Movie Review - Thor

Movie Title

Thor

Year

2011

Genre

Action, Comic Adaptation,

Story
The 9 realms had finally achieved peace after Asgard finally defeated the Frost Giants of Jotunheim. This fragile treaty was almost shattered when several Frost Giants managed to magically find their way to Asgard's Armory - where the deadliest of weapons and artifacts are kept - but were judiciously dealt with by the Destroyer - a formidable Armor/Weapon Odin created as Asgard's protector.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Prince of Asgard, brash and sure of his might, with his loyal friends - the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Sif and Loki, were adamant in teaching the Frost Giants a lesson in
a demonstration of Asgard's power despite Odin (Anthony Hopkins)'s objections. When Thor and his party were trapped in Jotunheim, Odin intervenes to save them.

Odin was much displeased with Thor's immaturity and lack of diplomacy in handling the situation and thought it proper for Thor to learn a few lessons in humility and responsibility while exiled on Earth (or Midgard as Asgardians call it).

Just as Odin was about to uncover Loki's treachery, he goes into the Odinsleep - where he recuperates from having expended too much of his power. Hence, as Odin's wife, Frigga, insists on being by his side in Odin's chambers while he slept, Loki had, by default, become King of Asgard where his insidious schemes and machinations can finally bear fruit.

Meanwhile on Earth, Thor was deemed a loony as no one believes he was indeed the God of Thunder despite his single mindedness in being re-united with his magical hammer - Mjolnir. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) seems to the be only person who has a shred of belief in Thor's delusional claims and helps him retrieve Mjolnir in time for him to thwart Loki's plans and save Asgard.

Acting
I guess enough has already been said about how well Hemsworth had played Thor's role and how the ladies were poring over his shirtless scenes.

Well, I have to agree that he did really immerse himself into the role and it convincingly enough to keep not only audiences but fanboys happy!

I thought that casting Jaimie Alexander as Sif & Ray Stevenson as Volstagg weren't the best choices but audiences seemed to like them.

Overall
It was a little bit of a surpirse for fans to see Heimdall as a black man as altho' they had done the same thing Nick Fury before and it worked! However, it Fury's case, it was still based on the Ultimate universe's version. In this case, neither the Marvel Universe nor the Ultimate Universe versions were black.

Fanboy gripe - I found it really disappointing that the Destroyer got its butt handed to him so soundly so quickly! This was because I was really pumped when I saw him in the trailers. From the Thor books, the Destroyer (and Kurse being the other that I can recall) is one of the very few enemies that could slap Thor around and get away with it.
KURSE
The other gripe was of course the exclusion of Balder in the movie. Of course, the Hollywood producers can't be faulted because there is just too much continuity to cover in under 2 hours. Overall, despite Balder's absence, it was still a pretty good watch.

Hawkeye! Did anyone besides fanboys even knew that that was Hawkeye? They could've given him a little intro to let audiences in on how bad-ass he can be, but in the movie, he made absolutely no impact whatsoever. Moreover, could they have picked an uglier guy than Jeremy Renner to play the dashing & suave Hawkeye? C'mon!

ODIN

Lastly, as if you didn't know it already, Thor, along with Iron Man, Capt America & Hulk, are all leading up to next year's Avengers movie. Hence, do stay back for a lead-in teaser sequence after the credits have stopped rolling.