Thor
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgaard
Rated: PG
Running time: 119 minutes
Welcome to the next chapter in the ever-expanding Marvel universe, a universe that is doing its best to take your last Hollywood blockbuster comic book movie dollar. However, this Marvel offering is not a movie for the comic geeks. No, this one is definitely for the ladies.
While it's true there are plenty of people who could be riveted by the detailed lineage and exploits of the gods, the fact remains that there are lots more people who want to see a ridiculously good-looking shirtless guy with a hammer sweep Natalie Portman off her feet and engage in some smash-boom-crash fight scenes.
And that's what we have here. The story starts with Thor going all "Thor" on some ancient enemies, which starts a war. Anthony Hopkins/Odin/Thor's father doesn't take too kindly to this and Thor is banished to Earth. From there the story follows two threads. On Thor's planet there are Shakespearian politics a plenty. But mostly on Earth we have the powerless Thor still behaving like a god, which does lend itself to some funny bits. But the real focus is the Natalie "yes I am in every film" Portman. This time she's a researcher who will not stop to find the truth behind this dreamy crazy person who fell from the sky.
While I feel this movie is weak because it lacks a convincing villain, it is impossible to ignore the fact that that it will entertain the populace. Set your expectations to harmless action and enjoy.
