Thor [Blu-ray]

Had to have it in my collection! The main reason for the star subtraction is for Amazon not the movie!!!I just wish that Amazine would let me custom arrange my Video Library instead of only offering by date purchased or alphabetical order. I would prefer to arrange by genre, episode, number in franchise so that I could group my movies together instead of having a hodge podge to sort through!

I went into this with very little expectations because I never liked the Thor comics. He was always such a pompous windbag. So the fact that I really liked this movie surprised me.I've seen this movie dozens of times by this point, and parts of it just get better and better. Loki in particular. I love to hate him. He's just so lovable and scummy at the same time.Natalie Portman is a much better actress than what we see here. I'm not surprised she's not coming back anymore. Really it's too bad she would have made a great female Thor if they ever decided to do that from the comics.Sif and the Warriors Three were so excellent. I don't think there was a part with them that I didn't love.Where I think this movie really fell down and I blame Kevin and Kenneth both, was Hawkeye. This was his introduction into the Avengers world. Like Black Widow in Iron Man 2, Hawkeye should have gotten his mini character Arc to give him a base for love in the Avengers movie. There were so many places he could have gotten in - The diner where Thor smashes his mug, the fight sequences where Thor plows through SHIELD, the bar where Thor and Selvig drink, the roof where SHIELD first sees Sif and the Warriors Three. So, so many opportunities lost. To this day I still think he got the shaft.While there were parts of this movie I adored, there were still too many issues that irk me.

I liked this movie best of all the Marvel Thor movies. It is a simple story of a hubristic young man losing his powers and learning the meaning of duty/responsibility/etc., but it works on its own terms. Since a large chunk of the movie cannot revolve around CGI-laden super-fights, it has to worry about "unnecessary" stuff like characterization, social conflict, etc. It has just enough of the "fun" stuff to be exciting without overstaying its welcome.

I should have listened to the other reviewers, but I had to see for myself. It's true: The 3D has to be the most underwhelming, underutilized I've seen in any of my collection. Except for a very few select action scenes, it's like they forgot it was supposed to be 3D. Until the end credits, which look incredible, as if to say "This is what you could have had all along, sorry." (In fairness, I've noticed all 3D movies seem to really pull out all the stops for end credits. Why is this? Are they just easier?)If you absolutely must try for yourself, I suppose you will (like I did). But if this is the first disc you're trying out on your great new 3D setup, don't be dismayed if it doesn't impress. There are some really great titles out there that do it right (like Avatar and Star Trek: Into Darkness. Check out the rest of my reviews on 3D movies for more). This one is a super-sized disappointment.

Oddly enough, Thor is a coming of age story. It starts with Thor being the upstart, brash, impudent prince of Asgard starting needless fights, that could escalate into war. To teach him a lesson, his father Odin punishes him by taking away his powers and exiling him to Earth. He’s there until he grows up and understands what it means to be a leader because he’s eventually going to replace The All Father. His half-brother Loki of course, is there to make sure he never gets the throne, and takes advantage of Thor’s absence. The movie therefore is a lesson in humility so that Thor might find his place and stop his brother’s plot.What I liked about the movie was that it wasn’t afraid to make fun of the God of Thunder. For example, when he’s on Earth Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is looking for him, backs up her jeep and runs Thor over. Then he goes out to eat with Foster and likes what he’s drinking and smashes his cup on the floor and demands more. Finally, he’s looking for a horse so he goes to a pet store and asks for one.Like all Marvel movies the film is full of Easter Eggs. For instance, Foster gives Thor some clothes and there’s a name tag on the shirt he’s given that says Donald Blake. In the comics Donald Blake was Thor’s earthly identity. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) is discussing with Foster the appearance of SHIELD and says he knew of a scientist who worked on Gamma radiation, SHIELD showed up, and he disappeared. That’s a reference to Bruce Banner who is the Hulk. The movie had the first appearance of Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) who would later join the Avengers.This was a very good start to the Thor character with drama, action, and a tale of how to be humbleC

Good production value, effects, sets and cinematography. Boring script and nothing particularly good from any of the actors. It seems like something I'd really love if was a kid. I'm not. Also, not into comic books so I'm not comparing it to the source material. I had no biases while watching this movie. The whole thing came off as cheesy to me. It's all very matter of fact and has no depth and seems to only serve the purpose of giving some background info on the hero. Therefore, I could care less what happened to anyone in the movie. What little "drama" unfolds is minimal and not done well so I wasn't drawn into the movie at all. I think it's a fun movie for kids and perhaps fans of the series or comic books would enjoy it. If you don't fall into either of those two categories, consider this as mediocre entertainment. I didn't dislike it but didn't particularly enjoy it on any level. I would have enjoyed seeing more action off planet Earth as that seemed to be the only place of interest yet a large part of the movie does happen on Earth, so that's that.

Okay but seriously, in continuing with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) (See my other reviews). Marvel not only managed to make another film as spectacular and well received as Iron Man, they did it with even more lovable characters and humour.I've always been a fan of mythological games and series, so Thor really appeals when Marvel goes to town bringing Norse mythology to the big screen with Odin and Loki. This first outing for Thor, brings a fairly childish prince through eye opening experiences as his mistakes nearly cost him universal peace.The journey eventually brings him to Midgard (Earth) where he starts to interact with the Human Race, and learns that life isn't all he thought back in the Palace of Asgard (his homeworld). Thor is forced to think and act with more than just his godly hammer in order to defeat an enemy that knows him as well as himself.With a strong cast, brilliant story and awesome effects, it is no wonder that Thor was a continuing driving force in the MCU storyline and had continuing success with the Thor sequels.

Specifically a 3D review of one of my favourite Marvel films:A common complaint of Marvel 3D films when converted from 2D [in the film process] to a 3D film - is that the subsequent film is often too dark.It's all too evident with this release [one of Marvel's 1st 3D releases] - the film is dark and it only passably adequate as a 3D release, with scenes that you would think would be excellent in 3D actually being only vaguely 3-dimensional. Disappointing considering some of the other excellent Marvel 3D releases; [Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers Assemble, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War and Guardian of the Galaxy Vol 2 - being 3D highlights.]

This movie got a bad review or two and was universally panned when it came out. Now I love the work of Kenneth Branagh, whether it is Shakespeare, operatic works like the Magic Flute, his directing or his performances as an actor. This movie has a great panoramic ideal here encompassing his love of the classics and opera, you can see this in the movie. It has large tones of Wagner's 'The Ring Cycle' blended with Stan Lee's pure Thor magic. A great origin story to start an enjoyable three movie story arc that has been interwoven into the Marvel omni-verse.

The Daily Mirror is quoted on the front cover of the DVD - ''Spectacular!'' and on the back - ''Brilliant!'' The special effects are spectacular and the costumes in Thor's homeworld of Asgard are brilliant. For some reason everything else left me feeling a bit flat. Unlike other reviewers I thought the love interest lacked sparkle, Natalie Portman seemed unbelievably bland, Chris Hemsworth wasn't a superhero to be taken seriously (with or without his hammer) Anthony Hopkins pretty much played himself with an eyepatch, and the Frost Giant baddies had great potential to put the wind up the tough guys, and gal, but turned out to be pathetically easy to beat in a fight. Perhaps, as I'm not a Marvel Comic enthusiast, I didn't take this film seriously enough. The critics liked it, most reviewers liked it, I quite liked it but couldn't convince myself to give it four stars.

I know it's not everyone's favourite but I just Love this film. I never really read the Thor comics when I was Young and whenever the character was played on screen he always came across as "a bit camp" but Chris Hemsworth is believable "if that's possible in a fantasy film" as the god of thunder tough guy. Also I love everyone else who has been cast in the film, they all play brilliant parts, the excellent Tom Hiddleston as Loki [devious], Anthony Hopkins as Odin [who else could be thor's dad], Idris Elba as Heimdall [well cool], Natalie Portman as Jane Foster [Beautiful], Jaimie Alexander as Sif [Hot In That Outfit], Ray Stevenson as Volstagg [always watchable] the list goes on and on. I even think the story is great with the perfect mix of action and humour, a great introduction into the world of Thor and the perfect setup for the Avengers Assemble movie. Don't look too deep into the meaning of life it's just a fantasy film, just switch off your brain and enjoy it for what it is, a fun action movie and a couple of hours of escapism.