Chris Hemsworth is a pretty, pretty man. Rare is it when the male protagonist is the prettiest character on the screen, but Hemsworth succeeds where many have failed. His task was made exceedingly more difficult by the fact that his leading lady is the ever-beautiful and graceful Natalie Portman, but with his long-flowing locks and bright blue eyes, Hemsworth proves that he can out-pretty even one of the most stunning actresses in Hollywood today.
From Hamlet to Hammer
As one of the last few movies based on Marvel superheroes to be released before the much-anticipated Avengers movie, Thor attempts to break the cookie-cutter mould of comic book action films with more multi-layered characters and complex storylines. With Kenneth Branagh at the helm of the project, the movie promised to be so much more than a simple trip to the cinema to watch things get smashed with a hammer. And indeed, the accomplished director attempts to weave an intricate tale, combining ancient mythology and modern day astrophysics research. Moviegoers can appreciate Branagh’s valiant endeavour to inject depth into what could have simply been another formulaic superhero film. Unfortunately, he doesn’t quite succeed.
Branagh’s problem, which is the same pitfall encountered by many who have tried to translate comic books onto the silver screen, is that he must somehow find a happy medium between being faithful to a much-loved saga and delivering an action-packed story that will draw in the largest group of audiences. Lord of the Rings required three movies while Harry Potter stretched to eight; two hours is simply not enough time to accomplish everything he wanted. The end result meanders in the beginning to the point of tedium and never quite becomes the sophisticated tale Branagh intended.
In the end, it’s character development that pays the price. With the exception of Loki, the main antagonist, every character is one-dimensional and predictable, including the God of Thunder himself. On the other hand, though an attempt is made to create a multi-faceted and enigmatic character in Loki, his thought processes are never explored in any detail, rendering him unable to either garner any real sympathy or be truly effective as a villain.
This makes for an easy job for much of the cast. Chris Hemsworth flashes his pearly whites through much of the action as the titular character, while Natalie Portman emphasizes his prettiness by spending her screen time gazing at him adoringly. Stellan Skarsgård, as the protective father figure, alternates between scepticism of Thor’s story and warning the would-be star-crossed lovers away from each other, while Anthony Hopkins, in the role of King Odin, wears his regal wisdom like a familiar old cloak. As part of the supporting cast, Ray Stevenson is amusing as the ever-jolly and perpetually eating Volstagg, while Idris Elba adds a level of mysticism as Heimdall.
Beauty is Only Skin Deep
Inconsistencies in the script for the sake of humour may cause frustrations in the audience. For instance, cheap laughs are provoked when Thor enters a pet shop in order to purchase a horse or “anything big enough to ride.” And yet, in both previous and subsequent scenes, he was completely unfazed by the existence of cars. The not-quite-fish-out-of-water hero continues to alternate between being blatantly out of his element when faced with technology and posing naturally for a cell phone picture on Facebook.
What is left after stripping away all the flaws is purely aesthetic. As a home befitting a superhero, from the green screen effects to the set designs, from the costumes to the make-up, Asgard in its entirety is magnificent on the big screen and makes the other half of the movie, which takes place in New Mexico, pale in comparison. Providing perfect contrast, the icy realm of Jotunheim, along with the cosmetic artistry in creating King Laufrey (Colm Feore), add a dark and haunting beauty to the movie.
So, in a movie where the only saving grace is in its visual effects, is it any wonder that the hero is unparalleled in prettiness? As fans of Marvel comics, superheroes and action films alike await the much-hyped Avengers, this next step towards the culmination of the series provides satisfying eye candy but very little substance.
- Thor
- Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård
- Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich
- Directed by Kenneth Branagh
- Running time: 114 minutes
Alison Lam - I have published in literary reviews and given papers on authors such as Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly and Guy de Maupassant in ...
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