NOT a Spoiler Free Post. I'll let you know when they're coming up.
I love Thor. I love Chris Hemsworth. If I had to pick between Liam and Chris Hemsworth, I know very well it would be Chris every single time.
However, this is nothing compared to my love for Loki. I am sure that this would be the same for so many people, as I know both Loki and Tom Hiddleston are loved throughout the world. When I was watching the film, when the part (finally) came to when Loki was in the cell and Thor came to see him I turned to my friend and whispered, "I have been waiting for this the whole movie" and she laughed and said "same". As much as I love Thor, is anyone really here for him? Or are we all just waiting patiently for Loki?
Having just watched the first instalment of Thor the night before, I can tell you with complete confidence that it's follow up was so much better. It's a better storyline, there's better character development, better fight scenes and better jokes. I loved it so much that only three days later I saw it again.
One person I have a problem with in the film is Jane. There is just something about her which just makes her dull. I mean, for starters her name is Jane, just plain Jane (apologies if that is actually your name) and yeah, she loves science and that's definitely better than nothing, but she needs something more. I'm not asking her to be a warrior, that's Sif, but I think what's missing from her is a sense of humour. Jane doesn't have to be hilarious like Darcy but they could give her a few lines which make her a bit more likeable and a three-dimensional character.
(SPOILERS BEGIN HERE)
The first fifteen to twenty minutes was definitely not my favourite part of the film. I felt like it dragged on a little and although it was needed to explain to the audience what was going on, it could have been done in a better way. When the Elves invade Asgard, that's when the movie gets going. All of a sudden there is action, humour and development. It gets even better once Thor comes up with a plan, and that plan includes Loki, and then for the next twenty minutes the movie is at its best.
I am glad that Loki was not redeemed. As much as I loved the scene between Thor and Loki, and wished that it could be true, another side of me, the correct side of me, knew that Loki would never do something like that. And although that scene was heartbreaking, the worst was Loki's reaction to Frigga's death. Not only immediately, with his small nod, nor his smashed up room and trick to hide it from Thor, but also his small comments: "trust my rage" and "but she wouldn't be that surprised" when Thor tells Loki that "mother wouldn't want us to fight". He believes he knows Frigga better than anyone, and he's going to get his revenge.
The film passes the Bechedel test, which is every film should now be passing, but unfortunately isn't. I hate the poster for the movie though, with Jane clinging to Thor as if she needs him to keep on existing, and I hate that Darcy is happy that Jane is on a date because she's basically been waiting around for Thor to come back for the last two years. However, after this Darcy and Jane have a long and excited talk about "science" before Thor gets to Earth and that's enough for the movie to pass. The rest of the movie isn't too good, but it could have been way worse. Sif doesn't pine longingly over Thor and she gracefully rescues Jane without so much of a complaint. Frigga is not only a mother, but skilful at both tricks which she passed onto Loki and a sword. It is also half Thor and half Jane (with her science) that save the world.
Overall though, I loved it and I'm definitely going to be buying the DVD when it comes out if only so I can watch Captain America as Loki over and over again.
Okay, so I have a confession to make: I never would have seen Star Trek if Benedict Cumberbatch hadn't been in the sequel. It's my life mission to see all of BC's movies, and so he sort of forced my hand with appearing as the villain of it's sequel Star Trek: Into Darkness, didn't he?
I tend to do this with a lot of things in my life, not just films and television. I'll judge something massively before I've even had a chance to look into it. One of my friends recently observed that everything in my eyes was guilty until proven innocent. I have to stop doing that. One example (that does happen to be a television series) is that I used to HATE (see how I've not only capitalised it but also underlined and bolded it?) Doctor Who. I had an argument with one of my friends boyfriends over it when I was seventeen. He had just unsuspectingly stated that he enjoyed watching it, totally unaware that he'd walked into a minefield. How could he? How dare he? He couldn't understand how I could judge something so hard without having seen an episode. I couldn't understand how he could be such a dickhead as to watch a stupid sci-fi show about some crazy doctor in space.
Now it's not only one of my favourite shows on television, but my actual favourite show of all time.
Harry, if you're reading this, I'm sorry.
That's not to say Star Trek is now my favourite movie of all time. However, it's definitely changed my opinion. I found it fast-paced, funny and was perfect for someone with absolutely no understanding of the Star Trek world/universe. Chris Pine worked well as James Kirk, although I feel he always plays the same characters. The last movie I saw him in, This Means War (2012), he played FDR, a secret agent who is pretty much Kirk with a different name. That same confident intelligence, self assured, always on the lookout, good looking guy who is charming with the ladies but still has something to prove. I love Zachary Quinto as Spock. It would be hard to play someone who is meant to have show no emotions, but actually does feel a lot beneath the surface. I think he pulled it off wonderfully, and I want to see him in more films soon. I also love it when films have a great minor cast too. Hello Chris Hemsworth, Winona Ryder and Simon Pegg. If I hadn't IMDB'd the movie before I saw it, I never would have known Nero was played by Eric Banner, but it was great to see him too. My biggest love casting wise was Leonard Nimoy as the future, older Spock. I'm sure all of you know this already but Nimoy was the first Spock and I think it's a perfect nod to the original. Nimoy also plays William Bell in Fringe (2009), and anyone in Fringe is loved by me.
Star Trek: Into Darkness is due in Australian cinemas on the 16th of May. Will you be seeing it? Is there a movie or television series you've judged before watching it?
