Stuff I should've reviewed part 1: Thor

This is the first of two films I meant to review and didn't. However, their time on DVD is yet to come, and the masses must be told, damnit!

Thor - Kenneth Branagh's combination of Marvel comics and old Norse mythology gives us Thor (Chris Helmsworth), a brash arrogant thunder god in Asgard, one of seven planes of reality (ours is another). However, Asgard is in a time of peace, and peace is never a great time to be a warrior. Thor at the slightest provocation seeks a fight with a race of Frost Giants, and is banished by his father Oden the one eyed (Anthony Hopkins in easily his best turn in years) to Earth.

Let me start by saying that, while this movie is maybe not as great as it could have been, for Thor to not be a miserable failure is a hell of an achievement. I chalk it up to Kenneth Branagh for his skill with storytelling and ability to simplify a dense story. This movie could have easily come off as ridiculous. Kudos as well to Branagh's effects team for making Asgard a beautiful magical looking place with a beautiful rainbow bridge that does not scream camp at the top of it's lungs.

While I'm handing out accolades, how about several to the movie's main three players, Chris Helmsworth, Anthony Hopkins, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki? Each actor nails their respective part. Hiddleston in particular holds my interest with his interesting (almost Shakespearean) character arc and will be my chief reason for rewatching the film.

The deciding factor for whether you leave liking or scoffing at this film will be Thor's transition to Earth. For me, it was a fairly easy switch. For other people, this may not jell. It's one of the more subjective aspects of the film.

What I think has more people on the fence, and I count myself in their ranks, is Natalie Portman's part. Let me have a soapbox moment here. Can movie producers just stop, and I mean for a long time, insulting us with token love interests that have no personality? Can these films for once be the boy's clubs they are meant to be? Sex and the City never tried to pretend that it was for boys too by mistakenly giving any of the men on that show a notable personality.

I think it's a case of Spiderman and Superman, two majorly successful movie franchises with prominent love interests, kind of damning the rest of the comic book movies into following the mold they left. But the thing is, not every hero has a Mary Jane or a Lois Lane.
Batman has had maybe four loves in the duration of his comics. That's 70 years, 4 love interests. So few that they invented Katie Holmes's character for the reboot. I don't think Thor ever had a long term love interest of notice, unless you count battle. Maybe Red Sonja or that random nurse.

Anyway this is the point I'd like to make to movie producers in general: You're not going to get females to flock to these movies. The younger boys will be irritated that this romance crap is getting in the way of the punching and fighting. The older boys will feel their intelligence insulted at the lightweight quality of the romance. So who is Natalie Portman there for? Answer: nobody. Demographics that say every comic book movie needs a love interest. And I'd argue, No. They don't. But you'll keep giving them to us in the hope of getting a few more fringe viewers from the other side of the pool rather than give the boys what they really want.

It doesn't help that ultimately Portman is miscast and her female co-star Kat Dennings is infinitely more charming and interesting. It should have been Thor and Kat Dennings. Sequel idea!: Thor and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Boom. You're welcome Hollywood.

This film is a lot of fun. There's a fun drinking contest and a bunch of funny one-liners. The action is well shot in a way that you can actually see what is happening. God I hope this becomes a trend again elsewhere in Hollywood. The supporting cast is strong, with Stellan Skarsgard as a believable scientist, and Jeremy Renner (of The Hurt Locker) as Hawkeye! Cool. This movie is yet another continuity brick on the road that is The Avengers. And boy had that movie better be good.

So where does Thor stand in the new Marvel line-up? Quite well actually. Better than Iron Man 2. Not quite there with Iron Man. Thor gets a B.