Customer Reviews

Thor (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

5 star:		(242)
4 star:		(130)
3 star:		(44)
2 star:		(39)
1 star:		(41)

 

 

Thor is Marvel's best superhero movie yet. It is even better than the first Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk films. It is also the most visually stunning of any Marvel film, with gorgeous fantasy settings, great costumes, and spectacular special effects.

In the same way as Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight worked just as well as a crime drama as a superhero movie, Thor works just as well as a standalone fantasy film. Even if I had not known that I was watching a comic book movie, I would have been just as happy with the story. In fact, I would say that you don't actually need to be familiar with the characters or the comic mythology to enjoy the film.

The story is set half in Asgard, the realm of the gods, and half in our world, Earth. Thor, the son of the king of Asgard, the wise Odin, is a proud and arrogant king-in-waiting. He makes a foolish mistake that brings his world to the brink of war and his father exiles him to our world as punishment, and maybe to teach him how to be a better man. On Earth, Thor makes some new friends and even begins to fall in love with a pretty scientist. Meanwhile, in Asgard, his brother Loki begins to put into motion a plot that may threaten Thor's home.

Two things about the film really stood out to me. The first is the absolutely beautiful settings and solid world-building in the movie. Asgard looks amazing, with settings such as the Rainbow Bridge, a crystal structure with colored lights running through it, spanning a sea that flows into a massive waterfall, cascading down into the open cosmos. Also, great costuming really makes the gods stand out, and adds to the film's epic feel. The second thing was the character of Loki, the film's antagonist. Watching the trailers, I expected a greasy, honorless villain (someone like Wormtongue from the Lord of the Rings). Instead I got the story of a hero, told in reverse. Loki's story mirrors his brother Thor's, but where Thor starts out as an arrogant royal brat and through his time on Earth comes to realize what it means to be a hero, Loki begins the story as a mischievous but honorable man, and over the course of the film turns into a really bad guy. As Thor rises, he falls. And when his final plan is revealed at the end of the film, it totally fits his personality and everything you know about him. In other superhero films, we're used to seeing the bad guy go on some kind of mindless rampage at the end of the film. We saw it in The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, the Spider Man movies, the Fantastic Four...but not here. Loki acts like a man with a purpose. Actually he has two purposes, both very personal to him. One is to do commit a terrible act of destruction, partly out of self-loathing and partly out of a twisted sense of honor toward his father. And the other is simply to beat his brother, proving himself Thor's equal. He is easily the deepest villain of any of the Marvel films so far.

The film is directed by Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart!), who handles the epic material perfectly. More than any Marvel film so far, this one focuses on the hero's journey. Even more than a comic book movie, this is a fantasy film about a hero. Expect father-son drama, palace intrigue in the realm of the gods, and an epic confrontation between two brothers who have been become very different people over the course of the story. There is also plenty of humor, with a few real laugh-out-loud moments. And there is a very sweet, almost cute romance woven into the story. It carries an innocent, young-love kind of feeling. It also takes the two characters, one a god more concerned with war and glory, the other a scientist more concerned with solving the mysteries of the universe, and brings them down to earth in their budding love for one another.

I would recommend Thor to any lover of fantasy films, as well as any fans of comic book movies such as Marvel's Avengers lineup. It is solid fantasy fun with a strong sense of the epic and the heroic. And when you see Thor finally wield his hammer and summon the lightning, you'll want to stand up and cheer.

I went to see this with our 9 year old son, honestly not expecting very much. While I have enjoyed Portman and Hopkins in a number of roles, I felt this would be just another comic book hero movie with a bad script, extremely predictable character development, and unoriginal attempts at humor.
I was wrong...
Not only did I AND our 9 year old boy enjoy THOR, our 13 year old daughter, 15 year old goddaughter, and two more of our daughter's friends enjoyed it...ALL 3 TIMES WE SAW IT!!!
That's right...I saw THOR with our kids 3 times. Granted, this is a bit over-killed, but we thoroughly enjoyed the movie every time and plan to purchase it on opening DVD release day. Here's why:
1. I felt it was age appropriate.
2. Was it violent, sure...was it gory, no.
3. It had clear lines of good and bad, treated well with a myriad of complexities that led people to their struggles...so it felt honest.
4. I thought it was a GREAT play into the Avengers movie that is on the way.
5. I felt Branagh did a wonderful job directing...they should consider allowing him to direct the Avengers.
Rent this one...buy it...whatever works for you. It's good entertainment with plenty of action, quick wit, and a sweet redemption in the end. No Oscars here, but a good film nonetheless...thumbs up!

Comic book fans get a lot of flak for being nerds, dweebs and geeks; or at least they used to. Now comics are en vogue as millions of people attend geekfests like Comic Con; although whether that's to see the movie and television stars in attendance remains to be seen. Comic book characters are our mythology, they rival the super powered beings and gods of ancient Greek, Mesopotamian, and Viking mythology. We as humans have always felt this need to look up to higher powers to sort out our lives, believing that the fate of our race is better left in the hands of someone capable of bending the rules of physics. It's only natural then that eventually the worlds of comics and ancient mythology would collide as it does in the new Marvel movie Thor.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is the arrogant first born son of King Odin (Anthony Hopkins) of Asgard, and the rightful heir to the throne. When Thor commits an act that could lead to war between Asgard and the Frostgiants, with whom they have a very shaky truce, Odin strips Thor of his powers and banishes him to Earth until he learns humility. On Earth Thor is found by astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and her team (Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings) as they study atmospheric disturbances in New Mexico.

Thor is one of Marvel's lesser known properties, despite having been created by Stan Lee back in 1962. An integral character in Marvel's super powered team The Avengers, the movie version of the comic book was announced not long after the success of Iron Man as part of Marvel Studios attempt to bring The Avengers to the big screen. While Marvel has had great success with the first Iron Man movie and to a lesser extent Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk (which is the closest Marvel Studios has come to failure so far), Thor was a risky proposition with the greatest potential for failure. How does one meld the worlds of the mythical Asgard and Earth seamlessly into a movie that is part of a bigger picture with characters that are based solely in our realm?

Enter Kenneth Branagh. The success of Thor can largely be pinned on having a filmmaker with appropriate gravitas to ground the film. Branagh is a star of stage as well as film (for those of you unfamiliar with the name he played Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). The presence of Branagh alone was somewhat curious considering he's known more for directing acclaimed works like Hamlet (1996) and Henry V (1989) and even as an Irishman the English consider him one of the leaders in Shakespearean theater. It's that knowledge of film and theater that really guides Thor as he borrows as much from Shakespeare's Henry V as he does from modern action films.

Also adding to the weight of Kenneth Branagh's credentials are a list of acclaimed and award winning actors and actresses such as Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Rene Russo, and Idris Elba. Not only do they have the opportunity to ground the movie, but they also look like they're having fun. Part of why we enjoy this movie is because we can see that they enjoy the movie. No one ever really feels like they're hamming it up or sleepwalking through their scenes, you get the sense that aside from the emotions they convey for their characters concerning their predicaments they all want to be on this set and that feeling is infectious. Also Tom Hiddleston's Loki is a revelation at a time when I have to admit that Marvel Studio's previous villains have been lacking a certain je ne sais que. Hiddleston plays the character with a secret, and a glimmer behind the eyes that slowly unravels like a ripe onion throughout the film holding on to his deceit with the hope of another day. He's more complex than the previous villains that have come out of Marvel Studios, and I'm looking forward to his return in The Avengers.

The real linchpin for why this all works though is Chris Hemsworth. While having been around here and there in blink and you'll miss it parts, Hemsworth got his first big break in JJ Abrams Star Trek reboot in the pivotal role of George Kirk, father of James T. Kirk. While his place in geekdom had been set in a small yet important role, the question of whether he could pull off the Norse god turned Marvel superhero. In a lot of actor's hands this would have been a one note character bereft of emotion and humor. Hemsworth is a magnetic leading man, though, exuding charisma and confidence. His poise commands respect, and he effortlessly flows from emotion to emotion, arrogance to humility, with a comedic timing that leaves the audience in stitches but still doesn't undermine his character.

As with most, if not all comic book movies, this movie tries hard to give you a lot of plot in a short two hour span (I say short because it leaves you wanting more, the way a good action movie should). Naturally, some things are a little undercooked but don't ruin the movie. In the end, as much as I fell in love with Natalie Portman's character (as I do with almost any character she plays) the romantic connection between Thor and Foster didn't ring true because for most of the film he seemed somewhat disinterested only to find his infatuation with her later in the movie. Thor's progression from arrogant strongman to humble hero also seems to be slightly haphazard as it really feels as though it could have used more time to flesh out. Hemsworth does an admirable job making the audience feel each twist and turn of the character, but each twist and turn feels a little too abrupt to be genuine.

All in all though, this was an excellent film: a piece of escapist entertainment that embraces Shakespeare as much as it embraces modern blockbuster pop-art. On the scales of Marvel I'd rate this just slightly under Iron Man and far above Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk. The fact that they were able to get Thor right gives me hope for The First Avenger: Captain America and The Avengers. If you're a fan of comic book movies, Iron Man, or Marvel I highly recommend that you give this film a try. Not to mention, this is quite possibly the best use of 3D I recall since Avatar. Check it out!

4/5

For more review check out: jasoncwilkerson.blogspot.com

Thor is a difficult comic hero to bring to the big screen, but director Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet) has pulled it off with ease. What helps though is that Chris Hemsworth is perfectly cast as Thor and Tom Hiddleston is as well cast as his evil brother Loki. Plus, unlike with Iron Man 2, you get plenty of action to please you as well.
Roger Ebert hated Thor and thinks that every Marvel film since Spider-Man 2, just hasn't been as good. However, Thor is the way it should be. What is a good comic adaption according to Ebert anyway, was Thor supposed use his powers to deliver pizza ? Was he supposed to spend half the movie pouring his heart out to Natalie Portman's answering machine as she just stands there listening looking annoyed ?
After Thor loses his powers when he comes to Earth, was he supposed to strut down the street with a smile on his face as the song "rain drops falling on my head" plays ? No! Thor works as a magical and macho fantasy and that's exactly what a Thor movie should be!

Of all the comic book adaptations made, Thor was easily my most awaited. Thor is my favorite comic book character, so I couldn't wait to see him on the big screen. There were some worries though. Most modern adaptations of Thor weren't treated with much respect or dignity. I'm happy to say all my worries were quickly erased.

Like others have said, Thor is easily one of the toughest heroes to adapt onscreen. Thor is a hero who navigates between two connected, but different worlds. I thought the writers did a brilliant job all-around though. Thor has often been shown as a fish-out-of-water on earth, but I thought he adapted and fit-in well on earth here.

This isn't a true origins films as most comic book films usually are. Thors' early life is mostly grossed over, which is probably good. Probably take too much time to tell anyway. The early, but short battle between Asgard and the Frost Giants had me mesmerized from the beginnng. And as a unapologetic fan of action films and/or sequences, I've got to say by action expectations were easily filled. Thor managed to get about 5-6 action sequences into a fairly complex storyline.

The story was quite complex but very good overall. Great casting choices all-around. Great villian in Loki. Much better than I expected actually. Always thought he was one-note in the comics, but the actor really fleshed him out. Our hero Thor was played beautifully I thought. Made me proud to be a Thor fan. Odin was just as regal and imposing as I've always envisioned him. Much respect to Sir Anthony Hopkins! Now I can sometimes do without the love interest aspects of these films, but I gotta say Natalie Portman as Jane, was very much appreciated and welcomed by me. She did a great job, plus I think she's kind of hot. Loved the Warriors Three, and especially loved the awesome and baeutiful warrior Lady Sif. Hope to see more of Sif in the sequels. Also enjoyed Thors' other earthly friendly, especially the one with Norway roots.

No complaints here at all. Well other than it being in 3D. Just felt the 3D wasn't needed, plus I never liked it. Others seem to like the 3D just fine though. I was thoroughly entertained by this film, and would have probably seen it 5 times if it wasn't in 3D. Can't wait until this gets released on blu-ray and dvd, and especially can't wait until the sequel comes out.

I had the chance to watch it in 3D. Awesome effects, sound, flying doesn't look fake. I've watched a couple of movies in 3D, this is by far the best one. Good performance by the cast, mild humor and that was good. I didn't like the silly humor in Iron Man 2. Stan Lee is there, and there's a very cool unexpected cameo by a fellow avenger.

I'm not a Thor fan, but I do know something about the comic. This was a very well made adaptation. The movie made it here April 28th so I had to go see it. The battles are awesome, the relation between Odin and Thor was well depicted. I really think they really cared about this project.

If you have the chance watch it in 3D. Thor was awesome, let's see how Capatain America turns out. I couldn't see the scene after the credits, they stopped when the credits were rolling. There's a cool song during the credits. The scene is already in youtube...it's no big deal.


Go watch it and enjoy!

I bought my first Thor comic at age 6 or 7, way back in the 60's! I now have them all from "Journey Into Mystery #83" thru issue 500 or so. I even own some original Kirby art from "Thor". The movie surpassed my expectations!

Thor is one of Marvel comics lesser known heros. So when Marvel decided to make a movie about Thor I felt that they were getting greedy due to the success of Iron Man. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! Thor is a wonderful movie. Wonderful for many reasons. First it has a sense of humor. This movie is all about fantasy and fun. Thor is the God of Thunder and Chris Hemsworth looks every bit the part. He is dashingly handsome and buff and arrogant yet Hemsworth's talent is such that you never resent him for being arrogant. He's a lovable cocky big lug. The movie starts with Thor on his home planet of Asgard. Thor wants to confront his mortal enemies the Ice Giants, his father Odin, played expertly by the legendary Anthony Hopkins wants diplomacy to prevail. Yet Thor presses the issue and this breach gets him exiled to Earth without his powers only his all powerful hammer Mjolnir which carries the power of an entire planet. Thor on Earth is both hilarious and arrogant at once. Hemsworth is talented enough to pull this off. I laughed when a nurse draws blood from Thor and Thor bellows: "How dare you attack the Son of Odin!" It is that kind of humor that makes this movie so good it's a perfect blend of humor, action and great acting. Hemsworth is a stunning revelation hopefully he will get great roles in the future to make him a huge star because he's a great looking guy with a great body and all the acting talent to back up his looks. Natalie Portman plays the love interest but this love affair is not the overwhelming forced sexfest of most action movies. Instead this love affair is sweet and romantic. It reminds me of the love affair between Lois Lane and Superman in the original Superman movie from 1977. Watching Portman's character and Thor kiss at the end of the movie actually means something. A lot more than all the gritty sex scenes in most action films. Thor is a perfect summer movie full of fun, humor a little action and a sweet romance. 5 stars all the way!!

I did go into the theater expecting to love this film, and it far exceeded my expectations. The beginning's a bit awkward--starting with Thor's arrival on Earth, then abruptly backtracking to how he got there and replaying the opening scene, but from there on, the pacing is excellent.


A prince in his own realm, heir to the throne of Asgard, Thor is a young man in desperate need of some anger management counseling. This prince's temper is measured on the Richter scale. When his coronation is interrupted by the intrusion of beings from another realm, Thor seeks revenge--and re-ignites an ancient war. This leads his angry and disappointed father, Odin, to banish him to Midgard--Earth--to teach him a lesson in humility. Thor must live as a mortal man until he can prove himself worthy. Then, and only then, will his magic hammer, Mjolnir, be returned to him, along with his power and his immortality.

Mjolnir has also been sent to Earth--trapped in a Sword in the Stone-type scenario in the New Mexico desert. (Look for Thor's creator, Stan Lee, in his obligatory cameo as one of a crowd of rednecks trying to withdraw the mystical hammer from the stone. Good thing Stan can afford to buy a new truck!)

The fish-out-of-water aspect of the story is humorous without being over the top. In Thor's first twenty-four hours on Earth, he's hit by a car twice (three times if you count the replay of the opening scene), had a hypodermic full of tranquilizers shot into his butt, gone drinking with Jane Foster's mentor, Erik Selvig (and had to carry him home when he passed out), and takes on a platoon of S.H.I.E.L.D. guards surrounding Mjolnir.

It was those moments of humor I enjoyed most--and that price-of-admission scene of a shirtless Thor (when the film comes out on DVD, that scene's going to get a lot of replay action). Chris Hemsworth portrays Thor with the regal bearing of a prince, the ferocity of a warrior, and the good humor of a regular guy. The budding romance between Thor and Jane (Natalie Portman), however, didn't get enough screen time to convince the audience it was true love. Note to screenwriters: SHOW, DON'T TELL! The audience needs to believe Thor has made enough of an emotional bond with Jane and others here on Earth to overcome centuries of arrogance on his part.

As Thor comes to terms with his exile, trouble is brewing in Asgard. Odin has fallen into a coma and Thor's younger brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), is taking over the kingdom. Thor's loyal friends, the Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, defy royal decree and head for Earth to find him and bring him home. In a confrontation with a gigantic destroyer from their realm, the five of them join forces to defeat the enemy. And when Thor makes the decision to sacrifice himself, caring more for Jane and the others than for himself, his powers and his immortality are restored.

The dialogue is sharp and witty. In one scene, future Avenger Hawkeye observes Thor's battles with S.H.I.E.L.D. security and asks Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) if he should take him out "or are you going to send out more guys for him to beat up?"

When Thor's Asgardian buddies walk down the town's main street in search of their friend, a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative reports to Coulson, "We have Xena, Robin Hood...."

And then there's the scene in which Thor goes to a pet shop to get a horse. When he's told they only sell dogs, cats and birds, he says, "Give me one big enough to ride."

There are also not-so-subtle nods to other Marvel superheroes. When the Asgardian destroyer arrives on Earth, Agent Coulson is asked, "Is that one of Stark's?" To which Coulson responds, "That man never tells me anything." In another scene, a reference is made to a scientist working on the effects of gamma radiation (that would be Dr. Bruce Banner, The Incredible Hulk).

I won't give away the ending, difficult as it is to resist, but it's both spectacular and bittersweet. If you want a movie that's fast-paced, exciting, fun and even romantic, look no further. This is it!

Let me start off by saying that I've never read any of Marvel's (or DC's) comics, so I didn't know much about this movie beyond what the previews showed. Personally, I think the previews didn't do the movie justice. The acting, effects, cinematography, and character development were all amazingly done. Most of the cast did a fantastic job of portraying their characters and really making us love, hate, and relate to them. As a stand-alone movie, this was an epic watch for me.

But there were a few problems that are stopping me from giving this the five-star rating I really want to give it.
1) Portman/Jane's "romance" with Hemsworth/Thor. Much, much to forced and rushed. Beyond Chris Hemsworth body and his "where I come from magic and science are the same thing" speech, I really didn't see any chemistry or romantic interest between them. Honestly, I think they could have cut it out all together and the movie would have been perfectly fine.
2) Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Odin. Now, as I said, I've never read the comics, so I don't know how spot on he was with Odin, but his acting seemed very wooden. I didn't get the "mighty and powerful" king who loves either of his sons, much less than he loves one considerably more than the other.
3) Lack of Frost Giants being "bad-guys." Supposedly, there was a big war between the Gods/people of Asgard and the Frost Giants, but there really wasn't any reason given, despite how big of an impact that war had. We're repeatedly told how the Frost Giants are "monsters" and Loki and Thor both want to destroy the entire race. But the Frost Giants, to me, anyway, seem more like the bullied kids fighting back than the evil people they were made out to be. A little bit more of why they were so bad would have been nice.