If Spider-Man’s creed is “with great power comes greatresponsibility,” the mantra of Thor could easily be “with great power comes
great arrogance.”
The latest superhero movie from Marvel Studios, Thor
features an out-of-this-world arrogant, reckless and selfish warrior (Chris
Hemsworth), who is about to be named king of the mystical
kingdom of Asgard by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). But Thor’s reckless
actions reignite an ancient war with the frost giants—a provocation that runs
counter of Odin’s advice: “a wise king never seeks out war, but he must always
be ready for it.”
features an out-of-this-world arrogant, reckless and selfish warrior (Chris
Hemsworth), who is about to be named king of the mystical
kingdom of Asgard by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). But Thor’s reckless
actions reignite an ancient war with the frost giants—a provocation that runs
counter of Odin’s advice: “a wise king never seeks out war, but he must always
be ready for it.”
Odin justly calls Thor a “vain, greedy, cruel boy,” but the son
fires back with, “You are an old man and a fool!” Bad move, as his father
removes Thor’s power, and casts him and his mighty hammer Mjolnir to
Earth—forcing him to live among humans. Speaking of Thor’s hammer, it can be
thrown like a boomerang, spun like nunchucks and can alter the weather—”a weapon
to destroy or a tool to build,” according to King Odin.
fires back with, “You are an old man and a fool!” Bad move, as his father
removes Thor’s power, and casts him and his mighty hammer Mjolnir to
Earth—forcing him to live among humans. Speaking of Thor’s hammer, it can be
thrown like a boomerang, spun like nunchucks and can alter the weather—”a weapon
to destroy or a tool to build,” according to King Odin.
From a celestial sword-and-sorcery fantasy ala The Lord of the Rings, the film then becomes a
fish-out-of-water action/comedy as Thor must adjust to the new world around him,
while earthlings are dumbfounded by his Viking ego and mannerisms. For example,
he storms into a diner and yells “I need SUSTENANCE,” and “I need a HORSE” as he
stumbles into a hamster-and-hound-packed pet store.
fish-out-of-water action/comedy as Thor must adjust to the new world around him,
while earthlings are dumbfounded by his Viking ego and mannerisms. For example,
he storms into a diner and yells “I need SUSTENANCE,” and “I need a HORSE” as he
stumbles into a hamster-and-hound-packed pet store.
The best parts of the movie are when Thor is banished to Earth,
and he must find out what it takes to be a true hero when his crafty
half-brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), threatens the whole planet. After he
crash-lands in a New Mexico desert, Thor literally runs into astrophysicist
Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), and he must learn to embrace a humble attitude to
become heroic.
and he must find out what it takes to be a true hero when his crafty
half-brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), threatens the whole planet. After he
crash-lands in a New Mexico desert, Thor literally runs into astrophysicist
Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), and he must learn to embrace a humble attitude to
become heroic.
Despite earning more than $440 million at the global box office
this summer, I was leery to watch Thor largely because the character
was heavily promoted in the box office as the “god of thunder.” Getting over my
trepidation, I decided to catch the movie’s recent release on DVD and Blu-ray.
After all, I recall as a youngster reading about
the Mighty Thor—a superhero who doesn’t have a costume to be the hero
when he was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics back in the
1960s.
this summer, I was leery to watch Thor largely because the character
was heavily promoted in the box office as the “god of thunder.” Getting over my
trepidation, I decided to catch the movie’s recent release on DVD and Blu-ray.
After all, I recall as a youngster reading about
the Mighty Thor—a superhero who doesn’t have a costume to be the hero
when he was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics back in the
1960s.
Thor, Odin, Loki and other denizens of Asgard are “gods,”
according to Norse myth and in Marvel’s original comic books. In the film, the
inhabitants of Asgard don’t see themselves as gods, although they acknowledge
that they were taken to be such when they came to Earth about a thousand years
ago. Although they possess god-like powers and reside in a heavenly place, the
movie portrays them as aliens from a faraway world—a realm where science and
magic are basically one and the same.
according to Norse myth and in Marvel’s original comic books. In the film, the
inhabitants of Asgard don’t see themselves as gods, although they acknowledge
that they were taken to be such when they came to Earth about a thousand years
ago. Although they possess god-like powers and reside in a heavenly place, the
movie portrays them as aliens from a faraway world—a realm where science and
magic are basically one and the same.
By getting around this cloudy spirituality, the film does offer
a nod to Christianity, turning Thor into a Christ-figure when Loki sends a
robotic Destroyer to eliminate his stepbrother and Earth’s inhabitants.
a nod to Christianity, turning Thor into a Christ-figure when Loki sends a
robotic Destroyer to eliminate his stepbrother and Earth’s inhabitants.
Best known for film adaptations of several plays by William
Shakespeare, director Kenneth Branagh deftly handles direct this large-scale
superhero drama as he wisely sets the stage for a Shakespeare-like fallen
hero who must find humility in order to rise to greatness. Thor is a
worthwhile summer flick, offering plenty of hammer-wielding action, but it’s not
exceptional as Captain America—which I’ll save for another review.
Shakespeare, director Kenneth Branagh deftly handles direct this large-scale
superhero drama as he wisely sets the stage for a Shakespeare-like fallen
hero who must find humility in order to rise to greatness. Thor is a
worthwhile summer flick, offering plenty of hammer-wielding action, but it’s not
exceptional as Captain America—which I’ll save for another review.
Besides deleted scenes, featurettes and teasers for next
summer’s The Avengers, the next superhero movie from Marvel Studios,
the DVD and Blu-ray features the first “Marvel One Shot”—short films that are
meant to link The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Thor, members of the Avengers. The short stars S.H.I.E.L.D.
(Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division)
man-on-the-ground Agent Coulson (Clark
Gregg).
summer’s The Avengers, the next superhero movie from Marvel Studios,
the DVD and Blu-ray features the first “Marvel One Shot”—short films that are
meant to link The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Thor, members of the Avengers. The short stars S.H.I.E.L.D.
(Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division)
man-on-the-ground Agent Coulson (Clark
Gregg).
Content Watch: The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense
sci-fi action and violence, and brief, light foul language. It features some
family-friendly content, although I wouldn’t recommend the film for children 10
and under because of the scary frost giants and relentless battles. Although
there’s no sex or profanity, Thor is seen out-drinking another character.
Parents should discuss with youngsters the difference between the gods of Norse
mythology and the one true God.
sci-fi action and violence, and brief, light foul language. It features some
family-friendly content, although I wouldn’t recommend the film for children 10
and under because of the scary frost giants and relentless battles. Although
there’s no sex or profanity, Thor is seen out-drinking another character.
Parents should discuss with youngsters the difference between the gods of Norse
mythology and the one true God.
