I could use a sweet movie right about now, and Bart, Paul and I found one in Thor 4, a/k/a Thor: Love and Thunder, a cosmic romp whose lightheartedness was enhanced by heart.
These cosmic capers, inherently illogical, have to surf along on the strength of the emotions they evoke, and this one has just the right actors for the job.
By this time, Chris Hemsworth wears the role as stylishly as his red cape. Natalie Portman finally gets to really do something with her role as Thor’s lady love. Jane Foster. Russell Crowe made a Marvelous a-hole Zeus. Christian Bale devoured the scenery with Hollandaise sauce as the omnipotent and cruel yet sympathetic villain.
The film had all that, plus intimidating ancient weaponry that has surprisingly touchy feelings, and goats. I loved the goats.
It's interesting to me that while the first Thor film was visibly nervous about referring to its characters as “gods,” this one is God City, literally.
Bring on Thor 5.
Paul Zuckerman wrote:
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! We are going on Friday. Of the original group of Avenger stars, only Chris Hemsworth seems happy to keep on playing his character. And after all those years of deeply melodramatic quasi-Shakespearean Thor stories from back then, it is different to see a lighter approach, which seems to be working well. Glad that Natalie Portman gets to finally strut her stuff!
This movie was more deft at the "you've got to go get the thing to stop the thing from thinging" bit than most. That wasn't the emphasis.
ReplyDeleteJoeletariat Feliciano wrote:
ReplyDeletei had a similar reaction as you Durban. i found it immensely entertaining, and full of heart -- and not the garden variety, unearned mawkish nonsense, but genuinely affirming. i have to admit...big softie that i am...the big scene with the children in the third act, got me teary-eyed.
bale's baddie transcended the "my baby died so now i'm evil" trope that comics so love. the ensemble work, was sublime, headed by hemsworth who i'm beginning to believe may very well be legitimately asgardian.
i am very much enjoying the unique tonal differences the current mcu phase has been giving us. sam raimi, and taika waititi couldn't be anymore different in their stylistic approaches. moon knight, and ms. marvel -- same thing. there is no stamp on any of the current offerings that visually connect them to the other. seems to me this is a conscious choice, throwing a wide net, broadening the universe with new characters, and with them, new directors, and visionaries. other than the very REAL WORLD problems, it's a great time to be alive.
#makeminemarvel