Kenneth Branagh
I think he did a good job some say that the pacing was too fast and that the story seemed rushed but I think Branagh did a good job of putting FX, action, complicated characters with over 60 year of history to put together in 2 hours. Considering the way Marvel micromanages its project it really can be difficult to put together a truly good story and I think he did. I wonder how he would’ve done it had there not deemed a need to build up toward the Avengers. In an interview Kenneth Branagh was asked about doing a Thor sequel, where he stated he was intrigued by the powers and the nature of each world and he mentioned these names off the top of his head Balder, Kanilla, Norns, Elves, Dwarves, Alfeim, Nifleheim, and Hela. If Branagh is back I see him trying to expand on the world of Thor.
Thor
I enjoyed Hemsworth take on Thor from arrogant prince to the earnest and more thoughtful Thor in the end. Can a person really change from being an arrogant, stubborn, greedy prick their whole life? My answer is 1) its a movie based on the God Thunder and 2) So he changed from arrogant to humble in a little less than couple days, that might be too quickly but he’s banished from Asgard to Earth and turned mortal combined with the fact as they were dragging him away unable to lift the hammer he sees the scripture “Whoever wields this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor”, and add Loki his brother tells him he can never come back and that his father has died, and basically hes the cause, all that can lead to some reexamination of one’s life. You can argue that the story came together too quickly but you really can’t argue with the way in which he delivers the character. For the next movie I want to see the God of Thunder torn between his duties in Asgard to his affinity to Midgard and I’m sure we will see the prideful and arrogant Thor from time to time.
Jane Foster
I’m a fan of Natalie Portman she beautiful and she can act and she did a decent job for what her role needed to be. I don’t know where her character will go, at the end of the movie she was searching for Thor but perhaps she makes a visit to Asgard. It would be interesting to see if the some Asgardians would welcome her but some would be outrage at her presents which is a basis for conflict.
Odin
Anthony Hopkins did a great job of playing father to a spoiled brat and cracking the whip when necessary but I want to see this relationship progress into more of a mentoring role as Thor someday will be King of Asgard, as Thor said at the end of the movie he has much to learn before he can be a good King.
Frigga
An understated role but played well by Rene Russo. Though she is not biological parent to Thor In the comics, but she is the only motherly figure he has known. In the movie they don’t cover it or mention it, probably not to complicate things in the first movie but I’d like to see if they’d bring it up to cause friction and tension within the family and if the Balder being his brother comes into play?
Heimdall
Elba did well as Heimdall and any controversy of his casting has been put rest he played a pivotal role in the movie as the all seeing protector of Asgard. As far as expanding his role I thought his role was used correctly and look forward to anything else he brings, I doubt very much they will even cover that he is Sif‘s brother in the future since they barely had any contact in this movie.
Warriors Three
Volstagg the Voluminous, Hogun the Grimm, Fandral the Dashing all played there parts well in Thor, you wanted to see more of them but thats not necessarily a bad thing, well at least not for the sequel. I liked Hogun in the movie he’s not suppose to say much and when he does it should be brief and important(Silent Bob effect) for the sequel have his fight scenes be a little more badass. Fandral was playing the pretty boy role in the movie but for the sequel I’d like to have more interplay with the ladies of Asgard and few more scenes. Volstagg was jovial and I think though understated he did well. Main point is a little more Warriors Three’s please.
Lady Sif
Jaime Alexander’s role I think was underused, as I left feeling like I wanted more I wanted to see more of her someone who was underutilized as a warrior and as a love interest of Thor and while yes I want to see action I do want to see story and complexities. As Thor's childhood friend and right-hand woman she showed hints of feeling something more at the end of the movie when she spoke to Frigga(probably just as a tease for the future) but not much, and Alexander stated in an interview that there were additional scenes that depicted the feelings but were cut because it was a little too in-your-face. The movie is called Thor for a reason its about him but his supporting characters are just as important and Sif is important to the mythos of Thor Thor’s banishment and time on Earth with Jane was one of the reasons that he changed for the better I can’t help but think that Sif could have been better utilized. Id like to see her show more interest in Thor and let Jane and Thor know that she feels more for him than his best bud. If Jane comes to Asgard you could play up this angle and if Amora make a play for Thor this would be an interesting was to show that side of Sif.
Running time for Thor: 1 hour & 55 mintues
This is something I think will need to be addressed this movie I deserved more time you wanted to see more so I think for the next movie they need to add 20-25 minutes closer to the length of the Dark Knight.
The Place
Asgard The Realm Eternal
I want to see more of Asgard and more of the interaction between the Asgardians.
I want this to be an epic adventure story on the scale of Lord of the Rings movies because that exactly what this should be like. One can only wonder if they would’ve gone that route had it only been that the Avengers is coming out next year and they were setting up Thor for a team up movie.
In Thor they covered three realms Midgard(Earth), Jotunheim, and the Kingdom of Asgard. I say the Kingdom of Asgard because there is more to the Asgard than what they showed in the movie. In the next movie I would like to see them delve deeper into Asgard. These are the surrounding realms of Asgard so its likely they'll be in Thor
I’d like to see most of the movie on Asgard and the surrounding realms like Alfheim, Nidavellir, and Vanaheim. I think with the Avengers we will have seen enough of Thor on Earth. Asgard and the other realms are filled with different races why not showcase them. The races include Asgardians, Demons, Dwarves, Dark Elves, Light Elves, Giants, and Trolls.
Realms we are likely to see
Alfheim
Alfheim is a province on the Asgard and is home to the Light Elves.
Nidavellir
Nidavellir is a province on the Asgard and is home of the Dwarves.
Vanaheim
Vanaheim is a province on the Asgard and is home to the Vanir the sister race of the Asgardians. The Vanir were masters of sorcery and magic.
Realms that are possible
These realms are the one that contain many of the darkest forces of evil in the nine realms.
Muspelheim
Muspelheim is the realm ruled by Surtur and home of the Demons.
Hel
Hel is the realm ruled by Hela and it contains realm of the dead or are neither honored nor dishonored.
Niffleheim
Niffleheim is the realm of the dishonored dead, closely connected to Hel.
Svartalfheim
Svartalfheim is realm is usually ruled by Malekieth and is home of the Dark Elves.
There would have to be a reason for Thor and his friends to trek across Asgard and the other realms. With the current constitution of characters I can for see several different storylines that are possible for the sequel. Up on his return to Asgard taking part in the Avengers Thor brings Jane to Asgard their is outrage over a mortal in the realm and someone act on this causing either a siege on Asgard or Jane gets taken by Skurge, Amora, Hela Sutur maybe even Loki. So Thor either has to wage war for Jane or Thor has to travel across the nine realms to save her maybe so far as to need help from Loki.
Asgardians
Balder
Balder the Brave is an obvious choice to be in the sequel not only had he known Thor since childhood but it is later revealed that he is Thor’s half-brother. It would be good to see an explanation why he could’ve missed the first movies is he could’ve been heading up a troops in one of the other realms. Perhaps it could be a basis for the sequel that Thor has discovered that he has a brother and he goes on journey to find him.
Valkyrie
Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) – Is one of the warrior goddesses of Asgard, actually the strongest of them. The only females in asgard that we really saw were Frigga and Sif so it would be good to see another warrior chick that may have interest in Thor and may but heads with Sif. It would be good to see other Asgardians in a bigger role.
Villains (they’ll most likely go with)
Amora (The Enchantress)
Amora would love to see the dynamic of someone like Amora who is in love with Thor and is willing to do anything possible to get him. Through her powers she can do pretty much whatever she wants. It would be good to have a female villain, someone who can try and be Loki’s female counterpart when it comes to manipulation. In many of the story’s that have Amora her character is not so cut and dry she’s a former lover and in some she’s married to Thor. Amora only turns evil because of Thor’s rejection, which could be an interesting dynamic to explore. You can see a scenario of Jane Foster coming to Asgard and her being jealous being someone who covets Thor and she could take from Thor only to use her as bait to exact revenge for being rejected. It's been recently stated that she maybe inline to be one of the villains in the sequel.
Skurge The Executioner
If Amora is included Skurge is an obvious choice as a physically imposing being he would be good to against Thor and may be able to take him on physically. Amora has often manipulated him and his love for her, so if Amora is in than Skurge is a definite.
Hela
Hela is leader of Hel and one of the most powerful beings in the nine realms and Loki’s daughter(something I think they will leave out). A scene similar to Thor vs Hulk animated movie where Loki had Amora manipulate Hulk in which she separated the two and not to give anymore away to the movie Banner ended up on Hel. Thor literally went to Hel to get him back, which is something that would be cool to see, accept instead of Banner you could put Jane in there, which would be an good way to utilize her in the movie without having her in the movie too much.
Karnilla
Karnilla the Norn Queen is a sorceress who mentored amora and the Queen of Nornheim, which is a kind of State in Asgard. She has been an enemy of Asgard mentoring Amora and has been an ally to Loki, and she has even been in love with Balder. I mention her because like I said earlier Bragnagh mentioned her by name in an interview and im sure if Amora is in it, you could see her adapted to be more a mother figure to Amora, someone she could go to for help and may be helping for her own reasons. Whether its too help weaken Asgard or simply to go after Balder im sure she would be formidable.
Loki
I enjoyed Loki a lot he played his role great he was the villain but you almost felt forr him and you understood why he did what he did. With that being said I don’t want him to be front and center as the villain by this time the Loki will have been in two movies as a main villain and we may be in danger of making him into Marvel’s version of Lex Luthor and use him too much(if you think that’s possible). I would much rather have him behind the scene using his magic manipulating the villains like Amora and Skurge. When you watched the movie Sif and Loki had some disdain for each other with the way the looked at each other I would like to see maybe him manipulating Sif with the hidden feeling she has for Thor. You can see Loki trying to rally leaders of the other realms to try to take on Asgard.
Loki might even find himself on the Isle of Silence after the Avengers
Villains (That might appear but might be left for later)
Surtur
Surtur is a badass fire demon from one of the other realms Muspelheim, which is land of the fire demons. He’s been a foe to Odin and Thor and has even been an ally of Loki, Storm Giants, Trolls, etc. Couldn’t you see Thor making a trip into the home of the fire demons having to take them on? Id like to see what Surtur would look like and how they would portray him whether it be to have him either manipulated or aliened with Loki it would be cool. Surtur even makes an appearance in the Thor game so why not in the sequel.
Ulik
Ulik belongs to a race of Rock Trolls in Nornheim. Ulik and all Trolls have been forbidden to live on the surface, which has been a point of hatred for all Trolls. While he’s not the King of the Trolls he has often fought Thor and been a match for him, as he has great strength and even brass knuckles made of the same material as Thor’s hammer. If Thor had to trek across Asgard realms it would be interesting to see a scene where the Trolls living underground made there way to the surface to fight.
Malekieth
Kurse
Malekith the Accursed is ruler of the Dark Elves and Kurse is one of the most powerful of the Dark Elves. It makes sense to include the Dark Elves if they do explore different realms like Alfheim and Svartalfheim.
Grundroth
Grundroth makes an appearance in Thor and is played by Joseph Gatt although his name is not used in the movie his name is listed in the always reliable IMDB(sarcasm). If he survived the first movie the Frost giants lost their king Laufey and will need someone to take over and Grundroth will be the logical choice to succeed Laufey besides Loki, if not Loki second in command.
Things I left out
Beta Ray Bill
Bill is a fan favorite. I don’t see him in the sequel because having someone with the same powers as Thor might take away from Thor’s mystique. I don’t think he'll be in the movies at least not for the 2nd movie.
Thanos
The Infinity Gauntlet was in Thor for less than a millisecond and it was at comic-con so who knows if they setting him up for later.
Total Grosses according to Boxofficemojo
Thor's Domestic Gross as of today is $122,312,000 the foreign gross is $232,289,228 for a Worldwide total $354,601,230. It should cross 150 million by the weekend making back its budget and cross 400 million by next week. So a sequel is a definite possibility.
As I finished watching Thor I couldn’t help but enjoy the movie and wonder what it would have been like if the Avengers weren’t coming out next year if it could’ve had more things in it that I wanted to see. I was wondering since last year how they were going to do Thor and how they were going to explain it for general audience and given the complexity of the source material I enjoyed Thor and it completely got me amped to want to see the Avengers. Let me know if I left something out that should’ve bee in.