Thor: three and a half stars
Rated: PG-13 for violence and mature subject matter
I鈥檓 probably looking forward to the Avengers movie more than anyone else on the planet. As a kid I remember wanting to mess around with gamma radiation so I could become a giant green goliath and fight all the evils that were afoot in my rather peaceful neighbourhood. Then of course I wanted to build a suit of iron that would give me the powers of flight and invincibility.
Suffice it to say my childhood and Marvel Comics went hand in hand. When I heard they were making an Avengers movie I all but passed out with excitement. And when I heard they were making a Thor movie (my favourite Avenger), well let鈥檚 just say there鈥檚 a good reason why grown men shouldn鈥檛 cry.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Thor is nearly perfect. It鈥檚 reminiscent of Superman II, telling the story of a hero who must lose his power to regain his heroic status. Chris Hemsworth plays the god of thunder. He鈥檚 confident, he鈥檚 strong, he鈥檚 arrogant, which of course is his undoing. There鈥檚 no room in Asgard for a Viking on an ego trip. Thor鈥檚 father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), realizes this and banishes his son to Earth along with his hammer, which, until Thor redeems himself, he will never be able to lift and call upon the power of thunder again.
If you鈥檙e looking forward to the Avengers film with the same bated breath as me, you鈥檒l notice little things here and there during Thor that tie it all together. There鈥檚 appearances by S.H.I.E.L.D.; a fleeting glimpse of Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner); talk of gamma radiation; even Stark Enterprises gets an honourable mention.
Thor is the second-last movie before the Avengers hits the big screen in 2012. We still have Captain America to get through, which I鈥檓 certain will be just as good. My only question is: why is there no Antman film in the works?
鈥楾il next time! See you at the movies.
