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You know those films that are difficult to watch, not because they are bad films, but because they are so similar to something that has happened, or is currently happening to you. I'm not talking about some weak, barely tangible connection, such as getting a paper cut so a film like saw really relates to you. Nor am I saying that the film has to be an autobiography.
I'm talking about the films that have so many similarities, plot devices and events, that it's hard not to compare it to your own experiences. These types of film should be rare, if you can think of more then four then you're not thinking specifically enough, and if you can't think of one, you need to watch more films and experience life a bit more (which is a bit contradictory). Anyway, what makes these films difficult to watch is their ending.
There are many exceptions throughout the history of cinema which shows not all stories need a happy ending. However, the majority of them do. The child recovers from near death, the guy gets the girl, the team win the game, everybody learns a lesson, and 'the classic' everybody lives happily ever after. Just because the last is found mainly in nursery rhymes, doesn't mean that the film world doesn't indulge it. They are not wrong to do this though, there is nobody I know that would prefer to flip the ratio in favour of the upsetting ending. I am nearly illustrating the reason why these films are upsetting or hard to watch.
When you go through one of the cinema cliches, it's never as neat and tidy as they make it seem, there is never that little piece of luck that facilitates the hero, and the hero is never as clean shaven as he seems. I'm in danger of writing a cliche in this blog, about how 'it's never like it is in the films', but I'd like to repeat my earlier point of this being a film which is so specific to you, that it only differs in a few ways, one being the ending.
Hopefully this blog has made sense so far, and you are still reading. I think I've exhausted attempt at explaining the phenomena of films that resonate with you on multiple levels to the extent that you can't watch them. So now I'll proceed to the shorted then expected review of the film Thor.
Like the title says, this blog so far has not been about the film Thor. At least not for me, and I'm going on the assumtion that none of you that are reading this are Norse gods who have recently been banished. To end this blog I will give a short review of this film, but the main point I will be making is that it is incredibly good, and well worth watching!
This film is quite self explanatory from the trailer, however when you sit down to watch it you have no idea of how well the characters and interaction has been put together. Just the right amount of casual humour, a little bit of a love story, and just the right amount of action. It's well weighted, and although there are some links to the forthcoming Avengers film, it is not over played as it is with Iron Man 2.
Anthony Hopkins plays his fathering role really well, and the relatively unknown Chris Hemsworth does the blonde Viking god justice. One thing that did stick out was there was only two blonde people in the whole film, one of which is Thor, the other being his slightly effeminate friend. It was just an odd thought that was with me through the whole film.
The 3D version is an example of how I believe 3D should be done. Not intrusive or excessive, but just a part of the film, like it was always supposed to be there, much like Avatar. My overall thought is that this on initial view looks to be another Marvel super hero film, and it is, but it's a very well thought out and produced script, with some understated and effective performances. Definetly worth a watch!