Thor (2011) review: How does it impact Infinity War?
By Mike McNulty
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MAY 03: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth attends the Australians In Film screening of Marvel & Paramount Pictures’ “Thor” at the Sherry Lansing Theatre, Paramount Pictures Studios on May 3, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Along with introducing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best villain, the first Thor movie poured the foundation for a larger mythology.
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When you ask comic fans what’s the difference between DC superheroes and Marvel superheroes, they might answer, “Marvel superheroes are realistic, more down-to-earth.” They may even give examples like how making comparisons between Superman and Spider-Man, or how Marvel has real cities unlike DC’s Metropolis and Gotham. What they may overlook is that one of Marvel’s more prominent heroes not only goes against this “down-to-earth” concept, he’s a literal god. I am, of course, talking about Thor.
Undoubtedly, that was the challenge behind Marvel Studio’s fourth feature film, Thor (2011). At the time, most associated Marvel with Spider-Man, the X-Men, Hulk, and Iron Man, all very grounded characters in low science fiction settings. How exactly, then, does Norse mythology belong in the same universe as both Iron Man films and The Incredible Hulk? And how do make a character like Thor relate to general audiences?
Well, for starters, Thor takes inspiration–and directly quotes–Arthur C. Clarke’s most famous saying, “Magic is just science that we don’t understand yet.” It also drops the Elizabethan English the Asgardians spoke in the comics, yet still retained their eloquence. Finally, it’s a “fish out of water” story, where the Norse God of Thunder essentially becomes human, and learns humility in the process.
Thor also boasted an impressive cast, including Anthony Hopkins, and directed by actor Kenneth Brangagh, who’s famous for doing several adaptations of the works of William Shakespeare. This, by implication, suggested Thor would be far more high-brow than your average comic book movie.
Yet with the passage of time, and many more films in the Marvel Studios library, how does Thor measure up? And how does what happen in this movie tie into the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War?