Climbing Higher Pictures

Can’t wait for Captain America in July? The Avengers a year off making you queezy inside? Never fear, Marvel has another superhero here. Yes Thor may not be high on the top of your comic book list, but he’s a solid character who forms the backbone for a large portion of Marvel’s magic and myth based creations. He’s also a badass, and I couldn’t be happier he got his own standalone movie. Should you bow to Ken Branagh and his version of what a superhero epic is all about?

Thor Review

By Ryan Hamelin

Movie Grade: A-

Wow. I’ve got to say, I wasn’t particularly excited going into our 3D press screening of Thor. For one, the film was post-converted to 3D, a process I generally loathe for its poor results and often painful side-effects. The marketing campaign has been solid, but nothing particularly spectacular, and despite the 92% RottenTomatoes ranking, principally from early international screenings, (the film has already been out overseas for a week) I was dubious. Looking back, I really can’t quite piece together why I had any reason to fear at all. It was that same sinking sensation I got before Iron Man 2, that sneaking suspicion that we’d already seen everything the film really had to offer. Boy was I wrong. Kenneth Branagh has crafted a superhero film that is equal parts classical myth, political intrigue, morality tale, and action adventure on a grand scale. Cut with a surprising amount of humor and lighthearted characters, the film manages to take itself just seriously enough to feel grounded and relatable, yet not ignore its patently ludicrous premise and potentially campy conflicts. In short, this is the best possible Thor film a fan could wish for, simultaneously an entertaining stand alone story, and a huge anticipation builder for Captain America and The Avengers next summer.

We might as well get the technical out of the way first. Thor’s post-converted presentation is… well… surprising in its lack of issues. In fact, this could have passed for a reasonably bland native 3D production, and therein lies the problem. The extra dimension, while not taking anything away (a huge step in the world of post-processed stereo) doesn’t really add all that much either. It certainly helps make the CG citadel in Asgard even more impressive, and the effects feel better integrated because of it, yet there’s never really a storytelling reason for it to exist. It’s a beautiful film through and through, and I’m happy to report that the 3D doesn’t hinder any of that experience. I personally love the canted angles and high levels of saturation, as they remind me of a 90’s filmmaking aesthetic, something Branagh seems to have brought into his film in a number of different ways. The score is actually quite impressive as well, as Branagh’s frequent collaborator, Patrick Boyle has crafted a driving and inspiring bit of orchestration that deserves its place in the pantheon of superhero themes. I hope they see fit to utilize it when it comes time to scoring The Avengers.

The other big question on a lot of minds is how our breakout star Chris Hemsworth, who, despite having acted in both The Cabin in the Woods and Red Dawn (neither have been released due to problems with the MGM liquidation) hasn’t been seen in anything other than J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, was able to handle his first starring turn as the god of thunder. In a word, terrifically. He’s everything comic book fans and women the world over should want from their red caped protector, and acquits himself quite well with both the Shakespearian drama and the offbeat comedy. Natalie Portman, in one of her several hundred recent roles, is perfect for Jane Foster, the human who manages to capture the heart of a god. The two of them share an obvious chemistry on screen, and despite not having that much time to develop, their relationship rings true all the way up to the final frame. Kat Dennings serves as the comic relief, and Stellan Skarsgard puts on the lab coat to play yet another crotchety scientist, something that comes quite naturally to him. I won’t spoil any of the other cameos in the film, though I would highly recommend staying until after the credits for a bit more excitement on that front.

As a set up for Captain America, Thor succeeds rather brilliantly, balancing the established rules of the current Marvel universe with the potentially unstable elements of a tweaked Norse mythology. Tom Hiddleston, who plays Loki in the film, has the unenviable task of holding the menace through to The Avengers, as his character will have a lot more to do in the future. He has a few great moments in this film, but I don’t know if he has the weight needed to exist as a solo antagonist. I guess we’ll just have to see what Joss Whedon has in store. There’s plenty more that could be said, discussions of art direction, special effects, and other major supporting roles which are all best experienced on a first time viewing. This is really just a classic summer popcorn film, and I couldn’t be more relieved. Looking forward to Captain America: The First Avenger when it bows in late July.