Thor is another Marvel Superhero who has much potential for a blockbuster movie, especially because instead of traditional superhero stories set on Earth, this story mostly takes place in a faraway land in the cosmos, starring the almighty, powerful gods and the powers they possess that are far beyond a normal human’s control. Then there’s the question of how to get Thor to come to Earth and join up with the other Marvel heroes in the MCU. The answer would result in some aspects being absolutely outstanding, while others tend to fall flat more on the storytelling side of things. Regardless, this was another enjoyable movie from the MCU that, despite its mishaps, ultimately comes out strong with the many things it did well.
In the magical realm of Asgard, a young Thor and Loki are told a story by their father Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins) as he describes his fight between his people and the Frost Giants. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) grow up into men as Thor is about to be crowned king of Asgard just as the Frost Giants attack some guards and try to escape with a relic from Odin’s first battle. Enraged by the disturbance, Thor gets Loki and a group of his friends to come with him to the frost giants’ lair to avenge Asgard, but in the middle of the fight, Odin steps in and beams Thor and crew back to Asgard. Odin is angry about Thor’s recklessness and with a heavy heart banishes him to earth as he’s stripped of his mighty god powers in the process. Thor bumps into a scientist named Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) as she and her crew try to figure out Thor’s whereabouts and how to send him back home. Meanwhile, Loki discovers his true origins and tries to take the throne for himself even if it means betraying others in the process.
The Story has its share of pros and cons, but I found that the majority of its strengths far outweigh its shortcomings. The best scenes of the movie are those that don’t take place on Earth. Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of scenes that happen on Earth, such as Thor breaking into a SHEILD to steal back his hammer, which is pretty accelerating and vital. However, I found the more interesting aspect to be the things that happen in Asgard, both in its worldbuilding and its characters, to be far more engaging, as it seemed to be delivering me into a world yet to be traversed in the MCU. I feel if the filmmakers stuck with just having the whole adventure be told in these engaging settings, it might have had a better chance of being a unique early film from the MCU. The main idea for the story they are trying to tell is that a mysterious being comes to Earth and has trouble fitting in, which is not a bad concept. However, there are far better movies that have made use of this concept in more impressive ways than this film gives itself credit for. I am aware that the movie had to bring Thor to Earth somehow to have him meet up with other MCU characters in future movies, but I feel like there could have been a much more creative way to do it than just relying on old storytelling clichés. Regardless, I still had fun despite all that. The pacing is good, and I enjoyed some of the more down-to-earth elements that complement its action-packed premise.
The Characters are a bit of a mixed bag, not because they are bad, but more because there isn’t a whole lot of time devoted to most of them. One of the best aspects of the movie is the relationship between Thor and Loki, as it feels like the two have an actual brotherly bond throughout the story. Many scenes between them can be both comforting and tragically threatening. They own the roles they portray, and I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing these parts. Odin also has some great character, as Anthony Hopkins does his best to portray the father, who is strong, wise, and strict toward Thor and Loki. The other characters from Asgard are not entirely memorable as I didn’t quite get to know them very well, and even now, I can’t think of a single thing about them that makes them stand out from the main characters. I understand that it's hard to top what Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston brought to Thor and Loki, but I wish the rest of the god characters had the same impact, as they really only serve the purpose of being there when the plot demands them to be. The human characters on Earth are, for the most part, okay. They are not great, but I did end up caring about them enough, which is more I can say for Thor and Loki’s god friends. Jane, played by Natalie Portman, is a standard love interest that could be inserted into any damsel-in-distress superhero role. Still, they do give her some intrigue with her being an astrophysicist. Even Darcy, played by Kat Dennings, in my opinion, gets way too much hate. She may not be hysterical, but she is far from the most annoying person I’ve ever seen in a movie. Some of the background characters required significant improvement. But thankfully, Thor and Loki’s performances, in some ways, make the whole film feel worth it.
The Cinematography on Earth, for the most part, is your typical filmmaking of a small town in New Mexico. At the same time, the cinematography in Asgard is wondrous and unlike anything we’ve seen in the MCU beforehand. Most of the visuals for Asgard are noticeably done with CGI, and admittedly, looking back, the CGI is a bit rough when compared to later MCU films. However, it’s still some of the most creative visuals the MCU has produced at the time, and I felt transported to a magical and mysterious world. The cold, barren wastelands of the frost giants' home world and the beautiful sights of the Rainbow Bridge that connect Asgard to the Gatekeeper really sell the otherworldly illusion. The costuming on the god characters is excellent and matches the personalities of their respective characters. Production designer Bo Welch, who worked on movies such as Beetlejuice and Men in Black, went all out in creating the look and feel of Thor, particularly when focusing on the world of Asgard and its inhabitants. The action in this movie makes excellent use of Thor and his abilities with his hammer, and they may just be some of the most exciting bits of the entire film. I do wish we could see more of the interesting visuals and action-packed set pieces, but I also appreciate the small-scale feel of the New Mexico setting. While somewhat dated, the visuals are a treat and a welcomed refresher after seeing flying robot mechs and giant monsters.
The Music was composed by Patrick Doyle, known for writing the music for movies like Brave and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I didn’t think much of the music score when I first watched the film; I have to admit, though, this score, while not the best in the MCU saga, is far more magical and wondrous than I initially let on. My favorite bits of the music come from any of the tunes that happen when in Asgard or when Thor is fighting off enemies. I enjoyed the melodies this time around, and that is a testament to Doyle's significant contribution.
While this movie could have been much better in telling a more engaging superhero story, other than the typical scenario of a guy landing on Earth and not knowing what he’s doing, Thor is still a lot of fun and still isn’t without its awesome moments. Its engaging brother dynamic between Thor and Loki, incredible visuals when it comes to the world of Asgard as well as the action sequences, and a somewhat redundant but also meaningful story that may not be the best compared to the other MCU films, yet still offers enough of an entertaining experience that is fun for fans and moviegoers alike. It’s still worth watching if you’re a fan of Marvel or a film you need to witness to complete your MCU movie-watching experience. It’s not a movie I return to often in the MCU’s vast pantheon of great superhero flicks, but it's nevertheless a grand yet straightforward movie that tries harder than it honestly should have.
(Final Grade: B)