Thor

Thor

Against his father Odin's will, The Mighty Thor - a powerful but arrogant warrior god - recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

  • Released: 2011-04-21
  • Runtime: 115 minutes
  • Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
  • Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Colm Feore, Idris Elba, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Josh Dallas, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, Adriana Barraza, Maximiliano Hernández, Richard Cetrone, Darren Kendrick, Joshua Cox, Justice Jesse Smith, Joseph Gatt, Luke Massy, Matthew Ducey, Jason Camp, Buddy Sosthand, Blake Silver, Jamie McShane, Dale Godboldo, Patrick O'Brien Demsey, Jim Palmer, Seth Coltan, J. Michael Straczynski, Ryan Schaefer, Matt Battaglia, Stan Lee, Joel McCrary, Isaac Kappy, Juliet Lopez, Rob Mars, Carrie Lazar, Harley Graham, Alexander Wright, Hilary Pingle, Shawn-Caulin Young, Walt Simonson, Kinsey McLean, Kelly Hawthorne, Dakota Goyo, Ted Allpress, Douglas Tait, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Bednar, Michelle Csitos, Stephen Oyoung
  • Director: Kenneth Branagh
 Comments
  • gcsman - 4 June 2024
    Still the best Thor movie, and one of the best superhero films ever
    Just rewatched Thor on video after a few years' gap and I still enjoy the heck out of it. This made stars of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, and my god the extra star power? Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgaard, Idris Elba, Rene Russo (underused), and Anthony Hopkins for goodness' sake. And for the MCU, our first real glimpses at Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Darcy (Kat Dennings) who would carry those roles onward. The biggest key of all, though, was putting Kenneth Branagh in the director's chair and giving him room to work.

    One thing I liked that followed on from that decision was to take this story seriously and play it straight. Norse gods, Asgard, and Frost Giants? Really? Marvel apparently saw Thor as a big risk, this soon in the unfolding of MCU, but that was exactly the right way to play it. We're invited right from the start to buy in to that outlook, and boy it works. In the later Thor and Avengers movies, Thor got turned into something of a clown and played for jokes, which mostly leaves a bad taste in the mouth. That does a serious disservice to the character.

    Extra kudos here go to Patrick Doyle's magnificent musical score, which has a grandeur and intensity that no later Marvel film has matched (yes, including Avengers Endgame. I mean it.) It baffles me why it wasn't used more in the later films. The big payoff scene with Thor's (apparent) death and resurrection, when I first saw it in the theater all those years ago, was electrifying. There he is, riding the storm and taking on the invincible Destroyer (who by the way was comic-book accurate, beautifully rendered). It worked so well, first because the victory was earned (we've watched hero mature and become someone truly worthy of wielding Mjolnir), next because of the striking visuals, and next because of that pulsing music. There's little else in the Marvel movies that equals this scene, except maybe the inspired rendition of that rainbow Bifrost bridge. And Asgard as a whole.

    I downgrade my rating just a little to a mainly because the three sidekicks Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg aren't terribly well used (and they are similarly kind of useless in the Thor comics too). Sif (Jaimie Alexander) has a lot more promise, but was repeatedly underused here and in the later films (in the real Norse mythology, Sif is Thor's wife -- that was too much to swallow, I guess).

    Amyway - enjoy!
  • jacobgjohnson - 2 February 2024
    Thor - 7.7/10
    1. Overall Plot - 10/10 I love the idea of Thor losing everything he has and becoming mortal. I think it is a great way to have an arrogant, full of himself, wanna be king. To becoming a true hero who really cares about people and would do anything to save them. I also love the story about Thor's family and his relationship with them.

    2. Entertainment / Engagement - 7/10 There is a reason that this movie is under two hours. But in this case, I think it's a good thing. If it was longer, it would get boring. But it's not longer. So it keeps you entertained throughout.

    3. Emotion / Investment in Story - 9/10 I think the emotion portrayed in this movie is very good. It shows Thor's relationships and love to other characters. You really feel for Thor as he grows and develops as a character.

    This movie does a good job making you invested in the outcome. It makes you want to actually care about the characters and how they turn out.

    4. Theme and Depth of Story - 8/10 This movie could have lots of good themes. But I think it is about becoming a worthy and great leader for your people. And this fits very well for Thor's character as he is about to become king of Asgard.

    This movie is super deep. It goes into the backstory of Thor, Odin, and Loki, and their relationships with people. It gives each character a great introduction and depth to them.

    5. Characters - 8/10 I love all the characters in this. The choice of main and side characters are very good.

    Thor's character development is very, very good. I love how he goes from an obnoxious, full of himself, kid, to becoming a real king for his people. He learns humility, and humanity. Loki's character development and establishment is also very good. You understand and learn how he acts, and what his relationships are like. We learn why he choices to do the things he does, and why he feels the way he does.

    I like the inclusion of more Shield characters as well. Like Agent Coulson some more, and the introduction of Clint Barton.

    I don't really like the Jane Foster character though. She is what is stopping this from being a ten. She just seems like the usual love interest. There is nothing that really makes me like the character. And same with Darcy. She is just annoying all the time.

    6. Acting / Writing - 7/10 Nothing extraordinary. But still pretty good. Chris Hemsworth is very good to be Thor. He looks just like the character, and plays him very well in a way that shows how Thor really feels about things.

    I do really like the writing of all the dialog with Odin and other characters. The way he talks to Thor and Loki is cool, and he truly seems like Odin, protector of the nine realms. Natalie Portman isn't the best at acting in this. She either seems to always either be over or under acting. But it isn't too bad.

    7. Cinematography - 3/10 I do not like the cinematography in this movie. For whatever reason, anytime it's a closeup, or a wide shot, it's completely diagonal. The whole shot is just filmed super diagonal, almost sideways. I really don't see why they did this at all, but it's terrible to watch.

    On a few shots the do almost a quick zoom in on characters, that doesn't look good either. It is almost filmed like an animation or anime is. And I don't like that at all.

    8. Score - 4/10 I couldn't even tell you how the music goes in this movie, right after watching it. Nothing crazy while watching it either. But don't get me wrong, it wasn't super bad, just nothing cool or special.

    9. Editing / Pace - 7/10 The editing is nothing crazy or memorable. I do like the wide shots that aren't diagonal though. I think the establishing shots of Asgard, that show the whole place are very cool.

    This movie is paced very well. It is a shorter movie with less than a two hour run time, but I think it's the perfect length. Any longer it would be too slow and boring a movie. But with the pacing it has, it keeps you engaged between the action and slower dialog parts.

    10. VFX/Practical Effects - 7/10 The effects in this movie are pretty good. The CGI is very good and looks very real. Some of the practical effects when mixed with some CGI is kinda cheesy. What stood out to me the most as cheesy is the frost giants.

    Average Score: 7/10

    My Overall Rating and Final Thoughts: 7.7/10 I really, really love the idea of Thor becoming mortal and having to learn to be humble. I think it is very cool to show how he is learning to become the king of Asgard. And his relationship with his family is shown well. I love how Loki stays true to his character, and shows jealousy, and just wants to be the king of Asgard also.