Tonally speaking, Thor as a movie is akin to Richard Donner's Superman, and that's meant as a big time compliment. Based on the Marvel comic, Thor blasts on to the big screen courtesy of director Kenneth Branagh. Chris Hemsworth is sensational in the title role--an arrogant, God like figure whose banished to Earth from the fantastical Asgard by his stern father (played by Anthony Hopkins). While on Earth, Thor befriends Natalie Portman's scientist Jane Foster, and together they set out to retrieve the mythic hammer of Asgard--the source of his power.

This film certainly has its flaws. The love story at the heart of the picture is undercooked, and Thor's time on Earth is only sporadically entertaining. Thankfully though, Hemsworth is perfect in the lead and co-stars Tom Hiddleston (outstanding as Thor's confused brother Loki), Anthony Hopkins (bigger than life as Thor's father Odin), and Idris Elba (terrific as fearless guard Heimdallur) are the personification of class. If only Oscar winner Natalie Portman weren't saddled with such a thankless role. No matter though, there's so much worth recommending here: be it the opening sequences on Asgard, the wonderfully subtle way in which Thor learns to appreciate humanity (a plot thread that might remind one of Superman 2), and the Shakespearean depth at the heart of the scenes between Hemsworth, Hiddleston, and Hopkins. Thor is a terrific piece of entertainment and while I wouldn't quite put it in the same league as Superman, Spider-Man 2, and The Dark Knight, I would feel completely comfortable mentioning it in the same category as Iron Man. Furthermore, this successful adaptation has me completely giddy at the prospect of the upcoming Avengers movie. Its Hammer time!