Have you heard of Thor? Not the Norse god or Marvel movie regular but the Canadian bodybuilder/Zombie Nightmare starring/rock dude who has been turning out theatrically inspired heavy metal for the better part of 40 years, have you heard of that guy? I'm assuming the answer is "no", unless your Scandinavian then the the answer is undoubtedly "ja". Ryan Wise has done something truly spacial with I AM THOR, he made a film that is as amusing as it is heart warming. On the surface you wouldn't expect the story of a man who married the editor of Cherri magazine, bends steel and inflates hot water bottles till they explode to be inspirational but Jon Mikl Thor has spent most of his 60 years defying expectations.
Jon Mikl Thor was a championship bodybuilder with over 40 titles to his name. In fact he was the only Canadian to win both the Mr. Canada and Mr. USA titles. After a brief stint as a naked waiter he set his sights on the music industry. Inspired by Alice Cooper and Kiss "Thor The Rock Warrior" was born. Mikl branded himself as a superhero and eventually signed to MCA. This is all the first act of the film, the setup. The real meat of the story is about Thor's comeback, a seemingly endless tour that lasts longer than the bands first incarnation. Part Spinal Tap and part Anvil Jon Mikl's story hilarious and life affirming.
Some people (perhaps most) are made up of stronger stuff than me. I'm always impressed by people who have a calling in life and in awe of those who chase it. Some people are unable to live inside conventional boundaries, unable to stop moving forward when the world tells them to back up. Its important to see examples of people in search of their bliss.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL: If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are -- if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.
Yup, this silly movie about a Canadian/bodybuilding/B-movie starring/metal dude has me thinking about Joseph Campbell. It could be that I'm always looking for an excuse to open up The Power of Myth but I think its something more. I think its important to study those among us who decide to lead a life less ordinary. We need to ask ourselves if we have thought about the objects we chase and why.
I AM THOR opens in theaters and on VOD this Friday, November 20th!
Metal Legend Jon-Mikl Thor will attend screenings of the acclaimed documentary I AM THOR, and perform at the following events:
Monday, November 16 - Chicago, IL
Reggie's Rock Club
2109 South State Street
Chicago, IL 60616
Tickets: www.reggieslive.com
Wednesday, November 18 - Detroit, MI
Small's Bar
0339 Conant
Hamtramck MI 48212
Hamtramck MI 48212
Friday, November 20 - Philadelphia, PA
PhillyMOCA
531 North 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com
Sunday, November 22 - Brooklyn, NY
Saint Vitus Bar
1120 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Tickets: www.saintvitusbar.com