Column: ‘Thor’ goes beyond typical superhero story

By Brendan Smith

Four out of Five Stars

In Thor, Marvel’s latest comic superhero saga, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth takes on the title role.

Hemsworth, who revisits the fan base he established with 2009’s “Star Trek,” perfects his portrayal as the God of Thunder.

As heir to the throne of Asgard, Thor is set to inherit all of the power and responsibility carried out by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). In an ancient battle, the Asgardian warriors defeat their enemy race, the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, and seize the source of their power, the Casket of Ancient Winters.

On the day Thor is to become king, the Frost Giants attempt to steal back the Casket. Thor sees this as a threat to his leadership, and against his father’s will, travels to their land to wage war against them. Thor is extremely outnumbered, and Odin comes to his son’s rescue. But because of his disobedience, Thor is stripped of his power and banished to Earth, crash landing in rural New Mexico, where he is discovered by a Scooby-Doo-style gang of scientists led by Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).

Director Kenneth Branagh is best known for his cinematic adaptations of classic literature, most notably the work of William Shakespeare. Branagh’s expertise elevates the story rich with overt classic Shakespearean tragedy themes of power, family, hubris and betrayal.

“Thor” is a film that works well on every level. It is visually superb. The special effects, Dutch camera angles and bold color palette break the mold of the typical action film. Hemsworth and Portman have an undeniable chemistry, and English actor Tom Hinddleston is a standout as Loki, Thor’s jealous younger brother.

The story combines government conspiracy, Greek tragedy and even a love story for good measure while still adhering to the superhero genre. With a sequel-ready ending and a post-credit sequence featuring Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) with an “Iron Man” tie-in, it’s quite clear that we’ve only seen  the beginning of Thor’s wrath.

Read more here: http://dailyegyptian.com/2011/05/08/thorreview_050911_bs/
Copyright 2025 Daily Egyptian