Superhero cinema has a special place in my heart. When I feel like fast and exciting action, I usually choose films of this genre. I appreciate the productions from the Marvel stable mainly for their great acting creations and wit. The comic book adaptation of the heir to the Asgardian throne is my absolute number one. I’ll tell you why.
Ever since I can remember, my fascination with all mythology has been systematically growing stronger. The history of the ancient Slavs, Vikings and African peoples are a kind of escape from reality and are the direct cause of my interest in fantasy. Mainly because I like to think there is a grain of truth in every legend.
How did it start?
The god of storm and lightning, vitality and agriculture was the son of Odin and Jord. Wielding Mjöllnir, he traveled the world in his horse-drawn chariot. His foster brother was (and how!) Loki – the god of lies and fire. The siblings had heated arguments with each other. This is, of course, a very laconic description, but it may appeal to the imagination. Especially if it finds fertile ground, as it was the case with the rest. Norse mythology has inspired Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Larry Lieber, which has resulted in many great comics. The first issue of the Asgardian appeared in 1962 and was entitled Journey into Mystery .
Debut on the golden screen
The first film from Marvel Studios about a Norse god as a superhero premiered in 2011. Thor is the fourth production of the so-called I Phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and brought the owners of the franchise almost half a billion dollars in profit. Chris Hemsworth played the main role, along with stars such as Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and the true movie legend Anthony Hopkins (Odin). The director of the film was Kenneth Branagh, who previously became famous for his work on adaptations of the works of William Shakespeare. Some, moreover, looked for similarities between the fate of Hamlet and the adventures of the god of thunder. The narrative of both songs revolves around the plot, the struggle for influence and power, and punishment for their deeds.
If earlier leopard movies featured extremely colorful and fast-paced action, what about Thor ? Not only is the main character exaggerated (and in a good sense, if you can say so), the whole background of the events seems to perfectly reflect the magical mood of the legends about the inhabitants of Asgard. Loki also deserves attention. Tom Hiddleston has created an almost iconic creation. Balancing on the verge of good and evil is not an easy acting task, which the British, whatever the bush, has done.
Even more divinity in divinity
We didn’t have to wait long for the next installment of Thor’s fate. Thor: The Dark World hit theaters in 2013, beating the box office of the previous installment by $ 100 million. This time, the superhero faced the Dark Elves and his own feelings towards Jane Foster. When it comes to humor, the main tool for amusing audiences is still to emphasize the contrasts between Asgardian and terrestrial lifestyles.
Many fans of the series accused the creators of flattening the protagonists very much. Sieczka was supposed to be in the first place and apparently there was not enough room for reflection. On the other hand, there were voices of opposition to this theory, which I myself admit right, that the main character was shown in a slightly different light. The second part presented Thor as an excellent warrior who does not take parting with his beloved very badly. Didn’t that make him even more like the mythological version?
Once again, the character of Loki was appreciated for this, and as the plot developed, he fought more and more difficult battles with himself.
Phase III: Ragnarok
Putting Thor’s adventures into the hands of a director who cut his teeth on creating an independent cinema was a bull’s eye. Just. We will feel the climate change in every aspect. The colors, music, tempo and sense of humor are different. Taika Waititi recreated Thor. I am also under the impression that this part is closest to the mythological prototype. The multitude of references, artifacts and the duality of nature of some of the heroes made me smile to myself as I recalled the readings from my school days.
The story of the destruction of the world is embellished with absurdity. Characteristic features of the heroes: Odinson’s pride, Loki’s duplicity and Banner’s awkwardness are the greatest advantages of the production. The second plan also deserves two sentences. The drunken Valkyrie, Grandmaster and dark Hela seem to conquer the hearts of the audience with their charisma more than the protagonists themselves in the other two installments of the series. I am writing all of this with full responsibility: Thor: Ragnarok is one of the best MCU adaptations.
Three CDs, three luck
Thanks to Galapagos and the generosity of Piotr Markiewicz, I was able to spend three evenings the way I like the most – watching, watching and again: watching! I am a huge fan of Thor, and if my above conclusions seem biased to you, well… I can assure you that I have tried to give my fair judgment.
The fact that the DVD releases are not as richly featured as the Blu-ray releases was obvious to me. I watched all the films with the original sound, which I also recommend to you, although the voiceover turned out to be quite passable. I found the largest selection of subtitles in the last part, but there was no trace of additions in the form of cut-out scenes or comments. The latter, however, appeared on the first disc with the movie Thor . Thor: The Dark World did, however, contain an unused scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier .
I will also mention the effective packaging. For people who care about aesthetics, the Marvel Collection should be to your liking. The design of all films is consistent and minimalist.