Thor – The Movie (2011)

Lately it seems that Marvel has taken Hollywood by storm. Those once dorky kids who collected comic cards and spent their days after school in the comic book store are finally having the opportunity to see some of their favorite hero's become reality. I was one of those dorky kids J

When the previews for Thor started months ago, I couldn’t wait to go to see it, finally I had my opportunity. Thor, has always been on the top of my hero list, because he is based in true mythology, like Hercules or Jason.

The story begins with 3…no let’s be realistic and call it…2 Scientist, Jane (played by Natalie Portman) and Erik (played by Stellan Skarsgard) and 1 Political Science major, Darcy (played by Kat Dennings) sitting in the middle of the New Mexico desert studying an aurora borealis phenomena. After hours of waiting, they begin to debating whether or not to go a tremendous tornado of lightning flashes through the sky and plunges to earth. Convinced that this is it, Jane instructors her assistant Darcy to drive towards to phenomena. Once engulfed by the tornado their van hits a lone man who is standing inside the storm.

The plot line then takes a step back, by giving you a brief story from Nordic mythology, telling the tale of a great battle that was fought between the evil Frost Giants and the Asgardians. The show of good v/s evil with the use of the black/dark blue, tall red eyed Frost Giants and the shining, gold, blond Asgardians is so blunt there is no question from the beginning who you want to win, regardless of if you know the story of Thor. As always, good triumphs over evil (even if the triumph is only fleeting) and the Asgards win. The Asgards take position of the Frost Giants “power casket” leaving them weak and venerable in the dark and return to their realm, Asgard.

Asgard, compared to the Frost Giants realm of Jötunheim is immaculate. Towers of gold leap from the earth and light baths every corner of the kingdom. It reminded me of the Elven forest of Lothlórien from The Lord of the Rings. You meet King Odin again (played by Anthony Hopkins – *side note…I spent half the movie staring at him going…I know who that is, who is that until it finally hit me and I felt like a fool*), the hero of the great battle, who defeated Laufrey (played by Colm Feore), king of the Frost Giants. He is telling is two sons, one a blond enthusiastic child and one a dark haired mysterious one. Odin tells both of them that they are worthy to be king, but only one of them can be….as the boys eyes meet, we all already know which one will be king, and so do they!

Time passes and the young boys grow into young men. The blond boy Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) is marching down the aisle welding his hammer in an elaborate ceremony where he is to be crowned the new king of Asgard! His brother, Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston) stands, watching, green with envy. We flash to the volt of relics and weapons that the Asgardians have acquired over the years from their enemy, including the Frost Giants power casket. The room turns cold and ice penetrates the walls. Before Odin can finish the ceremony, he senses something wrong in his kingdom….intruders…Frost Giants. Suddenly, the Destroyer is released from his bared cell and destroys the Frost Giant intruders before they can escape with the casket. Rushing to the volt Odin, Thor and Loki find the frozen Asgardian soldiers. Thor explodes into a fury, frustrated with his father for seeming undisturbed and so trusting of Laufrey. Thor itching to go to war is infuriated with Odin says no.

Storming off Thor vents his anger, while his sly brother whispers into his ear…encouraging him to go against their father’s wishes. Pumped up on the thoughts of victory for Asgard, Thor gathers his closest friends and warriors, Volstagg (played by Ray Stevenson), Fandral (played by Josh Dallas), Hogun (played by T.Asano), Sif (played by Jaimie Alexander – and she is one bad ass hot warrior chic) and Loki. He tells them of his plans to go to Jötunheim and find out how the Frost Giants got into Asgard and they ride together to the Bifrost Portal Bridge. The guardian, Heimdall (played by Idris Elba – and who my girl thought was a hottie) warns them that he will not open the portal back up if it could bring danger to Asgard.

“I have no plan to die today” Thor replies as he and his friends step into the portal

“No one ever does” Heimdall replies as the warriors are whisked away to the frozen, dark wasteland of Jötunheim

Upon reaching the Frost Giants realm the land seems desolate. Cautiously the warriors proceed, only to be confronted by Laufrey who taunts the Asgardian heroes into a battle the warriors have no way of winning. Laufrey, seeing his chance to destroy Thor releases a huge beast. One of the Giants touches Volstagg, burning his skin and Fandral is wounded, the warriors realize they must run for their lives. Loki turning to run is touched by one of the Giants, but instead of burning, his skin turns a frost blue, in shock Loki back away and joins his comrades.  Realizing that Heimdall would not open the portal, the small group turn to fast an army of Frost Giants. Odin suddenly arrives to, he apologizes to Laufrey for the intrusion and takes the kids home.

Furious, Odin strips Thor of his power, makes him mortal and banishes him to earth. Whispering to Thor’s hammer “Only one worthy can lift you” he send Mjollnir out into the universe.

We travel back in the plot line to Thors abrupt arrival on earth in the mist of the thunderstorm tornado. After being hit by a van, Thor finds himself in a strange hospital with men in white robes staring down at him. Unnerved Thor attempts to escape, but he is tranquilized and strapped to the bed.

With Thor in the hospital the scientist return home, only to find their house full of Government agents taking EVERYTHING. Jane is infuriated, but realizes that there is little she can do to save all of her research and work stands back. Jane, realizing that this mad man is the only one that can explain why he was in the storm, rushes back to the hospital only to find that Thor has escaped. Dishearted, but not defeated Jane, Erik and Darcy get back into the car to hunt him down, which doesn’t take long as Jane proceeds to back into Thor yet again.

They take Thor back to their office/temporary home and cloth him and then leave for a local café to feed him. While in the café, 2 men come in talking about a satellite that crashed 50 miles west. They tell the waitress that people have been coming from far and wide trying to move this hammer shaped satellite. Realizing that it is Mjollnir, Thor rushes off to find a horse (at the local pet store no less. I love the line

“We only have Dogs and Cats” said the sales clerk, looking at Thor in wonder.

“Well give me one of those big enough for me to ride” commands Thor”)

Thankfully before he can embarrass himself anymore (and save me from laughing so hard I could cry) Jane appears and gives him a ride, the two head west in the van. Before they can reach the crash site, Government appears yet again (damn the man!!) and shuts the area down. Convinced that he can just walk in and reclaim what is rightfully his Thor is devastated after fighting though the agents only to realize that he can’t lift Mjollnir…he is not yet worth.  

Back in the realm of Asgard, Loki confronts his father, demanding an explanation for what happened to him in Jötunheim. Odin cautiously admits that Loki is actually Laufey’s son, Odin had found him alone and abandoned in a chapel and took him back to Asgard. Infuriated and confused Loki rounds on Odin with a anger fueled by betrayal and Odin falls into the Odinsleep (a comma). Loki seizing his opportunity steps into the role of King of Asgard. Thor’s friends seeing these occurrences begin to truly question Loki’s motives. Realizing that without Thor Asgard will fall, they head off to find him and bring him home.

Back on earth, Thor is defeated, banished from his home land, unable to lift Mjollnir, left human and alone on this god forsaken place. Sitting in a white room, Thor is quested by Agent Coulson (played by Clark Gregg), unresponsive Coulson leaves the room briefly and Loki appears to Thor. Thor, thrilled to see his brother is beaten down even more when Loki tells him that father is dead and mother refuses to let Loki unbanish Thor. You see the last glitter of hope leave Thor desolate.  As Loki leaves he makes a stop by Mjollnir…only to realize that he cannot lift the hammer either J.

After being begged for hours by Jane, Erik finally goes to the Government base and explains that Thor is Jane’s crazy ex-husband. Colson agrees to let Erik take him, but sends someone to follow. On his way out, Thor grabs Janes notebook (question is…how did he know that was Jane’s notebook, he had never seen it before…but it was still a sweet thing to do). Erik and Thor go out for drinks and Erik unable to keep up with the God of Thunder passes out drunk and Thor has to bring the drunken man back to Jane’s trailer (again…if Erik was so drunk…how did Thor know that Jane was in the trailer and not at her lab in the little town).

Thor hands Jane her note book and together they stare at the stars and Thor tells Jane about the 9 realms and the Bifrost Bridge.

Upon arriving back in Asgard, Loki goes to meet with Laufey. He tells them that he will use his power to let them pass into Asgard where they can kill Odin and retrieve the power casket if they leave Asgard in peace. Laufey, unable to pass up such a pleasing offer agrees without questioning Loki’s motives too deeply (men and their desire for power…always get them into trouble). Returning back to Asgard, Loki is confronted by Heimdall. Heimdall questions Loki about the appearance of the Giants and Loki turns on him. Relieving Heimdall of his duty, Heimdall realizes that Loki is a traitor and attacks. Loki, uses is Frost Giant powers and freezes Heimdall right before Heimdall’s sward slices through Loki’s throat.

Loki, drunk on power, sends the Destoryer to earth to kill Thor. The giant begins to destroy everything in his path. Luckly, Thor’s friends found him before the Destoryer did. They explain to Thor what Loki has done and to give Thor time to help the Jane, Erik and Darcy escape they turn to face a powerful metal Destoryer they have no chance of defeating. Thor watches in horror as his friends are thrown around by the Destoryer and he realizes that his brother, controlling the beast will not stop until he is dead. Thor steps out, mortal and weaponless to face the Destoryer. Thor begs Loki to leave the humans alone and to kill him…giving himself as a martyr (much like Jesus did). The Destoryer belts Thor with a full force backhand sending him flying lifeless through the air. Jane screams in anguish as she runs towards Thor’s motionless body. Suddenly Mjollnir flies from the crater and sails through the sky landing in Thor’s outstretched hand, transforming him back to his immortal self. Thor turns and fly’s into the sky defeating the Destoryer. Thor and his friends head back to the portal gate to return to Asgard and deal with Loki. Thor promises Jane he will return (broken lies and promises…). Heimdall, frozen on the other side of the Bifrost Bridge manages to break free of the ice and open the gate to bring Thor and his warriors back to Asgard.

Thinking he has won, Loki goes to handle other issues, unconcerned that his brother will make it back. his planned invasion of the Frost Giants. The Frost Giants enter Odin’s bead chambers and push aside his wife. Anxiously, Laufey prepares to kill Odin when Loki appears…stabbing Laufer in the back and killing him.

Thor flying though Asgard arrives at his father’s bed chamber. Loki is shocked to see him and Thor confronts his traitors brother.

Realizing that he has no way out, Loki runs to the Portal and turns it to destroy Jötunheim. Thor tries to top Loki and a horrific fight erupts between the brothers. Finally immobilizing Loki (by setting Mjollnir on his chest) Thor goes to stop the Portal, but is unable. Realizing that all may be lost for all 9 realms unless he breaks the Bridge back to earth Thor calls Mjollnir and destroys the bridge. Everything begins to crumble under the brothers and they fall into space, when Odin appears grabbing ahold of Thor who grabs Loki’s staff. Realizing what he is done, admitting defeat and failure Loki falls into space diapperaing with the Bridge.

Unable to return to earth, Thor’s heart goes out to Jane, and Jane realizing that something went wrong works tirelessly to find a way to get back to Thor.

This movie had comedy, action and a bit of romance. Thor was a hot warrior and the movie was beautifully done. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to see it, and next on my list of summer action movies…X Man 1^st Class J