reviews by Shannon Bowman-Sarkisian

Persepolis

Based on her acclaimed graphic novels Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: the Story of a Return, Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical, animated feature Persepolis takes place during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. An outspoken 9-year-old Marjane (voiced by Gabrielle Lopes Benites) feels elated when the Shah is overthrown, but soon learns that the Islamic fanatics running the new government are just as oppressive. Political prisoners, such as her Uncle Anouche (François Jerosme), are released only to be imprisoned and then murdered. Women and girls are forced to wear veils. Citizens who are caught drinking alcohol or wearing makeup are rounded up by “social guardians.”

As Marjane grows into a teenager (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni, who also voices Marjane as an adult), she finds solace in rebellion: going to parties with friends, listening to punk bands, wearing her veil askew, and disagreeing with her teachers. Fearing for Marjane’s life, her parents send her to a school in Austria. She finds grocery stores with shelves full of food — now a rarity in her homeland — and the freedom to make her own choices. But Marjane is also devastatingly lonely. Her physical and spiritual journey recounts a deeply personal reaction to a political story few westerners understand.

War, revolution and oppression are the darkest elements of human nature. In Persepolis, the most violent stories are told in shadows and silhouettes. Marjane’s flashbacks to childhood, which make up most of the movie, are told in black and white. The present, which for the most part takes place in an airport in Paris, is the only color animation in the film. But the stoic color palate and intense subject matter doesn’t make Persepolis a depressing movie. It has moments of tenderness and humor, showing the resiliency of human beings. Joy and laughter can be found in even the grimmest situations.

Persepolis, available on DVD, is rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including violent images, sexual references, language and brief drug content. Running time: 96 minutes.

Thor

Thor is one of the first summer blockbusters to hit theaters this year and it starts the season off right. Fans of comic book adaptations, Viking mythology and action movies will be pleased with this one, which includes the obligatory Stan Lee cameo and co-stars fan boy favorite Natalie Portman as Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) love interest, Jane Foster. This film is packed with so much action, the Michigan State Police bomb squad evacuated a bus terminal when the Thor press kit was found discarded in an Ann Arbor bus station!

All superheroes need an origin story. Thor’s story sounds a little goofy on paper, but a well-rounded cast and excellent computer graphics make it work. A brilliantly cast Anthony Hopkins, playing Thor’s father Odin, banishes his son from Asgard for breaking a truce with the realm of the frost giants. Stripped of his powers and his mighty hammer, Mjolner, Thor finds himself lost among mortals. Arrogant and shortsighted, he needs to work through some issue in New Mexico before he’s deemed worthy of ruling Asgard. It’s your classic born into privilege problem, nothing a little “cast out of your kingdom” therapy can’t fix.

If you’re anxiously awaiting the 2012 release of Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, Thor provides a little more backstory. Clark Gregg reprises his role as Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D., the fictional government agency in Marvel comics and Iron Man. Captain America: The First Avenger, this summer’s other blockbuster comic book adaptation, promises to tantalize audiences with another piece of The Avengers puzzle.

Thor, in theaters now, is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi animation and violence. Running time: 114 minutes.