Thor

Another comic book hero I didn’t know anything about but an adaptation that I was looking forward to see because directed by Kenneth Branagh, whose work I appreciate.  The fact that Thor starred the incredibly hot Chris Hemsworth certainly wasn’t a deterrent...

Synopsis: Thor is the first born of Odin, the omnipotent King of the realm of Asgard.  He’s soon to take over for his father, even though, because of his vanity and impulsiveness, he’s not yet ready.  After defying Odin’s orders and putting the realm in peril, Thor is banished to Earth and deprived of his powers.  Bad things ensue all around.

Hemsworth, whom I first appreciated in a brief appearance in Star Trek, didn’t impress me much here.  Perhaps it was the huge mass of muscle tissue he had to put on for the role, but he felt kind of stiff.  He surely was perfectly cast (I’d be hard pressed to name another actor who’d look like Thor as much as he does), but I’ll reserve my judgment on his acting abilities after I’ve seen him in something else.  I’m starting to wonder if he’ll be cursed by the same fate as Brad Pitt, whose beauty often blinds one to his acting abilities.

Recent Oscar winner Natalie Portman doesn’t shine as Thor’s love interest, while fellow Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, as the King, holds his own in a role that fits his stature (unlike his actual stature, which had to be raised quite a bit whenever he and Hemsworth were in the same shot).  A nice discovery was Tom Hiddleston, both handsome and talented, although his made up face did remind me a lot of Star Trek’s Data.

The movie is impeccable when it comes to visual and sound effects, makeup, costumes and sets.  The script is not the strongest, but definitely able to stand on its own, especially for this kind of movie and for a lesser known superhero.

The Bottom Line: Branagh does a good job of bringing to life a character that we’ll undoubtedly see more of in the coming years.  The plot is thick with action and intrigue, which will keep you hooked in spite of the mediocre acting.

Grade: 7