So, Thor has already made $100 million after just a week and a half in theaters! That’s pretty impressive, especially since it hadn't even been released in America yet, where most movies make the bulk of their money. As you might have guessed, I finally saw Thor, which is why my review of The Incredible Hulk was delayed. But honestly? Screw it—I just watched Thor! To put it plainly, I was really impressed with it. Why? Well, get ready, because this could be a long explanation. The computer graphics were among the best I’ve ever seen. While I don't think CGI alone can make or break a movie, having it look this good certainly helps. I even saw it in 3D, and surprisingly, it was worth it—a big deal coming from someone who usually hates 3D. I didn't even leave the theater feeling nauseous; just a little bit of a headache. So congratulations, Thor. The humor worked well, striking that balance between funny and not silly. It would have been easy to fall into cheesy territory with this film, but the writing team and director Kenneth Branagh did a great job keeping things engaging and avoiding cheap laughs. The characters were written almost as strongly as they were in Iron Man 1 & 2—though naturally, there was more ground to cover with so many characters. They also managed to pull off an American movie with romance and comedy without resorting to those awful romantic comedies I dislike so much. There’s a whole concept involving Thor being from another world, which was really the only way to introduce a god into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, given its focus on realism. And you know what? Asgard (Thor's home planet) looked fantastic. They managed to create believable family resemblances among the actors, even though they aren’t related. You might disagree until you see it for yourself, but after watching the movie, you’ll understand. Also, the actors who played young Loki and Thor were incredibly convincing—almost unsettlingly so. The Frost Giant homeworld of Jotunheim is also visually striking. The sound effects were really intense. I'm not sure if that was a good thing or bad, but it will be interesting to rewatch on DVD to see if the theater speakers amplified the effect. Thor might not have felt as complete as Iron Man 1 & 2 or The Incredible Hulk did, but it sets up The Avengers perfectly, which is now an essential part of the overall story. With Thor, more than with any other hero, a whole film was needed to make that kind of character relatable. Ultimately, everything I’ve said has led me to this: the cast! They assembled an incredible group of actors, including three of my favorite underrated performers—and one is actually my all-time favorite, Ray Stevenson! We have Australian Chris Hemsworth playing Thor, Natalie Portman as Thor's love interest, Jane Foster (I still like her despite any recent criticism), Anthony Hopkins as Thor’s father Odin, Stellan Skarsgard as Dr. Erik Selvig, Jane Foster’s mentor, Ray Stevenson as Thor’s friend and member of the Warriors Three, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, the S.H.I.E.L.D. sharpshooter, Samuel L. Jackson as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury, and many more. Those are just the actors I already knew and loved. I’ve also become quite fond of Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki, Thor's brother and the main antagonist, Joshua Dallas who plays another member of the Warriors Three, and Kat Dennings as D’arcy Lewis, Jane Foster’s friend and colleague. As I always say, I saw this movie in a theater (Hoyts, in Belconnen). I think it has lasting value, but keep in mind that I generally feel films are better experienced on the big screen, especially action movies, effects-heavy films, epics, and franchise installments—and Thor is all of those things. I was particularly excited to see the post-credits scene on that huge screen. So please consider that when you watch it on DVD or BluRay, or whatever. Because seriously, don’t download it illegally! 80%

Source on TMDB