Chris
Helmsworth may have the richest speaking voice in American cinema since
Heath Ledger - Australian roots not excepted - but it’s not quite
enough to carry Kenneth Branagh’s Thor. My own interest in the film is based on the success of The Avengers as well as the presence of several cool actors.
I won’t lie, I’ve been in a ‘mood’ the last few days so maybe I’m predisposed to harsh criticism, but Thor also has the disadvantage of coming after the witty Iron Man films and after I have already seen The Avengers. Though I will say that reading the behind-the-scenes lore helps the movie make more sense, if only because I can empathize with Branagh. The sad truth is that while The Avengers proves that Joss Whedon understands comic books and superheroes, Branagh does not. I may not have much experience with the medium, but I know enough to recognize an impostor when I see one. Taking a comic book film and making into something it is not... I made similar mistakes in my theatre career.
When was the last time Branagh lived up to his ego, let alone his Shakespearean idols? It’s hard to say. I would have guessed that Branagh’s attraction to the project was based in myths and legends, but Branagh reportedly saw something more: Henry V. How could he turn down the chance to revisit the play that saw him pronounced a wunderkind? Branagh brings with him composer Patrick Doyle, whose knack for dramatic scoring has served him well in his many collaborations with Branagh. It seems, however, that Branagh is trying to bring his Harry Potter experience to the Marvel universe, crossing wires with Shakespearean plays and his own brand of English acting.
Still, Branagh’s attachment to the project certainly must have helped Anthony Hopkins’s decision to sign on to the project. Hopkins is the perfect choice for well-respected and beloved patriarch, idolized by his sons and responsible for keeping the peace. Tom Hiddleston, having worked with Branagh on a play in London’s West End, originally auditioned for the lead role but is a much better fit for the tortured sibling Loki. Knowing more of his backstory certainly contributes to my understanding of The Avengers, though he is not quite a fully-developed villain in Thor. It doesn’t help that there are too many secondary characters overall. Not only do we have the mortals Thor befriends on earth, but Thor’s buddies from Asgard keep coming up as well. Who are all these people, and why do we need them? Natalie Portman as a poorly-written love interest is completely unnecessary, not to mention Kat Dennings as an inexplicable intern. Dennings is woefully misused on her tv series 2 Broke Girls, but perhaps might have brought some believability to the Portman role. A rather surprising discovery is the realization that Thor’s Asgardian friend Fandral is played by Josh Dallas - who plays Prince Charming on ABC’s brilliant Once Upon a Time series. (Yes, that’s a shameless plug for my favorite show. Shoot me.) Carrying the film is Chris Helmsworth, who sadly is not as good as he is in The Avengers. It seems that the filmmakers did not trust the script enough for the film to get by on its own, rather felt that it needed to be bolstered and held together on the strength of Helmsworth’s good looks and powerful voice. There’s no doubt that he’s exactly what a Norse god should look like, but there’s no need for the constant reminders, whether they’re in the form of dialogue or admiring camera angles.
The good news is that the upcoming sequel is slated to reunite the actors from the first film in their same roles. This includes Helmsworth, Hopkins, Hiddleston, Portman, and Dallas. One can only hope that the characters see some real development in the sequel, which thankfully will have a different director. Interestingly, the next film is set to be directed by Alan Taylor, whose credits include Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and The Sopranos. Maybe there’s hope yet for this mighty franchise.
I won’t lie, I’ve been in a ‘mood’ the last few days so maybe I’m predisposed to harsh criticism, but Thor also has the disadvantage of coming after the witty Iron Man films and after I have already seen The Avengers. Though I will say that reading the behind-the-scenes lore helps the movie make more sense, if only because I can empathize with Branagh. The sad truth is that while The Avengers proves that Joss Whedon understands comic books and superheroes, Branagh does not. I may not have much experience with the medium, but I know enough to recognize an impostor when I see one. Taking a comic book film and making into something it is not... I made similar mistakes in my theatre career.
When was the last time Branagh lived up to his ego, let alone his Shakespearean idols? It’s hard to say. I would have guessed that Branagh’s attraction to the project was based in myths and legends, but Branagh reportedly saw something more: Henry V. How could he turn down the chance to revisit the play that saw him pronounced a wunderkind? Branagh brings with him composer Patrick Doyle, whose knack for dramatic scoring has served him well in his many collaborations with Branagh. It seems, however, that Branagh is trying to bring his Harry Potter experience to the Marvel universe, crossing wires with Shakespearean plays and his own brand of English acting.
Still, Branagh’s attachment to the project certainly must have helped Anthony Hopkins’s decision to sign on to the project. Hopkins is the perfect choice for well-respected and beloved patriarch, idolized by his sons and responsible for keeping the peace. Tom Hiddleston, having worked with Branagh on a play in London’s West End, originally auditioned for the lead role but is a much better fit for the tortured sibling Loki. Knowing more of his backstory certainly contributes to my understanding of The Avengers, though he is not quite a fully-developed villain in Thor. It doesn’t help that there are too many secondary characters overall. Not only do we have the mortals Thor befriends on earth, but Thor’s buddies from Asgard keep coming up as well. Who are all these people, and why do we need them? Natalie Portman as a poorly-written love interest is completely unnecessary, not to mention Kat Dennings as an inexplicable intern. Dennings is woefully misused on her tv series 2 Broke Girls, but perhaps might have brought some believability to the Portman role. A rather surprising discovery is the realization that Thor’s Asgardian friend Fandral is played by Josh Dallas - who plays Prince Charming on ABC’s brilliant Once Upon a Time series. (Yes, that’s a shameless plug for my favorite show. Shoot me.) Carrying the film is Chris Helmsworth, who sadly is not as good as he is in The Avengers. It seems that the filmmakers did not trust the script enough for the film to get by on its own, rather felt that it needed to be bolstered and held together on the strength of Helmsworth’s good looks and powerful voice. There’s no doubt that he’s exactly what a Norse god should look like, but there’s no need for the constant reminders, whether they’re in the form of dialogue or admiring camera angles.
The good news is that the upcoming sequel is slated to reunite the actors from the first film in their same roles. This includes Helmsworth, Hopkins, Hiddleston, Portman, and Dallas. One can only hope that the characters see some real development in the sequel, which thankfully will have a different director. Interestingly, the next film is set to be directed by Alan Taylor, whose credits include Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and The Sopranos. Maybe there’s hope yet for this mighty franchise.
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