The following is an in-depth story analysis. If you haven't seen this movie, you might want to before reading this review
Once, mankind accepted a simple truth: that they were not alone in this universe. Some worlds man believed home to their Gods. Others they knew to fear. From around the cold and darkness came the Frost Giants, threatening to plunge the mortal world into a new ice age. But humanity would not face this threat alone. Our armies drove the Frost Giants back into the heart of their own world. The cost was great. In the end, their king fell, and the source of their power was taken from them. With the last great war ended, we withdrew from the other worlds and returned home at the Realm Eternal, Asgard. And here we remain as the beacon of hope, shining out across the stars. And though we have fallen into man's myths and legends, it was Asgard and its warriors that brought peace to the universe.
- Odin
I don't think I read a single Thor comic, when I finally develop appreciation for the character, and began to realize the appeal. Whilst I must confess this movie, while entertaining, wasn't enough to entice me to plunge into his comic books, I certainly appreciated that I was looking at a lot more when I finally did delve into the Thor comics, than if I never seen it.
Thor isn't a traditional superhero; he is a super being, who exists in a world of superheroes; fighting along other god-like beings, is the best way formed to fit in amongst the mortals of Midgard, but also to do the things he discovers he loves most: using his godhood to protect those who can't protect themselves.
Thor isn't a traditional superhero; he is a super being, who exists in a world of superheroes; fighting along other god-like beings, is the best way formed to fit in amongst the mortals of Midgard, but also to do the things he discovers he loves most: using his godhood to protect those who can't protect themselves.
I became a little taken with this lore and mythology. Asgard is a breath taking and imaginative world, originally rendered by the always inventive, Jack Kirby. I appreciate the differences of the morality and philosophy of their culture versus our own. That's why I think it's fun to see these gods perpetually fixed in another, simpler time, with a culture that never seems to change, mixing with the constantly evolving, technological world we live in.
Thor: At least make it a challenge for me! [More Frost Giants enter the fray and put up a harder fight]
Thor: That's more like it!
What makes Thor an endearing character, is that he's a god who finds a balance between being a god, and being a man(a little bit like superman). He acknowledges his power, and doesn't hold it back just because it might make regular people nervous, or jealous, and he uses it to help people without power. He's not concerned with worship, or being seen as "better than mortals". Thor relishes the glory of battle; he's naturally full of himself, but even though he rebels, he makes his battles about protecting, and not destroying, or at least once he has been to his initial character arc.
I liked Odin's line at the beginning of this film, when Thor is nearly crowned king. He calls the hammer, a weapon to destroy, or a tool to build. Thor's weapon is the embodiment of the choice all people in authority have; to be benevolent, or malevolent. Characters like Thor, or Hercules, born out of the traditional epic narratives of classic mythology, in comics, bridge the gap between an epic hero, and a superhero. By mixing these characters, we gain a better understanding of both where these larger than life titans came from in our literary consciousness and why they've endured so long.
Thor is a superhero movie, and a mythical epic, though not nearly epic enough for my taste, suffering the same fate as the first X-Men film. I like the way the universe is realized; there are some intriguing ideas and characterizations, but it mostly serves as a really expensive introduction to a world you hope to see really flushed out later, now that you've been to the Asgard 101 lecture.
It's a superhero origin story, but within the trappings of a royal family drama, which makes it a lot more worthy of an origin, than to be with other heroes who I wish would just skip that part, and get up to the interesting stuff.
It's a superhero origin story, but within the trappings of a royal family drama, which makes it a lot more worthy of an origin, than to be with other heroes who I wish would just skip that part, and get up to the interesting stuff.
There's a BIG difference between four people going up to space, get radiated, and get superpowers, and an heir to a divine throne of godlike, impractically immortal people, proves himself unworthy of his power and must regain his family's trust. The second one doesn't even sound like a superhero movie; more of a Shakespearean play.
Fans had their hopes set too high, if they expected an incredibly cerebral, art-house sort of feel, but I must admit, I expected a far greater emphasis of a formal, lavished society of Asgard, than on an Earth-bound romance; I'm not here to rewrite movies. This is a story of how being exiled to Earth, leads Thor to an opportunity for change, where he develops into a more reasonable hero, and potential leader.
So to say the problem of this movie is that Thor goes to Earth, would be unfair. I would criticize it for not spending enough time fleshing out the situation on Asgard. Especially Odin's choice to make Thor king right now, and Loki and Thor's rivalry, all of which were established, but were too glossed over. And although Sif and the Warriors Three were on screen more of the time than I remembered them the first time I watched it, to an uninitiated audience, I imagine they're somewhat interchangeable, besides the token archetypal character traits; Sif is the no nonsense one, Volstagg is the big lovable oaf with a huge heart, etc. It's a little like Green Lantern: we're introduced to a fascinating world, but we don't spend nearly enough time exploring it, as if we had to spend majority of the time on Earth, in order for lowly human beings to find anything to relate to.
So to say the problem of this movie is that Thor goes to Earth, would be unfair. I would criticize it for not spending enough time fleshing out the situation on Asgard. Especially Odin's choice to make Thor king right now, and Loki and Thor's rivalry, all of which were established, but were too glossed over. And although Sif and the Warriors Three were on screen more of the time than I remembered them the first time I watched it, to an uninitiated audience, I imagine they're somewhat interchangeable, besides the token archetypal character traits; Sif is the no nonsense one, Volstagg is the big lovable oaf with a huge heart, etc. It's a little like Green Lantern: we're introduced to a fascinating world, but we don't spend nearly enough time exploring it, as if we had to spend majority of the time on Earth, in order for lowly human beings to find anything to relate to.
There were plenty good reasons to put Thor on Earth. Had it been fully Asgard centered, Thor would essentially have to be re-established in Avengers, to - well, the Avengers, also S.H.I.E.L.D and we'd have to spend precious screen time with a bunch of exposition to catch up characters who were just now being introduced to Thor, when the audience is already aware of these things. Plus, what this movie accomplishes for the greater cinematic Marvel continuity, is establishing the supernatural and the fantastic, that has yet to rear its head, in either of Iron Man or the Incredible Hulk, which is handled quite nicely in the way it involves S.H.I.E.L.D, and its attempt in controlling things, and people way out of its league. And while we could've conceivably met Thor in this world after he was already worthy of his hammer, showing us that arc on Earth, and through Thor's relationship with humans, makes him automatically invested to what happens to them, in Avengers. This may be the Marvel movie to date that struggles most in telling its own story whilst establishing a foundation for Avengers.
Thor is a beautifully realized world, that isn't bashful in the slightest about its comic book routes. A lot of fans expected a toned down version with more muted and darker costumes, but Thor, Loki and the others, went straight off the page. Asgard has the fanciful, wonder-inspiring look of the comics, and I'm especially impressed by the clever interpretation of the rainbow bridge, which is the most memorable image in the film. It also looks like the easiest final course in the history of Mario Kart. That was the thing I was most curious about going in the first time, because I couldn't figure out how in the world you could make a filmable rainbow bridge.
The glass look is striking, and I love that when people walk across it, it lights up under their feet.
The glass look is striking, and I love that when people walk across it, it lights up under their feet.
Asgard looks like the vast and opulent kingdom it should, but the problem is that it doesn't look lived in. We're treated to these massive CGI shots, taking us through this world; it looks almost deserted. The only time it feels like there's actually anyone in the city besides Odin, Sif and the Warriors Three, is at the ceremony in the very beginning, and a couple minutes right at the end. Though along with that well realized vision of Kirby's Asgard, is I think, a consistent vernacular amongst the Asgardians. I like at the way they speak as formal and old fashioned, but the movie isn't trying to impress anyone with an overabundance archaic word choice. It doesn't sound dumbed down for a general audience, and not sounding to gum up every sentence with unnecessary thee's and thou's, as it sometimes reads in the comics, helps the dialogue sound natural, and it doesn't alienate anybody, so that the audience isn't even thinking about it.
While there are certainly some great moments with these human characters, and whilst the movie does a reasonably decent job convincing me Thor has invested interest in keeping Jane, Selvig, and Darcy safe(but Darcy only by extension, really). Those characters are, for the most part, just serviceable in the greater scheme of the story, concocting a reason to make Thor worthy for his hammer. I don't dislike these people, but I don't find the three complex, or engaging in their own right, outside their relationship with Thor. There's no Lucius Fox, or Pepper Potts, or Abe Sapien here. Sure, it's Thor's movie; I don't need these people to form an ensemble cast, where each gets their own fully fleshed out character arc, and is a protagonist of their own accord. Even as supporting characters, they all seem very routine: the scientist girlfriend, the magical hero is here to create the opposites attract dynamic; you have the protective father and mentor, Selvig, and you got the comedy relief, Darcy. Each of them serve each of their function well, but doesn't go any farther than that at all. I will go as far as to say that Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, are bordering on a reeve cater kind of chemistry onscreen.
Thor's charm is infectious, and Jane is an otherwise totally independent, proactive, risk-taking, spunky woman, who's completely taken in by Thor's warmth, his old worldness, and refreshing chivalry, but I think most of that comes from the actors' performances, and less from the material on the page. I like the idea that each makes the world a fuller place for the other, and by the end, neither can imagine his or her world without the other in it. Thor comes to appreciate humans as equals, after living among them as one of them, and Jane is a curious scientist, having a new sense of wonder for the nature of the universe, as she realizes that it's bigger than she thought it was, and that she understands far less of it as she thought she did, because as Thor puts it, he lives in a place where science and magic are the same. Side note, that line sounds great, but I have no idea what it really means. That's all pretty romantic; by the end, since Thor has to destroy the bifrost, to prevent Loki from committing genocide against the frost giants, they both lose access to each other, and by extension, there's this new part of the world that makes them more complete.
Thor's charm is infectious, and Jane is an otherwise totally independent, proactive, risk-taking, spunky woman, who's completely taken in by Thor's warmth, his old worldness, and refreshing chivalry, but I think most of that comes from the actors' performances, and less from the material on the page. I like the idea that each makes the world a fuller place for the other, and by the end, neither can imagine his or her world without the other in it. Thor comes to appreciate humans as equals, after living among them as one of them, and Jane is a curious scientist, having a new sense of wonder for the nature of the universe, as she realizes that it's bigger than she thought it was, and that she understands far less of it as she thought she did, because as Thor puts it, he lives in a place where science and magic are the same. Side note, that line sounds great, but I have no idea what it really means. That's all pretty romantic; by the end, since Thor has to destroy the bifrost, to prevent Loki from committing genocide against the frost giants, they both lose access to each other, and by extension, there's this new part of the world that makes them more complete.
You know, for a crazy homeless person... he's pretty cute.
- Darcy
Darcy is the wise-cracking sidekick who is literally, just along for the ride. She's not the comic relief that I come to be emotionally invested in, despite that being their initial function. I care about what happens to C3PO and R2D2, and Darcy is not quite Jarjar Binks, because I actually laughed at a lot of her jokes, and the reason she is there, situation wise makes sense. She's Jane's student intern, but there's not a close bond between them like there is between Jane and Selvig. I don't find her annoying, so much as pointless, like Felicity Smoak in Arrow. She points out the obvious in ways I wouldn't thought about it, and makes it funny, like, "I'm not dying for six college credits". I don't know why, but I crack up every time she calls Mjolnir, meow meow.
Ironically, Darcy has something, the other two human supporting characters are lacking of, but she doesn't have what they have. She has a little more personality than they do, but she is not as essential to the plot as they are.
Ironically, Darcy has something, the other two human supporting characters are lacking of, but she doesn't have what they have. She has a little more personality than they do, but she is not as essential to the plot as they are.
Movies don't need a character whose only function is to make the others laugh. Great characters can usually provide a little of their own levity. Thor is one of those. Thor is hilarious through-out, and not in a gimmick-y way. When I'm laughing at what Thor does, it is within a natural context, inherently coming from the situation of a god-made mortal, being thrown into a culture he doesn't understand. I laughed when he smashed his mug on the floor to celebrate his enjoyment of his beverage, and the fact that he ate a whole box of pop tarts. For whatever reason, pop tarts are always funny. I love the gag of Thor going into a pet store, looking for a horse, and asking for a dog or a cat big enough to ride. The reaction of the clerk behind the counter was priceless
Erik and Thor are both fierce protectors of their families and close friends, sometimes to a fault. Whilst Thor is quick to pick fights in the name of saving his home, Sekvig makes it clear in the bar, when he drinks with Thor, that he advices him to leave town, and is willing to put his well-being at risk, if it means keeping Jane out of danger, after Thor's presence has gotten them in trouble with S.H.I.E.L.D., and severely set back Jane's scientific research about the inter-dimensional gateway to Asgard. He is as passionate about, and talented in, his science, as Thor is, in his skill in battle. Selvig is the most fully realized character of the three of them, but like Jane, I'm not sure how interesting he would be, except in his relationship with Thor.
The idea I really latched on to with Thor's banishment to Earth, was that gods and humans each have something to teach the other. We see this idea played out mostly through Thor's interactions with Jane, but also with S.H.I.E.L.D.; Thor comes to realize that human beings are no different, psychologically, or emotionally, from Asgardians. They're fallible; they protect their own, and often do awful things with good intentions. All S.H.I.E.L.D is trying to do is to protect their country from a potential threat, when they contain Thor's hammer, and violate Jane's right to her own research. They do the right things, for the wrong reasons, like Thor did when he attacked Odinheim. However there is foolish arrogance to each. S.H.I.E.L.D and Thor both think they know best for their people, but they're not experienced, or knowledgeable enough to make the calls they're taking. The difference, of course, is that there are direct consequences to Thor's mistake. S.H.I.E.L.D just holds an artifact they can't hang on to, as soon as Thor proves himself worthy, and gives back stolen equipment as soon as they find out Thor is a good guy, and the hammer belongs to him.
Thor learns the depths of his own morality from the humans, and the humans learned that there are more things in the universe more powerful than they can ever control. I like the juxtaposition of a god learning to see himself less like one, whilst human beings are discovering there is such a thing. Coulson would probably love to hang on to that research, but he knows picking a fight with a god of thunder, is a really bad idea. Both S.H.I.E.L.D and Thor are put in this place through this experience, but it's not until Avengers, that S.H.I.E.L.D paid for its arrogance the way Thor almost does here. Being forced on equal footings with lowly mortals, gave Thor a new appreciation for the consequences of his actions, and the sanctity of life.
Thor learns the depths of his own morality from the humans, and the humans learned that there are more things in the universe more powerful than they can ever control. I like the juxtaposition of a god learning to see himself less like one, whilst human beings are discovering there is such a thing. Coulson would probably love to hang on to that research, but he knows picking a fight with a god of thunder, is a really bad idea. Both S.H.I.E.L.D and Thor are put in this place through this experience, but it's not until Avengers, that S.H.I.E.L.D paid for its arrogance the way Thor almost does here. Being forced on equal footings with lowly mortals, gave Thor a new appreciation for the consequences of his actions, and the sanctity of life.
[struck by the Destroyer] Thor: [near death, to Jane] It's all right, it's over... You're safe...
I like that there's a lot of evidence that Thor is actually a caring and considerate person, like when he respectfully agrees, in Selvig's request, to leave town, without hesitation. Also little things, like when he prepares breakfast for his newly human friends. I don't think all of that is because he's being forced to be in an inorganic character arc. Thor's arc is about growing up, as much as everything. I think he's just simply reminded that whilst humans might look at his life in Asgard as a beautiful fantasy, the realities of war are as profound and terrible, as they are on Earth, even if the laws of psychics are different between them. I think of Thor to be a person who is overconfident, because he has no reason not to be. He's totally unrealistic the way he looks at himself, and the world he lives in. That's where his arrogance lies, not in the lack of empathy, or the inability to care about anything but himself. Remember, that he has never seen the kind of battles in his lifetime, that Odin has. Thor tries to protect his home by fighting the battles he think he can't lose. He sees it as he is Thor, so he will always win, because he is always one with the past. As a warrior for his kingdom, he's sent to battle when his king deems it prudent. His skills lie in only how to fight, not when to, in so he is detached from the true nature of violence, and can't recognize that if he's the one calling the shot, his impulsiveness might jeopardize his people, and so his exile isn't about learning how to care about people, and then making the self sacrifice, so much is it learning when to fight, and when to negotiate, as his father has done, with King Laufey, of Odinheim. Thor's head was in the clouds, and he literally had to be brought down to Earth, to truly comprehend, what Loki calls, the burden of the throne, and to make himself worthy of controlling the clouds. Sure he has to care about these humans in order to learn that lesson, and his willingness to give his own life for others, is ultimately the choice deemed by the hammer, as the thing that makes him worthy for his power. It's not only about sacrifice, it's about accepting responsibility for his action. I'm not sure he could've picked up the hammer just by jumping in front a speeding bus to save an old lady, he has to learn that being a good leader, doesn't mean being a bully, which is precisely the hurdle Loki can't overcome. Thor tells Odin that the frost giants have to fear him how they did his father, and Odin sent him to Earth, so he can learn the difference from building, and destroying. Fitting that he figures this out in a battle with something called, the destroyer. He was banished from Asgard, which lets Loki take over when Odin has fell into a deep sleep, admittedly kind of convenient, if Odin managed to stay awake, we wouldn't have a movie.
[Thor is knocked down by a gargantuan SHIELD agent] Thor: You're big. I've fought bigger
Everything with Loki happened indirectly due to Thor's actions, but he still recognizes his actions. It was his terrible leadership that left him useless and vulnerable, and innocent people are about to pay for it, so Thor give his own life to save them, because sacrifice is the only power he has. Loki wants him, so he offers himself, and gets pummeled by the Destroyer. By accepting that responsibility, Thor admits that he was wrong. Contrast that with Loki, who blames everyone but himself, for his disenfranchisement from his latent life, and the terrible actions he chooses to do, as a result. He's unworthy of the power he craves, because all he cares about is proving how worthy he is; nicely incarcerated at the end, with the image of Thor putting his hammer on top of him, and him not being able to get up, because of course, he is unworthy of lifting it.
Thor has already proven himself the better man, and to add insult to injury, he wouldn't have, if it hadn't been for the opportunity Loki, himself, provided for, in always manipulation and duplicative scheming, Loki dug his own grave by the end, and being trapped under the hammer he wanted so badly to be able to lift and to prove that he destined to be the rightful king of Asgard, is a beautiful way to drive that point home, visually.
Loki is certainly the most interesting character in the film. The story integrates a lot of major tropes that come up over and over again in a lot of superhero fiction; the villain who is the opposite side of the hero's coin, and the villain is once the trusted friend, but their natures, or their opposing ideology, or both, got in the way, and now he has taken the darker path; it's now the hero's duty to stand in the way in his evil schemes, like Lex and Clark in Smallville, and Charles and Magneto, Peter Parker and Harry Osborne... or Mike Wazowski and Randall Boggs.
Loki wants the hammer, not because of the power, but because he wants to prove that he's more worthy to be on the throne than Thor; it's a petty jealousy, brought on by an inferiority complex. Obviously Loki wants to be king; he wants power, he wants everyone to see he's better than his brother, but he's not corrupted by simply just greed, or obsession with power. There's a greater motivator at work here, and that's the feeling of inadequacy. There is something nagging at him, a feeling that he somehow doesn't measure up, especially that Odin favours Thor more than him.
Loki is certainly the most interesting character in the film. The story integrates a lot of major tropes that come up over and over again in a lot of superhero fiction; the villain who is the opposite side of the hero's coin, and the villain is once the trusted friend, but their natures, or their opposing ideology, or both, got in the way, and now he has taken the darker path; it's now the hero's duty to stand in the way in his evil schemes, like Lex and Clark in Smallville, and Charles and Magneto, Peter Parker and Harry Osborne... or Mike Wazowski and Randall Boggs.
Loki wants the hammer, not because of the power, but because he wants to prove that he's more worthy to be on the throne than Thor; it's a petty jealousy, brought on by an inferiority complex. Obviously Loki wants to be king; he wants power, he wants everyone to see he's better than his brother, but he's not corrupted by simply just greed, or obsession with power. There's a greater motivator at work here, and that's the feeling of inadequacy. There is something nagging at him, a feeling that he somehow doesn't measure up, especially that Odin favours Thor more than him.
Thor: I will not fight you, brother! Loki: I'm not your brother! I never was!
He's always despised Thor, not because of anything he's done, really, but because Odin doesn't seem worthy for the throne. Loki is a deceiver; he gets kicks from fooling people. He enjoys manipulating, confusing his peers, a lot more than he would ever enjoy ruling them. So, when he brought the frost giants to Asgard, it wasn't part of an elaborate scheme to take the throne, he was just lashing out to his brother out of jealousy, hoping to stave off his rule a little. By the end, after discovering much of his conflicted nature, and unsatisfying relationship with his father, is because he is really a frost giant, and truly not a rightful heir to the throne at all, his desperation of proving himself worthy of the throne, even despite all that, brings him to terrible ambitions he would never come to, on his own, and trying to carry out those plans is what proves him no better than the monsters he's so badly trying to separate himself from.
Ultimately, both Thor and Loki have the choice to push their feelings aside to do the right thing. Thor is able to do that because his compassion outweighs his arrogance; Loki can't because he has spent too long feeling sorry for himself. There's an insure and nurture at work, but I think nurture is winning out. Does Loki try to murder all the frost giants because he is one and he's just cold and destructive by nature, or does he do it because he has stoked the fire of jealousy for so long, that he was already consumed by it? Does Thor do the right thing, because Asgardians are good and noble by nature, or does he do it because he doesn't have that horrible resentment for his brother, or anyone else, gnawing away at him.
Ultimately, both Thor and Loki have the choice to push their feelings aside to do the right thing. Thor is able to do that because his compassion outweighs his arrogance; Loki can't because he has spent too long feeling sorry for himself. There's an insure and nurture at work, but I think nurture is winning out. Does Loki try to murder all the frost giants because he is one and he's just cold and destructive by nature, or does he do it because he has stoked the fire of jealousy for so long, that he was already consumed by it? Does Thor do the right thing, because Asgardians are good and noble by nature, or does he do it because he doesn't have that horrible resentment for his brother, or anyone else, gnawing away at him.
What I like about Loki is that he has been handed the short straw, both biologically, and in his up-bringing. I don't condone his actions ,of course, and his logic for a genocidal scheme is totally flawed at its inception, both strategically and philosophically, but I do sympathize with him, because he was never given a fair opportunity to prove himself Thor's equal.
Odin seemed to be speaking the truth, when he says he had good intention from taking Loki from Laufey, and raising him as his own, hoping to unite the two peoples through him, but there's truth in Loki's words, when he says that Odin couldn't bare in the thought of a frost giant in the throne of Asgard, and that he's just another of Odin's collected relics. Obviously it's more complicated than one extreme over the other, but Loki's feelings of being an unwanted outcast that belongs to neither realms is understandable, and sad.
Odin seemed to be speaking the truth, when he says he had good intention from taking Loki from Laufey, and raising him as his own, hoping to unite the two peoples through him, but there's truth in Loki's words, when he says that Odin couldn't bare in the thought of a frost giant in the throne of Asgard, and that he's just another of Odin's collected relics. Obviously it's more complicated than one extreme over the other, but Loki's feelings of being an unwanted outcast that belongs to neither realms is understandable, and sad.
That brings me to Odin, who is really the big question mark of the film. He's well-acted, and a great casting, and gives a couple of short speeches. He gets to show his reserved presence and power wearily, but effectively, especially when he told Thor, "but you're not king, not yet", and in his lecture when he casted Thor out of Asgard. The film is extremely cryptic when it comes to whether or not it wants us to see his morality is ambiguous or not. Thor knows everything I know at this point. So Odin, in a huge conspiracy, to try to form the two realms into an everlasting peace, kidnaps Laufey's child, tells nobody that he's adopted(I mean, obviously Frigga would know about that, since she remembers not giving birth to two children((I wish she exchanged looks with Odin about that))), and then Odin raises Thor and Loki, sees Loki to be a mischief, but never tells him the truth. Also, in a flashback, as Thor and Loki as children, Odin says the worse possible thing he could: only one of you could ascend to the throne, but both of you are destined to be king. WOW REALLY? Why don't you just break a pool cue in half and say you're having tryouts. Why would you say that if you didn't want them in each others throats growing up. From what I'm seeing, Odin should have told a brunt of what he meant, sucked it up and treated them equally? None of this would've happened. However, once again, we wouldn't have a movie.