For the most part, the first three MCU films took place in our world. The heroes and villains of the Iron Man movies used technology as weapons. Even the Hulk and the Abomination gained powers from science gone wrong. With the arrival of Thor, Marvel enters a new era of gods, rainbow bridges, frost giants, and magical hammers. The universe expands beyond Earth and sets the stage for epic battles to come.
Australian Chris Hemsworth was largely unknown before this film beyond a brief role as George Kirk in the Star Trek reboot. The massive guy looked like he could be the God of Thunder, which isn’t an easy sell. Would audiences laugh at the family drama in Asgard or enjoy the ride? Although it wasn’t a huge hit by today’s standards, Thor kept the momentum rolling towards The Avengers. It also didn’t need to do the heavy lifting that weighed down Iron Man 2. The goals here are introducing a new hero, his villainous brother, and the idea of more than just Earth.
The surprise director was Kenneth Branagh, known mostly as a filmmaker of Shakespeare adaptations like Hamlet and Henry V. Given his track record, it makes sense when you consider this story. Despite the action scenes and comedy, it’s largely a family drama about fathers and sons. These portions would not feel out of place in a classic tale. Having Anthony Hopkins on board as Odin doesn’t hurt either. I’m not trying to over sell the heft of the drama, but it makes sense for Branagh to present it.
Where Did He Come From?
We begin in New Mexico with a trio studying odd weather patterns. Led by Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), they arrive at a massive cloud and hit a strange man with their car. It’s a clever opening that places us right with the confused humans. If we entered this movie cold, we would need some background to help set the stage. Thankfully, the grand voice of Hopkins’ Odin arrives to set the stage. A giant battle of frost giants seems more out of The Lord of the Rings than the Marvel world. That event takes place in Tønsberg, Norway, but it could easily occur in a different universe.
The reveal of the realm eternal of Asgard presents a beautiful and very CGI world. Odin calls it a “beacon of hope“, though this film reveals a place with similar conflicts as our planet. We finally see Thor, who struts through the palace like he’s king (which he will be soon). Hemsworth understands the right tone for this scene, which is hilarious on a rewatch. Since we already know the plot, his ridiculous performance here deserves more attention.
It’s also interesting to watch how Tom Hiddleston’s Loki subtly manipulates Thor from the beginning. He’s more understated than in future movies because Loki works in the shadows. The way that Thor takes the bait and immediately leaves to fight the frost giants shows Loki’s brilliance. Despite the interesting set-up, the battle on Jotunheim is a little boring. I recognize the scene is necessary because of the slower build on Earth in the second act. Thor shows off his impressive skills, but the tension is missing.
You Are Unworthy
One of the best aspects is the way that Hopkins spits out the word “WAR!” when chiding Thor. The vitriol in Odin’s voice as he banishes his son creates the high drama we need. It’s the best example of a way that Branagh may have influenced this film. Despite the big scene, it provides such a relief when we return to Earth. Kat Dennings’ style isn’t for everyone, but she strikes just the right tone as Darcy. The moment when she tazes the human Thor is funny and subverts the serious Asgard scenes.
There’s a Sword in the Stone vibe with the futile attempts of the small town’s residents to grab Mjölnir out of the ground. Stan Lee even quickly appears as a truck driver who fails and damages the vehicle. I love the goofy tone of these scenes, which repeatedly undercut Thor’s status as a god. He’s just “Donald Blake” and vulnerable to sedatives and tazers. Hemsworth has a lot of fun smashing coffee cups and screaming for sustenance in these scenes.
Portman and Hemsworth have a great chemistry, and she is believable as the brilliant scientist. It’s too bad that Jane didn’t get as much to do in future movies. I am excited to see her return in Thor: Love and Thunder, which is a bit surprising given her public comments. This film shows the potential for her character in the MCU. I also enjoy Stellan Skarsgard, who shines as Erik Selvig. His night out at a local bar with Thor is a fun scene. The effective cast lifts the material beyond a typical superhero story.
I Need a Horse!
The quieter scenes on Earth make the action have more heft. Thor’s attempts to reach Mjölnir click because we’re seeing both sides of the fight. Agent Coulson and his sniper Clint (hello, Jeremy Renner!) are ready to fight but also want Thor to succeed. It’s a test to determine both his powers and whether he can budge the hammer. Considered in the larger world of the MCU, this is happening at the same time as Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk. The building blocks for The Avengers are all on the board.
Before continuing, I have to mention Thor entering a pet shop and demanding a horse. This levity is so important as we reach the bigger dramatic moments. The arrival of The Destroyer on Earth kicks the plot into gear and sets the stage for the return to Asgard. Thor essentially dies and is reborn as a god with his hammer (and cool outfit!). This fight works because of the stakes are real. Our hero acts like a human and defends his friends despite the odds against him. This isn’t the same guy we saw earlier.
Before getting to the finale, we should discuss the great Idris Elba as the protector Heimdall. While I enjoy him in this part, it’s too bad he can’t play another character with a bigger place in the MCU. There is also a small part for Rene Russo, who hadn’t appeared in a movie for six years before Thor. She plays Thor’s mom and has a larger role in deleted scenes. Finally, Colm Feore chews up scenery behind loads of makeup as the frost giant King Laufey. There is a lot of talent on display across the board here.
Losing Jane
We have grown accustomed to bombastic, huge finales in MCU films. Thor is a bit different even with its high stakes. It’s mostly just a fight between two brothers and strength versus smarts. The scale fits with the nature of this family story; it is really the Thor/Loki conflict (and their father’s love) that is key. I do like the moment with countless Loki figures laughing at Thor. These moments set up Loki’s role in a much larger fight in The Avengers.
What makes Thor succeed are the scenes away from the action. Despite having a rainbow bridge and the massive scope of Asgard, that’s just secondary to the character arcs. It is unlikely to rank near the top of most fans’ rankings, but it also should not fall at the bottom. There’s more in this film than you might expect on a rewatch, and I am curious to follow Thor and Loki into the upcoming movies. Hiddleston is one of the breakout stars of the entire franchise, and we can see his talent right from the start.
The Big Reveal
The post-credits scene includes Selvig as he joins Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in a hidden facility. We see The Tesseract, which will play a key role in Captain America: The First Avenger. Fury stresses the power potential, which could change the world. Of course, the flip side is the possible danger if it reaches the wrong hands. This conversation really just sets up the big reveal that Loki survived his fall into space. It is possible that wasn’t even the real one given his tricks and magic.
The reflection of Loki behind Selvig also reveals his ability to control minds that will be important to The Avengers. This quick scene is excellent because it does so much in a short time. We learn about Loki’s reveal and have elements that will be important in the next two MCU films. The Tesseract (aka The Space Stone) is one of the Infinity Stones that will be crucial to Thanos’ plans in Infinity War and Endgame. We are a long way from that point, but it is still cool to see all the connections.
A Thunder Spin and Treasures of Asgard
We haven’t seen much of Thor in Disney’s theme parks beyond character greetings. The prime example was the Treasures of Asgard at Disneyland’s Innoventions, which coincided with the release of Thor: The Dark World. You could meet Thor and Loki at Disney California Adventure more recently. Disney can’t use the God of Thunder in Orlando; he’s featured sparingly at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
There is a Thor attraction at a park not owned by Disney or Universal, however. The IMG Worlds of Adventure in Dubai contains an entire land themed to Marvel. Attractions feature The Hulk, Spider-Man, and more within this indoor theme park. The Thor Thunder Spin is a familiar spinning flat ride that sends you upside down repeatedly. The premise is that Loki has trapped you, and Thor is trying to save you. I doubt that I’ll visit Dubai anytime soon, but this park sounds great.
Favorites
There is a lot to like in Thor, so these choices were not easy ones to make. The exception was the choice of action scenes, which don’t rank among the best examples even just in Phase One. There also weren’t as many obvious shots to select for that category. My choice was the first that came to mind.
- Scene(s): Thor is comically lost on Earth without his powers.
- Character: Loki (best villain in the MCU so far!)
- Shot: An overhead look at Mjölnir resembles a scene from The X-Files.
- Action Scene: Thor takes a stand on Earth against The Destroyer.
- Surprise: Hemsworth is funnier than I remember from the start.
Rankings
We are really starting to pile up the characters as the MCU expands with each movie. By the time we reach The Avengers, I’ll need to split up the categories further to keep everything organized. For now, enjoy my expanded rankings following this fourth entry. Thor held up pretty well overall and introduced a new top villain with Loki.
The Movies
1. Iron Man
2. Thor
3. The Incredible Hulk
4. Iron Man 2
Lead Characters
1. Tony Stark/Iron Man
2. Thor
3. Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Villains
1. Loki (Thor)
2. General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (The Incredible Hulk)
3. Ivan Vanko (Iron Man 2)
4. Obediah Stane (Iron Man)
5. Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2)
6. Emil Blonsky/The Abomination (The Incredible Hulk)
Key Supporting Characters (Not Villains)
1. Nick Fury (Iron Man 2)
2. Natasha Romanoff (Iron Man 2)
3. Jane Foster (Thor)
4. Pepper Potts (Iron Man, Iron Man 2)
5. Agent Coulson (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor)
6. Odin (Thor)
7. Clint Barton (Thor)
8. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Iron Man, Iron Man 2)
9. Betty Ross (The Incredible Hulk)
Stan Lee Appearances
1. Playing Larry King (Iron Man 2)
2. Wearing a bathrobe as “Heff” at a party (Iron Man)
3. Driving a pick-up truck to grab Thor’s hammer (Thor)
4. Drinking contaminated soda (The Incredible Hulk)
Post-Credit Scenes
1. Loki survives and controls Dr. Selvig (Thor)
2. Nick Fury introduces himself and The Avengers Initiative (Iron Man)
3. Coulson arrives in New Mexico for the discovery of Thor’s hammer (Iron Man 2)
4. Tony Stark meets Ross in a bar and tells him about the team (The Incredible Hulk)
Next Time on Friday Night Movies
We’re finally returning to the world of Disney animation with Fantasia, which was experimental for 1940. The MCU fun continues as we travel back to World War II to join Captain America: The First Avenger. Both projects are getting exciting as we watch Disney and Marvel expand their scope. The Avengers is just around the corner!
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Related Articles: Thor
Iron Man (MCU Rewatch #1)
The Incredible Hulk (MCU Rewatch #2)
Iron Man 2 (MCU Rewatch #3)
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