ODIN) and new guy/star Chris Hemsworth.
Hemsworth is perfect for Thor.
He's got the height and build a man should have to play that role. Ideally Thor would be even taller and have bigger biceps than Superman, but given it's a human being playing him, you can't argue with who was cast to play the Norse God of Thunder.
The movie moves at a fairly brisk pace, opening with Portman's Jane running over Thor with her vehicle after he is banished to earth by his unhappy father Odin for being arrogant. Part of the fun of this movie is seeing a God from another "realm" mingle with hu-mons.
(and his buddies- referred by earthlings as "Xena, Jackie Chan and Robin Hood")
Basically, the story is:
God of Thunder is banished by his Old Man Odin to earth. His hammer is rendered inert and is also thrown to earth, creating a massive crater in New Mexico that soon has the federal government all over the site.
His diabolical brother Loki seizes power, the Rainbow Bridge figures prominently, and Thor must get his hammer once again, find a way back to Asgard, make peace with Odin and go back to fighting baddies in realms of his choosing. All the while trying not to fall in love with mortal Natalie Portman....
Kenneth Branagh should direct every Thor film. He's struck the cinematic template for the character and it's well done.
The biggest flaw for me was when Thor tries to get his hammer back at the federal/Shield crater site.
He beats the shit out of all of the Federal security guys (makes them look like "a bunch of mall cops" was the quote), gets captured, only to be let go within minutes! Because his new human "friend" says that Thor is misunderstood! He's not who they think he is!
OK....
No assault charges? No holding him? At all? He just walks out of the compound! WTF?!?
No way that would happen in real life, whether Thor was an alien God or not. He beat the crap out of serious security personnel and no one raises an eyebrow...
But it takes nothing away from the movie, I guess. Stranger and more bizarre shit has gone down in other movies and people let it slide, and this is a comic book adaptation...how "critical" can you be? This is summer blockbuster stuff.
Thumbs up for Thor.
I will be buying the DVD and I'm looking forward to his further adventures, in sequels and in the AVENGERS, a highly anticipated movie for fanboys. The trailer for Captain America was Awesome. And Green Lantern looks Great too, even though I do not like Ryan Reynolds in the Lead.
Clive Owen should've been given that role.