Thor

Perhaps my disappointment with this is caused by excessive expectations based on decent to enthusiastic responses, but even though I was only expecting a fun summer blockbuster, I was surprised at how intellectually shallow and easily forgettable this is. The only positive aspect is Kenneth Branagh's perspective, as he was well aware of the stupidity he was directing and didn't take it too seriously. On the other hand, there is too much genre baggage and pathos in it for my taste. I really didn't expect that I would enjoy Snyder's Watchmen more... Overall impression: 40%, influenced positively by the enchanting Natalie Portman. (10/06/2011)

By the whiskers of Odin, that was superb. Despite its fantasy atmosphere, Thor doesn’t disturb the Marvel universe as much as I had feared. On the contrary, now I have the feeling that it would be worse without him. And the mass of references (beautifully complementing the action) form an excellent foundation for the story and prepare the ground for the biggest event of next summer. Chris Hemsworth is excellent, and considering he isn’t well-known, he did an excellent job, carrying the entire movie on his shoulders without needing his hand to be held by the better-known stars who paradoxically are given much less room. Astrophysicist Natalie is here basically just so that the main protagonist someone to fall in love with and Hopkins to cast our hero out of his home. What I liked was that Branagh exploited the spectacular world of Asgard to the maximum. Midgard (alias New Mexico) serves just as a bridge to the Avengers, but for this story it’s important only to teach Thor (big and powerful) to obey orders. All in all, this is an excellent story just a drop short of perfection. A very little drop. (04/30/2011)

Branagh is a tremendous guy; he knows full well that not even a popcorn relax movie can be purely action for action’s sake, but that it needs emotions through (almost Shakespeare-like) destiny, (almost Shakespeare-like) tongue-in-cheek humor (the above applies only to the original, undubbed version - dubbing can easily bury any attempt at humor) and also some acting talent in the cast... Simply everything necessary to make sure that this wouldn’t turn into an effective “American-style" brainwasher, but into a regular, although still popcorn movie with all the trimmings. And not only does Thor manage this throughout, but the relaxed impression remains with you even after you leave the movie theatre, which is unusual today. You could not get more out of the naive comic book story (which hijacks Norse myths and legends) that it’s based on. The only thing that isn’t clear to me with respect to future plans is why the last fall didn’t take place with the opposite guard? (04/27/2011)

I would give everything in the world for a trip to Asgard. What the camera (and special effects) showcase in conjunction with the epic soundtrack surpasses everything I have seen in a long time, and each shot showing me a piece of Thor's homeland almost moves me with its grandeur. Kenneth Branagh ultimately succeeded in everything he touched. The actors are all fantastic (Tom Hiddleston unexpectedly shines), the dramatic storyline doesn't give you a moment of rest, the action is flawless, and the romantic subtext is more than just subtext. In short, this is a captivating comic book adaptation that confidently presents a treacherous subject in a Marvel light, and it intensifies your anticipation for The Avengers to an almost breathless maximum. (05/04/2011)

Thor was a fun ride. I really enjoyed how the filmmakers blended reality with Asgard, and how they dropped Thor into our world while keeping things light and humorous. It worked so well for a fantasy film—something I’ll never get tired of watching. The movie paints a world I couldn’t even dream up myself, and the way the creators bring their vision to life, especially with Asgard, is incredible. Hats off to the team for taking on such an ambitious project, and I love that they’re planning to expand the story beyond just one film. While it doesn’t quite hit the five-star mark for me, it’s close. It felt a bit like Men in Black with a different plot—great concept mixed with humor and some really solid actors. Back in the day, Men in Black blew my mind with its blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy, and Thor follows a similar path. And I’m definitely here for it. Overall, I’m just happy movies like this exist—it’s not five stars, but it’s still a really enjoyable film that offers an epic story, laughs, and characters that are either just regular folks or full-blown gods. (06/13/2012)