Movie Review - Thor 2
Dec. 15th, 2013 04:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tanithryudoSaw Thor 2 today. I liked it, better than Thor 1 actually. Maybe it's because I didn't have high expectations going in this time, or maybe because there's less emphasis on Loki (I still don't get the fandom's obsession with him... OK I get the why, I just don't feel it myself).
The Good:
* Humor - This. So much this. I think this might be the real trademark of all the Marvel movie films. The humor is just spread through the entire movie and had me laughing all the way through. Even though there are tense moments and of course suspense, this film in the end felt like a very light-hearted movie. Verging on romantic comedy.
* Romance - I like how the romance was done here. Thor learned to be charming, hehe. Still, they didn't make romance the center of the story, but still made it a driving force. None of the decisions characters make are motivated by "just" their hearts (or lust).
* Characterization of Thor, all the ladies, the warriors three, all of the human supporting cast, basically everyone except the villains, Odin & Loki. I think the Warriors Three got much better characterization this movie than the last one, despite their very short appearances. Frigga is the quintessential Mother figure. Darcy is awesome, and even though I think fans are going to be disappointed that she's got a boyfriend now and thus not available for shipping, I am pleased with her story nonetheless. Eric is the dad figure that's brilliant but going senile and lives to embarrass you (on live TV no less). Thor has definitely grown into his own as a Hero (with capital H) compared to the previous film, or Avengers (where honestly he didn't get much characterization at all).
* Cap cameo - Ok it wasn't the real "Captain America". Still, it came out of nowhere and made me laugh. I'm sure Chris Evans loved popping in for a short showing as well.
The OK:
* The Plot - Standard fare comic book cosmic type BS. Don't look for too much depth there and just roll with it. Still, it tied up ok, and didn't have too many plot holes (aside from the literal holes in the laws of physics but that was meant to be there). Same with the fight scenes, pretty much.
* World Building - We got to see some more of the Nine Realms and how they relate. But there wasn't too much more on it, alas. Asgard's technology is weird and a bizarre amalgam of the high tech and archaic. It's like they took a bunch of sci fi high tech and then built it around pure aesthetics instead of actual efficiency and usefulness. It makes it pretty, certainly, but still grates against my engineering sensibilities at times.
The Bad:
* Odin - I'm having trouble getting what the writers and directors are trying to make of his characterization. Honestly. He says things with...have some sense in them. There seems to be some implication that he still feels for his family (all of them). But he also acts like a jerk at the strangest times, and very much unlike the king of an enlightened society that he's supposed to be. Also, is he supposed to be a bad father or not? God, I know most of the fandom is leaning toward bad father, but I also know that's only cuz they're on the woobie!Loki side of bias. None of his actual actions/words makes me think he's a bad father rather than a king that also has to take into account more things than just familial feelings when he speaks/acts. And hey, none of his actions have screamed or event hinted toward abusive/neglectful/etc father...
* Loki - I also can't tell what's going on with him either. Is he supposed to be fully insane? Maybe, but he doesn't really show that. His actions make little sense if trying to cast him as a manipulative planner, or are just breaking SoD if they're trying to claim the *entire* thing is "just as planned". Uh, no. I feel like the movie is trying too hard to have him remain the villain and ambiguously redeeming or apologizing for him because of all the fan love. And what's with the bit at the end? Hopefully that plot point will be answered sooner than the next Thor movie...
The Good:
* Humor - This. So much this. I think this might be the real trademark of all the Marvel movie films. The humor is just spread through the entire movie and had me laughing all the way through. Even though there are tense moments and of course suspense, this film in the end felt like a very light-hearted movie. Verging on romantic comedy.
* Romance - I like how the romance was done here. Thor learned to be charming, hehe. Still, they didn't make romance the center of the story, but still made it a driving force. None of the decisions characters make are motivated by "just" their hearts (or lust).
* Characterization of Thor, all the ladies, the warriors three, all of the human supporting cast, basically everyone except the villains, Odin & Loki. I think the Warriors Three got much better characterization this movie than the last one, despite their very short appearances. Frigga is the quintessential Mother figure. Darcy is awesome, and even though I think fans are going to be disappointed that she's got a boyfriend now and thus not available for shipping, I am pleased with her story nonetheless. Eric is the dad figure that's brilliant but going senile and lives to embarrass you (on live TV no less). Thor has definitely grown into his own as a Hero (with capital H) compared to the previous film, or Avengers (where honestly he didn't get much characterization at all).
* Cap cameo - Ok it wasn't the real "Captain America". Still, it came out of nowhere and made me laugh. I'm sure Chris Evans loved popping in for a short showing as well.
The OK:
* The Plot - Standard fare comic book cosmic type BS. Don't look for too much depth there and just roll with it. Still, it tied up ok, and didn't have too many plot holes (aside from the literal holes in the laws of physics but that was meant to be there). Same with the fight scenes, pretty much.
* World Building - We got to see some more of the Nine Realms and how they relate. But there wasn't too much more on it, alas. Asgard's technology is weird and a bizarre amalgam of the high tech and archaic. It's like they took a bunch of sci fi high tech and then built it around pure aesthetics instead of actual efficiency and usefulness. It makes it pretty, certainly, but still grates against my engineering sensibilities at times.
The Bad:
* Odin - I'm having trouble getting what the writers and directors are trying to make of his characterization. Honestly. He says things with...have some sense in them. There seems to be some implication that he still feels for his family (all of them). But he also acts like a jerk at the strangest times, and very much unlike the king of an enlightened society that he's supposed to be. Also, is he supposed to be a bad father or not? God, I know most of the fandom is leaning toward bad father, but I also know that's only cuz they're on the woobie!Loki side of bias. None of his actual actions/words makes me think he's a bad father rather than a king that also has to take into account more things than just familial feelings when he speaks/acts. And hey, none of his actions have screamed or event hinted toward abusive/neglectful/etc father...
* Loki - I also can't tell what's going on with him either. Is he supposed to be fully insane? Maybe, but he doesn't really show that. His actions make little sense if trying to cast him as a manipulative planner, or are just breaking SoD if they're trying to claim the *entire* thing is "just as planned". Uh, no. I feel like the movie is trying too hard to have him remain the villain and ambiguously redeeming or apologizing for him because of all the fan love. And what's with the bit at the end? Hopefully that plot point will be answered sooner than the next Thor movie...
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-17 01:22 am (UTC)