Runtime: 01:54:49
Total Runtime: 07:57:59
I've been looking forward to this one since I started. The "Thor" series of films hold a soft-spot in my heart. I recognize that both the first and the second to a greater extent, aren't the better films in the series. It's likely due to my interests in mythologies.
This was the one that I went back to and watched the most in the early 2010s, most likely due to my longstanding crush on Natalie Portman. Thanks, "V for Vendetta."
This is also the beginning of the MCU's exploration of Marvel's cosmic side. Not quite in full, like "Guardians of the Galaxy" will in 2014, but the start none the less.
We open the movie with our science trio Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård), and intern Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). They are investigating a string of "atmospheric disturbances" supposed to come off as "subtle aurora," as stated by Selvig. But instead, they find a sky-beam-tornado and crash into a man, later revealed to be Thor. "Where did he come from?"
Following this brief opening scene, we receive narration from Odin (Anthony Hopkins) who tells of the story of the Gods, why humans worship them, as well as their conquering of the Frost Giants. We then see Odin with a young Thor and Loki overlooking the Frost Giant weapon-box-thing, The Casket of Ancient Winters. Here we see the first hints at Thor's arrogance as he wants to slay all the Ice Giants, and Odin tries to sway him away from causing a war, warning him instead to simply be prepared for one. We then fast forward to Thor's would-be coronation as King, cockiness in full display here.
His coronation is cut short by the arrival of three Frost Giants, and they want their weapon-box-thing so they can use their ice powers more effectively against Asgard and start a war. The plan caught by Odin, cause he's the All-Father and he knows all and sees all with his one eye. Odin summons The Destroyer, a big metal fire breathing robot-thing, and it kills the Frost Giants.
Thor does not take too kindly to the Frost Giant invasion and wants to go to war. Odin says no, and Thor pouts and flips a table. Loki (Tom Hiddleston), gets in Thor's ear and says "Hey bro, forget what dad said let's go mess up the Frost Giants" - Only in a less obvious way. Thor falls for Loki's ploy and brings along his best buddies Lady Sif (Jamie Alexander) and the Warriors Three to Jötunheim. The Warriors Three being Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano), and Fandral (Josh Dallas).
They go and beat up the Frost Giants, only to eventually be overwhelmed. King Laufey (Colm Feore) of the Frost Giants is not happy, but Odin comes in to save the day. Pappa Odin isn't happy with Thor disobeying and almost causing another war. Thor wants the War. Odin gets madder at Thor's arrogance and takes away his sweet powers. Thor is banished to Earth along with Mjölnir and he is promptly hit by an RV.
Herein lies my main issue with the first two "Thor" movies that I didn't initially have with them. While on Asgard it's too "Shakespearey." That should be expected with the first one, especially with Branagh directing, but it doesn't coincide with the tone of the rest of the film. The second film, which we'll get more into later is similar in this regard, and likely because they didn't know what to do with it so they decided to do the same thing again, only different. Which is why "Thor: Ragnarok" ended up working so well in comparison.
I thoroughly enjoy "Thor." Its laughs are great, they come at the right moments, the movie is well directed. It's just two different movies. Once you get past that, if you can, it's good. The fish out of water aspect of Thor's story on Earth is fantastic. Him acting like a Viking and being cocky and arrogant all the time is consistently funny, and likely only due to the charisma of Hemsworth in the role.
The other Earth characters are great too, however pointless they are so far. They all continue on into the sequel and other films of the MCU, Selvig also appearing in "The Avengers," and Jane set to return in "Thor: Love and Thunder," Darcy too, is set to return in the Disney+ series "Wandavision" (releasing January 15, 2021).
Side not on the Disney+ shows and other MCU related television, I may do reviews of the Streaming shows (Netflix and Disney+) on top of these twenty-three (+) movies. But I haven't fully decided yet, as it's quite an undertaking as There are thirteen seasons of six different shows out on Netflix already totaling 161 episodes. If anything those will be used as filler between future movies.
Back to our regularly non-scheduled review. The Earth homies are great, especially in contrast with Thor's Asgardian-ness. Darcy, while she may be the most pointless supporting character in all the MCU, is also, one of the best.
Her sole purpose, seemingly, is to deliver comic relief in this non-comedy focused MCU film. Selvig is a skeptical scientist who believes the science and not the magic stuff. Jane, like Selvig, starts off that way but is convinced by Thor that Science and Magic are one and the same, at least on Asgard.
Back with the plot, the science trio goes to the hospital after hitting him to get answers from Thor. Only to hit him again after his escape from said hospital - Laugh, it's funny. Meanwhile, a bunch of rednecks find Mjölnir in a crater and have a "try to lift the hammer" party. Redneck Stan Lee tries with his truck and loses the bed. On Asgard, Loki learns he is a Frost Giant baby, son to Laufey, and promptly yells at daddy Odin who decides to go to sleep instead of yelling back.
Back with the main four, Thor want's ANOTHER! coffee then leaves to find Mjölnir. Darcy, not knowing of Mjölnir, called it myuh-myuh, or mew-mew - laugh, it's funny. Selvig calls Thor a crazy person cause God's aren't real, at least not the Norse ones anyway, they're "children stories."
Jane takes him to the crater instead of Thor riding a giant dog. Only Thor can't lift the hammer. Also, Hawkeye is in this movie for like, 2 minutes - cool.
Broken by his unworthiness Thor is taken into custody by SHIELD. Loki visits him and lies (what a shock) about Odin being dead and their mother, Frigga (Rene Russo) forbidding Thor's return. Loki tries to lift Mjölnir but definitely isn't worthy. Selvig has a change of heart and rescues Thor claiming he's Dr. Donald Blake, gone mad after all his lovely research was stolen by them.
Here we have a call back to Thor's original comic book origins. Donald Blake was his alter ego, the person he would be instead of Thor on Earth, literally transforming between the two. Mjölnir even disguised as a walking stick. The whole movie is a rather faithful modern portrayal of the classic "no longer worthy" origin of Thor's involvement on Earth.
Moving along with the plot. Thor explains how all nine of the realms work to Jane. Heimdall helps Lady Sif and the Warriors Three go to Earth. Loki unleashes The Destroyer to go kill Thor and the warriors so he can stay king forever before he lets Laufey come kill Odin. Thor, to save all his Earth and Asgardian friends, faces the Destroyer weaponless, becoming worthy in doing so. Thor defeats the Destroyer summoning a tornado and shoving Mjölnir down its throat which causes it to explode from a build-up of its fire breath.
Thor returns to Asgard after aligning himself with SHIELD, through the best agent "son of Coul," set up for "The Avengers."
Loki and Thor begin to fall and Odin saves them. Loki chooses to fall somewhere into space when his attempts to impress daddy failed. The movie ends with Thor and Jane, on Asgard and Earth respectively, being sad they can't smooch each other.
Post-credits Selvig meets with Fury and is shown the Tesseract, a magic blue cube of unknown power. Selvig is asked to study it. He accepts with a vision of Loki behind him suggesting Loki is somehow in control of Selvig.
"Thor" has the unfortunate issue of being two films at once, A serious Shakesperean drama about Norse Gods on Asgard, and a semi-serious tale of a Gods search for purpose on Earth. This limits the enjoyment of the film quite a bit and is the main reason it doesn't overtake "Iron Man" in the rankings. It does both movies well, but no movie trying to be more than one movie has ever been good. See "Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker" if you don't believe me, except that one was trying to be three movies.
The comedic moments work for me cause the director gets the timing right. The only issue is, that the comedy does not match the framing tone of the film. That's the issue with the Asgard stuff being taken as seriously as it is, when everything else, isn't. A jumbled mess of tone that leaves everyone confused over what type of movie they're watching.
I'm dreading the day I get to "Thor: The Dark World."
Official MCU 23 film ranking:
- Iron Man
- Thor
- Iron Man 2
- The Incredible Hulk
Coming up next: "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011)
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