Marvel Studios has made a name for themselves since 2008, when the first Iron Man film hit theaters. The film garnered critical acclaim and was a success at the box office. Since then, Marvel released The Incredible Hulk (successfully rebooting the Hulk movie franchise that never matured) and Iron Man 2 (which has some mixed reactions from the fans, but the critics liked it still), and now bringing the previously unknown Thor to the big screen. But does it succeed? I can't say 'yes' enough.
Thor singlehandedly turned me into a fan of the characters with little to no effort. I never was much of a Thor fan until a few short months ago, but this movie perfectly introduced the world of Asgard, its inhabitants, and the overall story. The visual effects are out of this world, probably the best for a CBM to date. From the towers of Asgard to the Frost Giants to the Bifrost Bridge, it's visually a jaw-dropping film, and one that Marvel can be very proud of.
The casting is virtually flawless. Chris Hemsworth' take on the title character is easily one of the best performances in a CBM to date. The same could be said concerning Anthony Hopkins as Odin (Thor's father) and Tom Hiddleston as the treasonous Loki. Recent Oscar winner Natalie Portman does a fine job as Jane Foster. I never thought of Portman in the role, but she owned it nonetheless, giving one of her best performances so far. I know a lot of people weren't thrilled by Kat Denning's performance as Darcy, but I thought she did well (even if her character was unnecessary).
As usual for a Marvel flick, easter eggs are very present, including the following: SHIELD is heavily involved (with Clark Gregg reprising his role as Agent Phil Coulson, doing a great job yet again), Dr. Selvig references a colleague who was infected by gamma radiation and had issues with SHIELD, and the after credits scene is just pure gold (I'm not saying what it is because most of you know already, and I don't want to spoil it for those who don't know what it is). It all sets things nice for The Avengers' assembling next year, and possibly for future Marvel installments.
When it comes to thinking of flaws in Thor, I can't think of any serious ones. A common complaint, however, is that the film's too short. At just under two hours, many would want the film to go longer, and I agree completely.
In the end, Thor deserves all the hype, anticipation, and anxiety because it's worth it. From mind-blowing effects to flawless casting to an excellent script, this is probably Marvel Studios' best effort to date, and easily the best CBM since The Dark Knight. Bring on Captain America, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, and every other Marvel film! See this movie when it comes out tomorrow, it's well worth every second.
I rate Thor 5 out of 5 stars.
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