The Road To The Avengers: Getting To Know THOR
May 6th, 2011 | Posted by in Featured Posts | Movies | Reviews
WHAT’S A MJOLNIR?
Growing up, I was never an obsessive comic book reader but I had a modest collection regardless. I knew enough about Marvel’s superheroes but not nearly enough to claim I KNEW Thor. There is obviously a big difference between knowing a heroes name and knowing who they are and where they come from.
So when I sat down to a 3D matinee today, I truly didn’t know what to expect beyond the what the trailers and movie sites showed me.
… Thor’s pretty cool.
I’m a sucker for comic book movies and big summer action flicks but I was always on the fence about Thor. If anything, I was excited to see this movie to catch all the references to next summer’s The Avengers. A movie event that will surely (hopefully) wow us all.
At the same time, I have to admit I was curious about that tiny hammer and the land called Asgard. I was excited to get to know Thor, his world and his enemies.
Introducing a god like character from another realm into Marvel’s ‘earth based’ world had to be tough. Rainbow bridges, over sized helmets and Frost Giants can be difficult to portray on screen but they did a phenomenal job.
I went in hoping for more clues for the upcoming Avengers team up. I left the theater with an appreciation for Thor and I’m officially excited to see how he fits into the larger picture. It’s pretty amazing to hear a line like “I’ll be your ally” and know exactly what he is talking about.
He’s talking about the enormous evil power that will rise and cause the world’s heroes to unite in order to defeat it!
What I loved the most about Thor was that it was nothing like Iron Man 2. The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America need to stand up on their own for this universe to work according to Marvel’s plan. Iron Man 2 seemed like nothing more than a setup for the following movies but Thor doesn’t fall into that trap. It’s a damn good movie that can exist on it’s own without The Avengers’ references taking over. Marvel has learned from their past mistakes and I couldn’t be happier.
Natalie Portman isn’t really given much to do here but that’s because most of the excitement takes place in Thor’s home of Asgard. This may turn some people off but I bought it. I think Asgard is the film’s one cool element that’s sets Thor apart from his Avenger buddies. It’s a new world and they did a fantastic job incorporating it into the Marvel Movie Universe. Personally, I can’t wait to see what mischief Loki cooks up next! (He’s awesome by the way. Stay until the credits are over. But you already knew that right?)
Thor is a solid summer blockbuster. I had a blast discovering who he is and where he comes from but beyond all that:
I want to know more!
Thankfully, the road to The Avengers continues this summer with Captain America up next. Will The First Avenger continue to build on this amazing world Marvel is creating? I can’t wait to spend a weekend watching all of these movies back to back! Thor definitely fits in. Let’s hope Captain America belongs as well…
In the mean time, the one thing I can’t seem to get out of my mind?
What evil could be so great that all of these powerful heroes are needed to defeat it? It’s going to have to be one hell of an evil plot. Holy crap I can’t wait to find out what it is!
To be continued…
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The 3D still couldn’t win me over, it was unnecessary and just an excuse to get some more money from my ticket.
The movie itself was good, and even bigger achievement counting what they could mess up with this mythological world of Thor’s. It was very difficult to make it work alongside the somewhat realistic picture of our world, props for that.
Portman didn’t have much to do, and the romance was somewhat forced in, but that was not what we were looking at anyway.
A friend of mine said today he didn’t like that Loki was made to be a victim in the story – he wasn’t a trickster, he wasn’t evil, he was a confused man who wasn’t even his father’s son. I am inclined to agree with that, somewhat. I am not saying he should’ve been a stereotypical evil villain or anything, but I wonder why movie makers feel every “villain” in most movies (who take themselves seriously) should be all “complex” and grayish and a tweener. It’s like what is trendy right now, I don’t know.
Also, the Hawkeye cameo was nice, even if he didn’t really do anything. I really hope he gets his own spinoff, or features heavily in a future SHIELD movie.
The thing that I feared most, and which is I think somewhat confirmed, is that Loki will be a villain in the Avengers.
I didn’t want anyone from the Asgard realm to follow Thor to Earth when he comes along to fight whatever is threatening our world. I just want all the mythological things to be left in Asgard. The Avengers will have Thor in it, but that’s all I want there to be. In a movie which will concentrate on Earth, Asgardians or frost giants are not welcome. No mythological nonsense please. 5 minutes time in the beginning of the movie showing Thor in his homeworld before he comes to Earth is enough.
Too bad I will probably be disappointed.
Otherwise Thor was really fun, 7.5/10.
Oh, and also this, said twice in the movie:
- “This is Madness!”
- “Madness?!”
Cheese dial to 11.
I can see how Loki could come across as sympathetic but I think that’s the illusion. Maybe they didn’t have a moment when the audience can see him for what he is but he is a manipulative villain. Subtle.
Assuming that’s what they meant to do I think it’s quite cool. But as you say. If he was really meant to feel like a ‘victim’ then it’s not as effective.
As for The Avengers, given the theories that I’ve read thus far. I think he could be a formidable foe indeed:) I hope.