If you ask me, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is epic. Besides the small step back from, Iron Man 2. Iron Man 3 hits the states in a little over a week and I'm for one excited despite the big plot twist (which I will not go into any detail about). Now, this is really just listing reasons why I feel Thor is a great movie in the MCU. It's gotten mostly positive reviews but, mixed feelings from comicbook fans. Outside of Silver Surfer, I really haven't had much interest in the god-like superheroes. Characters like Thor and Superman didn't appeal to me, this being said, I'm glad I watched the film first. Although, I haven't bought any comics from comixology.com but, I did preview some (including Aquaman) and I've honestly been missing out. Anyways, let's get this thing going.
Loki
Let's start with the obvious, Tom Hiddleston's Loki is in greatness, the equal (imo) to Heath Ledger's Joker (hopefully, Thanos will be greater than Loki). Here's what made Loki work for me. Obviously you got a fantastic actor in Hiddleston then, you have a character (I've never read the comics and don't know anything about norse mythology so, I don't know how accurate it is to the material but) who is emotionally damaged. You truly feel bad for the guy and you understand why he does what he does (I love sympathetic villains, much more interesting). If anything, this scene right here sums up why Loki is the best part of Thor.
No powers, more interesting.
Tom Hiddleston and this are the biggest reasons the movie worked for me. I know, Thor is the God of Thunder. We'll be getting all of that in the sequels. Thor with no powers, made for a more interesting first movie. Thor learning humility not only made him an overall better person, he finds love in Jane Foster and learns to appreciate life outside of Asgard. I really think if the story was completely different and the entire movie took place on Asgard and the final battle was on earth or something along those lines. Not only would there be no real connection for it in the MCU and real reason for him to come to Earth in The Avengers, there would be no emotional attachment to these characters. But, because we got to know these characters (Loki is very popular amongst well, everybody) and we see the humanity in them, it makes this world and it's characters more interesting.
It wasn't overly serious
A lot of people expected this to be a more serious movie (as well as expecting the helmet, the character looks insanely better without it). Here was my thought process "It's a Marvel movie, therefore It should be really good and lots of fun". Key word there: FUN. You have the deep, more serious movies at DC. Marvel is getting more serious with each sequel and what not and believe it or not, The Avengers was the most serious and the "darkest" of the MCU until Phase Two. Iron Man 3 looks dark and Thor: The Dark World looks even darker (much darker compared to it's original) but, who says they still can't have the Marvel fun? Thor is like the original Spider-Man and the first Iron Man movie. You've got the action but, you also get tons of fun, wit and humor with it. Who wants an overly serious movie outside of Batman, The Punisher, DareDevil, Ghost Rider, ect. Honestly.
Emotional weight
This is the last, big reason I have for Thor being a great movie and one of the best Marvel has to offer, yet. As much as I love, The Avengers and think it's the best comicbook movie ever, it has the same problem I feel other superhero movies lack. Emotional weight. Outside of Captain America: The First Avenger (best solo movie in my opinion until I've seen Phase Two), Thor has the most emotional weight in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one of the Marvel movies that does have emotional weight. Thomas Jane's Punisher had it, how it keeps getting over looked and War Zone is favored between the two, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea. I prefer Thomas Jane's Punisher but, anyways. The scene with Loki that I posted earlier, the scene with Thor trying to lift Mjolnir, you truly feel bad for the characters in this world. You could argue it doesn't have that much emotional weight because there aren't that many scenes that have it. But, The two scenes I just mentioned is all that needed to show it and prove it. Well, for me anyways.
That's about it for Thor now, my thoughts on Thor: The Dark World trailer. More epic than what Iron Man 3 looks like, a well deserved sequel to Thor and, continuing the epicness from The Avengers and into Phase Two. Really want to see what Kurse is going to look like. What are your thoughts on Thor and the teaser for it's sequel? Comment below.