Thor review
May. 12th, 2011 11:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ishtar79 As a Marvel fan, I know the only way to enjoy the movie adaptations is to pretty much chuck all I know about canon right out of the window and enjoy the movies as fun AUs with the vaguest similarities to the characters I know (it's why I'm psyched about X-MEN: First Class as opposed to going “...”). And I'm not that familiar with comic!Thor to begin with, knowing him mainly through the Avengers and his guest appearances in other titles.
Going in with very few expectations in regard to characterization, which definitely helped. Because even knowing the little I do about canon Thor, the petulant man-child he was for the first half of the movie definitely felt off, even knowing that it's an origin story, and that the Thor onscreen wasn't the familiar larger-than-life superhero I knew. If anything, he sort of reminded me of Ultimate!Thor, despite the fact he actually was a Norse God rather than a wannabe (though again, not an expert. I only skimmed the Ultimates books to get to the good stuff like the canon 'cest and Tony and Natasha's porn video. Ah, comics.)
Chris Hemsworth did a decent job as Thor, and was certainly rocking the superhero physique. Even as the annoying early “Thor smash” persona, he had enough of an oddly puppy-doggish charm to avoid coming off as a complete brainless brute. He became about ten times more likeable when he loosened up (though him going into an impotent rage and getting knocked out several times early on certainly was entertaining). I liked him best when he was interacting with Jane or carrying an unconscious Erik over his shoulder (“We drank, we fought, he made his ancestors proud” felt like such an authentic Thor line), and there was something about his 1000 watt smile that made me overlook minor performance flaws. I couldn't have done without much of the Manpain and epic Daddy Issues, but Thor is a bit of drama queen in canon, and really, what Silver Age character isn't?
I'm not sure about their decision to do away with Donald Blake except as a clever inside reference for comic book fans. I realize that including Thor's human alter ego wasn't possible within the story they were trying to tell and the time constraints, which is why the story could have benefited from cutting down the Asgardian parts or possibly a sequel focusing more on Thor's time on earth. As a Marvel fangirl, I have a lot of pre-existing goodwill for the characters, but I'm not sure how relatable Thor would be for viewers unfamiliar with the source.
Loki was a pleasant surprise. I loathe Loki in the comics, so imagine my surprise when I found myself reluctantly on team Loki for two thirds of the film-he was just so much smarter than Thor. Even as a child, his expression seemed to telegraph “I'm surrounded by idiots.”. He only lost me when he fell prey to the same angst and daddy issues as Thor-I much prefer Loki plotting and undermining the other Asgardians simply because he is Loki and their ways are stupid, rather than because he's the abandoned little ice!baby and daddy didn't love him enough.
I liked that Thor never stopped caring about him even when he revealed his true colours (all in shades of ice blue, I imagine). And fandom is going to be ALL OVER Thor/Loki (…ok, also because they are the only two hot white guys in the film, and fandom is sadly predictable that way).
I didn't know Jane before this, but I thought Natalie Portman (who seems to be in about a million movies currently) did a great job as essentially a stand-in for the audience when it came to the superhuman/Norse God stuff. She convincingly sold me on gradually coming around on who she initially thought of as “crazy homeless guy” to the point where the risks she took didn't come off as thoughtless or stupid, and I appreciated she was more motivated by scientific curiosity and saving her research rather than how good Thor looked like without a shirt.
Both Erik and Darcy were great and provided much of the lighter moments of this flick. Erik's enthusiastic delivery of the highly unlikely story to S.H.I.E.L.D. in particular was a high point.
Other observations:
-Asgard was perfection. Really, I have no complaints at all when it comes to sets, special effects and wardrobe. I do wish I hadn't seen the thing in 3D, as it kept me from enjoying the gorgeousness of the movie.
-I lovedlovedloved Mjolnir (and Darcy's constant mispronunciations of it). While it's easy for a bigass hammer to look, well, silly in a live action movie, they did a brilliant job at conveying it being a weapon of a God and it sheer power in the battle scenes, and Thor having all the fight taken out of him the moment he realized he could no longer lift it was a great moment.
-The locals having a hillbilly get-together, complete with barbecue around the mysterious unliftable hammer was the funniest thing I've ever seen. And yay, Stan Lee cameo!
-Sif and The Warriors Three were awesome, limited as their parts were. Volstagg was the only one I immediately recognised (from what I've seen of him in Siege), and I appreciated how very kickass Sif was.
-How much did I love Heimdall? Idris Elba did a great job at bring the appropriate amount of gravitas to the role, even while he acted with only half of his face visible (and dude, why would you cast a hotass like Idris Elba and keep so much of his obscured by that golden...er, I wanna say “hat”).
-CLINT BARTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While I was let down that he didn't shoot a single arrow, he still managed to keep me more interested with two (snarky) lines than Thor did with the first half of the movie.
-Speaking of other Marvel connections, I snickered out loud as the “Is this one of Stark's? -I don't know, he never tells me anything” exchange. While waiting for the next Iron Man movie, I can entertain myself with thoughts of Tony as an unending source of frustration for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
-Bonus “blink and you'll miss it” Hulk reference. I LOVE that all the current Marvel movies are connected-if the upcoming Spiderman reboot also ties in to the other Marvel offerings, my life would be complete.
-That end teaser is killing me. Nick Fury! Invisible plotting!Loki. Avengers teasers! Is it 2012 yet?
Going in with very few expectations in regard to characterization, which definitely helped. Because even knowing the little I do about canon Thor, the petulant man-child he was for the first half of the movie definitely felt off, even knowing that it's an origin story, and that the Thor onscreen wasn't the familiar larger-than-life superhero I knew. If anything, he sort of reminded me of Ultimate!Thor, despite the fact he actually was a Norse God rather than a wannabe (though again, not an expert. I only skimmed the Ultimates books to get to the good stuff like the canon 'cest and Tony and Natasha's porn video. Ah, comics.)
Chris Hemsworth did a decent job as Thor, and was certainly rocking the superhero physique. Even as the annoying early “Thor smash” persona, he had enough of an oddly puppy-doggish charm to avoid coming off as a complete brainless brute. He became about ten times more likeable when he loosened up (though him going into an impotent rage and getting knocked out several times early on certainly was entertaining). I liked him best when he was interacting with Jane or carrying an unconscious Erik over his shoulder (“We drank, we fought, he made his ancestors proud” felt like such an authentic Thor line), and there was something about his 1000 watt smile that made me overlook minor performance flaws. I couldn't have done without much of the Manpain and epic Daddy Issues, but Thor is a bit of drama queen in canon, and really, what Silver Age character isn't?
I'm not sure about their decision to do away with Donald Blake except as a clever inside reference for comic book fans. I realize that including Thor's human alter ego wasn't possible within the story they were trying to tell and the time constraints, which is why the story could have benefited from cutting down the Asgardian parts or possibly a sequel focusing more on Thor's time on earth. As a Marvel fangirl, I have a lot of pre-existing goodwill for the characters, but I'm not sure how relatable Thor would be for viewers unfamiliar with the source.
Loki was a pleasant surprise. I loathe Loki in the comics, so imagine my surprise when I found myself reluctantly on team Loki for two thirds of the film-he was just so much smarter than Thor. Even as a child, his expression seemed to telegraph “I'm surrounded by idiots.”. He only lost me when he fell prey to the same angst and daddy issues as Thor-I much prefer Loki plotting and undermining the other Asgardians simply because he is Loki and their ways are stupid, rather than because he's the abandoned little ice!baby and daddy didn't love him enough.
I liked that Thor never stopped caring about him even when he revealed his true colours (all in shades of ice blue, I imagine). And fandom is going to be ALL OVER Thor/Loki (…ok, also because they are the only two hot white guys in the film, and fandom is sadly predictable that way).
I didn't know Jane before this, but I thought Natalie Portman (who seems to be in about a million movies currently) did a great job as essentially a stand-in for the audience when it came to the superhuman/Norse God stuff. She convincingly sold me on gradually coming around on who she initially thought of as “crazy homeless guy” to the point where the risks she took didn't come off as thoughtless or stupid, and I appreciated she was more motivated by scientific curiosity and saving her research rather than how good Thor looked like without a shirt.
Both Erik and Darcy were great and provided much of the lighter moments of this flick. Erik's enthusiastic delivery of the highly unlikely story to S.H.I.E.L.D. in particular was a high point.
Other observations:
-Asgard was perfection. Really, I have no complaints at all when it comes to sets, special effects and wardrobe. I do wish I hadn't seen the thing in 3D, as it kept me from enjoying the gorgeousness of the movie.
-I lovedlovedloved Mjolnir (and Darcy's constant mispronunciations of it). While it's easy for a bigass hammer to look, well, silly in a live action movie, they did a brilliant job at conveying it being a weapon of a God and it sheer power in the battle scenes, and Thor having all the fight taken out of him the moment he realized he could no longer lift it was a great moment.
-The locals having a hillbilly get-together, complete with barbecue around the mysterious unliftable hammer was the funniest thing I've ever seen. And yay, Stan Lee cameo!
-Sif and The Warriors Three were awesome, limited as their parts were. Volstagg was the only one I immediately recognised (from what I've seen of him in Siege), and I appreciated how very kickass Sif was.
-How much did I love Heimdall? Idris Elba did a great job at bring the appropriate amount of gravitas to the role, even while he acted with only half of his face visible (and dude, why would you cast a hotass like Idris Elba and keep so much of his obscured by that golden...er, I wanna say “hat”).
-CLINT BARTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While I was let down that he didn't shoot a single arrow, he still managed to keep me more interested with two (snarky) lines than Thor did with the first half of the movie.
-Speaking of other Marvel connections, I snickered out loud as the “Is this one of Stark's? -I don't know, he never tells me anything” exchange. While waiting for the next Iron Man movie, I can entertain myself with thoughts of Tony as an unending source of frustration for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
-Bonus “blink and you'll miss it” Hulk reference. I LOVE that all the current Marvel movies are connected-if the upcoming Spiderman reboot also ties in to the other Marvel offerings, my life would be complete.
-That end teaser is killing me. Nick Fury! Invisible plotting!Loki. Avengers teasers! Is it 2012 yet?
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Date: 2011-05-13 02:10 pm (UTC)But I'm crazy about Jeremy Renner...