The 'God of Thunder' equals big big screen entertainment!

Rating: 9/10 (9 May 2011)

'THOR': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
The fourth Marvel comics 'Avengers' film (following two 'IRON MAN' films and an 'INCREDIBLE HULK' flick, all leading up to the 2012 ensemble piece based on the combined team of the 'Avengers'). This one focuses on the popular comic book superhero version of the mythical Germanic paganism God known as Thor who first appeared in Marvel comics in the 60's. In this film he's played by Chris Hemsworth (probably most well known for playing James T. Kirk's dad George in the 2009 'STAR TREK' redo film). The film co-stars Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard, Anthony Hopkins, Kat Dennings and Clark Gregg (reprising his role from the other 'Avengers' films as Agent Coulson). It's written by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne, J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich and directed by none other than Kenneth Branagh. I never read the comic regularly (or much at all for that matter) but I've heard the film is a pretty faithful adaptation. As far as pure cinema goes it's grade A classic popcorn fare all around, what the big screen was made for.
The film takes place on modern day Earth after Thor is banished there by his father King Odin (Hopkins). He was set to take over the throne of Asgard when creatures known as Frost Giants broke into their kingdom and attempted to steal back the Casket of Ancient Winters which Odin took from them in battle in 965 A.D.. Thor believed Asgard must retaliate, against his father's wishes, and broke the long standing truce with the Frost Giants by attacking them in their homeland. For his arrogance Odin exiled Thor to Earth and sent his magical hammer with him, placing a spell on it so that only someone worthy of it's powers could use it. Thor lands in New Mexico where he's found by three scientists including Jane Foster (Portman). The S.H.I.E.L.D. agency finds his hammer, which no one is able to remove from the ground where it lands. Thor finds himself stranded in this land while his mischievous brother Loki (Hiddleston) plots to take over the kingdom of Asgard back home.
The 'Thor' comic character has been said to be the most trickiest of the 'Avengers' to adapt to the big screen, by many, and prior to seeing the film I would have agreed but after watching it I actually disagree. The story is somewhat timeless and the themes involving brother rivalry and fatherly approval are classic as well. The legend of 'Thor' and the comic story actually lend themselves to cinema form very easily and that's why the film really works. It's thrilling big spectacle entertainment and at the same time it never takes itself too seriously; it has fun with itself and plays out somewhat tongue in cheek at times. The 'fish out of water' material is played to it's ultimate comic effect and at the same time never over done. Branagh's directing is perfectly fitting and despite the number of writers used the script is well written and beautifully timed. Hemsworth is probably about as fitting an actor as the filmmakers could have found to play the title character and although his performance is nothing close to anything award worthy it's just what the film needed. The supporting cast is all more than adequate as well, especially Portman who's once again doing material that is far beneath her talents but still gives it all she's got and it's kind of fun seeing her play such a sweet giddy character with a big schoolgirl crush on the film's hero (which is pretty against type for her as of late). The movie just hits all the right notes and plays out exactly like a movie of it's type should. The perfect summer comic book action movie blockbuster, not the best of it's type but it's definitely among them.
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