I have to chime in on this thread. This might have been one of the best cast comic book movies I've ever seen, (thank GOD for Branagh who truly is an actor's director and who wisely put so much time into the family dynamics and quieter character based moments besides some awesome action,) with Elba's Heimdall a tower of strength, Hopkins kicking ass, Portman being charming and passionate, and Hemsworth being absolutely perfect as Thor-Hiddleston still managed to stand out and steal the whole film. Besides all the observations made so far, I'd like to add a few thoughts of my own.
-How Loki played Thor like a violin. That scene where Loki and Thor discuss Dad's edict and Thor decides to go rogue is simply brilliant. Loki ever so subtly manages to re-inforce Thor's innate instinct to go to Jotunheim and then tries to 'discourage' him ever so ineffectually.
Though, I don't think Loki *was* trying to start a war at first, (his telling the guard where they were going and the "damn" he gave when the Frost Giant called Thor a little girl was quite genuine as he knew how it would play out.) I think at first he really was just continuing to have a little fun by getting his brother to act out and hopefully create more tension between Thor and Dad; it just happened to succeed far FAR beyond his wildest hopes.
-The interrogation room scene between Loki and Thor, (damn Hiddleston and Hemsworth were dynamite together,) which showcases two elements I feel are worth pointing out:
A. Loki's greatest trick is his ability as blogger Lance Mannion put it "to come across as being as sincere as Linus Van Pelt lecturing on the Great Pumpkin." Thor bought Loki's story because Loki managed to seem oh so sincerely sorry and devastated by recent events, "You must'nt blame yourself, Thor." And then Loki's obvious frustration at not being able to retrieve Mjolnir.
B. Loki's earth attire. As my mother later commented after the film, Loki's traditional Asgardian attire was not especially flattering but that suit was the best look for him because as she put it, "he looks like a very successful businessman you shouldn't trust," which I felt was EXACTLY the look to go for. Don't get me wrong; on Asgard you had to have Loki looking like an Asgardian straight from his outfit in the canon but on Earth there's no need for the green suit or helmet and frankly it's distracting. And so while many fanboys might lynch me for saying this,
-Self-hater issues. What's most striking about Loki's double crossing Laufey, (which I did NOT see coming the first time I saw this and was absolutely brilliant,) is that Laufey is Loki's biological father-who abandoned him. Loki makes a point of saying that it was "Odin's son who killed you!" Then Loki who is actually a frost giant tries to wipe out the entire race of frost giants. All in a misguided attempt to please foster daddy by finally 'proving' he's not one of them and is too good enough for the family. Which is why when Loki tells Thor it wasn't about the throne but about being Thor's equal-I believed him. All his life he's been told to hate Frost Giants as being the big bad monsters his beloved super awesome heroic daddy defeated so finding out the truth; I think it really did drive him mad.
-On a purely shallow note, I found Hiddleston to be even more sexy than Hemsworth. Now I can see certainly see the appeal of Hemsworth's Thor on a purely aesthetic level but he just doesn't do it for me the way Hiddleston's Loki did. So sue me.
-How Loki played Thor like a violin. That scene where Loki and Thor discuss Dad's edict and Thor decides to go rogue is simply brilliant. Loki ever so subtly manages to re-inforce Thor's innate instinct to go to Jotunheim and then tries to 'discourage' him ever so ineffectually.
Though, I don't think Loki *was* trying to start a war at first, (his telling the guard where they were going and the "damn" he gave when the Frost Giant called Thor a little girl was quite genuine as he knew how it would play out.) I think at first he really was just continuing to have a little fun by getting his brother to act out and hopefully create more tension between Thor and Dad; it just happened to succeed far FAR beyond his wildest hopes.
-The interrogation room scene between Loki and Thor, (damn Hiddleston and Hemsworth were dynamite together,) which showcases two elements I feel are worth pointing out:
A. Loki's greatest trick is his ability as blogger Lance Mannion put it "to come across as being as sincere as Linus Van Pelt lecturing on the Great Pumpkin." Thor bought Loki's story because Loki managed to seem oh so sincerely sorry and devastated by recent events, "You must'nt blame yourself, Thor." And then Loki's obvious frustration at not being able to retrieve Mjolnir.
B. Loki's earth attire. As my mother later commented after the film, Loki's traditional Asgardian attire was not especially flattering but that suit was the best look for him because as she put it, "he looks like a very successful businessman you shouldn't trust," which I felt was EXACTLY the look to go for. Don't get me wrong; on Asgard you had to have Loki looking like an Asgardian straight from his outfit in the canon but on Earth there's no need for the green suit or helmet and frankly it's distracting. And so while many fanboys might lynch me for saying this,
I hope for Avengers we get Loki in more 'business attire' or at least just basic black than the full on costume.
-Self-hater issues. What's most striking about Loki's double crossing Laufey, (which I did NOT see coming the first time I saw this and was absolutely brilliant,) is that Laufey is Loki's biological father-who abandoned him. Loki makes a point of saying that it was "Odin's son who killed you!" Then Loki who is actually a frost giant tries to wipe out the entire race of frost giants. All in a misguided attempt to please foster daddy by finally 'proving' he's not one of them and is too good enough for the family. Which is why when Loki tells Thor it wasn't about the throne but about being Thor's equal-I believed him. All his life he's been told to hate Frost Giants as being the big bad monsters his beloved super awesome heroic daddy defeated so finding out the truth; I think it really did drive him mad.
-On a purely shallow note, I found Hiddleston to be even more sexy than Hemsworth. Now I can see certainly see the appeal of Hemsworth's Thor on a purely aesthetic level but he just doesn't do it for me the way Hiddleston's Loki did. So sue me.
I think its the voice ,we have good taste it would seem lol.
