Thor Now
Grade: B+ (Solid entry, uneven but charming)
Thor is an uneven but heartfelt origin story. It’s at its best when treating gods as broken family members and at its worst when pretending to be a romantic comedy. It launched two great careers (Hemsworth, Hiddleston), gave the MCU its most tragic villain, and proved that Shakespeare and superheroes could share a screen. It’s not top-tier Marvel, but it’s far from the disaster some remember it as. Grade: B+ (Solid entry, uneven but charming) Thor
One of the MCU’s best scores. Doyle weaves regal, mournful themes for Asgard and a swaggering, heroic motif for Thor. It gives the film a classical, almost romantic-epic feel that later Thor movies abandoned for synth-pop. What Doesn’t Work 1. The Earth Scenes Are Clunky The New Mexico setting feels cheap compared to Asgard’s golden spires. The small-town romance between Thor and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) lacks chemistry—Portman looks bored, and the script gives her nothing but “plucky scientist” clichés. The supporting Earthlings (Darcy, Selvig) are comic relief that lands about 60% of the time. It’s not top-tier Marvel, but it’s far from
royal court dramas, fish-out-of-water comedy, Tom Hiddleston stealing every scene. It gives the film a classical, almost romantic-epic
The film’s secret weapon. Hiddleston turns Loki from a pantomime villain into a heartbreaking antagonist: a son who discovers his entire identity is a lie. His quiet jealousy and desperate need for Odin’s approval make the final act feel personal, not just explosive.
