Thor starts the summer of 2011 off with a bang!

Rating: 8/10 (31 May 2011)

This year is turning out to be a powerhouse of Marvel comic movies. Starting with the Green Hornet in January, then most recently Thor, Priest; X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern in June and then Captain America and Cowboys and Aliens in July. My first review from this summer popcorn movie bunch is "Thor" adapted from the Marvel comic and based off of the old Norse hammer wielding god of Thunder. This movie doesn't fail to deliver to the fans a rough and tumble action packed and visually outstanding movie that can be placed right up there with "Iron Man". It also gives a surprisingly good lesson about the Norse gods and goddesses of myth and legend.
The movie is set around Thor god of thunder, played by Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) and as you get to know him you find out that he's really full of himself and thinks that he doesn't have to listen to his father, Odin, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) king of Asgard, Thor's home in the heavens. When Thor disobeys his father's wishes and travels to the realm of Joturheim, home of the Frost Giants, where he destroys the giant's home land into a pile of rubble. Due to his disobedience, Odin takes away Thor's power and banishes him to Earth in order to learn how to be rational and selfless before he can return to his home. While on Earth he encounters and a young and beautiful scientist named, Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman (Black Swan).
Back on Asgard, Oden, due to stress of an inevitable war against the frost giants, no thanks to Thor of course, falls under "Oden's Sleep" (or a coma in layman's terms). His youngest son, Loki, god of mischief, played by Tom Hiddleston (Archipeligo) is crowned as king and then as the film progresses the audience discovers that he is planning a devilish and sly plan that would end up destroying Asgard forever. After discovering this Thor must discover what it means to be a true hero in order to regain his power and stop Loki from destroying the very home that he was banished from.
I was pleasantly surprised and pleased at how the film's director, Kenneth Branagh (Henry V) distinguishes the three realms; Earth, Asgard and Joturherm with dialogue, lighting, mood and visuals. Branagh is well experienced in the feel of Shakespearian atmosphere like his movies, Henry V and Hamlet. It was great to watch and listen to the formal and complementary dialogue this is delivered by Odin and the other gods of Asgard. I felt those scenes could work on stage. With the other two worlds: Jotunherm is very cold, isolated, dark and eerie and Earth is as contemporary, new and modern. All of these descriptions are created by the visuals, lines and their delivery.
The only problem I really had with the movie was that Natalie Portman's character was really underused and only seemed to serve the purpose of the hot and lonely love interest. Also, once Thor is on earth, it's basically a "fish out of water" story for those scenes that demonstrate awkward fitting in moments and unfamiliar sayings. I also believe that the film could do without the slow-mo shots of Hemsworth walking into shots. I know that it's supposed to emphasize that he's this gorgeous man with rippling muscles and chiseled body. The audience and I already got those hints without the slow-mo shots. It just simply wasn't necessary, but I'm sure that horny teenage girls would strongly disagree with me on that notion.
This movie starts the year off with a BANG! It kicks the popcorn movie craze into high gear for 2011 as it will hopefully lead to even more successful comic book hero movies. If you are looking to have a great weekend, then go check out Thor. You won't be disappointed! I give this movie three and a half out of four popcorn bags.