THOR
A divinely inspired work of cinema with a real beating heart, featuring the best fantasy world in contemporary film, the best straight superhero story in any film, the best supervillain since Claude Rains wore black velvet, and the best colors of 2011, which, if I had my way, would be an Oscar category.
2011
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Written by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne, Mark Protosevich, and J. Michael Straczynski
With Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Natalie Portman
(Jane Foster), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Rene Russo (Frigga), Kat Dennings
(Darcy Lewis), Stellan Skarsgard (Dr. Erik Selvig), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Jaime Alexander (Sif), Zachary
Levi (Fandral), Ray Stevenson (Volstagg), Tadanobu Asano (Hogun), Colm Feore (Laufey), and Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson)
THOR: THE DARK WORLD
Whosoever holds this camera, if he be worthy, shall possess the
power of Kenneth Branagh
—and of course it didn't even budge. Yet, somehow,
this sequel is a very good movie, proving how much script and
performances
—and probably sheer goodwill for a franchise
—really do matter.
2013
Directed by Alan Taylor
Written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Christopher Yost, and Don Payne
With the same, minus Colm Feore (a void in my icy heart) and Clark Gregg (a pain like a stab in the chest), plus Christopher Eccleston (if you really, really insist)
Spoiler alert: severe for Thor
, mild for The Dark World
