Film Review: Thor (Revisited)

Thor: Norse god of thunder, and one of Marvel's most formidable heroes. Coming from a universe that surpasses the scope and understanding of a mere Earthling, Thor has the power to command the elements and vanquish foes with his incredible hammer. After Marvel introduced us to Iron Man and the Hulk, a series of Thor movies was inevitable.

Thor throws us into a world where Norse myth collides with science-fiction in a surprisingly sublime fashion. In this unique universe, we are introduced to the title character, who battles giants and mortal men alike with thunderous force. There is plenty of action throughout this flick, and lots of beautiful special effects. Even when Thor isn’t bashing the hell out of things, there’s enough character-driven drama to keep it strong. And of course, nothing’s more amusing than watching an archaic deity walking among modern men, acting like a total Viking in the modern world. Action is not quite as huge of a standout as it is in other Marvel films, but there's enough spectacle, humor, and dramatic tension to satisfy.

The story’s a little predictable, especially if you’re already familiar with the comics or Norse myth. The story has the merit of introducing Thor as a bit of a brute, who has to learn humility and control in order to realize his full potential. He learns these things on Earth, before taking the fight back to Asgard to resolve a larger struggle. In the end, it's a fine and satisfying fantasy adventure with just enough character building to make it endearing.

The film has good photography for the most part. The frost-giant battle shows some rather jittery camera work and editing, but afterwards it’s all solid. Some shots have some really funky crooked angles, but I think it’s cool. Acting is great; I loved Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman in their roles, and Anthony Hopkins is a naturally good choice for Odin. Writing is not terribly sophisticated, but it gets the job done. Production value is phenomenal, with loads of excellent sets, props, costumes, and some very imaginative settings. It’s especially impressive how the designers have adopted Norse myth into the story and designs to fit into a sci-fi niche, and still make sense. Special effects look great, but they aren't always the best. The music score is not bad.

Thor's first feature film has its moments, both exciting and cute. It won't blow anybody away, but it is entertaining all the same.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Okay | Film: Pretty Good)