A Staple in an Era of Beautiful Simplicity

Rating: 8/10 (10 June 2019)

Once upon a time, the MCU did not rule the world . The future was uncertain, but Marvel fans waited hopefully for what could be. Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk had shown promise, but the Iron Man sequel led many to believe that this kind of movie simply could not hold out in the long run. Where to go now?
Enter Thor: arguably the first superhero movie to deal with a topic that covers a shockingly large portion of comics lore: the cosmos. In a time when so many superhero films played it safe, Thor dared greatly. The worlds in the movie are expansive and alien but capture that sense of otherworldy magic that fan-favorite story arcs had done. The movie introduces itself with some narration, but allows a lot of room for interpretation. In other words, Thor opened the door to what we know and love as the MCU today. Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers and even Antman would not be were it not for this trailblazer of a movie.
The strengths of this movie lie in its soundtrack, which is arguably one of the most beautifully composed of its kind, as well as the idea behind the story. Thor is a nearly omnipotent being who is forced to subject himself to mortal restrictions and downfalls. It is both comedic and symbolic, and resonates surprisingly well. Other forces contribute to the quality of this film, like the easter eggs and world-building it allows.
Now, I do not claim this movie to be the best of the MCU. It has since been surpassed time and time again, and Thor's character has since been perfected. I am merely saying that this was a very large step in the right direction' and is one for which I am forever grateful. So when you sit down to enjoy Infinity War for the 467th time, remember to pay your respects.