Thor

Chris Hemsworth stars as Thor, God of Thunder, in this adaptation of the Marvel comic directed by Kenneth Branagh.  Thor is the proud son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), king of the mighty realm of Asgard.  Now that Thor has come of rightful age, he eagerly awaits taking over the throne as the new king.  Except on the day of his coronation ceremony, Asgard's longtime enemies attack the city and Thor decides to take matters into his own hands and seek revenge, despite his father's pleas to the contrary.  As punishment, Odin banishes Thor to live among humans as a mortal being.  Stripped of his powers, Thor must now find a way to get back to Asgard and protect Earth from those who wish to destroy it.  As Thor, Hemsworth nails his performance as the headstrong god, portraying him with a playful swagger that is both funny and charming.  Hemsworth - with a magnetic smile and a body to match - turns what could have easily become an arrogant frat boy shtick into a genuinely likable character.  His crew of warrior pals also lends equal parts comic relief and gravitas as they fight valiantly at the side of their beloved leader and friend.  A bit on the disappointing side was Natalie Portman, as Thor's love interest.  Portman, playing a brainy astrophysicist, is the one who discovers Thor after he crashes to earth during an unusual electrical storm, and immediately turns into a silly schoolgirl around him.  While it is understandable that any girl would turn to mush around such a fine specimen of rugged good looks and manly confidence, Portman's giggly, swoony act is hard to buy from someone who is supposedly such a brilliant and level-headed scientist.  Nonetheless, the film delivers in every other way, from its spectacular special effects (a rainbow bridge connecting Asgard to their interplanetary teleportation device is visually stunning) to its swashbuckling fun that every summer blockbuster should aspire to.  In fact, this movie was done in such a marvelous (pun intended) fashion that I was amazed no one took the initiative to bring this superhero to the big screen before.  I, for one, am eagerly awaiting more appearances from the god of thunder (next summer's "The Avengers", anyone?) and sincerely hope Hollywood sees fit to make the charismatic Hemsworth a star.


4 out of 5 stars

Blue Valentine

"Blue Valentine" tells the tormented tale of a young couple in various stages of courtship and marriage.  Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star as Dean and Cindy who meet cute and fall in love, despite differing backgounds and other obstacles that threaten to keep them apart.  Dean and Cindy eventually marry and start a family.  But soon, the initial passion and differences that attracted them to each other start to create discord and resentment, and we see Dean and Cindy grow further and further apart as their relationship slowly unravels.  This extremely personal and poignant story is depicted in a fractured timeline, with happy scenes from Dean and Cindy's past interspersed with the harsh reality of their present day.  This narrative device packs a powerful punch as we slowly discover the events that lead to the couple's inevitable demise.  Gosling and Williams both deliver raw and riveting perfomances, to the point where it becomes uncomfortable at times to watch such private moments displayed so nakedly on the screen.  The film is beautifully directed, with impeccable attention to detail that results in an honest and realistic portrayal of the darkest of love stories.  "Blue Valentine" is that rare film which is too emotionally draining for repeat viewing, but is nonetheless a stirring piece of drama you will never forget.


4 out of 5 stars

The King's Speech

Colin Firth stars as King George VI in this Oscar-winning biographical drama.  George has struggled all his life with a debilitating stammer that prevents him from being the public persona he strives to be.  After years of meeting every known speech therapist, George has all but given up on public speaking.  But after his father dies and his older brother resigns, the crown falls on King George and he is unwillingly thrust into the spotlight.  Desperately, he turns to an unknown Australian doctor, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), whose unorthodox methods clash with King George's stuffy manner.  But soon, they start to see results, and a unique bond is formed between doctor and patient as George slowly gains confidence in himself.  The film tells the simple and sweet true story of a famous person tackling a seemingly impossible obstacle and coming out the other side victorious.  The real showcase here is the superb acting by Oscar-winning actors Rush and Firth (who picked up a golden statuette for his performance).  The pair have amazing chemistry and beautifully portray the unlikely friendship between a king and his speech therapist.  Helena Bonham Carter also turns in a surprisingly demure and delightful performance as the king's wife.  The story and the directing themselves are pretty much of average, made-for-TV caliber, but the acting definitely elevates the material.  In my opinion, there were other films last year more worthy of the Best Film Academy Award than "The King's Speech", but in no way did that detract from my enjoyment of this triumphant and inspirational tale.


4 out of 5 stars