Thor : review

Man I had high hopes going into this.
Thor on paper should be one of my favourite characters.
Me, I love mythology.
Unfortunately, Walt Simonson's run aside, I have been kind of unlucky when I had sampled individual issues. (I hopped on in the run up to Heroes Reborn when Thor's own title didn't have him in it)
I also tried J Michael Straczynski's first issue and, well, 'twas not for me.
JMS was co-writer on Thor's movie debut, which didn't bode well.
And you know what, the script worked.

Personally I think the movie is strongest in the fantasy sequences. (It is after all what makes Thor distinctive - and Asgard and Jotunheim are gorgeous).
Maybe there might be a bit too much fish-out-of-water in the second quarter.
But overall it works as an introduction for newbies.

Chris Hemsworth is surprisingly good as Thor. Cocky. Angry. Funny.
His romantic lead, Natalie Portman, channels her Garden State performance somewhat which is kinda all that's needed.
But the revelation is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Yes, he is very reminiscent of Michael Sheen in places but that is no bad thing.

Some sections of the UK press have attacked director Kenneth Branagh for wasting his talents. Sure, it's watered down Shakespeare at times. But there is a real gravitas to the Asgardian sequences.
There are some decidedly cheesy contrivances but, just like the first Iron Man movie, this is much better than it needs to be.