Not As Mighty As Its Titular Character But Definitely A Step-Up For Marvel

Rating: Null/10 (26 March 2015)

Fantasy isn't really a genre I usually approach with open arms but I can't deny that some of the most dazzling cinematic experiences I've had came from this category of films, from examples like The Lord of the Rings. Now Marvel's Thor isn't even close to that classic nor it aims for that level of grandeur but it still qualifies as a good, if not great, adventure- fantasy that nicely balances its dark & light elements to deliver a entertainment that's pretty satisfiable.
Marking the fourth instalment in Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor tells the story of its titular character; the crown prince of Asgard & the god of thunder who wields a magical hammer. The plot covers his banishment from his realm to Earth where he forms a relationship with Jane Foster; an astrophysicist who found him, and later tries to get back to his homeland in order to stop his adopted brother Loki from ascending the Asgardian throne.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor gets many things right from start to finish whether it's properly introducing the Asgardian culture to its audience, fab use of humour blended with cleverly weighed human drama, separate tints for separate realms present in its story, brilliant production design plus a pleasing score by Patrick Doyle but its plot is also too predictable & generic while its visual effects fluctuate in either directions.
Coming to the performances, Thor features an impressive cast in Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård & Anthony Hopkins. Not everyone manages to impress here, some are even embarrassing but both Hemsworth & Hiddleston more than make up for what the rest of its cast lacked, as the former proves that he's capable of carrying a larger-than-life character responsibly while the latter chips in with a chameleon- like performance that's equally mischievous.
On an overall scale, Thor has its share of flaws & shortcomings but thanks to Hemsworth's magnetic presence, good enough narrative, plenty of spectacles & the way it juggles its dark themes with light-hearted humour, this film is worth a shot. There's one scene where Thor searches reunites with his hammer for the first time after his banishment to Earth but the manner in which that whole sequence plays out, it's hard to not elevate your expectations a bit after watching that. All in all, Thor may not be as memorable as Iron Man but out of the then-four films released by Marvel, this was a sure shot runner-up.