Ever got really acquainted with a archetype of character you LOVE seeing adapted? (I’m mostly thinking of Shakespeare stuff and Fairy Tales because what gets THAT many reboots?) Or, let’s go with that. You loved the original but hated the reboot (original Star Wars/Trek fans I’m pointing at YOU)?
It just rips you apart when you see this new portrayal and you want to instigate Ragnarok just to start over and wipe the screen clean?
I have one of those with Loki. All the freaking time. When I was researching the character, almost everything critical showed him as an evil villain, but the analysis never touched who Loki really is.
Son of the Mask is just a failure in my opinion. As I watched it, I couldn’t really feel for Loki. I hated Odin, like always, but I was too caught up with how wrong Loki was.
Summary: Loki created a mask that made the wearer equal to him in power and released into the mortal world. This movie has Odin threatening Loki that he has to find the mask all of a sudden, after centuries. Loki searches for it only to be thwarted because a man got someone pregnant while wearing the mask which meant baby had powers without the mask. This baby is somehow cognizant enough to protect his father and keep the mask away from Loki. Then Loki is disowned and stripped of powers because he is too destructive. Loki begs Odin for one more chance and this chance: kidnapping the baby in exchange for the mask. Then all suddenly, Loki wants to keep the baby right when he gets what he wants. Then a battle ensures mask versus Loki, and a “who do you want, baby” battle, and, finally, again, disappointing daddy causing permanent disownment but not before Loki’s daddy-son relationship is saved by the man whose life he kind of ruined/tried to kidnap his baby. Everyone ends up with hugs and kisses and happy ending.
Why is Odin ALWAYS Loki’s father? The original myths had them as blood-brothers and companions. There were some with Thor, but his connection was first and foremost with Odin–it was how he was able to be Aesir (Norse version of God). But that is a different discussion there.
Second, why out of left field, does Loki want to keep the baby?
What is with the dark tone suddenly ending in hugs and kisses and rainbows? Loki hurts people, tries to murder others, baby kidnapping, etc, and suddently the world is right? How is a centuries old dissapointing relationship suddenly solved?
The movie sucks. I hate the wishy washy Loki. Are you a trickster or a mindless chaos inducer? They make Loki turn out to be a wimp like he has no substance. There didn’t seem to be any reason for his actions. You attacked someone because they told history wrong? You are obsessed with Odin’s approval? Your methods are just…I find no words.
A good film would be able to connect all those for me. They would make me believe that Loki is that deep that he has that many connections in this film. However, it just seems to me that the film writers didn’t know Loki and just tossed stuff together based on Thor comics and didn’t care if it worked. I mean, if you are going to introduce the family line, make it believable. Make me hurt. Make me feel damnit!
Tom Hiddleston and Sir Anthony Hopkins took me down a rabbit hole that causes depression but I welcomed it. I welcomed the nights i couldn’t sleep because it was dymantic not static. There was reason, rhyme, the whole nine yards. This? I didn’t understand this at all.
Really, if you want to go for another Loki, go watch 13 seasons of Supernatural and the 10 or so episodes with the “Loki” character is alive! It is worth the 13 seasons. In fact, when I get around to finishing season 12, or starting 13, I will be diving into that Rabbit Hole. I love Loki on Supernatural. One of my favorite characters besides Squirrel and Castiel.
Honestly, the four or so issues of Loki in Sandman and small number in Lucifer are worth more than this. (comic books, original). In fact, I will get that together in the future and look into that.
So, in the end, Son of the Mask, is not a very good primary source for research unless you want to do lots of bashing. Or write an essay about how wrong popular culture is with Loki. In fact, that might be a good paper. “What’s Wrong with Modern Writers of Myths”.
Catalyst of the Story 