Tagging my MCU posts reveals that I’ve reviewed twenty-one of the twenty-eight films released so far. Knowing I haven’t reviewed Thor has timed itself well with an impromptu Sunday TV viewing.
With films like Endgame and No Way Home, relatively quaint Phase 1 films like Thor can be forgotten. So it’s interesting to view it now, with a lot more story in my head.
Moving the nascent MCU from science to magic was a big task for Thor at the time. The pageantry and ornateness of Asgard was a far cry from the army and lab settings of the previous films. Kenneth Branagh was entrusted with this relative leap into the unknown, and mainly sticks it.
Whilst it may feel like a huge jump into a new section of the MCU, the scope is actually quite tight. Much of it rightly focuses on Thor and Loki, their views, and how they interact. Hard to think of Hemsworth and Hiddleston as “unknowns” now, but both start promisingly. Despite his frustratingly blonde eyebrows Hemsworth steps into the accent easily whilst providing the perfect physicality for swinging a hammer. Hiddleston imbues Loki with the pain and confusion that sets him up as one of the MCU’s most important villains.
There’s a lot of humour to be found in Thor’s fish out of water status; “I need a horse” being a standout moment. It nicely balances out the relatively Shakespearean Asgard scenes.
I’ve long felt that Thor’s progression from entitled to humbled was too fast. But this time round I didn’t care. He makes positive steps, with later films proving he’s not the finished article.
It may not sit quite low on my MCU rankings due to the broadening scope, Thor is still an entertaining film. Just a shame about those damn eyebrows!
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