Tom Reviews "Thor" DVD

Tom's Corner:

Thor
(2011, Kenneth Branagh, director)

Of all of the major Marvel Comics characters, Thor has always felt the least accessible to me. Maybe it's the faux Shakespearean speech patterns, or the overwrought drama, I do not know, but Thor (with the exception of a brief period in the late 90's/early 00's) never captivated me. I just couldn't relate to a god. In fact, the only storyline I really enjoyed was the “Ragnorak” story that effectively killed off the Asgardians (they got better). Upon seeing Kenneth Branagh's Thor, I may have to reevaluate my opinions.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is the arrogant son of the all-father of the pantheon of Norse Gods, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). After a raid on Jotunheim, realm of the Frost Giants, that breaks the peace between the two realms, Thor is stripped of his power and banished. Odin enchants Thor's uru hammer, Mjolnir, with a ward that only one truly worthy of Thor's power can lift it. Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor's half brother, has plotted to reach this very moment. However, Loki has discovered that he may not be fully Asgardian...

Crashing to the ground on Midgard (Earth), Thor meets Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Dr. Erik Selving (Stellan Skarsgard), and their intern, Darcy (Kat Dennings). In attempting to regain his power, he finds he cannot lift his hammer. After getting in touch with what it means to be humble, Thor resigns himself to a mortal life. However, unbeknownst to Thor, but know(nst) to us (because we watched the movie), Odin has fallen into the Odinsleep.

An aside here, since the movie failed to explain this. Odinsleep is a state which Odin enters to rest and replenish his powers. It lasts juuuuuust until the moment when all hope seems lost in the storyline, and Odin wakes up to save the day. Also, sometimes Thor drives a carriage pulled by two large goats named Toothgrinder and Toothgnasher. This is apropos of nothing, but I just wanted to mention it, as I have to make a comic book reference every few minutes.

Anyway, Loki is acting king, and Heimdall (Idris Elba), guardian of the rainbow bridge that leads out of Asgard, is ordered to bar anyone from leaving. Through a bit of loophole, he allows the Lady Sif (Jaime Alexander) and the Warriors Three, Fandral the Dashing (Josh Dallas), Hogun the Grim (Tadanobu Asano) and Volstagg the Voluminous (Ray Stevenson) to pass on to Earth. So, Loki, being a calm, level-headed sort of fellow, unleashes the Destroyer on them. The Destroyer, folks, is an indestructible suit of animated armor that, in the comics, must be animated by someone's soul. Unless the person is extremely strong-willed, the Destroyer will dominate their will, and they will be driven to...well, destroy.

So, the Warriors take on the Destroyer and...but that would be telling. Will Thor regain his hammer? Will Loki's plots be defeated? Will Odin awaken? Watch to find out.

In other cool news, Hawkeye makes a cameo. Jeremy Ritter will be playing Clint Barton, my favorite Avenger, in the Avengers. Why do I like Hawkeye? Well, look at the Avengers. You've got a god, a guy in a high tech suit of armor, and the world's most perfect soldier. And who is a smart ass to all of them? The guy with the bow and arrows, Hawkeye.

I liked Thor. It had moments of comedy interspersed with tender moments and action. It ain't Shakespeare, but for what it is, it is damned good.

- Tom

SPECIAL FEATURES:

4 Deleted Scenes

Road to the Avengers featurette

Commentary by Kenneth Branagh