| Flicks

Thor & My Perestroika

Posted on 19 May 2011 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

Thor is your typical Saturday Matinee Marvel Comic flick. In the mythical realm of Norse gods, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is the belligerent pretty prince of King Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Frigga (Rene Russo).

On the day it is to be announced  that Thor will be named heir to the throne, mischief arises from a dreaded enemy. Fearing that his father lacks the gravitas to confront this ancient enemy, Thor,
his brother Loki (Tom Huddleston) and a team of brawling buddies venture to the underworld to banish the threat. The battle is a stalemate and King Odin banishes Thor from the kingdom.

Thor plummets into the New Mexico desert. The fallen god meets Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), an astronomy professor, and Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), master researcher of military technology and mythological lore.

As Thor is humbled by nerdy humans, King Odin is backstabbed by a trusted advisor and the kingdom is assaulted by a phantom menace.

Who will live? Who will die? These questions are answered in this movie, and Thor will return next summer in the highly anticipated The Avengers, which also features Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Sargent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).

Directed by Kenneth Branaugh, Thor is a halfway successful movie. While it contains some shots of visual beauty, the scenes on Thor’s native realm are unrealistic. The fights, the battles and the action sequences rely too much on attention deficient disorder editing, making the story hard to follow.

Thor thrives in the New Mexico desert. Raised on royal and pampered dining, Thor easily accepts the joys of pancakes and coffee in a small desert diner.  Given the outdoor action in daylight, the action sequences are easier to follow. Thor is given his cowboy moment when he confronts a mighty adversary during a Main Street showdown.

For those seeking more serious fare, My Perestroika opens tomorrow. With English subtitles, this documentary interviews the last generation of people who were socialized and educated under Soviet influence.

Given that most of the interviewees are my age and younger, it is fascinating to see their point of view.

The Russian citizens remember their childhood conformity with fondness. While the interviewees reflect upon the fakery of the Soviet system, My Perestroika focuses upon personal responsibility and carving out an individual identity.

Comments are closed.

Advertise Here
Advertise Here