Another year, another Oscars. Now that the Academy Awards, with their various joys and disappointments, are over, it is that time of year when moviegoers start looking forward to pure entertainment, summer blockbuster fare that asks nothing of you but to have a good time. As such, one of the movies I am greatly looking forward to is The Avengers, the superhero smorgasbord that will collect all the Marvel Comics superheroes that we've seen in individual films like Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, etc. and make them a crime-fighting force to be reckoned with. The main reason I am excited for this movie is because it is directed by the incomparable Joss Whedon. I never considered myself a big fan of the superhero genre, but was then shocked to discover that I've actually seen every movie about these heroes, except one. Determined to be fully educated before The Avengers comes out on May 4th, I steeled my resolve and sat down to watch Thor.
I really did not want to watch Thor when it first came out (which is why I didn't), because it looked ridiculous. Despite being a commercial success, it didn't appear to be much loved by critics, who considered it weak fare amidst the abundance of superhero movies that we've had from Marvel Studios. Therefore, when I watched this movie last night, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself actually enjoying it. This is no Batman Begins or earnest superhero movie-making, but it wholeheartedly falls into the category of mindless summer fun that keeps you entertained for two hours and gives you some laughs besides. There are jokes sprinkled throughout the film that greatly liven up the proceedings and the strength of this movie really appears to lie in the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously.
Unlike most superheroes, Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth, the next big Australian import) starts out as a hero, the Norse God of thunder who is the son of Odin, the King of the Gods. Right when Odin is about to step down and hand the kingdom to Thor, however, events transpire that lead Thor to stir up a war with the Frost Giants who are the arch enemies of the Gods. Odin is able to settle things, but Thor's arrogance and general brattiness are too insufferable and Odin strips him of his powers and his hammer (yes, his main superpower is that he flies around with a hammer) and banishes him to planet Earth. This is a bit of a reversal in the superhero genre, since our hero goes from hero to zero instead of the other way around. On Earth, he is found by a bunch of astrophysicists, one of whom is Natalie Portman, the inevitable love interest. The real fun though comes from Kat Dennings who plays Darcy, a student who is interning with these astrophysicists and delivers hilarious one-liners with aplomb as she lusts after Thor. What follows is a lot of confusion and the eventual realization that Thor is in fact who he says he is, followed by various attempts to help him get his hammer and his powers back.
The movie is a lot of fun when it tackles Thor stumbling through Earth and offending the inhabitants, but things get a little dreary when we go back to Asgard (where the Gods live) and deal with the treachery of Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston, the next big British import) who is Thor's brother and has been scheming to take control of the kingdom. The special effects make Asgard look uber-futuristic as opposed to medieval and quaint as is usually expected of heavenly kingdoms, but the ethereal lighting and crazy locations all look spectacular, and I'm sure they looked great on the big screen. Everyone thought Kenneth Branagh was an odd choice to direct this movie, but I think the British virtue of self-deprecation plays an important role in constructing a serviceable movie that doesn't pretend to be high art and easily straddles the line between comic farce and high-octane drama.
If you go into this movie expecting high-concept excellence like something out of the Batman franchise, you will be sorely disappointed. Just watch Thor to have a little fun and you'll enjoy yourself. Thor will be back in The Avengers and then in a sequel set to drop in 2013, so we're not free of this franchise for a while yet. Superheroes are becoming a staple of our summer movie schedule and you might as well embrace the swashbuckling drama, tight costumes, inane dialogue, and hilarity that ensue.
Here is the marvelous Superbowl trailer for The Avengers. Get excited!
SON OF COUL!
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