Pay Per View Review

Well, we got around to seeing yet another movie on PPV, Thor (2011).

Chris Hemsworth … Thor
Natalie Portman … Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston … Loki
Anthony Hopkins … Odin
Stellan Skarsgård … Erik Selvig
Kat Dennings … Darcy Lewis
Clark Gregg … Agent Coulson
Idris Elba … Heimdall
Colm Feore … King Laufey
Ray Stevenson … Volstagg
Tadanobu Asano … Hogun
Josh Dallas … Fandral
Jaimie Alexander … Sif
Rene Russo … Frigga
Adriana Barraza … Isabel Alvarez

This really isn't a film. It's a lead-in to the upcoming Avengers movie. Barely worth it as PPV, but I'm really glad I didn't drop 40+ dollars on a movie tickets for the family, and lord knows what on drinks and snacks.

The two best performances are from Stellan Skarsgård, who does a really good job of portraying a Swede (go figure), and Kat Dennings, who embraces her inner sidekick when her wailings for her lost iPod sounds just like my daughter.

Chris Hemsworth's Thor is an affable, though rather a thick oaf, which suits the script.

Natalie Portman is winsome and smart love interest, which is kind of her sweet spot of acting.

One of the truths of these movies is that the really interesting character is the villain.  Well, not this time.  Tom Hiddleston's Loki is just weak.

I'm not sure how much of this is the script, which cannot decide whether or not he is misguided or malevolent.

Anthony Hopkins plays Anthony Hopkins playing Odin.  (Meh)

The movie takes place in two places, Earth and Asgard/Jotunheim.

The Asgard/Jotunheim bits are dull. It's stilted, and dull. At least they don't to the "thee" and "thine" bit that I remember as the speech of Asgard when I last read the comic in the 1970s.

Basically the lands of the Gods and the Frost Giants seems to be little more than an excuse for excessive CGI.

There are a couple of funny bits, some car accidents and what can only be described as a "hammer time" party.

For most of the movie, S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to be more sinister than benevolent.

Overall, I would give a 5.5 out of 10, a firm "Meh".

Pix after the break: