A visually stunning experience

Rating: 6/10 (27 August 2011)

When I first heard of this film, I was honestly surprised to hear its director was Kenneth Branagh; somehow, the name just didn't fit with the genre. However, I must admit: as far as making a blockbuster goes, Branagh didn't disappoint.
Like every movie, 'Thor' has its pluses and minuses. Being a big fan of special effects, an element which (to me) greatly contributes to the joys of watching a blockbuster, I was genuinely impressed with this movie. Somehow, the visuals were both believable and completely preternatural at the same time. So, if you're a CGI freak like me, you'll definitely enjoy this eye-candy. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of Asgard. As for the action sequences, they were very entertaining and there were also a few priceless comical moments.
Then there were the things I didn't like. For one, I feel that too much time was spent on building the back story while the climax and ending were somewhat rushed and entirely predictable. Then, there's Natalie Portman's character. Now, I've never read the Thor comic, so my judgment here may be harsh. However, I had fallen in love with Natalie on the silver screen with her performance in "V for Vendetta". While Vendetta's Evey was a highly realistic and relatable character, her portrayal of Jane in 'Thor' was, to me, disappointing. Maybe it's the way her character was written, but I found Jane so stereotypical and boring that I actually kept forgetting that her character even existed and when she did show up, I impatiently wished for the scene to just end already. In extenso, I can't say anything more positive about the relationship between Thor and Jane - to me it seemed forced; just another rather lame attempt to chuck in a bit of romance in a movie which in my opinion didn't really need it. Again I stress: I've never read the comics and their relationship may actually be an integral part of the plot... But I just don't see it and frankly, it had me rolling my eyes in annoyance.
The rest of the cast and their performance were generally more favorable. Anthony Hopkins did a great job as always and was entirely believable in the role of Odin, the God King. Chris Hemsworth also did a nice job in portraying Thor - I could actually feel the character grow and mature as the movie progressed. So, kudos from me! All in all, if you're looking for a bit of fun, a blockbuster with great effects and, in general, a really good acting cast, you will not be disappointed with 'Thor'. But, don't expect an enticing and consuming story, because this movie won't deliver in that aspect - still, that's fine, because 'Thor' never advertised itself as such a film. I give it a 6 out of 10 and if you are looking for some good entertainment, then 'Thor' will certainly give you a couple of hours of pure visual fun.