Thor

Theatrical Release Date: 2010 06 04 (USA) / 2010 07 16 (USA) / 2011 05 06 (USA - 3D) / 2011 05 06 (USA) / 2011 07 17 (USA)

UPC: 097361455143

Studio: Paramount

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:null

Summary: Exiled to Earth after his arrogance fans the flames of an ancient conflict, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) of Asgard discovers the meaning of humility when a powerful old foe dispatches a destructive force to crush humanity. Only when the banished prince has defeated an opponent capable of crushing him in battle will he learn what it takes to be a true leader. Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, and Tadanobu Asano co-star in a comic-book adventure from acclaimed director Kenneth Branagh. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Action

Features: Disc 1 - Blu-ray
Commentary by Director Kenneth Branagh
Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant HD
7 Featurettes HD
Road to The Avengers HD
11 Deleted Scenes HD

Disc 2 - Blu-ray 3D
Feature Film in 3D

Disc 3 - DVD
Blu-ray Disc 1080p High Definition

Thor

Release Date: 09/13/2011

Audio: DHMA, DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 114 Minutes

Sides: 3

Number of Discs: 3

Language(s) English,French,Spanish,Portuguese

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish,Portuguese

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Alaina O'Connor

Tempering its sweeping scope with wit, humor, and just a little dose of dramatics, Thor is a super-charged fantasy epic that can stand alone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is the fourth MCU film to be released and the first of two Marvel superhero movies to come out this summer -- Captain America being the other. Thor was originally slated for a 2008 release with X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn helming, but after several years in "development hell," Vaughn was replaced by Kenneth Branagh -- a surprising choice considering that his directorial filmography consists of at least five Shakespearean plays. However, despite all the eyebrow-raising, Branagh manages to orchestrate a superhero film that plays to both comic-book fans and laymen alike -- a Thor that's fun and that never takes itself too seriously, which you need for a summer movie blockbuster of this caliber. Though the battle scenes are a little muddled, Branagh fuses together striking production design and art direction with larger-than-life set pieces to create an often harmonious result.

The film begins in the deserts of New Mexico, where astrophysicist and all-around good girl Jane (Natalie Portman) is doing research with her assistant, Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård), and intern, Darcy (Kat Dennings), when suddenly Thor (Chris Hemsworth), an arrogant hammer-wielding warrior form the mystical realm of Asgard, appears out of nowhere and the team literally hits him with their car. Flash back to the mystical realms, where Odin (Anthony Hopkins), king of the Asgard, wages war against the Frost Giants and their leader, Laufey (Colm Feore), to prevent them from conquering the Nine Realms. With peace achieved, Odin is able to focus on his two sons, Thor and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), one of whom will take the throne as king, but when Thor breaks the peace treaty with the Frost Giants, defying his father in the process, Odin strips him of his mighty hammer and casts him out of Asgard. Now in human form, Thor must live among the humans on Earth and hopefully learn a little humility in the process.

Chris Hemsworth makes quite an impression, both physically matching the description of the "God of Thunder" -- with his dirty blonde locks and ridiculously chiseled physique -- and possessing the right amount of humility and regality, and a little bit of humor, too. Not only does he prove that he can foster the right amount of emotional impact to make an audience cheer for the stranded titan, but he also proves that he can carry a film. It's fun to watch Thor navigate Earth as a god without powers -- smashing plates on the floor, attempting to stop cars with his bare hands, drinking poor Erik under the table -- and to see Jane and her crew react to his behavior. Speaking of Jane, Natalie Portman plays her character pretty straightforwardly. She giggles and swoons and bats her eyes like a lovesick schoolgirl, but who can blame her, really? Still, the relationship between Jane and Thor seems rushed -- they essentially fall in love in one syrupy scene complete with a trailer-park bonfire and shooting stars. Ultimately, though, the love story is secondary to the mythology surrounding the nobles of Asgard.

While Thor is exiled on Earth, his sneaky brother, Loki, plots behind his back in an attempt to assassinate their father, Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins, who gives a commanding performance; it's Hiddelston, however, who is the standout here as Thor's complex half-brother, who is more than he seems to be, even in this context. Hiddelston gives a truly humanistic performance and his arc evokes genuine sympathy, which one rarely feels for a comic-book villain. What easily could have been a schlocky mess is instead an elegant tale of a father and his sons and the bond that can only be broken over time -- it's practically a Shakespearean tragedy, which may be what Branagh was going for in the first place.

Note: For the fan boys and girls out there, Marvel cameos include Clark Gregg, who reprises his role as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson from the Iron Man films and Jeremy Renner as sharpshooter Hawkeye. Plus, make sure you stay through the credits as Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury. The coda hints at the next film in the universe -- Captain America -- and alludes to the infamous "Avenger Initiative." ~ Alaina O'Connor, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Kenneth Branagh  Director 
Patrick Doyle  Composer (Music Score) 
Stan Lee  Executive Producer 
Patricia Whitcher  Executive Producer 
Louis D'Esposito  Executive Producer 
Mark Protosevich  Screenwriter 
Kevin Feige  Producer 
Zack Stentz  Screenwriter 
Alan Fine  Executive Producer 
Don Payne  Screenwriter 
David Maisel  Executive Producer 
Ashley Miller  Screenwriter 
Chris Hemsworth  Actor 
Natalie Portman  Actor 
Tom Hiddleston  Actor 
Anthony Hopkins  Actor 
Stellan Skarsgård  Actor 
Colm Feore  Actor 
Ray Stevenson  Actor 
Idris Elba  Actor 
Kat Dennings  Actor 
Jaimie Alexander  Actor 
Clark Gregg  Actor 
Tadanobu Asano  Actor 
Joshua Dallas  Actor 
Rene Russo  Actor 
Adriana Barraza  Actor 
Maximiliano Hernandez  Actor 
Richard Cetrone  Actor 
Darren Kendrick  Actor 
Josh Coxx  Actor 
Justice Jesse Smith  Actor 
Joseph Gatt  Actor 
Luke Massy  Actor 
Matthew Ducey  Actor 
Jason Camp  Actor 
Buddy Sosthand  Actor 
Blake Silver  Actor 
Jamie McShane  Actor 
Dale Godboldo  Actor 
Patrick O'Brien Demsey  Actor 
Jim Palmer  Actor 
Seth Coltan  Actor 
J. Michael Straczynski  Actor 
Ryan Schaefer  Actor 
Matt Battaglia  Actor 
Dakota Goyo  Actor 
Stan Lee  Actor 
Joel McCrary  Actor 
Isaac Kappy  Actor 
Juliet Lopez  Actor 
Rob Mars  Actor 
Carrie Lazar  Actor 
Harley Graham  Actor 
Alexander Wright  Actor 
Hilary Pingle  Actor 
Shawn-Caulin Young  Actor 
Kinsey McLean  Actor 
Kelly Hawthorne  Actor 
Ted Allpress  Actor 

Country: USA