Unpopular Opinion: Why Thor 4 is Worthy
Imagine there are two doors in front of you. Behind one door is the meaning of life… and behind the other one is a fried potato. You open the potato-less door, and there in front of you lies life’s ultimate meaning. What is it? It’s a Blu-Ray disc of Thor: Love and Thunder.
Now, I’m not saying that Thor 4, a movie about screaming goats and rainbow boats, is genuinely what life revolves around. But I’m not not saying that either.
Thor 4 is hammers-down one of MARVEL’s best-ever movies, yet nobody (emphasis on “nobody”) agrees. The movie has been derided, disdained, and disparaged, but the critics are all forgetting one simple fact: they’re wrong, and I’m right. Here’s why.
Defense 1 – Barack Obama:
Barack Obama is not in this movie. But that got your attention, didn’t it?
REAL Defense 1 – Much Marvelous Music Makes Me A Mirthful Man:
Thor 4’s wild, vibrant tone and chaotic energy is perfectly matched by its soundtrack. In one of the first scenes, Enya’s softly-sung “Only Time” plays over flashback images of battles and death, setting viewers up for the next two hours of ridiculousness. Several Guns N’ Roses songs also contribute to the movie’s bombastic feel. All the song choices take part in making the movie feel like a rollercoaster, which is what makes it so much fun.
In contrast, many MARVEL movies are missing this key aspect, especially the first two Thor movies. Thor: The Dark World, well-known for being oh-so-not-good, is as dreary as microwaved McDonald’s fries, and its dull, uninspired soundtrack contributes to its impressive insipidness. There are few MARVEL movies as high-spirited and electrifying as Thor 4.
Perhaps the best musical moment of the film, however, emerges when the Old Spice jingle is heard, at which time cinema peaked. Movies might as well just give up now. They’re never going to top an Old Spice cameo in a Thor movie. It just can’t be done.
Defense 2 – Asgardian Art:
This movie has so many great visuals.
Director Taika Waititi has such an eye for beautiful shots that look like works of art. The computer-generated imagery he directs is absolutely stunning. There’s some cinematography in the film that will make you say, “Wow, there’s some awesome cinematography! Also, Thomas was right! I should give him money.” If nothing else, Thor 4 is great to look at… and that’s usually a sentence I reserve for describing myself.
Waititi also directed Thor: Ragnarok, the third installment in the Thor franchise that revolutionized and rejuvenated the Asgardian hero, making him a much more entertaining and likable character than before. Some of MARVEL’s most beautiful shots also occur in Ragnarok, so Watiti is clearly no stranger to making the MCU movies appear more picturesque than normal. When compared to the dark palette of films like the Captain America and Doctor Strange series, Watiti’s work certainly stands out.
Thor 4 is so colorful it can only be described as the cinematic equivalent of a rainbow. Its brightness makes for a highly entertaining, completely Thomas-approved time.
Defense 3 – Chris Hemsworth:
Chris Hemsworth. That is all. No, wait, there’s more! Didn’t see that coming, did you?
Not to get carried away, but if I discovered a genie tomorrow, I’d use all three wishes to make myself Chris Hemsworth. Goodbye, Thomas. Hello, Australian accent.
His charismatic acting makes deeply un-funny jokes comedic. His extreme likeability renders futile anything else’s attempts to be even remotely endearing in comparison. If someone told me he was a Greek god, I’d be easily convinced.
Ahem. Where was I? Ah, yes. Chris Hemsworth is pretty cool. Moving on.
Defense 4 – Love & FUN-der:
The most important thing about Thor 4 is that it’s just a good time. Nothing more, nothing less. It was made to be fun, and that’s all it ever tried and needed to be.
I don’t need a MARVEL movie to make me think. I don’t want a film about a Greek god superhero who literally has the power of “hammer” to make me reflect on life. Thor ain’t that deep. Movies like this are just made to be enjoyed, and that’s what makes them so fun. Movies are entertainment; they can’t all be Oscar-winners (thank goodness for that). What else can you expect from a movie titled “Love and Thunder”?
In conclusion, I believe it was Aristotle who once wisely professed, “People who don’t like Thor 4 don’t like happiness.” He was absolutely right. Way to go, Aristotle!
Just like pizza, Ryan Reynolds, and my chest, Thor 4 has my heart. And to the film’s critics, I would just like to say one thing. In the orders of Dr. Jane Foster, “Eat my hammer!”