Thor (2011)

In the build up to the eagerly anticipated Avengers film, another character is added to the fray.

Thor is a mythical character, considered the God of Thunder, but in the Marvel comics, he becomes a warrior from outer space who ends up protecting Earth. This new movie, from director Kenneth Branagh, is a worthy adversary to the likes of Iron Man (2008) and The Incredible Hulk (2008).

In a magical city called Asgard, king Odin rules (Antony Hopkins), but will soon give his throne to one of his sons, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) or Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Thor is a brilliants warrior and shows off his talents with great bravado and ceremony, while Loki is a mysterious underdog. The king chooses Thor as his successor, but when an incident occurs that Thor endangers the future of Asgard by looking for a fight with their enemy the Frost Giants, Odin casts him out and sends him to earth without his powers or his magical hammer.

Now, Thor must navigate the mortal world of Earth, whilst searching for his Hammer, and trying to find a way back to Asgard. He encounters a curious trio of scientists (Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, and Kat Dennings) whom he helps and hinders in equal quantities. A love connection between Hemsworth and Portman soon adds depth to the story.

The film is full of great action, special effects and fight scenes, but the real appeal comes from a workable script and moments of slapstick humour. Several scenes in the film had the audience laughing out loud, and Chris Hemsworth plays Thor as a Viking-Cum-Stranger perfectly. The most easy comparison is the film Iron Man, or possible Hancock. They are structured similarly, and have likable protagonists, with moments of humour and poignancy.

One of the few criticisms is the plot, especially near the end. It becomes too laden with mythology and confusing twists, rather than a simple fight between good and evil, like all superhero films should be. But the majority of the film manages to create an engaging battle where rooting for Thor and his buddies is simple.

The setting of New Mexico is excellent, providing a small-town America with plenty of room for explosions and the secret agendas of the FBI, an almost Area 51 location.

This is a worthwhile film, and one that could easily be overlooked. Get yourself out to see it, if you enjoyed the films mentioned in this review.

As the superhero genre continues to dominate the movie industry, I for one, cannot wait for more to arrive!