Issue #4: Sandy's Reflections on Thor (2011)

I don’t watch this film as much as others in the MCU, but I have to say that I enjoy how it is much more of a slow-burn than a “big bang” popcorn movie. The camera angles and scenery are lovely, and the quiet scenes that reflect the universal emotions of growing into your own person, wanting to be a good parent, or even experiencing sibling rivalry are, for me, a strength of the film. However, for action lovers or younger viewers, I can see how this movie would be a bit slow moving. It’s a thoughtful piece by Kenneth Branaugh who is definitely not an action movie director (which might be why he does not do any more films for the MCU).

 

Of course, my favorite aspect of the movie is Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster—a character I truly believe is misunderstood by many male viewers. I often hear that she can’t act or that her character is silly, but hey, “she’s good to look at.” If you know me, I’ve clung to this theory tightly that Jane has value in the MCU, even when others were negative. Originally, I was going to write about the different scenes that I would have loved to see as a young girl that show she is a dedicated scientist, a quirky leading lady, or a realistic portrayal of a woman who has flaws and different emotions. I could do that...but as our conversation during the film evolved naturally, I found myself examining more than just Jane—but rather how one film presents three strong, layered female characters in one film but yet they are not fully realized in the future films (yet).

 

In the film, we meet three women, all strong in different ways: Dr. Jane Foster, a scientist; Lady Sif, a warrior; and Queen Frigga, Thor’s mother. Branaugh takes his time with each of these three women, giving each of them—especially Jane—their own moments in the film. Queen Frigga is presented as a strong point/counterpoint to the King, and she has powers of her own, as it is hinted at that she can use magic (realized in the sequel). At one point, she picks up a sword to fight the King of the Frost Giants and protect her husband against the invading army. This scene is an interesting reversal of the “fridging” effect, which is when a female character in comics is brutalized or killed to motivate the male hero. For more information, you can read more about Gail Simone’s trope “Women in Refrigerators” by starting here: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WomenInRefrigerators. In this scene, it’s the King who has been put “in the fridge” in a way, going into a meditative state, because it was necessary to propel our hero, Thor, to fully realize his role as future leader of Asgard. (We’ll talk about what happens to Frigga when we get to Thor: The Dark World.)

 

Second, we have Lady Sif, a childhood companion of Thor’s and one of his group of friends that includes the Warriors Three. She defends and supports Thor, and she is presented as an equal to Thor’s other Asgardian teammates—all of whom are men. She wisely distrusts Loki, and in a key battle scene, she helps to defeat the Destroyer (the large metal robot controlled by Loki). Sif has more of a role in the film than I remember; and it’s obvious that she has feelings for Thor. It’s unclear if they ever were a couple, but there is a definite set-up here for a love triangle in the future between Thor, Sif, and Jane.

 

And, last, we have Jane Foster. Again, I find her misunderstood. Branaugh showcases her as multi-faceted and very human, with quirks. She is obsessive about her research, and it is her primary passion at the beginning of the film, often over-ruling common sense as she tries to put the puzzle pieces together of the anomaly she has found (which we know as the Rainbow Bridge). She is almost comedic at times, saying the wrong things or as in my favorite scene, getting flustered. Portman has comedic chops! When Thor brings back Erik, drunk, he’s alone with her in her camper, and their close proximity as they chat makes her uneasy. She puts her cereal bowl—with remnants of milk and a spoon—along with the cereal box itself in a cabinet because she can’t concentrate. However, that doesn’t stop her OCD, and she returns, a few beats later, to put them in the sink. All of this action is quiet, a bit in the background as they discuss her research and Erik’s drunken night out with Thor. This scene reminds me of the old-school chemistry in romantic comedies like Pillow Talk with Doris Day. It’s quiet, and in the vein of Branaugh’s vision, helps to craft a character in these soft moments, not just in action scenes. 

 

However, Lady Sif has very little to do in the sequel, and then she disappears from the MCU after that, and the love triangle never happens. Queen Frigga does have a few more important moments (no spoilers), but Jane Foster isn’t perceived well, despite Natalie Portman’s acting pedigree. She’s an accomplished actress with awards who is a leading lady in all kinds of films, including other sci fi. 

 

However, if you Google “Natalie Portman” and “Thor,” chances are you will find many articles in these categories: why she doesn’t work in the MCU, why she was dropped after the sequel, how hot she is, or that she wanted out (https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/08/natalie-portman-thor-done). And, unless you are new to the MCU, of course there is the huge buzz of Comic Con last year, when it was announced that she would not just return in Thor 4, but that she would become Female Thor for Love and Thunder (https://variety.com/2019/film/news/natalie-portman-thor-4-love-and-thunder-1203274705/). But what does that new label mean? That she has no value if she doesn’t have her own hammer?

 

As we await the new small screen iterations on Disney+, and the Phase 4 offerings on the movie screen, discussion on where the MCU will go with future heroes and returning favorites overflows online. Most articles talk about how forgotten characters will get a second chance, and who is at the top of the list? Jane Foster, such as ScreenRant’s “Marvel Phase 4 is Giving a Lot of Failed MCU Characters a Second Chance.” I think that “failed” is too harsh for poor Jane. But I do think it’s fair to say that the MCU has trouble with giving women arcs of their own and not as a love interest, as I point out last week with my IM2 reflections. Schaefer states, “For the most part, these characters didn't fail because they're badly-conceived; the MCU just couldn't figure out what to do with them. Jane was introduced as a driven scientist in the first Thor movie, but was reduced to serving as little more than a glorified vessel for the Ether in The Dark World. Her absence in Thor: Ragnarok was then explained with a throwaway line about her and Thor breaking up” (https://screenrant.com/marvel-mcu-phase-4-failed-characters-jane-darcy/). 

 

All I know is that I’m hopeful that Jane—the quirky, giggly, dedicated, and smart scientist—shows up in Thor: Love and Thunder—not just superpowered Female Thor Jane. She is important to show that women can be smart and funny and powerful—even without superpowers. We’ll just have to wait and see what we get. Until then, I’m still #teamjane.