The Sound of Thunder...
Here's a quote from Thor comic books: “Stay thy hand! 'Tis the God of Thunder who doth command thee!”
And so it was commanded. A movie was made.
Sometimes a movie can be a damn miracle.
When it comes together like a strike of lightening, it can produce something really good. The film Thor was one of those things which comes once in a lifetime.
The film worked on every single level. And more.
Norse legends, Viking battles, kings, queens and giants. This doesn't sound like a typical summer movie should be.
But this can be credited to the number of people working on the film. One of the writers of the story is J. Michael Straczynski.
I didn't believe it at first. But he made a cameo as the very first guy who tried to pick up Thor's hammer, as one would try to pick up Excalibur in the King Arthur legends. But he wasn't worthy.
But Straczynski was worthy enough of a storyteller.
He understands how a story should work. He knows how to bring the human element into a story and make us sympathetic to that character. He respects the characters. He also helps to relate the characters to us as an audience.
The story is a tightly wound script which weaves between two worlds: one is earth and the other is Asgard. And set between the two worlds is a brewing war between Thor's noble people and the Frost Giants who is always on the edge of hostility.
When Thor brandishes the hammer, he is a god of thunder. He has control of the skies and the storms. He is able to wield a hurricane of power against armies.
And yet he is unable to control his lust for violence. He is reckless, a fool yearning for glory. His half-brother Loki is seemingly more calm... like a serpent slithering in the garden. However, the father Odin (majestically played by Anthony Hopkins) banishes his son to earth.
This is where the human element comes into play for the story. And where comic books go Shakespearean because of Kenneth Branagh.
It is almost an opera of the heavens.
They know enough to not let the wild FX get in the way of the story. They work enough to allow for a great amount of interplay between the characters. Much of it is extremely funny without getting campy.
Thor has grossed an estimated $66,000,000 in the United States and Canada. It also grossed $176,000,000 abroad with $242,000,000 worldwide. This is a Kenneth Branagh with big numbers.
Good. I'm glad it is doing very well. It's a smart film. It's well written. It deserves some high praise. Many positive reviews erupted with this movie.
One of the things I've said before many times. Any superhero film works well if you have an unknown actor in the leading role playing the superhero. It worked extremely well with Chris Hemsworth. He is very charismatic which helps. Yet he has a telling courage which is important to the character of Thor. He is supposed to be noble. And Hemsworth does this.
The film also showcases a fine performance by Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson. You've already seen him in both Iron Man films. But here he is given more to do.
Thor is the template for future comic book movies. The film holds together a very taunt story while offering an epic glimpse of huge battles between misunderstood sides on both ends. It is a huge bang, this story. Kudoes to all the people involved such as Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, and Stellan Skarsgård.
Comic books have a good future in movies now.
Thor could have been a very silly movie about a man with a stupid helmet and a hammer to drive dull nails. But Thor is enriched by a good story that allows for us indulge.
If you're a comic book fan, you'll have a good time with it., If not, don't worry. The human aspect of the story surpasses everything making this one of the best made comic book films. I'm not kidding you.
And so it was commanded. A movie was made.
Sometimes a movie can be a damn miracle.
When it comes together like a strike of lightening, it can produce something really good. The film Thor was one of those things which comes once in a lifetime.
The film worked on every single level. And more.
Norse legends, Viking battles, kings, queens and giants. This doesn't sound like a typical summer movie should be.
But this can be credited to the number of people working on the film. One of the writers of the story is J. Michael Straczynski.
I didn't believe it at first. But he made a cameo as the very first guy who tried to pick up Thor's hammer, as one would try to pick up Excalibur in the King Arthur legends. But he wasn't worthy.
But Straczynski was worthy enough of a storyteller.
He understands how a story should work. He knows how to bring the human element into a story and make us sympathetic to that character. He respects the characters. He also helps to relate the characters to us as an audience.
The story is a tightly wound script which weaves between two worlds: one is earth and the other is Asgard. And set between the two worlds is a brewing war between Thor's noble people and the Frost Giants who is always on the edge of hostility.
When Thor brandishes the hammer, he is a god of thunder. He has control of the skies and the storms. He is able to wield a hurricane of power against armies.
And yet he is unable to control his lust for violence. He is reckless, a fool yearning for glory. His half-brother Loki is seemingly more calm... like a serpent slithering in the garden. However, the father Odin (majestically played by Anthony Hopkins) banishes his son to earth.
This is where the human element comes into play for the story. And where comic books go Shakespearean because of Kenneth Branagh.
It is almost an opera of the heavens.
They know enough to not let the wild FX get in the way of the story. They work enough to allow for a great amount of interplay between the characters. Much of it is extremely funny without getting campy.
Thor has grossed an estimated $66,000,000 in the United States and Canada. It also grossed $176,000,000 abroad with $242,000,000 worldwide. This is a Kenneth Branagh with big numbers.
Good. I'm glad it is doing very well. It's a smart film. It's well written. It deserves some high praise. Many positive reviews erupted with this movie.
One of the things I've said before many times. Any superhero film works well if you have an unknown actor in the leading role playing the superhero. It worked extremely well with Chris Hemsworth. He is very charismatic which helps. Yet he has a telling courage which is important to the character of Thor. He is supposed to be noble. And Hemsworth does this.
The film also showcases a fine performance by Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson. You've already seen him in both Iron Man films. But here he is given more to do.
Thor is the template for future comic book movies. The film holds together a very taunt story while offering an epic glimpse of huge battles between misunderstood sides on both ends. It is a huge bang, this story. Kudoes to all the people involved such as Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, and Stellan Skarsgård.
Comic books have a good future in movies now.
Thor could have been a very silly movie about a man with a stupid helmet and a hammer to drive dull nails. But Thor is enriched by a good story that allows for us indulge.
If you're a comic book fan, you'll have a good time with it., If not, don't worry. The human aspect of the story surpasses everything making this one of the best made comic book films. I'm not kidding you.
posted by K.M. Paters at 10:40 PM
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