I have been fascinated by Vikings since I was a kid. It’s more than their image, it’s their strength, courage, and thirst for life. Sure they were marauders, but their mythologies were alive inside my head like no other stories. (Besides, most everyone seemed to be doing the same things back in those times.) As a matter of fact, if it hadn’t been for them, I would never have survived a semester of classic opera appreciation. To this day, Wagner’s Rings of Nibelung is the only opera that I can listen to without wanting to scream…thanks to those Viking myths.
Marvel has brought another of our comic heroes to life: Thor. I’ve been excited to see this movie since I saw the first previews. Needless to say, I’m now extremely happy since I’ve finally watched it! It also helps that he’s one of my favorite Norse gods, the God of Thunder. Whether drawn by the amazing Michael Turner, or portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, Marvel got it right. And this movie was simply dessert for the eyes. Every character was larger than life, and Asgard shown like a jewel in the cosmos. It was an interesting portrayal of this legendary home of the Norse gods as another planetary system that’s linked to Earth via a wormhole. But the ride through this wondrous land made me wish that such a place really existed. To see constellations at your feet, like Heimdall viewed as he stood guard at the Bifrost bridge must be a sight to behold.
Thor’s story line (a parable of youth) merged with awe-inspiring graphics made those myths of old come to life for me through the eyes of the great Kenneth Branagh. If this is what he sees in his mind’s eye, then I’ve still got a ways to go before I reach my true potential. But it gives me something to aspire to. Of course there are many movies that have reached the status of legend, like Avatar, but this movie hits all of the right notes to be a symphony for the senses. I’ve watched Hollywood make movie after movie based on superheroes, and they’ve finally hit it out of the ballpark for me with this feast. I hope that they keep finding creative ways to bring comics to life, because it’s a joy when a comic creator’s vision is brought to larger-than-life reality.
One last note: Remember to stay until the end, because the wormhole ride is something to experience!
