It is widely known that the mystical legends from centuries ago greatly influence the stories that are told today. A prime example of this is the Norse god of thunder, Thor, being initiated into the Marvel universe. He has crossed the bridge from the myths that were revered by earlier civilizations, to the vibrant pages of the comic book by Stan Lee. Director Kenneth Branagh has now plucked the hero from his paneled domain, and made a superhero movie that's every bit as much for broader audiences as it is for those that have followed his otherworldly adventures on the page.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) are brothers living in the kingdom of Asgard, and their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), is ready to pass down the throne to one of his sons, and chooses Thor. Without Odin's knowledge, Thor's first act of business is to go to the world of Jotunheim and battle its inhabitants known as the Frost Giants, Asgard's oldest adversaries, after they try to steal a powerful artifact from Odin. Upon seeing this as a prideful and selfish act that could start a dangerous conflict, Odin banishes Thor to Earth until he can learn what it means to be a leader. Once Thor arrives, he meets an astrophysicist named Jane (Natalie Portman), her assistant Darcy (Kat Dennings) and their mentor Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), who all agree to help him get back to Asgard before it suffers a terrible fate at the hand of his jealous brother.
Hemsworth brings the power that it takes to play Thor. With his commanding voice and physical strength, he showcases a true heroic stature. He deserves to fight as the god of thunder and wear the cape and armor. Natalie Portman proves her versatility by lending herself to the superhero genre. She connects well with her co-stars, and looks like she's having a great time being a part of the Marvel world. With Anthony Hopkins as the mighty Odin, he reminds us that he is as legendary in acting as his character is in mythology. Tom Hiddleson is a talented newcomer to American audiences as the villain with an envious force to be reckoned with.
Just like the previous movies adapted from Marvel comics over the past few years, Thor does well in preparing its hero for the Avengers movie, which is due next May. Be sure to look close for a cameo by Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton, who eventually becomes Hawkeye, another member of the Avengers team. He is also set to appear in the upcoming film.
Thor works well as both a superhero film and as an origin story. The first half hour of the film is dedicated to introducing the character of Thor and his home world to the audience. From the storybook-like imagery of Asgard to the Frost Giants' dark and desolate planet of Jotunheim, we become familiar with Thor's universe. The film takes its time with telling this part of the narrative, and this helps those who haven't read the comics. As a result, those viewers don't feel alienated from the story. The screenplay doesn't get derailed by a barrage of special effects-laden fight scenes, and tells the tale of Thor's beginning as it should be told. The few action scenes that are in the film, however, serve the story and are exciting; especially the final battle between Thor and Loki, which is the ultimate fight of sibling rivalry. With all of this put together, Thor is thunderous fun.
Final grade: A-
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