Screenplay by Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz and Don Payne
Story by J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
“History tells us one thing, legend another. It often happens that the two coincide.”
Thor should work much better than it does. Make no mistake, it’s directed exceptionally well. Kenneth Branagh is a man more known for his Shakespearean adaptations, and thrillers such as Dead Again. However, he moves heaven & earth (and Asgard) in order to make the sumptuous visuals, the action set pieces, and the character moments flow with equal skill. There are plenty of moments where this shines through, communicating mood and feeling with effortless ease…such as the mournful sunset on Asgard at the end of the film.
Thor is also filled with actors who know exactly what they’re doing. Chris Hemsworth goes from spoiled brat to easy-going, full-of-life wide boy with the million-watt smile in a way that will make you feel young and uninhibited. Natalie Portman plays the most disorganized and slightly-ditzy role of her career…and creates a character a million times more enjoyable than her other, anal-retentive, famous (or should that read infamous) genre role. Watch as Thor sweeps her off her feet with gentlemanly charm, instead of macho bravado, and she sells it completely. Virtually all of the cast acquit themselves well, and even Anthony Hopkins manages to underplay what could have been a cliched shouty role as Odin. Restraint and focus is the name of the game here, and the cast is more than up to the task.
But the movie fails on the story and script front. It feels like too much has been shoe-horned into this fairly short film — origin story, Avengers set up, father/son conflict…and it could have worked. But I notice that the script is written by some TV SF & fantasy stalwarts…and the story and the dialogue feel very much like a TV pilot. It all seems to lack the breadth and gravitas necessary to truly sell the story’s ambitions. Director Kenneth Branagh and the cast are trying to make something akin to the epicness of Lord of the Rings…but the screenplay seems to be content with network-TV-style expediency — disposable cartoon entertainment, and nothing more. Even the musical score is disappointing…rather like something I’d hear in an underwhelming episode of Stargate Atlantis.
Surface gloss in search of depth. Actors trying to strain a thin brew for maximum flavour. A director trying his damnedest to spin epic gold from standard-issue straw. Thor isn’t a failure…but it’s remarkably enjoyable and entertaining in spite of its undermining blueprint.
6.5
