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Chris Hemsworth is Thor in the new film

By Sandra Olmsted

Thor, the film, has awesome special effects, and the settings for imaginary realms of the Norse Gods are visually stunning even though they evoke Stargate SG-1.  Patrick Doyle’s score adds majesty to the realms and helps the earthbound settings’ romance and humor.  The script has intrigue, action, romance, and humor although not all of these are of high quality.  In addition to an Oscar® winning director, Kenneth Branagh, Thor also stars many awarding and big name actors, which lend credibility to the film and might draw a wider audience.

The two big roles for women aims to satisfy the growing number of women who love graphic novels and floppies (insider lingo for what most would call comic books) and might satisfy the male readers who expect a sidecar of women with their superheroes.  In keeping with Marvels’ style, the villains is much more interesting than the hero.

In the desert outside the fictional Puente Antiguo, N.M, scientists Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), the disinterested student driver, chase odd atmospheric phenomenon in the night sky just as Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Norse God of Thunder, drops from the churning clouds and gets hit by the scientists’ careening, instrument-laden van.  After Jane and Thor meet, the film careens into a romantic comedy before careening to a flashback which explains Thor’s presence on earth.

In Asgard, King Odin (Anthony Hopkins) prepares to pass the crown to either Thor or Loki (Tom Hiddleston).  Although a great warrior, Thor has serious anger management issues and a testosterone-driven desire for war.  After a failed attempt to teach the Frost Giants a lesson, Thor is striped of his powers, banished to earth, and separated from his super-powered hammer.  Thor must prove himself worthy of the power his hammer provides in order to reclaim it.

On earth, the supposedly serious Jane giggles like a tween experiencing her first crush at the sight of hunky Thor, while he spouts silly things such as “I need sustenance” and is given Pop-Tarts and Valium.  Branagh emphasizes the fish-out-of-water story with Thor’s confusion at the modern world, but it comes off as halfheartedly funny.  Meanwhile, the local rednecks have discovered the hammer in the desert, and like King Arthur, they attempt to lift the hammer but cannot, providing some levity.  Later, Thor provides a little pathos when he can’t lift the hammer he wants so badly.  Back in Asgard and the realms, the truth about Loki’s origins is revealed, and the plot thickens as King Odin takes ill and Loki angles for the throne.  Eventually, the plots on Asgard and Earth must collide.

As a result of two things, the film lacks a clear vision to guide it.  The first is five credited screenwriters meddling with the script.  More importantly, Marvel’s desire to produce NOT films that can stand on their own, but rather a series of films which are all interconnected, much as Marvel’s stable of superheroes and their stories in print are.  An interesting choice to direct,

Kenneth Branagh, best known for exceptional Shakespeare adaptations, ultimately means that the audience should expect more than just special effects-packed action.  However, Branagh is less comfortable with the humdrum cliches of the earthbound story and the quirks of directing special effects than the epic tales of Norse Gods.

Thor, the first of the big summer blockbusters, is exciting and beautifully executed, and although the 3-D was added after shooting, it is probably worth it to see the film in 3-D since it is all about the eye candyA Paramount Pictures release, Thor runs 114 minutes and is rated PG-13 for scenes of intense sci-fi action and violence.

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