
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Runtime: 114mins
Certificate: 12A
Release Date: 27 April 2011 (UK)
Stewart R: There’s no doubting that cinema is in something of a lull at the moment with the number of bums on seats down year on year and signs that the industry is struggling to find new avenues and ideas to pursue. Despite terrific successes in recent years for DC with Christopher Nolan’s Batman efforts and Marvel with John Favreau’s Iron Man double there’s also occasional talk of the ‘Superhero Movie Bubble’ bursting at any second as we brace for the sound of a hefty budget being soundly flushed down the toilet. With 2011’s Summer schedule somewhat bloated on comic book adaptations and blockbusters, and with plenty of unknown actors and elements in play, there will have been fears that Thor, the curtain-raiser for the season, could be the first film racing past the U-bend. It is with a huge sigh of relief, a keen buzz in my brain and warm feeling in my chest that I can declare Thor the very high bar on which all other contenders will be judged these next few months.
Hemsworth plays the titular Asgardian God of Thunder who through certain reckless actions threatens his homeland with war and family with ruin. Cue two hours of high drama, thunder-powered action, well measured comedy and even the occasional burst of romance.

Hemsworth is a triumph as the strong god in need of the softer touch, bristling with confidence one moment, brought low with grief and frustration the next and showing a keen feel for the subtler comedic edge that’s asked of him from time to time. Whether barking at the excellent Hopkins - here revelling in his best role for years - or slowly wooing Portman’s no-nonsense scientist Jane Foster on

When the story moves to New Mexico the ‘fish out of water’ element is played to good effect without going too far, allowing the inevitable romance to subtlely play out between Thor and Foster with the occasional jokes creeping out of the woodwork for some neat laughs. There will be some who may feel that the slight shoehorning of S.H.I.E.L.D. into proceedings detracts a little from the main story and that just maybe not enough time is given to the fun to be had in the earthly desert setting, but I’m of the opinion that less is certainly more in this instance and nary a scene takes place that doesn’t add to the story as a whole. Branagh does well to cover so much within a two hour span - it flies past so effortlessly that to add anything more to the mix would have ruined its delightful balance.

From start to finish though this is an exciting, polished, well-acted, and most importantly, heart-warming superhero movie that stands up there as one of Marvel's best efforts to date. You’re all worthy, go see it, NOW! 9/10
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