Before I begin, let me reference the work of my Open Salon colleagues, particularly Bob Calhoun’s excellent piece on the race question in Thor, andRobert Brenner’s hysterical Huffington post article. I can’t wait to hear what the rest of my fellow OSers with an interest in such things think of the film.
And with that, I can report that Thor stands among my favorite superhero films (for now – I’m pretty mercurial and can change my opinion in an hour or so). I haven’t enjoyed the most recent wave of the Marvel and DC films. The only worthwhile ones to me were the Batman reboots and the first Iron Man only in its Tony Stark moments. The output of the Marvel studios is becoming rote, formulaic and they don’t try to make you feel anything more than “oh, look, it’s Character-so-and-so from issue number 282! I wonder if he’ll be in the next one?” Individual superhero films are now becoming “feeders” for superhero team films, and it’s causing burn-out.
Thor is definitely such a feeder film, confirmed by the end credits (stay until after the credits, natch). But it’s also crowd-pleasing summer gem of its own that isn’t afraid to be bombastic in tone. Why shouldn’t it be? It’s Asgard and the God of Thunder-why would you want a muted character study, or “gritty realism”? Let the gods shout of their glories and battles from the halls of Asgard! It still leaves room for terrific performances, particularly from Anthony Hopkins as the All-Father Odin (of course), Tom Hiddleston’s moving turn as the tortured and jealous brother Loki, and yep, even in his few minutes, Idris Elba as the majestically regal Heimdall. These gentlemen were The Gods.
However, Thor’s greatest achievement was in its faithfulness to the source material. Norse mythology, you ask? Nope - the comic book series. But not just the series itself, not in any sort of dense annoying Comic Book Guy continuity that fanboys can drool over. I’ve read interviews where the film’s creators credit writer/artist Walt Simonson, who in the 1980s achieved a beloved and excellent run on the title
, as inspiration. That might be, but I say the movie is more fully in the spirit of the comic’s originators Stan Lee (his cameo is actually funny) and especially The King himself, Mr. Jack Kirby.
, as inspiration. That might be, but I say the movie is more fully in the spirit of the comic’s originators Stan Lee (his cameo is actually funny) and especially The King himself, Mr. Jack Kirby.
Jack Kirby, readers who don’t care for superheroes, is one of the greatest American artists. His wonderful mind was able to rise above New York’s Lower East Side and present to us breathtaking High Cosmic narratives in his pencils and scripts. His Thor
, (scripted by Lee), was never about ancient Norse culture. He wasn’t going to limit his Asgardians to straw huts and Viking behavior. His Thor would blend Arthurian courtliness, Shakespearean drama (and famously, speech patterns) and a wholly original cosmic super-science-magic setting, later perfected in his “New Gods
” series for DC Comics which I can’t recommend enough.
, (scripted by Lee), was never about ancient Norse culture. He wasn’t going to limit his Asgardians to straw huts and Viking behavior. His Thor would blend Arthurian courtliness, Shakespearean drama (and famously, speech patterns) and a wholly original cosmic super-science-magic setting, later perfected in his “New Gods ” series for DC Comics which I can’t recommend enough.
And that’s what this film reflects. People will complain about the CGI and the sets for Asgard, but it looks and feels techno-cosmic.
The Rainbow Bridge Bifrost functions like some sort of device you could find on Galactus’s ship. You can see it all derives from Kirby. Not that any film can ever match the raw unfettered imagination of Kirby, but this one at least tries.
And of course the Shakespearean drama that both comics legends infused in the magazine is found in the film, with a classic father/son conflict, hidden family secrets and the growth of a boy into a man.
All that said, Merry Marvel fans, you will get your nods and easter eggs to the more current continuity, including the appearance of a potential Avenger, and more. And I don’t mean to be so harsh on you. I’m allowed, I'm one of you, I have a geek pass.
And what of our titular God of Thunder? Racists are upset over Idris Elba’s casting, and now social conservatives will have cause to be upset. The secret of straight-to-gay conversion has been discovered:
Mr. Hemsworth doth be purty.
Also, he’s perfectly cast as both a loutish hotheaded neo-Viking prince and a puppy dog innocent. Initially his delivery of the Asgardian mighty talk fails – it isn’t easy and only actors like Anthony Hopkins or Idris Elba pull it off without drawing groans and chuckles. I’m sure he’ll grow into it as sequels or the damned milk-your-geek-bucks Avengers movie come about.
Fearing she would annoy me, Natalie Portman took her role somewhat seriously and was fine, although there wasn’t great chemistry between her and Hemsworth. Should a sequel happen, I hope they find a stunning blonde atom bomb to cast as Thor comics antagonist The Enchantress so they can fire up some Batman/Catwoman-style heat!
Another missed mark was the Warriors Three. The actors playing Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim and Volstagg the Voluminous (all characters created out of whole cloth by Lee and Kirby, not any part of Norse myth) were wonderful, but they shouldn’t have fallen as flat as they did. Co-writer J. Michael Straczynski should have spiced up their presence and made their banter snappier and funnier, which he has achieved on his own run of the Thor title. The Warriors Three are a joy to read in the comics and they could have been better onscreen.
Jaimie Alexander, as battle goddess Sif, is currently in the lead for Warrior Babe of 2011.
Stellan Skarsgaard, an actual Norseman, doesn’t get to portray a deity of his ancestors but does a good job as sidekick science guy Erik Selvig whose knowledge of Norse myth gives him a clue about who and what the big blond stranger in their midst is. Renee Russo has a surprising small bit of ass-kicking as Asgardian queen goddess Frigga.
But once again I point out Tom Hiddleston, who brings pathos and weight to the role of Loki. Perhaps too much tortured embitterment and less of the wicked sly wiliness we’re used to in the Trickster God, but if the post-credits easter egg is any indication, he will get there.
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Comments
ANDREA and I will not be going,
As we have to be TRUE to ourselves,
Yes we feel no CONNECTION.
BUT.. very well done.
rated with hugs
Chiller I am a liking it already hahah
Kenneth Branaugh out-did himself did he? I liked his Hamlet.
Rei Momo - this really wasn't that far off from his other Shakespearan stuff....just with Frost Giants and an unbeatable cosmic robot.
Off to listen to some Andrea True ....
I have absolutely no knowledge of Marvel or DC or any comics, but I thought it mostly worked as a popcorn chomper...suspense, bad-ass warriors, family conflict. The lead actor was winning, and I don't mean just his physical beauty (which was considerable) but he also managed to humanize the character. The bad-ass with the heart of gold thing that is so important for such a role. Sure he could get better, but I think he will do well enough for the franchise. Explain again about the end of the credits. I didn't stay and I didn't quite catch your meaning there.
Bluestocking Babe - I'm glad you liked it! I have pretty bizarre tastes in popular entertainment and would hate to think I led you or anyone into watching something they don't like!
Absolutely agreed on the romance. What's interesting is that in the comics, Thor had a mortal identity, Dr. Donald Blake, a lame physician, created by Odin to teach Thor humility (as if being a relatively good looking MD with a limp in the 1960's is some sort of deep humbling experience!). The character of Jane Foster was a nurse who became Thor's Lois Lane, if you will. So there was lots of silly General Hospital melodrama between the two of them, with Odin constantly nagging Thor about not falling in love with a mortal woman as though he were some kind of Jewish mom or crazy aunt on Bewitched. That wouldn't necessarily have worked in the movie, but it's more interesting than the contrived romance they forced between Hemsworth and Portman.
Now, in answer to your question - SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE, DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT - Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, all these characters are part of Marvel's No. 1 super team, The Avengers. So all these individual movies are leading up to an Avengers movie. After the credits, Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury director of SHIELD shows up, talking to Stellan Skarsgaard's character, while they look at an object that Marvel fans will recognize, with Loki doing some more trickery characteristic of his Norse godly origins....
It must be frustrating for non-comics geeks to watch these things sometimes!
Dragonangel - Thor's always been one of my Marvel favorites too. My money's on Portman not coming back. I really hope Thor becomes a GOOD film series instead of just an Avengers prelude.
But reading your post offers several new, and highly polished contemporary lenses through which the film might be appreciated. Thank you my dear M. ChillerPop!