Time to eat a slight bit of crow from my initial thoughts on Thor because a second screening did help.
In the end, it's easily behind the first Iron Man film in the Marvel Studios films. At an hour and 45 minutes without credits, it's simply 10 minutes too short but they make the most of the running time with a cast that really tries to sell this film, especially Hemsworth, Portman, and Hiddleston.
Part of my problem with the film is the Earth section...not so much the content but the fact that it is here where I feel that Marvel cut corners, in terms of cost. Frankly, it looks cheap. I don't believe that Captain America will get the same treatment which leads me to think that Marvel was hoping that Thor would work in some capacity. In a way, they shortchanged Branagh, the cast, and the material because the opening 30 minutes convince the audience that this story and this character could go really, really big.
It hurts the film that the best action sequence happens in the first 30 minutes and the film doesn't really recover. It also doesn't help that some of the visual effects just really don't work and in this day and age of visual effects, that's just inexcusable.
Even with all of that, Thor has the best villain of the Marvel Studios' films. It has the best romantic chemistry than any of the Marvel Studios's films. Hemsworth and Portman's story is one of instant attraction and flirtation. You absolutely buy that they are instantly attracted to each other and are intrigued by each other. The problem is that the film gives us no reason as to why Thor would choose her over all the ladies of Asgard that I know he at least has a chance at, considering he's heir to the throne...especially Lady Sif.
Portman's Foster is very interesting because she's completely intelligent and dedication to her lifelong research. Thor's her evidence, her validation. At the same time (and this is really, really apparent on the second viewing), she really wants to jump Thor's bones immediately. It's really fun to watch Portman play a character this loose, this giddy. It reminded me instantly of her character in Garden State.
Thor's redemption played slightly better the second time but it still needed more time to develop. On my initial viewing, I thought Thor's redemption didn't work because I felt he was being manipulative in his sacrifice. I felt that he knew that if he sacrificed himself, he knew he would be worthy to wield the Hammer and the power of Thor again. On second viewing, that's not the case. He was just trying to save his friends with his sacrifice with no hidden agenda.
Even with that realization, I still needed more time for Thor to understand what his father was trying to teach him. Hemsworth tries his hardest to sell it and he almost pulls it off. I'm pretty sure that the deleted scenes will have the other moments that will help this portion of the film.
All in all, it's way better than Iron Man 2 and the Incredible Hulk. I feel it's more honest and earnest than the Iron Man films even though, from a script and execution perspective, the original Iron Man film is still better than this.
Even with that, I hope that Thor goes really big with the sequel and away from Earth. I also hope that the arc of Thor for the sequels is that he continues to learn and finally ascends to the throne of Asgard. I also wish we get a serious, honest look at the love triangle that seems to be developing in the latter half of the film. We need to see Jane on Lady Sif's turf in the sequels.
I want more of this universe...but I want it executed better. But, I'm down with my first true encounter of Thor.
As an aside, what didn't get better was Patrick Doyle's score. It's still terrible.
First impression is that it is better than IM2 but not better than Iron Man, but that is one of the reasons I will see it again, to make sure I wasn't, in my head, too overhyped about the movie & then feeling like I missed something after I saw it. Which has happened alot with big movies I actually go to the theatre to watch & usually I like the movie the second time alot more. Exceptions to that were The Dark Knight (I don't think that movie could do anything but blow you away the first time you see it) & Revenge of the Sith (Star Wars nut 4 life). Oh, & I wish Doom could be brought into the Avengers. The item I saw at the post credits was best manipulated by the awesome evil might of Dr. Doom!!!
