For Asgard !!!

Odin's beard !!!

Had the chance to catch Thor on screen yesterday in the highly over criticized Sunway Pyramid's TGV cinema. Of course, I was the one who highly criticized it. Surprisingly, yesterday wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, sound was just nice, but to me it was still overpriced.

Now to the things that actually mattered. I'm going to make it easy for everyone here by giving my rating earlier on in the post, so if you like what you saw (the rating), then you can go ahead and watch it yourself, however, if you don't mind a bit of movie analysis and of course the spoilers that come with it, do continue reading and let me know what you think after your own viewing of Thor.

I rate this movie 8/10, preferably I'd give it a 7.5/10, but today I'll give it an 8/10.

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Now on the the SPOILERS...

I'll start with the Storyline

It is rather straight forward, nothing too fancy if you ask me. Of course I do to a certain extent have some knowledge about Thor prior to the movie itself for I am a comic book fan as well.

I believe if you've never read the comic book before, this movie will be a great place to start as it will discuss the origin story of Thor and of course his delightful household, well basically him and his brother and of course their tumultuous relationship with each other.


Here you will learn of Loki's disdain for his brother and his rather interesting past which fairly contributes to his future.

To me the storyline was easy to understand and fun. I love how the director could bring us from Asgard to Midgard( Earth) back and forth without the audience feeling any sense bewilderment even with the extreme change of setting that occurred onscreen. Perhaps it was the rather exciting earlier scene depicting Thor's coronation, or was it the not so small battle that ensued in Jutenheim between Thor's small band of warriors and the Frost Giants themselves. Either ways, all those events have prepared us enough to see Thor traveling to Earth through the Bifrost as nothing but a door to another world, not much different from a normal door, only a lot more intimidating and the landing looks a lot awesomer..Oh yeah !!!

It just felt a bit weird that Thor due to his own arrogance, banished to Earth by his father, Odin himself, so that he would learn humility. And that he did. After being hit by a car or rather the same car quite a few times, having been tasered and beaten up, after having many a cups of coffee, Thor became a good boy. And all this within the span of a week. I say a week because it wouldn't make sense if it were longer than that. Now, how do we wrap around that idea, Thor son of Odin, arrogant as he was and childlike as he was, learnt manners on Earth and became a good man? In his defense, I do not believe that he behaved too badly while in Asgard, it was only the fact that he had a black and white view in regard to anything in his life. If it's bad, I hit it, if it's good, we drink ale with it... Simple viking way of thinking.

Perhaps it was the fact that Odin wanted his son to learn how to be a King and not just a warrior, tactics and diplomacy comes with the crown after all. I guess that is why it befuddles Loki why he was not chosen as the successor. In a normal world, Loki would have been the perfect politician, smart, charismatic, wily, not afraid to get his hands dirty, Sounds like a shoe in for a politician in our own country. Hahahaha... Nothing worse then when a reviewer includes his country's politics into a movie review...

Coming back to the point, it's a wonder that Thor having come to Earth would learn to be humble. How about those who spent their whole lives on earth, have they not learnt anything yet? Perhaps it was the whole duck out of water experience that changed him. Thank God Thor landed in a small town and not some war ridden place like Eastern Europe or even Iraq, God knows what would happen to his morals had he landed there.

The dynamic between Thor, his father Odin and his brother Loki was also well done. Here it was very clear, the tension between the father and the sons, the love which they crave from their father, and how small acts could trigger or cause such unhappiness or distress or even rejection the other child. Loki was suffering from all sorts of rejection factors, his past, his abilities or rather lack of it, perhaps even his looks, all cause him suffering, pain and dissatisfaction. Not able to resort to physical strength, he relied on his wits. to quote from Tyrion Lannister of The Game of Thrones:" A mind needs books like a sword needs a wet stone." Sharpening his mind and bidding his time, it was only a matter of time before he took the chance to prove himself worthy of the crown, or more importantly of his father's love. Sometimes, we have such disdain for ourselves, that we disregard the love from others around us, casting aside the love that actually matters. it was obvious that his parents loved him, even Thor himself loved his brother, but Loki kept it all inside, and bad things happen when you keep things inside...


The relationship between Thor and Jane Foster was believable, albeit the short time that they spent together. I was convinced that in such a short span of time, that they actually were interested at each other, kudos to both actors for making it so. You could actually feel the electricity ( no pun intended) between the two of them. I rather felt bad for Lady Sif, knowing very well, that in the comics, she was Thor's love interest as well, even before Jane Foster. So yea, herself being cast aside just like that, sad...

Another underrated character which I enjoyed watching was Heimdall, didn't expect much from this character but he carried such respect and power even for a gatekeeper. My hats of to him. The Warriors three have always been a delight to watch, Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg just adds flavour to the whole movie, though I personally feel that Volstagg should have been a lot fatter, but that's just me. I just love how the shield agents called Sif, Hogun and Fandral as Xena, Jackie Chan and Robin Hood... hahaha...Truly made my day with that comment.

Acting

Anthony Hopkins of course as usual, brought it, which of course prompted both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston to bring it as well... Natalie Portman needless to say was perfect as ever. Idris Elba did a great job as Heimdall.

All I can say is, they did a great choice selection for the cast of this movie, everyone played their part well enough and they all brought their characters to life.

Special nods to Stellan Skarsgard, Renne Russo and even Colm Feore for their roles as Doctor Eric Selvig, Frigga and King Laufey.

Also want to acknowledge Jeremy Renner who appeared briefly as Clint Barton aka Hawkeye.

Design and Effects


The FX was superb, as I have really wondered how they would depict the rainbow bridge and they did an awesome job with it. Asgard looked like a cross between Lord of the Rings' Minas Tirith, Lothlorien and Star Wars' Naboo. I just love the whole design. Should I buy the artbook? I wonder...

FX not really my department, but I'd say it was convincing. I thought the Frost-giants were awesome and once again, I realise I just went back to the design aspect of things...hahahaha

Overall

It is an awesome movie, I will definitely watch it again, cause I'm sure my sis will drag me to it or I'll never hear the end of it...

Guys, go and watch it, cause Darren said so...

Till next time , God bless...