Interesting introduction to Thor's mythos

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2020)

The writing is okay, but the characters are too many. The Warriors Three and Darcy Lewis could have been written out. Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral do not do much, their powers and skills are inferior to most known characters in the MCU so far, and their relationships with Thor are not so close. Darcy Lewis does not do much as well, her contribution to Jane's project or for Thor's problem is not significant and her relationships with any other characters are not explored. The root cause of Asgardians and Frost Giants' conflict should have been explored more, along with the latter's background and intentions, because they are only introduced as the bad guys. The character development and character growth are well-done for Thor, Loki, and Odin. Thor is completely arrogant and annoying at first and this movie explores his growth to be humble and selfless. In the end, Loki's motivations and actions are very understandable for what he has been through. Thor and Loki are the only ones who maximize their powers, especially the latter's mischievousness. The Frost Giants are definitely depowered.
Some casting are good, some are so so. Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Jaimie Alexander as Sif, and Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson are well-cast and their performances are good, especially Anthony Hopkins. Thor's banishment scene is very cool. Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, and Idris Elba as Heimdall are good, but they would shine much more in the future movies. Casting Natalie Portman as Jane Foster is okay, but her performance is not compelling in some scenes, because she acts like a fan-girl of Thor.
The production design (Asgard, the Mjolnir site, and Jotunheim), costumes, props, and music are beautiful. Most action scenes are disappointing (SHIELD agents, the Warriors Three, Frost Giants, battle with Destroyer, the final battle with Loki). Some visual effects are gorgeous (like the colorful skies, Bifröst, Asgard), but some look fake, like the Destroyer. The sound editing is not smooth and accurate enough. The bright tone is good, but it is uncomfortable when the scene suddenly changes to night time. The Frost Giants' make-up and effects look good.