Thor: The Big Marvel Re-Watch
I'm attempting a great big Marvel movie re-watch ahead of the release of Captain America Civil War on 29th April. A summary and brief review of each of the 12 instalments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be posted each Thursday and Tuesday.
Thor (2011)
Plot Summary
Loosely based on Greek Legends. The warrior Thor's rivalry with his half brother Loki, in a race towards the throne, culminates in a foolish attack on a rival planet/ realm. Thor is cast out by his father Odin, from the fantastic realm of Asgard, and sent to live on Earth or Midgard as they call it. In order to learn from Humans, some emotions other than anger and foolishness. He falls in love with physics-storm-chaser, scientist, Jane Foster. Jane and her small crew piece together who Thor is and protect him from the government, who is guarding and studying his mystical weapon Mjolnir, and headed by Agent Phil Coulson. The small New Mexico town is attacked by Loki, so Thor teams up with Lady Sif and the Warriors three to take out this weapon. He becomes worthy to wield his weapon again and the fight is taken to Asgard, culminating with Loki falling into space, while Thor's means of getting back to Midgard to see his new love is cut off from him.
Review
I'm not a huge fan of this movie. It's not so much an origin as the "God's" have been around forever. It's more of an introduction to them. They try to shoehorn a lot of mystical things like the nine realms of Igdrasil the world tree, into sci-fi elements. Rather than realms or dimensions they are now planets. To me it's a weird clash of Fantasy and Sci-fi that just doesn't meld completely. The rainbow bride is a giant teleport device that can shoot you to other planets. It's a good try though. The sequel to Thor, Thor The Dark World goes on to expand and make it much clearer what God's and realms and all of this actually means, in a much less convoluted, silly way.
This film must have some gorgeous and epic concept art, judging from the looks of Asgard on screen.
Whereas, Guardians of the Galaxy was the first to dive in at the deep end of the Marvel cosmos, space stories, this was a first gingerly toe to test the waters. Leaving me wanting more may or may not be a bad thing, but simply teasing me with what could have been isn't good at all. A Sci-fi God story is the only way this could have gone without introducing magic to an already thinly stretched, believability world. It was a good idea to wait for a dozen films to be out before setting up magic with a Doctor Strange film rather than introducing so many big concepts so early on.
It's a solo film that ultimately I'm ashamed to say, I do dismiss. This time not because I've over-watched it like Iron Man's first outing, but simply because it didn't sit right. There is this giant sprawling world of fantasy in Asgard, which looks just stunning on screen by the way, that is barely explored. Other than some flashbacks and a trip to beat up some frost giants we barely touch on this fantasy realm that is the most important part of Thor stories. Instead due to needing to introduce and ground Thor for his Avengers lead in we spend far too much time in this small, single street, of a town. It honestly looks like a propped up set built just for the film. For such a huge character to get such a small toy box to play in, for me, is unforgivable. The romance does feel real, if a little rushed, but that's to be expected in the fast paced Hollywood blockbusters of today.
In some ways I get how it's this nice charming little entry to the larger canon of this Avengers franchise, yet to me, someone who knows how epic and sprawling this could have been, it feels like a let down. The characters are all definitely likeable but the human characters of Darcy and Selvig steel the show with their humour and likability, which simply shouldn't happen in a movie full of Gods.
At it's heart it's a fish out of water story that plays to some of it's strengths. It just feels like a strange setting for a God throw down. I can see why you wouldn't want the whole world aware of another superhero until the Avengers team up though! That and it's fall out are what the culmination of all of this is about.
There is a rather strange start to this film. Jane and her team hit Thor in a thunder storm and then it goes back to tell you how you got there. I guess it was to stop the narrative from such a sudden change, as he gets banished to Earth mid film, but it makes the introduction feel really disjointed. I can't help but think that the movie would have benefited from just telling the story chronologically and having the added urgency of Thor wanting to get back home throughout his stay on Earth play off of and be more of a clash with his ultimate love of the place and it's people. It's a pet peeve of mine when any Comic, TV show or movie gives you the cliff hanger first then flashes back in time to show you how it got there. There's no building of suspense and it feels really forced.
End Credits Scene
Dr. Selvig, Jane's boss, is been shown around a facility by Nick Fury. He takes him to the tesseract, a glowing cosmic cube. This is a huge deal in the comics, it's very powerful! Fury asks him to study the Cube and Loki, appearing in a reflection appears to control Selvig into accepting the job. The Cosmic Cube is the main macguffin of the next movie: Captain America.
Thor Rating: 6/10
A competent little stand alone, that seems afraid to let loose with what the character and worlds really can be. Enjoyable enough, and oddly fitting with the rest of the Marvel, fun-vibe, movies.
 |
| The fourth Marvel cinema addition. |
Thor (2011)
Plot Summary
Loosely based on Greek Legends. The warrior Thor's rivalry with his half brother Loki, in a race towards the throne, culminates in a foolish attack on a rival planet/ realm. Thor is cast out by his father Odin, from the fantastic realm of Asgard, and sent to live on Earth or Midgard as they call it. In order to learn from Humans, some emotions other than anger and foolishness. He falls in love with physics-storm-chaser, scientist, Jane Foster. Jane and her small crew piece together who Thor is and protect him from the government, who is guarding and studying his mystical weapon Mjolnir, and headed by Agent Phil Coulson. The small New Mexico town is attacked by Loki, so Thor teams up with Lady Sif and the Warriors three to take out this weapon. He becomes worthy to wield his weapon again and the fight is taken to Asgard, culminating with Loki falling into space, while Thor's means of getting back to Midgard to see his new love is cut off from him.
 |
| Jane and Darcy. |
Review
I'm not a huge fan of this movie. It's not so much an origin as the "God's" have been around forever. It's more of an introduction to them. They try to shoehorn a lot of mystical things like the nine realms of Igdrasil the world tree, into sci-fi elements. Rather than realms or dimensions they are now planets. To me it's a weird clash of Fantasy and Sci-fi that just doesn't meld completely. The rainbow bride is a giant teleport device that can shoot you to other planets. It's a good try though. The sequel to Thor, Thor The Dark World goes on to expand and make it much clearer what God's and realms and all of this actually means, in a much less convoluted, silly way.
This film must have some gorgeous and epic concept art, judging from the looks of Asgard on screen.
 |
| A clever way of doing a believable sci-fi version of the Rainbow Bridge |
Whereas, Guardians of the Galaxy was the first to dive in at the deep end of the Marvel cosmos, space stories, this was a first gingerly toe to test the waters. Leaving me wanting more may or may not be a bad thing, but simply teasing me with what could have been isn't good at all. A Sci-fi God story is the only way this could have gone without introducing magic to an already thinly stretched, believability world. It was a good idea to wait for a dozen films to be out before setting up magic with a Doctor Strange film rather than introducing so many big concepts so early on.
It's a solo film that ultimately I'm ashamed to say, I do dismiss. This time not because I've over-watched it like Iron Man's first outing, but simply because it didn't sit right. There is this giant sprawling world of fantasy in Asgard, which looks just stunning on screen by the way, that is barely explored. Other than some flashbacks and a trip to beat up some frost giants we barely touch on this fantasy realm that is the most important part of Thor stories. Instead due to needing to introduce and ground Thor for his Avengers lead in we spend far too much time in this small, single street, of a town. It honestly looks like a propped up set built just for the film. For such a huge character to get such a small toy box to play in, for me, is unforgivable. The romance does feel real, if a little rushed, but that's to be expected in the fast paced Hollywood blockbusters of today.
 |
| Not enough action with these guys, especially Sif, in my opinion. |
In some ways I get how it's this nice charming little entry to the larger canon of this Avengers franchise, yet to me, someone who knows how epic and sprawling this could have been, it feels like a let down. The characters are all definitely likeable but the human characters of Darcy and Selvig steel the show with their humour and likability, which simply shouldn't happen in a movie full of Gods.
At it's heart it's a fish out of water story that plays to some of it's strengths. It just feels like a strange setting for a God throw down. I can see why you wouldn't want the whole world aware of another superhero until the Avengers team up though! That and it's fall out are what the culmination of all of this is about.
 |
| Marvel's casting is always flawless as always. |
End Credits Scene
Dr. Selvig, Jane's boss, is been shown around a facility by Nick Fury. He takes him to the tesseract, a glowing cosmic cube. This is a huge deal in the comics, it's very powerful! Fury asks him to study the Cube and Loki, appearing in a reflection appears to control Selvig into accepting the job. The Cosmic Cube is the main macguffin of the next movie: Captain America.
Thor Rating: 6/10
A competent little stand alone, that seems afraid to let loose with what the character and worlds really can be. Enjoyable enough, and oddly fitting with the rest of the Marvel, fun-vibe, movies.
Thor: The Big Marvel Re-Watch
Reviewed by Matt
on
00:00:00
Rating:
Reviewed by Matt
on
00:00:00
Rating:
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