Tie-in to vast quantities of related merchandise. Some strategically placed cereal boxes and a mention of a character in another comic book hero movie, Iron Man.
Violence & Scariness
some
Plenty of action-packed battle sequences that have characters hitting, slamming, spearing, stabbing, lancing, and blowing up enemies. Much of it is done with special effects, so they're not exactly gory. Still, they're intense. Lots of screaming; a character charges into a top-secret location, tossing and punching those who stand in his way. Guns are drawn.
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The movie's subtext seems to be that "an eye for an eye" only ends up with everyone blind. The film also conveys the message that just governance requires wisdom and humility.
Positive Role Models
a little
A king wants to raise a son who's not only strong and courageous but also thoughtful and wise. A brother rates family loyalty very highly, though another struggles with it. And a smart scientist won't compromise her research.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this comic book-based action movie about the Norse god Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth), who's banished to Earth to master his temper and discover his humility, has some fairly intense action/battle scenes. But although characters hit, spear, stab, and blow up their enemies, and weapons are used, the violence isn't particularly bloody or gory. There also isn't much swearing -- "hell" is about as forceful as it gets -- or sex (just kisses/flirting), and drinking is limited to some beer consumption. And underlying all of the mayhem, there's even a positive message about finding and learning from your weakness. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Thor is good. Now, that’s not saying much, many MCU movies are just good, but Thor is a different kind of good, the kind that leaves you smiling even after the credits have ended. Granted, I love anything with Loki in it, but even my family agrees that Thor is one of the better MCU movies. Now for the review:
The Good:
The acting is good, as of pretty much all the Marvel movies, (with the exception of Thor: Love and Thunder. Don’t watch that one. Period. Nuff said.) so it’s a fun summer movie to watch. (Also, watch this one before you watch Avengers. It’s VERY important to the plot of that specific Marvel movie.) Jane and Thor might not have the best chemistry, but I still like them as a couple, even if their romance is super cheesy. Also: Tom Hiddleston’s acting is superb. He plays a deeper, more complex character perfectly, staying believably emotional even while snarking off a wisecrack. His Loki is a delight to watch onscreen, making you laugh and think at the same time, “HOW COULD HE DO THAT TO HIS FAMILY!?” Loki, Tony Stark, and Bucky Barnes are the deepest Marvel characters you’ll find, but Loki is the wittiest. Also, Darcy steals the show.
The Bad:
Weeeeeell, there’s not too much. Natalie Portman could up Jane’s sass and the movie would benefit, and the CGI isn’t the best, but other than that it’s good.
The Ugly:
Not much, a few minor curse words.
Conclusion:
Thor is pretty darn good. Not to mention, Avengers won’t make a ton of sense if you don’t watch this one first. So if you’re planning on watching Avengers, make sure to watch Thor first. But nerdy fangirling aside, Thor is a fun movie to watch. Sure, it’s not the best Marvel, but if you’re benging on MCU movies be sure to give this one a whirl!
After his son THOR (Chris Hemsworth) storms Yodenheim -- the realm that the Norse gods' native Asgard has been in an uncertain peace with for eons -- because of an unexpected attack from the Frost Giants, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) banishes him and his hammer to Earth. There, Thor literally runs into an astrophysicist (Natalie Portman) who impresses him; he also learns humility and grace. Meanwhile, Thor's brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has risen to power as Odin lies in a restless sleep. The Frost Giants are out for revenge, and everywhere, including Earth, is in peril.
Armed with lessons about international politics and diplomacy, this is an entertaining, surprisingly astute film defined by top-shelf special effects and a compelling, if crowded, storyline. The initial political fracas that leads to Thor's banishment is United Nations-worthy. (Who says fantasy movies can't be cerebral?) Nearly every character is somewhat layered, especially Loki, who's played to chilling effect by Hiddleston.
Still, it's disappointing that Jane is -- par for the course for most comic book-movie love interests -- rather flimsily drawn. No matter how sensible and smart she is, she crumbles at the sight of an impressive six-pack. (Okay, 8-pack.) It's an annoyance, but not a spoiler. Thor is fun to watch, period.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Thor compares to other comic book-based adventures. Are these kind of movies only popular because they offer an escape, or is there more to them? What messages do they send?
Does the film make Norse mythology applicable to today's society? How?
How does the fact that much of the movie's violence is based in fantasyaffect its impact?
MPAA explanation:
sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence
Last updated:
September 19, 2024
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
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