With the latest offering from Marvel Studios hitting the big screen this week, many die-hard comic fans have voiced concerns that Thor is just something they’ll have to sit through before eventually getting to The Avengers, due to be released next year.

Happily, Thor is a solid film as a stand-alone and will also do the job as far as whetting the appetites for those waiting for Captain America and The Avengers.

Thor is the son of Odin, heir to the throne of Asgard and a great warrior amongst his people. What Thor doesn’t know or realise is that someone else covets the throne and is working hard to undermine his popularity and power amongst his people – and his father. Following an unauthorised day of ass-kicking, Odin decides that Thor lacks maturity and common sense so he strips him of his powers and banishes him to Earth.

The largest concern voiced prior to the films release was about combining the heavenly otherworld of Asgard with the realities of Earth. If you’ve read the comics then you know that Thor requires a certain Shakespearean touch – meaning there was no better Director for the task than Kenneth Branagh – a man who has acted in or directed (or both) probably every Shakespearean play written.

Branagh does an amazing job of giving Thor that sense of epic it requires while still grounding the story on Earth and building that relationship with the audience. Natalie Portman plays Jane Foster, an astro-physicist who along with Stellan Skarsgard are determined to unlock the secrets of the cosmos and feel that somehow Thor might hold a few answers.

Proving a little exposition goes a long way, Skarsgard’s Professor Andrews, grew up with stories of the Norse Gods and was able to provide a bit of information that started bringing the two worlds together in the minds of the audience.

Thor delivered everything I hoped it would – a solid action with amazing CGI – perhaps the best CGI I’ve seen – amazing battles, dramatic tension and some great comedic moments. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) being for all intents and purposes a fish out of water on Earth, is kind of hilarious when trying to achieve simple tasks. I laughed out loud when he stormed into a pet store and demanded a horse.

The acting was solid – Skarsgard and Portman as usual delivered great performances – Sir Anthony Hopkins was as good as usual and it is a shame he didn’t have more screen time. Also deserving of more screen time were Thor’s companions including Jaimie Alexander and Ray Stevenson. Kat Dennings played Portman’s assistant and did so with her usual delivery and timing which always makes her a joy to watch.

The stand-out however was Chris Hemsworth, playing Thor. It is nice to see an actor from Home & Away actually go somewhere with their career and Hemsworth demonstrated why he is in such demand throughout the film. At times, it seemed he was channelling Heath Ledger and he delivered Branagh’s vision with everything I had hoped from the God of Thunder.

Yes, Thor is worth watching – not only as a lead up to The Avengers, but as a solid action with amazing CGI and some great comedic moments.

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