Waiting for Thor: Ragnarök, third opus of the saga of the Norse god, back on the first two opuses and its relative failures. Three films, three directors, for a saga that never really worked. What for?
Thor de Kenneth Branagh
In 2011, Thor is the third film of Marvel studio after Iron Man, Captain America and The Incredible Hulk. The big boss Kevin Feige has chosen a renowned filmmaker, a British specialist in Shakespearean films. An interesting idea to stage the theatricality of these Norse gods who live in a universe mixing future and past. Modern Asgardians, however, have Viking manners.
Thor's contribution is not negligible. It opens the entire galactic universe of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. Characters from the nine worlds are introduced, the Norse gods, the ice giants, etc… The visual effects made it possible to stage Asgard, the great city of the gods. The characters are respected, Thor is the wise and violent warrior, taciturn and romantic, Loki is the intelligent and exciting psychopath portrayed in the comics. Odin and Heimdall are also inspired, imposing and charismatic. Tom Hiddleston plays Loki perfectly, he gives him real strength. With Nicholson's smile, the British actor paints a subtle portrait of the character, somewhere between madness and mastery, lies and loyalty. A villain that we appreciate, deep, powerful and charismatic. As Hitchcock said, the villain is paramount and Thor's is very successful. Other characters make their appearance such as the unknown and underused Destroyer.
However, the real concern of this Marvel adaptation is how to manage both worlds. The gods finally make tasks in the human world. Even if Kenneth Branagh plays with this discrepancy with the character of Thor, the other gods have nothing to do in the human world. The story is classic, the characters relatively stereotyped, the romance boring despite the presence of Nathalie Portman, and the action scenes are timid. This first Thor is not a total failure but sorely lacks heroism, grandeur and punch. Thor's alter ego, Dr. Donald Blake is not used, a good initiative, and the film traces the loss of the hammer, the eviction of the god from his city, banished to earth.
Without being exceptional, this other adaptation of the Marvel universe remains totally correct and entertaining. Kenneth Branagh, talented director and Shakespearean, has managed to infuse this dreary blockbuster with his subtle and personal touch. Carried by a first-rate and high-class cast composed of renowned actors such as Anthony Hopkins and very talented newcomers such as Tom Hiddleston, Thor paints an exciting and faithful portrait of the comics of the villain Loki, best character of the film. In short, Thor is an honorable entertainment.
Thor: The Dark World
In 2013 Alan Taylor took over the direction of the continuation of the adventures of the Asgardian god. A totally bland sequel. Kenneth Branagh's approach, which ultimately remained a little different from classic superhero movies, is totally neglected for this tasteless sequel. This sequel is a classic blockbuster, where the action is dominant but not necessarily exciting. The character of Loki, the main interest of the saga is underemployed while the villain is totally bland. The great Malekith, badly disguised, has no charisma, no presence and no line of dialogue.
This sequel is a simple sequence of repetitive fights. This new opus is a simple pretext to exploit the franchise and introduce Ether, one of the infinity stones. The Marvel humor is still present and as sympathetic and refreshing, the real only interest of the film is once again Loki. Because even if the character of Thor is not uninteresting, his nemesis is exciting, and remains one of the characters of the Marvel universe the best treated. And the interpretation of Tom Hiddleston is not for nothing, the role sticks to his skin, of a striking realism, funny, casual, classy, cynical, it is THE character of the film. The performers are not bad, Tom Hiddleston shines, Idris Elba is still charismatic. Thor: The Dark World remains yet another banal blockbuster, with an archetypal villain, and twists seen and reviewed.
Thor Ragnarök is the third installment of the saga and promises to be the most successful. Even before its release in France, Taika Waititi's film is eagerly awaited by fans and other aficionados of the Marvel universe.
