Film Review #1 Thor

I don't know about you, but visual media often washes over me: my brain switches off and I adopt my 'entertainment mode'. However, I have become increasingly convinced that there is greater enjoyment and spiritual health when we thoughtful engage. And, since I am increasingly interested in film, I plan to review all the films I watch in 2012. So here is film review #1. It may be a bit clunky, but hopefully I'll get more into the swing of things.

Thor (2011)

I'm slightly embarrassed that this my first few film review is for Thor. I was quite vocal about how poor I thought it looked when it first came out. However, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.

The film is packed with run-of-the-mill CGI action sequences, clearly designed for the 3D format, but Kenneth Branagh's direction provides an interesting feel to the film. Chris Hemsworth is also surprisingly good as Thor, both in 'angry-god' mode and 'fish-out-of-water' mode.

The plot

The plot is inevitably pure silliness. In one scene Thor (Chris Hemsworth) tells scientist Jane (Natalie Portman) that there are nine worlds linked by a wormhole system. Earth is one of them, and Asgard, the world of the Norse gods, is another. We the viewers are also introduced to Jötunheimr an ice world filled inhabited by the Frost Giants.

Thor, in his lust for glory, directly disobeys his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) by taking revenge on the Frost Giants, and so triggering war. In response Odin strips him of his power and cast him out of Asgard to earth, where he is immediately knocked down by Jane's car.

A few plot twists later Thor has fallen for Jane, and he is battling a large silver warrior intent on killing him. It is the normal superhero-type stuff, injected with Shakespearean gravitas and some genuine laughs.

Heart of the film

Amongst all the silliness the film does ask a serious question: "What is true greatness?"  For Thor, at the start of the film, the answer is obvious: military might and the fear of your enemies. However, his transformation during the film shows us what we already know - that true greatness is characterised by self-sacrifice. Here for Thor, this is a willingness to sacrifice his life to save others; and to give up what he loves most for his enemies.

There is also the interesting sub-question: "How does personal transformation take place?" Intriguingly this isn't fully explored. Thor clearly undergoes a major transformation during the film, seemingly brought on by loss of power, remorse about his Father's death, and love for a girl. The writers seems to suggest that Thor just needed the right conditions to become self-sacrificing, and that Odin was wise enough to know this. However, what is not clear is whether this would have been possible for his adopted brother, a native of Jötunheimr, whose corruption deepens over the course of the story. Was Loki's nature something that could not be changed? Was it inevitable that he would become the man he becomes?