Thor

[FoxWander]

Saw it a couple of days ago- thought it was pretty good. Not as good as the first Spiderman/Iron man or the two Batmans but still very good and entertaining. Thor, Odin and Loki were seemed spot on and appropriately godly. Heimdall was awesome! Some of the other "gods" though- not so impressive. And some of the actors *cough*Portman*coughcough* were just phoning it in it seemed.

I really liked the Destroyer too- although it did go down pretty quick after Thor got his groove back. Seemed like it would have been a tougher fight, even for Thor.

And that's where I have my one major gripe with the movie- Thor's a badass alright, but he never felt like a Hero(!). Sure he can kick butt, take names and do all sorts of awesome stuff but he's a GOD for fraks sake! Awesome is expected! It's pretty much the definition of GODness. If a GOD doesn't do three awesome things before breakfast everyday- then they're just a lowercase god (which pretty much describes our ren-faire godlings who run to Midgard to "help"). The point is, I want my heroes to be Heroic(!). I want to feel my breath catch when those incredible "hero moments" are on the screen. Spiderman, Batman, even Iron man- they all had those "moments" when you watch and think- 'Now that's a frakkin HERO!' Thor just didn't have any of those. Lots of awesome. Plenty of kickass! But not much "hero."

Still a pretty good movie though.

 

[Thanee]

Well, I found him willing to sacrifice his life to protect the others pretty heroic.

Bye
Thanee

 

[FoxWander]

Well, I found him willing to sacrifice his life to protect the others pretty heroic.

Bye
Thanee

True, that bit was very heroic- but then it went into god-mode (literally) and was just a supered-up action movie. I guess Thor, like Superman, is just too powerful to feel mundanely heroic. Does that make any sense? Don't get me wrong- it certainly makes for a fun movie, just not a really stirring one.

I'm hoping there's more of what I'm looking for in the upcoming Captain America. If any hero should be stirringly Heroic, it's Cap.

 

[Relique du Madde]

And that's where I have my one major gripe with the movie- Thor's a badass alright, but he never felt like a Hero(!).

Still a pretty good movie though.

You do realize there was a reason why he wasn't heroic. It was because:

"HE WAS UNWORTHY OF THE POWERS OF THOR"

Up until the final half hour of the film he was just a super powered badass fratboy who loved to party and pick fights. To make maters worse, when he had his powers during the first half of the movie he acted like an anti-hero/villian not a "hero" since he was into going on preemptive offensive missions rather then waiting for the enemies to attack. So in a way, his switch only happened because as a mortal he had to decide to switch from offensive to defensive against overwhelming odds.

Unfortunately, immediately afterwords Destroyer Jobbed to him rather then show that Thor needed the Warrior's Three and Sif to add to his power level in order to take out Asgard's ultimate weapon.... so that kind of killed what could have been an awesome fight.

 

[Celtavian]

re

Not sure how many are fans of the Thor comic. But judging from some of the reviews, not many seem to be Thor fans. More seems like people are judging the film by criteria other than fitting the character. I was a big Thor fan when I was young. This movie was spot on for the look and feel of Thor.

Thor is one of Marvel's two noble superheroes. The other being Captain America. Both Captain America and Thor are not gray superheroes. They are both truly good. I thought they captured that well with the Thor movie.

Thor is a straight-forward character. He is good and noble all the time. He is as close as Marvel comes to Superman. He does the right thing because he does not know how or even contemplate doing otherwise. He is arrogant and prideful as the film shows, but not in a negative manner. I thought his growth from headstrong, stubborn, war-focused warrior to more thoughtful, humble, and wise warrior well done.

The effects were incredible. You have to understand that Thor isn't minor league like the X-men. Thor is one of the most powerful beings in the universe. I thought that they showed that well by building up the Destroyer and then showing how easily Thor can defeat him once he has his hammer. That scene with Thor summoning up a storm and driving the hammer against the powerful fire blasts of the Destroyer was the type of imagery Thor does in the comic book.

I still recall reading a Spiderman comic book with Thor in it and the building was brought down, an 80 story skyscraper was going to fall and Spiderman wanted to run, Thor caught the building on his shoulder and held it up. He was not going to let it fall because it would harm otehrs. He also defeated The Marauders in the X-men comic in his weakened state alone and killed Vertigo in one blow.

Thor is a big league superhero. Thor makes heroes like the X-men, Iron Man, Wolverine, Or Spiderman look like Kickass. I thought that was well displayed in the film. When Thor had his power, he was nigh unstoppable. That is how it should be.


I thought Loki was spot on. The illusion magic was well done. His look was perfect. The actor Tom Hiddleston played Loki perfectly. Loki's motivations were different from what they often portray him as in the comic book, but I'm not surprised there were some reimaginings from the original story I read back in the late 70s and 80s.

The Warriors Three and Sif weren't well utilized in the film. They were used like they often were in the comics. A little comic relief and occasional help for Thor. Sif I wish would have had a sword, but she looked good.

Overall this is my favorite superhero film to date. I loved the feel of it. It captured Thor well. He is not a dark hero, an anti-hero, or a haunted man. Thor is a straightforward good hero. A being so powerful as to not even have a good understanding of mortality, human weakness, or the like.

Not sure how someone couldn't see Thor as a hero when he is the purest type of hero there is: a born hero.

I look forward to more Thor movies. He probably doesn't suit the folks that like gray characters or the anti-hero types like Wolverine or Batman or the heroes with real world social problems like Spiderman. But I like a hero like Thor.

To put it in D&D terms, Thor is a paladin. He felt like a paladin in the movie. The kind of hero that would not hesitate to give his life to save others, not for a moment. The kind of character that would make the sacrifices necessary to do the right thing without a second thought. The type of character that nobility, courage, and goodness are as natural to as they are unnatural to most of humanity.

I loved this movie. I think it did the character justice. And seeing Thor summon up a thunderstorm, fly with mjornir, and spin the hammer like the comics was great fun.

I hope the movie does well so I can see more Thor on the big screen.

Now I'm looking forward to Marvel's other noble super hero: Captain America.


If someone can get Ghost Rider right at some point, my favorite Marvel characters will all have been done justice.


P.S. Heimdall was cool. Idris Elba did a great job playing him. I like how they incorporated his super senses.

 

[Celtavian]

True, that bit was very heroic- but then it went into god-mode (literally) and was just a supered-up action movie. I guess Thor, like Superman, is just too powerful to feel mundanely heroic. Does that make any sense? Don't get me wrong- it certainly makes for a fun movie, just not a really stirring one.

I'm hoping there's more of what I'm looking for in the upcoming Captain America. If any hero should be stirringly Heroic, it's Cap.

Makes perfect sense and is a spot on assessment. Thor is super powerful. He is Marvel's Superman. So you completely understand what they were going for in the movie.

Doesn't make him not a hero though. That part of the assessment is incorrect. Thor was born a hero and doesn't even consder being otherwise.

 

[megamania]

Thor's "heroic" moment was an action scene. It was when he proved himself worthy to weild the hammer again... his sacrifice (ultimate sacrifice) by allowing the Destroyer to kill him to allow his friends to escape.



For a heroic hero that makes one cheer... yeah Cap should be it between the patriotism and inspiring power (his greatest power of all) mixed with his underdog .


Next week is Pirates then two weeks is X-men then Green lantern. My wallet weeps even as my fanboyism leaps for joy.

 

[megamania]

I, too, was bored of Natalie Portman. Almost to tears. But Heimdall was my favorite as well, more Heimdall would have been awesome.

In the comics I always underestimated his appeal and power. In the movie I saw him to be the awesome character he is. But any more of him may have been an overkill. Too much of a good thing....

Portman.... Can't say I have ever been a fan of her.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Strictly a comment for Thor comic book fans, Thor is NOT Marvel's Superman, that would be Captain Marvel. Okay, back to your debates, I'm enjoying them immensely.

 

[Diamond Cross]

One thing about the movie i noticed, it's based on the "Ultimate" line of Thor comics.

But they went with the classic Hammer instead of the "Ultimate" hammer. Which looks very different than the classic hammer.

Compare this to the one in the movie:

Movies can make weird decisions sometimes.