When I was a kid, I played with these Mego superheroes, which were basically eight inch tall action figures (don’t call them dolls!!!) with cloth clothing. I had pretty much the entire run of the series, thanks to my parents, who seemed to be just as much into getting every last Mego figure out there for me. One day, my father brought home for me a Thor action figure. While I was grateful for the gift (if nothing else, I wasn’t a spoiled brat), Thor was probably the least favorite of my Megos--mainly because I never really "got" him, you know? I never really understood who Thor was, outside of the classic Norse myths.
Thor is the hammer wielding god of thunder based in Germanic legend. He became especially popular during the Viking age in Scandinavia, when people would wear symbols of his hammer, Mjölnir--as well as his name--in defiance against the mass conversion to Christianity that took place in their region. Thor, The Mighty--the comic book character upon which my goofy-looking Mego figure was based--was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee and made his first appearance in Journey into Mystery #83, back in 1962. He became popular enough to receive his own comic book title, and soon joined The Avengers, the superhero team that featured an all-star lineup of Marvel Comics legends.
2011 saw the release of Thor, the live action film starring Chris Hemsworth, who
shined very brightly as Kirk’s father in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek reboot. Hemworth is superb at playing a natural born warrior who’s eager to assume the throne from his father, Odin (a perfectly cast Anthony Hopkins). Tensions rise between Thor’s native home of Asgard and their old enemies, the Frost Giants, thanks to a bold assault on their realm led by Thor--which enrages Odin so much, he banishes his thick-headed son to Earth, where Thor is stripped of his powers, but not of his honor and valor. This is one Asgard whom you wouldn’t want to count out so quickly.
The creative force behind this vital and intelligent look at Thor is a surprising one: none other than Kenneth Branagh directed the film. The actor/director behind some of the best cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare (Henry V, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing) was a perfect choice to handle the far-out storyline of Thor. Because, ultimately, Branagh managed to humanize both the story, as well as the characters. As a result, his cast--which includes the superb Natalie Portman, the equally good Stellan Skarsgård and the sublime Kat Dennings--all give excellent performances that manage to outshine the effects (which are pretty impressive in their own right).
Back in 2008, director Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr. made me care about Iron Man, a second tier hero from the Marvel comic stables (and another Mego action figure I once owned as a kid). And once again, thanks to the work of a brilliant director, I find myself caring about Thor, another vaguely remembered superhero from my youth. Sure, it’s a summertime popcorn film, but one that’s smartly done, and loaded with a genuine message (leadership and power are privileges that must be earned by one who is worthy of the task) and plenty of vibrant flesh and blood characters to made me want to see what happens next. Bring on Thor 2.
--SF
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