Thor Movie Review - B Plus, The Avengers Is Next

Thor, the screen adaptation of one of this blogger's favorite comic books, and by the legendary Stan Lee, is out, and it's very good.

The movie that officially kick's off the Spring / Summer blockbuster season did not disappoint this fan, yet had enough of a good weaving of fantasy and "reality" to be interesting to the casual observer.

Chris Hemsworth plays a really good Thor, especially considering he's got nothing but cartoon versions to be compared to. The script and story craft a believable character, ever more grounded by Natalie Portman's Dr. Jane Foster.

Anthony Hopkins as Odin gives the flick a legendary, other-worldly presence. And the way the characters interact, under the skillful (love that word) direction of Kenneth Branagh, made for a watchable, enjoyable film.

3-D Is Here And Good

Over at SFGate.com, Mick LaSalle wrote that "If no one ever makes a great 3-D movie, audiences will tire of it. But if someone finally makes it work artistically - someone good, not James Cameron - that would revolutionize 3-D and pave the way for other directors. Then it would be everywhere. Either way, 3-D won't be as hot next year because of the diminished box office of 3-D movies."

LaSalle's wrong, and I'll spend more time explaining why in another post, but the 3-D in Thor was well-done in that it helped move the story along, and gave one a true "feeling" for the enormity of the space that Thor exists within.

A B-Plus

Overall, I give it a B-Plus, because Thor did not have that story element that makes a movie "Best Picture" material - it didn't have a message that relates to an issue of today or our history. The best movies have that. But, even with its "closed loop" take, Thor was very good.

Bring on The Avengers!