Deleted Scenes Rock!!

In my original review of Thor, I spent a lot of time griping about the empty characters. After seeing the movie again, I stand by my complaints. (Though I would soften them a little by saying that all the characters are likeable and well-acted, if not original.) However, I have a new complaint to add: Why was the pre-coronation scene deleted from the movie?

On the DVD special features I have, there are four deleted scenes. Three of them are more or less dispensable (although I'm pretty darn sure the one between Odin and Frigga was in the theatrical version), but the first one should have been in the movie. In this scene, Thor and Loki have a fairly short conversation prior to Thor's ill-fated coronation. Loki insists that he's proud of his brother, but his bitter character comes through a little bit better than it does in the other early scenes of the movie. He teases Thor about the "feathers" on his helmet (metal wings), turns the wine Thor ordered into snakes, laughs when the servant carrying the wine becomes frightened, and admits that he is sometimes envious of his brother. When Loki says he has waited for this coronation as long as his brother has, Thor calls his sincerity into question and implies that Loki is rarely sincere. All this serves to build a little foundation of doubt about Loki's moral character.

Unfortunately, he's still a little lame. First he seems good, then he seems evil, then he seems merely conflicted and confused, then he's back to evil... you get the picture. Also, there is really no basis for his inferiority complex. In the only scene where Thor and Loki are children, Thor is the one who is reprimanded by their father. Where did Loki get the impression that Odin thinks Thor is a better son? The audience has no idea. However, the deleted scene partly makes up for this obvious deficiency and gives just a glimpse into Loki's twisted mind. Even through his brotherly banter, a little hint of jealousy and a sick sense of humor comes through. Also, the ominous symbolism of the snakes that slither out of the wine cup help establish Loki's character. With this scene in the original movie, Loki's character and motivations would have been a little more believable and consistent.