Thor (2011) Review

Next on my list for MCU films that I am reviewing is the first Thor film that came out in 2011 and really started this franchise up and here is my review for it. The premise sees an arrogant Thor forced to Earth and without his power where he has to attempt to recover his power in time to save both Earth and his home of Asgard. 

Main Character 

It's funny that when this film came out in 2011, Chris Hemsworth was not a well known star and this film threw him into stardom and he is really great here. He actually plays a layered version of the character and you see a really good character arc, he starts the film in one way and by the end you feel like he has earned his acclaim and it would be the start of a bright future for him and the character. 

Supporting Cast

This film also has a fantastic supporting cast with the best being Tom Hiddleston in his first portrayal of Loki. The film is best when it focuses on the relationship between him and Hemsworth and that is due to the great performances between the two of them. Hiddleston nails the real tragedy and depth to do with the character and he easily rises above a one note villain and a character that you can feel real sympathy with and despite being the villain having some sort of connection with him and want to see him put back on the right track. Anthony Hopkins plays Odin and he is also great and actually an important part of the film. With Hiddleston and Hemsworth being lesser known actors Hopkins had to aid them and provide plenty and he did here with him being the strict father very well and if you are gonna have some drop exposition you might as well have Anthony Hopkins. Natalie Portman plays Jane Foster for the first time and I think she is decent in the film, I feel like her character isn't particularly interesting but the dynamic between her and Hemsworth is good here and is a decent romance here. Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Stellan Skarsgard & Idris Elba also do decent jobs here and really lead to this having a very good cast and maybe one of the better ones in the MCU. 

Story 

The story is decent, as I said above the film really thrives when it focuses on the relationship between Thor & Loki and how there characters act and develop as the film progresses. Also it is interesting seeing Thor weakened for the majority of this film and seeing him have to work to improve himself does work for this story. But for a first introduction to the character it does feel like Thor is missing for quite a bit of the film in his glory and maybe something could have been changed there. Also this films plot definitely goes through a lull in the second act and it can't keep the intrigue up but it does recover by the end of the film. 

Script 

The script is really well written, Sir Kenneth Branagh who has been known for his Shakespearean fields directed this movie and he took that knowledge and naturally fit it in here, especially in the relationship between Loki and Thor. This film also has some good comic relief and this film had good drama but also plenty of laughs to be had. 

Style

The style of the film is okay, there are some alright action scenes and the film moves briskly by and keeps moving throughout. But the film does have some issues and that is mainly due to the big action set pieces being poorly filmed and the fact that the CGI looks pretty bad which is a big issue when it is film like this. Obviously, this was Thor's first outing so I guess this could have been expected but it is a criticism for sure. 

Overall

Overall, this is a great first film in the Thor franchise. It brings this character to the mainstream and provided a really fun film that fits the MCU tone and is an easy watch that if you are a fan of the universe or want to be then give this film a watch. 

Rating - 8/10