Thor

Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a fallen “god” from fabled Asgard, must learn humility before he is able to regain his power, overcome the devious Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and ascend to his father’s throne.

Hemworth radiated authority as the Norse god of thunder, but - no matter how strong a hero or story may be - you can't compensate for a weak villain. The fault cannot rest with Hiddleston alone as Loki lacked any comprehensible motive. Instead of a baneful, Machiavellian trickster, we're given a bland backslider with more baggage and daddy issues than a drag queen on tour. Perhaps Branagh drew too heavily from his Shakespearian credentials? Despite Loki's shortcomings, a supporting cast boasting some big names (Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins, and Renee Russo to name a few) offers substantial reinforcement.

Those familiar with the lore behind the character may be curious how Yggdrasil and the nine "homeworlds" are integrated into the film and, thus, the “Marvel universe” established in The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 1/2. Rest assured that the writers include a number of aspects of Norse cosmology in a simple, straightforward manner. Kenneth Branagh and everyone involved in Thor’s production deserve high marks for tackling such a complex mythos.

All things considered, Thor was wonderfully plotted and paced, a thunderous addition to any comic book movie buff’s collection.