What's it all about? Thor is a Norse God, son of Odin, brother of Loki. In the realm of Asgard there is peace, but Thor is restless, wishing to make war with the Frost Giants, believing them to be a threat. Odin accuses Thor of bringing unnecessary war to Asgard through his vanity and arrogance and so strips him of his power and exiles him to Earth. On Earth, Thor must prove his worth, while his manipulative and conniving brother Loki seeks to take control of Asgard.
*****
What's it like? Thor is inherently quite silly. He has a flowing cape, a magic hammer and comes from a mystical realm where what we would call magic is a reality. Making a film that acknowledges that silliness, while still addressing serious issues in a suitable tone is a difficult tight-rope to walk. It is to director Kenneth Branagh's considerable credit therefore that he pulls it off. At times making fun of Thor's pomposity, at others throwing him into perilous situations where something is genuinely at risk, Branagh straddles the two worlds on show here with aplomb. The action sequences, fights and special effects are all very well done and although the 3D is mostly irrelevant and unnecessary, it is at least competently staged. As an accomplished Shakespearean director, Branagh is very much at home amongst the more dramatic and operatic sequences, especially those relating to the through-thread of family discord, jealousy and mistrust. Despite some of it taking place in a magical realm, it remains anchored and believable, always feeling relevant. These sorts of films can sometimes feel like you're watching a computer game or one long computer-generated special effect, but it's all blended with a lot more assurance than that. The film has the good sense to not outstay is welcome, coming it at a nice lean running time of 115 minutes and it keeps moving at a really good pace through it all. The acting performances are all excellent, with no annoying comic relief, or bland plot-expositors. Chris Hemsworth as Thor is a lot of fun, oozing charisma and light-heartedness. Natalie Portman as his love interest and Anthony Hopkins as Odin are predictably excellent and no-one really lets themselves down. One of the strongest comic-book adaptations of recent years.
*****
Should I see it? Although the film caries a 12A certificate, I'm confident that few will find much here to be upset by. There is no nudity or overt sexuality, although Chris Hemsworth does get to show off his impressive physique in a couple of shirt-off moments. There is a little bit of bad language, but nothing strong (no use of the f-word for example) and although there are plenty of bone-crunching fight sequences, there is very little blood spilled. Very small children will either not understand it or be a little upset by some of the special effects, but tonally this should be okay for children towards the upper end of primary school. If your older children want to see it with their friends, try to convince them to see it with you instead, as there is much to be discussed and considered regarding the tempestuousness and boldness of youth and the handling of sibling rivalry, parental authority and discipline. In short this is very entertaining stuff and it gives plenty of food fr thought as well. Recommended.
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