Reflections of a Hierophant: Thor

      “Once, mankind accepted a simple truth: That

they were not alone in this universe. Some worlds, man believed, be home to their Gods. Others, they knew to fear. From the realm of 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. The source of their power was taken from them. When the last great war ended, we withdrew from the other worlds and returned home to the Realm Eternal… Asgard. Here we remained as a 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.”

      This is how we begin our journey into what has become one of the most highly anticipated films in recent memory. From the prospect of being a made-for-TV movie in 1997, to its decent into, and subsequent rescue from (in the form of writer Mark Protosevich), “Development Hell,” to earning (as of May 5) $133,414,091 Internationally, it’s been a very long road for one of Marvel Comic’s most iconic characters.

      I’ve got to be perfectly honest, I have a very strong dislike for the character of Thor. I don’t like the idea of him being called a “superhero,” quite frankly because he isn’t a “superhero. Thor is a deity from Norse mythology. To have him as a “superhero” seems a bit like cheating, in my opinion. So, believe me when I say that I had no intention of seeing this movie in the cinema. I felt that money would be better spent on “Dylan Dog,” or “Fast Five.” But, I was roped in when the official trailer was released. From the moment the preview concluded, I knew that this was a film that I needed to see, and “see it” I did. So, let us dive into my Reflection on Marvel Studio’s latest film, “Thor.”

      As soon as the movie starts, the first thing that I noticed was how perfectly balanced the story/character development and action beats were, even at the beginning of the film. With Odin’s (Sir Anthony Hopkins) resounding narration of the history between our Norse God heroes and the villainous Frost Giants, we’re definitely off to a great start. This impeccable balance continues throughout the film. It’s such a rarity for a film that is, essentially, an origin story to keep you entertained while showing why you should care about these characters. This paucity is accomplished so seamlessly because this is Kenneth Branagh’s comfort zone. While some of his movies haven’t been really great ( e.g. “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein”), but he has excelled at maturing a story and characters that are surrounded by betrayal, jealousy, and love. This is exactly why Kenneth Branagh is the perfect choice to direct “Thor,” because what really drives this movie is the relationships between Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and Odin.

      But, I’m a firm believer that, as well as a director does, the actors deserve an equal amount of credit. I was worried (as most were) about Chris Hemsworth’s casting as Thor due to his relative inexperience and, more specifically, his Australian accent. That might like a silly concern, but I find it a rather important one. But, as with Heath Ledger’s turn as Joker, my apprehension was proven to be unnecessary. Hemsworth definitely owns the role of Thor, and I can’t think of anybody else who could portray Thor so well (thank Odin that the original choice, Tyler Mane, was eliminated from contention). It’s far too easy to make you love the main protagonist of a film (which Hemsworth does with relative ease), but it’s a bit more arduous to make you hate the hero. Thor’s visible arrogance is showcased so well, the moment you see that smug grin, you feel the overwhelming need to punch him straight in the face. Again, the anger and disrespect he shows for his father, Odin, is perfection-in-motion. You actually find yourself cheering a bit, on the inside, at his banishment.

      I don’t think I really need to say it, but I will: Sir Anthony Hopkins is brilliant, and casting him as Odin was flawless. I’ve never seen this film legend in a movie that I disliked. What I find particularly impressive about his portrayal of the ruler of Asgard is that it really shines through that he is banishing Thor, his son, from his home in Asgard to Midgard (Earth) for his own good. In a lot of movies, anything akin to that would be viewed as the father being to harsh on his son, but Sir Anthony Hopkins’s performance, combined with Hemsworth’s, really conveys the teachings of father to his son, as opposed to a King and his warrior.

      As great as the performances of the aforementioned actors were, it is clear to me that Tom Hiddleston steals the show, takes it up-court and to the hole. When I first heard of this casting, my initial thought was, “Who in Helheim is Tom Hiddleston?” I really believe that my ignorance allowed me to keep an open mind. I am truly astounded by how great of a performance Hiddleston gave. Rather than taking the easy route, and making Loki just a simple, cookie-cutter villain, they dedicated a great deal of the movie developing the character, and subsequently give him far more depth than any of the characters in the movie (in my opinion). Hiddleston does the best out of all of the actors at balancing the intensity needed to portray such a believably evil villain, and the moroseness required to show you the vulnerable and sympathetic side of this totemic antihero. I’m not saying you’ll be rooting for him to overcome our heroes, but you will find yourself understanding why he did what he did.

      Although Odin, Thor, and Loki are the driving force behind this movie, it would’ve been rather dull if it weren’t for their supporting cast, which includes Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Stellan Skarsgard (Erik Skarsgard), Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Ray Stevenson (Volstagg), and of course, Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson). I have always thought that Stellan Skarsgard is a brilliant actor, and I wasn’t disappointed with his portrayal as Erik Selvig. While I have always enjoyed Skarsgard’s work, at the opposite end of the spectrum resides Natalie Portman. I’ve never cared much for her, due to my feelings that she’s an overrated actress with very little talent. But even I must admit, as Jane Foster, Portman did a decent job. Through Portman’s performance, you can see Jane Foster is falling in love with Thor. As far as the supporting cast goes, I believe that Ray Stevenson comes out on top. I’m not entirely sure what it is about him, whether it’s the comic relief he provides, or if it’s that you believe Stevenson as a badass warrior, but I think he’s head and shoulders above the rest. Another bright spot among these supporting actors is Idris Elba. Elba portrays Heimdall, the omniscient guardian sentry of Asgard. While his scenes are brief, Elba manages to leave a resounding impression upon moviegoers.

      A lot of concern about this movie was the fear that film would be riddled with bad jokes. But I’m here to tell you that it isn’t riddled with bad jokes… but it does have it’s fair share. As with any movie, the jokes are hit and miss. One particular comedic moment that I chuckled aloud at was after Thor crashes to Earth, and he proclaims that “this mortal form grows weak,” and that he “needs sustenance.” The jokes are definitely bearable, and do not bring the movie down at all. While the comedy is hit and miss, the dramatic moments are all perfectly performed. The best evidence of this is in the first confrontation between Loki and Odin. This is the moment when you begin to sympathize with Loki more than you do the protagonist, Thor.

      The movie isn’t all good though, but the bad is miniscule, and a bit nitpicky. For instance, it’s clear that the Norse Gods age at a much slower rate than man. But, at the beginning of the film, we are introduced to a young Thor and Loki. Then we fast-forward to present day, where we see adult Thor and Loki, with Thor just on the verge of becoming King of Asgard. What bugged me about this was that, according to the movie timeline (or so it seems), it wouldn’t make any sense for either of them to be written about in Norse mythology by the time “present day” roles around. Another one that irritated me was when Loki appears on Earth, invisible to the mortals, why did he bother disguising himself in a business suit? It was unnecessary, but really didn’t take-away anything from the movie as a whole. Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the cheap tie-in to “The Avengers.” Yes, there was a mention in the film alluding to him participating in The Avengers Initiative, and a post-credits scene that leaves a hint at what the plot for “The Avengers” might be. Those didn’t bug me, what bugged me was the unnecessary, plain text that simply stated, “Thor will return in ‘The Avengers’.” It was needless, and came off as if Marvel Studios had run out of ideas for tie-ins for “The Avengers.” See, I told you it was nitpicky.

      I didn’t watch it in 3D, and I have no intention of doing so. I hate 3D because it takes a large portion from a film, and only succeeds in making it feel gimmicky (notable exception: “Jackass 3D”). I believe the only thing that is going to affect this movie in the states is the fact it was released overseas much sooner than it was in the US. What I mean is that “Thor,” thanks to early release elsewhere, is available for download on the internet (in reasonably great quality, btw).

      In all seriousness though, “Thor” was a great film. I won’t say it’s the best CBM ever, but it is definitely “Top 5.” I do highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of, not only CBMs, but films in general.