Thor (2011)

Thor (2011)

Release Date: May 6, 2011

Thor represents an interesting change in direction for the Marvel Universe. The Iron Man films, as well as The Incredible Hulk, were rooted in science and technology. On the other hand, Thor takes a more fantastical approach based on Norse mythology, arguably making it a harder sell to mainstream audiences than the previous entries.

Once upon a time, the Frost Giants of Jotunheim attacked Earth in an attempt at taking it over. They failed, thanks to the intervention of the Asgardians, led by their king Odin, who drove the Frost Giants back to Jotunheim. As his prize, Odin claimed the Casket of Eternal Winters, which is sure to be a conversation starter and go so well with the drapes, and Loki, the baby son of the Frost Giant ruler, Laufey. Years later, Odin prepares to hand over the throne to his other son Thor, but the ceremony is ruined when a group of Frost Giants break into Asgard and try to steal the Casket of Eternal Winters because they were using it as an ice box and had left some beers in there. The intruders are defeated, and against Odin’s wishes, Thor leads a group consisting of himself, Loki, Sif and the Warriors Three to Jotunheim to battle the Frost Giants on their home turf. This reckless act breaks the truce between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants. Odin is furious at Thor failing to realise that being king doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble, and punishes Thor by making him mortal and banishing him to Earth.

Thor is found by a trio of scientists led by Jane Foster, who take him to the hospital, partly because they believe he’s delusional, partly because Jane ran him over twice. SHIELD arrive, find Thor’s hammer has become a tourist attraction, and seal the area, as well as stealing Jane’s research. Thor escapes the hospital and tries to take his hammer back, but gives himself up because he can no longer lift it. Agent Coulson doesn’t stop the break-in attempt because he’s curious about the man’s strength and wants him alive, so Hawkeye doesn’t get to 360 no-scope Thor, though he totally could.

Back in Asgard, Loki finds out that he’s adopted, and Odin can’t be bothered listening to Loki’s ranting, so he takes a nap. Loki becomes king of Asgard in Odin’s stead, and refuses to undo Thor’s exile. He then goes to Jotunheim and negotiates for Laufey to come to Asgard and kill Odin while he sleeps. The Warriors Three and Sif decide to take matters into their own hands and get Thor back. They persuade Heimdall, guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, to let them go to Earth, but this act of defiance gets Heimdall frozen by Loki, who sends the Destroyer, a giant robot who guards the Asgard treasure room, to Earth to kill them and Thor.

Sif and the Warriors Three find Thor and the scientists, but the Destroyer arrives and makes a mess of New Mexico. After saying Klaatu Barada Nikto fails to stop the Destroyer, Thor pleads with Loki to leave his friends alone. Loki dismisses Thor’s speech as sounding like lines from a self-help book, and the Destroyer slaps Thor away. However, this act was enough to make Thor a true hero, and he gets his godly powers back before going all Rules of Nature on the Destroyer. Thor and the Asgardians return to Asgard to stop Loki.

Loki betrays Laufey and kills him before he can kill Odin, before revealing that Loki’s alliance with Laufey was to provide him with an excuse to use the Bifrost Bridge to destroy Jotunheim and eradicate the Frost Giants. Thor tries to persuade Loki to stop, but when this fails, he is forced to destroy the Bifrost Bridge to save Jotunheim. Odin wakes up from Odinsleep and saves Thor and Loki from the crumbling bridge, but Loki lets go and falls. He doesn’t die though, as the fangirls are more powerful than we thought… The day is saved, but it is a bittersweet victory, as Thor can no longer visit Earth to be with Jane – at least, not until The Avengers. Somewhere something is calling for you, two worlds one family…

After the credits, Nick Fury shows the a powerful artefact to Jane’s boss, Erik Selvig, when it is revealed that Loki is now controlling Selvig.

Thor represents the first step in expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe past the confines of the previous films’ Earthbound settings. The different setting lends a slightly different, more grandiose, tone and atmosphere, but it is still recognisably part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It doesn’t stretch suspension of disbelief that Asgard can exist in the same world as scientifically inclined heroes like Iron Man and Hulk. This also exemplifies one of Marvel’s biggest strengths. Varying films can have different tones and approaches based on the characters, which helps stave off repetition and monotony, and gives each film its own voice. The designs of the mythological locations help sell this idea. Asgard looks incredible with its enormous golden arches and statues and breathtaking scenery. Theirs is a world very different from ours. Jotunheim is a suitably unwelcoming frozen wasteland, which instills a sense of unease in the viewer.

The emotional core of the film is the relationships between Thor, Loki and Odin. The two brothers crave the attention of their father, who loves both of his sons despite being a harsh and stern man. It is also shown that, as brothers, Thor and Loki are capable of getting along with each other. This helps make the characters more three dimensional and prevents Loki from being the bad guy who does bad things because he is bad. The desire for their father’s approval leads into the actions of the brothers, both of whom have a different idea of how to earn it. It could be argued that in this film, the emotional drama provides more of the conflict than the external threat of the Frost Giants. This can be seen at the beginning of the climax when Loki kills Laufey, moving the focus back towards the familial relationship.

Thor and especially Loki are among the most popular characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That isn’t just because they’re both handsome, attractive men with armies of fangirls at their disposal, though that certainly helps. Loki differs as a villain from previous MCU foes. Whereas the Iron Monger, Abomination and Whiplash favoured brute force, Loki is more of a schemer. He is cunning and deceitful, using his wits and silver tongue to get ahead. When he does get into a combat situation, he tends not to fight directly, instead favouring illusions, tricks and sleight of hand. He poses a different, more cerebral challenge to those who came before him, and for that reason, it’s probably not a coincidence that he is the first MCU villain to appear in more than one film. As for Thor, the film makes him an endearing character. He begins as an arrogant and hot-headed young man, who acts on his emotions instead of thinking before he acts. He remains likeable because he doesn’t mean to be a jerk, and it’s easy to tell what motivates this behaviour. He’s misguided, but not malicious, which means that we can buy it when he learns his lesson and grows as a person later. Another aspect of his character that helps make him more charming is his status as a fish out of water. Earth is very different from Asgard, and his different ways serve to make him more innocent, as well as providing some of the film’s biggest laughs (my personal favourite was Thor referring to Agent Coulson as Son of Coul.) In this respect, Thor is reminiscent of Disney’s portrayal of Hercules.

Having established the Marvel brand, Thor must have seemed like a radical departure on the surface. It was a risky gamble, but fortunately, the gamble paid off.

Stan Lee Spotter: Stan Lee appears as a redneck who tries to pull Mjolnir out of the ground with a chain, only to remove the back of his truck instead. “Did I get it?” he asks.

Next Time: Xposing the truth behind the Cuban Missile Crisis.