Film: Thor

GENRE: Action/Adventure
RATING: PG-13 for violence
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 55 minutes
STARRING: Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Tom Hiddleston (newcomer)
DIRECTOR: Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet, As You Like it, Dead Again)
WRITERS: Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz (Fringe, X-Men: First Class)
PLOT: Thor is cast out of Asgard and sent to Earth to learn a little humility. He also finds love along the way.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I love mythology but knew nothing about the Marvel superhero. I didn’t feel lost at all which is what I was worried most about. Great script and directing.
2 Wonderful acting all around. Chris Hemsworth had a fun swagger and charm as Thor that made you root for him all the more. Tom Hiddleston did a great job as the villainous Loki. Talk about an up and comer.
3 Love the other Marvel references throughout the film. A couple Stark name checks and one of the Avengers makes a cameo about half-way through. Of course the post-credit sequence was intriguing. Can’t wait for Joss Whedon’s Avengers next year!
4 Rene Russo used to be a big star. She was not given much to do this film. Pity.
5 I would have never thought that Kenneth Branagh could pull off an enjoyable, big budget blow ‘em up action flick. But he does with flying colours. I had a lot of fun watching Thor. Having Natalie Portman in it also helped. Just saying.

RECOMMENDATION: Great for big screen fun
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Hangover, Part II