Thor [3D] (2011)
Full review: Actor-turned-director Kenneth Branagh brings his latest flick, based on Marvel Comics character, "Thor" - a fun, entertaining and visually-stunning superhero blockbuster, that not only blends cleverly Norse mythology with fiction and modern reality, but also manages to balance stupendous action with human drama quite well, in order to provide us with tons of 'Marvel'-ous entertainment. Probably the best thing about "Thor" is, that it never takes itself too seriously, not to say that the film often flirts with silliness, without crossing the line into stupidity. The dialogues are moderately intelligent and full of wit, and the all the characters are well-written, but "Thor" is not without its problems - it suffers a bit from a lack of cohesion among its constituent parts, and as a result, it often feels either rushed or contrived. Silly costumes aside, "Thor" is pure eye-candy in terms of visuals. The art direction is certainly the film's highlight - while the 'golden' kingdom of Asgard is bright, stylish and lavishly-designed, Jotunheim is grim, dark and downright chilling, yet highly atmospheric - together they make an impressive visual depiction of good and evil! "Thor" also boasts some first-rate CGIs and above average 3D effects, and it features number of thrilling and well-staged, if hardly spectacular action sequences. Branagh's direction is precise and typically solid, but at times you would guess that directing this film has been a challenge for him. Acting-wise, "Thor" also delivers, thanks to its charming, talented and likable cast. Chris Hemsworth makes the perfect Thor - he's not only hunky, good-looking and incredibly charismatic, but he also possesses enough acting abilities to carry the film on his shoulders. Anthony Hopkins shines as the wise and temperate Odin, and Natalie Portman delivers another fascinating performance as Thor's love interest, though her brief screen time isn't enough to allow her to steal the show. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is certainly the weakest of the bunch - his character is neither interesting to watch, nor particularly memorable.
Overall summary: Kenneth Branagh's latest Marvel-based movie may not be as spectacular as expected, and it doesn't break any new ground in terms of plot or characterization, but at the end of the day, "Thor" is a true crowd-pleaser, and a solid entry into the superhero genre, thanks to its sharply-written script, engaging cast, and flashy visual effects.
Overall summary: Kenneth Branagh's latest Marvel-based movie may not be as spectacular as expected, and it doesn't break any new ground in terms of plot or characterization, but at the end of the day, "Thor" is a true crowd-pleaser, and a solid entry into the superhero genre, thanks to its sharply-written script, engaging cast, and flashy visual effects.
17 comments:
Certainly I was expecting more of Branagh, but all in all, Thor was good enough. I wrote briefly about the movie in my blog.
Great review! I can't wait to see this on Friday! Woot Woot! I need some "flashy visual effects" at the theater!
Arion, I expected a lot more of Branagh too, but at the same time I was somewhat satisfied. It was pure entertainment, and I enjoyed it. ;)
N4M3L3SS, oh what? :)
Matty, thanks dude ;) Appreciate it as always! Prepare yourself for tons of flashy visual effects, and something little more than that ;)
Seen it. Liked it.
From the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, I was hoping for better than that! Still catching it tomorrow though.
Movies on my Mind, seen it, liked it... didn't love it. :)
Alex, so was I, but it just wasn't that great. It was fun, solid and entertaining, but it's no "Iron Man" or "Spider-Man".
As for Rotten Tomatoes, you'd better check the average rating, not the percentage. Thor: 87%, average rating: 6.9/10. I agree with it.
Agree about Loki, he lacked presence.
Ricky, glad you share the same opinion. And yes, he was pretty flat.
I'm off to see this on Saturday so I'm reserving judgment. Sounds like you had a great time even though it wasn't as great as you'd hoped.
Brilliant, insightful review. :) I'm looking forward to Hopkins and Hemsworth and to seeing a different kind of superhero. Thor was a childhood fave.
Mel, I hope you'll like it, hon. I wasn't very impressed by it.. there was something missing for me. Ah, and those costumes looked so silly.. I hated them. Anyway, it has many strengths and weaknesses, but it delivers what it promises, which is to entertain. :)
Thanks, sweetheart, I did my best, though if I have to be completely honest, the movie didn't inspire me that much.
Hemsworth's turn as Thor was great. I was in shock when I found that he's younger than me. He looked so much older than his age (28).
I share most of your sentiments and I personally had some issues with his overuse of slanted angles. I loved Hemsworth, looks like he's just got a ticket to stardom!
J-Son, I wasn't fully satisfied - it lacked the wow factor, but I enjoyed it for what it was. The direction didn't bother me at all, but I had issues with the editing.
This review is concise and great. I had the opposite feelings about the acting. Portman was bubbly but didn't have chemistry. Loki was the most tragic character in a way. Tom played it with a simmering evil that worked for me.
Maurice, glad you think so :) Portman did great, though I agree that she and Chris Hemsworth had little to no chemistry. Thanks for the comment.
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