As a kid growing up in the late 1970s and early 80s, my attention to superhero comics was always turned towards exciting fare like X-Men, Superman and Batman comics.
Granted, I'd often glance at some of the other titles, especially during crossover events, but as I grew into my teens, I always struggled with the denser story lines which have populated Thor, as conceived by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Larry Lieber.
So as we've gone through over a decade of mostly acceptable big screen Marvel adaptations, from five X-Men films and spin-offs to innovative hits like the two Iron Man films, I approached the idea of watching a somewhat less popular property like Thor with much apprehension and doubt.
That is, until I learned that Kenneth Branagh, Shakespearian director extraordinaire and a respectable actor in his own right, was given the keys to Asgard, as it were, in order to turn it into a marketable but smart tale of corruption, humility, warfare and redemption.
The result is nothing short of impressive, with a worthwhile cast making the best of what could easily have been nothing more than cartoonish characters.
But first, for the uninitiated, a quick glance at what this character and film is all about...
Thor A Tale of Fathers and Sons
The film wastes no time in informing us that Earth as we know it, is but one of nine realms in the stars, all of which are under the protection of the wise but just All Father, King Odin of Asgard (Sir Anthony Hopkins, and obvious choice for this regal role.)
Father to the boisterous and brash Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the God of Thunder (though remarkably never mentioned as such in the film) and adoptive father to Loki, God of Mischief (Tom Hiddleston), Odin has kept peace with the other realms, following the last war a millennium ago with the Frost Giants, ruled by King Laufey (Canadian actor Colm Feore, unrecognizable under incredible prosthetics and makeup.)
Just as Odin is about to step down and crown Thor as his successor as the protector of the realms, a sneak attack by some Frost Giants force an impulsive Thor to take action and seek retribution, potentially ending a truce with the Asgardians' mortal enemies.
An enraged Odin casts Thor out of Asgard, exiling him to Earth as a powerless human, where he soon befriends a pair of scientists and their assistant (Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings). Their initial meeting is hilarious, I promise you that.
With a weakened Odin entering a healing sleep, Loki next in line to the throne and Frost Giants at the doors of the realm, can Asgard and its inhabitants survive without its lost successor? Is a political coup in the works? Can Thor's friends Sif (Jaimie Alexander), Fandrall (Josh Dallas), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano) and Volstagg (Ray Stevenson) help get him back without getting exiled themselves?
So much intrigue, so little time...
Thor An Enticing Drama of Shakesperian Proportions
Anyone who's ever picked up a tome of the Bard's works is likely to recognize a few bits of borrowed themes here. With hints of Hamlet and King Lear thrown in, two plays which deal with the passing of power from a king to his descendants and the complexities contained therein, Branagh's vision of an otherwise mythologically heavy character like Thor and his entry into the Marvel film milieu, gains much credibility, utilizing grandiose set pieces to convey the larger scale importance of a formerly forgettable Marvel staple.
Chris Hemsworth embodies both the size (the lad is 6 feet 4 inches, but seems taller somehow) and arrogance of the Norse god of old, which helps us understand his inevitable fall from grace as well as his path to self-redemption which will invariably get him recognized and accepted into next summer's behemoth epic The Avengers (look for a taste of this after the credits).
Branagh makes sure to give each actor on screen a chance to shine, especially in battle scenes, where Sif and the Warriors Three support Thor's often reckless acts of rebellion. Their sense of adventure offer Tom Hiddleston (as Loki) a chance to play the ambiguous villain (I'd say spoiler alert, but Norse mythology ruined that punchline a thousand years ago, gang...) while still enabling us to morally support him as a cheated son who's been lied to all his life.
The Earth-based scenes help us better frame the larger-than-life Asgardian sequences, two sides of a coin which couldn't be more diametrically opposed, visually speaking. Look for a handful of Easter eggs and cameos throughout the film, such as the ubiquitous Stan Lee (as an old trucker), Thor comics scribe (and Babylon 5 creator) J. Michael Straczynski, Jeremy Renner as future Avengers member Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Samuel L. Jackson as the "glue-that-binds-it-all", Nick Fury.
Thor Blu-Ray Bonus Features
Given the scope of this tale and its stunning setting, expect many of the features to focus on the film's striking visuals, concepts and designs. Hardcore fans may want to give the film a second viewing while hearing Kenneth Branagh's director's commentary. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much Marvel lore he'd picked up while developing this film, if only so to please the millions of fans past and present who'd be sure to nitpick the slightest details.
Fans of the Marvel films to date should take a look at the Marvel One Shot short called "The Consultant" co-starring Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson (previously seen in both Iron Man films), as he helps the audience connect said pair of films to both Thor and Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk, all the better to prepare us for their collaboration in The Avengers.
Anyone planning to see the aforementioned film next May will want to catch Thor; those who weren't planning on doing so should still like this film, its inventive reinterpretation of Norse myths as conceived by Lee, Kirby and Lieber, as well as yet another excellent film by Branagh. Enjoy!
Thor Blu-Ray: 3.75 out of 5
Dominic Messier - Dominic Messier is a Toronto-based Film & TV writer, Sci-Fi TV and Film Dramas Topic Editor, and creator of PopCultureLandscape.com
