Film 6: Thor

Warning the following could contain spoilers!

Film: Thor

April 2011

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Gregg Clark with Anthony Hopkins and Samuel L. Jackson.

Plot: In 950 AD Odin (Hopkins) and the Asgardinan forces arrive to defend the Earth and defeat the frost giants invaders, starting a great war between the two races that only ends when Odin marches into the giants homeworld of Jotunheim and defeats their king, takes their main weapon the Casket of Ancient Winters and steals their prince whom Odin raises as his own.

Years later Odin holds a ceremony to Honour the bravery of his son Thor (Hemsworth) who he plans on naming the next king of Asgard, the ceremony is interrupted by frost giants who have broken into Odin's weapons vault trying to reclaim the Casket but are stopped by the vaults defender the Destroyer Armour. Thor angry at this offence defies Odin and takes his brother Loki (Hiddleston), the warriors 3 and Lady Sif to Jotenheim and fights a group of frost giant but have to be saved by Odin who angry at Thor Strips him of his power, banishes him to earth and puts a spell on Thor's enchanted hammer Mjolnir so it cant be lifted except by someone who is worthy.

Landing on Earth Thor is knocked down by scientist Jane Foster (Portman) who is conducting research into the ability to travel between the realms. Her work is taken by S.H.I.E.L.D agents lead by Agent Coulson (Clark) Foster thinks the only way to further her research is through Thor, despite the objections of her colleague Dr, Eric Selvig (Skarsgard). Breaking into the SHIELD cordon around Mjolnir Thor fights his way to the hammer but fails to lift it not yet being worthy of wielding it.

Meanwhile Loki discovers the truth of his parentage and confronts Odin as he falls into the Odin sleep from which he might not wake, Loki assumes the throne and after the warriors 3 set off to find Thor sends the Destroyer Armour to kill his Brother.

After being freed from SHIELD Thor reflects on the mortal life he must now live and is willing to accept it before the Warriors 3 arrive to tell him of Loki's deceit and ask for Thor to return to Asgard, Thor explains that he is unable to return but is then confronted by the Armour, Thor is struck down but his sacrifice is enough to make him worthy of wielding his hammer. Beating the armour Thor returns to confront Loki who plans to seal his position as King by destroying the frost giant's home world using the Rainbow bridge the asgardians use to travel the worlds as a weapon. Knocking down Loki Thor realises the only way to stop his plans is to destroy the bridge despite the fact that by doing so he can not return to earth Thor breaks the bridge in an explosion that knocks Loki into an abyss.

Thor reflects on his sacrifice when Odin tells him he is proud of his son.

After credits: Selvig is in a bunker where he meets Nick Fury (Jackson) who shows him the tesserect (Cosmic Cube) this interests Selvig and Loki.

Thoughts going in: I love the Marvel cinematic universe but i did have reservations about this movie, Thor was one of my favourite characters in the comic books but i was worried by the trailer which seemed to give away an awful lot about the film making me wonder whether it was worth seeing. However with Portman and Hopkins attached to the film peaked my interest even though i had no idea about Hemsworth or Hiddleston.

Review: Beautiful visuals, the film wasn't supposed to be about its look but yet it was amazing, the costume design was amazing as well, in a comic book movie often the costumes either don't look right or else are too silly but once again marvel got it right as did Branagh in the films direction mixing good action with great story telling and needed humour. Hopkins delivered as expected but the performance from Hensworth really surprised me and especially Hiddleston who got me invested in the character of Loki who previously hadn't been too interesting. The cameo of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye was a fan boy moment and added to my enjoyment.

Score: A

Says its title: Yes, its title is the main character so it is repeated numerous times.

Worth the DVD?: Yes, as part of a Marvel collection or on its own the film is great and is worth numerous viewings.

To look forward to: The Avengers

Film: The Avengers (Avengers Assenble, UK)

Release Date: May 3rd 2012 (April 26th 2012, UK)

Director: Josh Whedon

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Cobie Smulders with Gregg Clark and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Reasons to go: 

• Tony Stark Gets his suit taken off him while Walking!
• The Hulk looks amazing.
• Thor is baddass.
• Scarlett Johansson looks sexy as the Black Widow.
• The build up to the film is unlike anything that has been before.
• Marvel Studios has constantly brought an A game
• The acting talent of Robert Downey Jr.
• Greg Clark as Agent Coulson
• Cobie Smulders is Marie freakin' Hill and wear a catsuit! 
• Loki returns and is more menacing and dapper than ever before
• Samuel L Jackson is sick of the Mother F***ing Aliens on his mother f***ing planet
• What if i told you they were putting together a team.
• Hero fights Hero at some point.
• Josh Whedon is more than capable of delivering as director.

Reasons Not to go:

• You feel sorry that Hawkeye has to be put next to Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Hulk
• You're a Nolanite and you prefer full realism, a hero with no powers and a tiny villain who can only mumble.

My take: This has been 4 years in the making ever since the post credit scene in Iron Man when Nick Fury (Jackson) proposed to Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) that they were starting something called the Avenger Initiative. After 4 years and 4 more films we have finally arrived, never before has a company with foresight used 5 films to build up to one moment and it is almost upon us. I have loved all the films leading up to it;

Iron Man was perhaps the best comic book movie of all time, what Downey Jr and Jeff Bridges did with their roles was amazing, the movie elevated the character from a B list Hero to the main event and its success was shown in the box office bringing in over $500 million.

The Incredible Hulk didn't follow Iron Man to box office glory but it was still a good movie but it was sad to hear how Edward Norton took a lot of control and even kept Rick Jones out of the film, the man responsible for why Bruce Banner became the Hulk and the person who got the original avengers together. I was pleased to see he was replaced by Mark Ruffalo and more pleased to see the work they have done with the CGI hulk which for me has never been fully right before.

Iron Man 2 was not the first film, but it served its purpose of being a fun romp that set a lot of ground work for the Avengers that could not have been done in any other movie. Plus the bit with the suitcase suit makes it all worth while.

Thor was a good film, i was afraid going in it wouldn't deliver but Hensworth, Hiddleston and Hopkins preformances and the mixture of comedy into the film made it a great addition to the Marvel cinematic universe.

Captain America was everything it promised, a good period movie that lends a lot to explain how the technology in the present exists and the final set up for the Avengers was just amazing.

If this film is on the same level like any of the ones that have precededed it then it will be worth multiple viewings but make sure you at least see it once.