Thor (2011)
MOVIE SUMMARY
The powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.
MOVIE THEMES
Belief in Gods
Following the opening credits, the narrator gives the context to film by sharing a history of conflict between two worlds: Asgard and Jotenheim. An ice age in Norway during the middle ages is caused by the Frost Giants from Jotenheim. Oden Allfather, the leader of Asgard saves Earth from complete destruction. This event became part of Earth’s Norse mythology. It is claimed that the gods whom the ancients believed in aliens. Today, this ancient belief in gods has been dismissed. It is claimed that if people saw these beings today, they would believe not in gods, but in aliens. The Bible makes a claim that some would call a divine council. There are gods, but they submit to the God of gods – Yahweh (Psalm 82:1).
Oden Allfather has two sons: Thor Odinson and Loki Odinson. Both are powerful demigods for those who live on Earth. The Frost Giants try to steal a cube (the Tesseract) and this compels Thor to attack Jotenheim. After a battle, in which Oden Allfather negotiates the end, Oden returns Thor, Loki, and their band of followers to Asgard. Because of Thor’s disobedience and brash actions, Oden strips Thor of his power because he is “unworthy” and banishes Thor to Earth. His hammer (Myjohr), which is also thrown to Earth cannot help him until he becomes “worthy.”
Loki discovers that he is actually Laufey‘s son, adopted by Odin after the war ended. A weary Odin falls into the deep “Odinsleep” to recover his strength. Loki seizes the throne in Odin’s stead and offers Laufey the chance to kill Odin and retrieve the Casket. Sif and the Warriors Three, unhappy with Loki’s rule, attempt to return Thor from exile, convincing Heimdall, gatekeeper of the Bifröst—the means of traveling between worlds—to allow them passage to Earth. Aware of their plan, Loki sends the Destroyer, a seemingly indestructible automaton, to pursue them and kill Thor. The warriors find Thor, but the Destroyer attacks and defeats them, prompting Thor to offer himself instead. Struck by the Destroyer and near death, Thor’s sacrifice proves him worthy to wield Mjolnir. The hammer returns to him, restoring his powers and enabling him to defeat the Destroyer. Kissing Jane goodbye and vowing to return, he and his fellow Asgardians leave to confront Loki.
In Asgard, Loki betrays and kills Laufey, revealing his true plan to use Laufey’s attempt on Odin’s life as an excuse to destroy Jotunheim with the Bifröst Bridge, thus proving himself worthy to his adoptive father. Thor arrives and fights Loki before destroying the Bifröst Bridge to stop Loki’s plan, stranding himself in Asgard. Odin awakens and prevents the brothers from falling into the abyss created in the wake of the bridge’s destruction, but Loki allows himself to fall when Odin rejects his pleas for approval. Thor makes amends with Odin, admitting he is not ready to be king; while on Earth, Jane and her team search for a way to open a portal to Asgard.
Throughout the film, one sees that the three principles characters in the Asgard royal family are types which point to the Biblical account. In this case, Odin Allfather points to God the Father. He is supreme, rules and reigns from his throne on Asgard, and oversees the peace of the “nine realms.” In the same way, God the Father is supreme, rules and reigns from his throne in Heaven, and oversees the peace of the universe (Psalm 115:3, 2 Chronicles 20:6).
Thor is a type of Jesus. Thor is royal, but is cast down to Earth. He has to experience human failings and weaknesses. He expresses his emotions and lives a life of wandering on Earth. When the time comes to save humanity, Thor sacrifices his life in order to save the people of Earth. It is at this point that Odin restores Thor’s power and gives him the ability to wield his hammer – a symbol of his power of strength. Thor’s journey in this movie parallels Philippians 2:5-11.
Satan the Deceiver
Loki is a type of Satan. Loki manipulates the situation for his purposes. After finding out that he is a Frost Giant who has been adopted by Odin Allfather, Loki resents his father. When Odin has to go into a replenishing Odinsleep, Loki takes over the throne of Asgard. Loki organized the invasion of Asgard by the Frost Giants. Loki uses his ability to reveal himself as an apparition to further manipulate other people for this goals and purposes. Like Satan, he appears as an angel of light to Thor (2 Corinthians 11:14). He uses that power to lie to Thor about Thor’s banishment to Earth.
QUESTIONS:
1. How does the film present Odin as the great and powerful God? Using Psalm 82:1, how do you see the relationship between Odin and the other leaders of the nine realms? Does God also lead such a council?
2. How does Odin Allfather and his relationship with Thor represent God the Father’s relationship with His own Son Jesus. How does it differ?
3. Thor sacrifices himself for the people of Earth. How does this parallel Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity by dying on the cross?
4. Loki spends time throughout the movie deceiving everyone. How does his work at deception point to the same kind of deception used by Satan?
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