WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Thor Review (4.5/5)

First things first, I want to congratulate Marvel Studios on making the best possible film based around fantasy hero Thor, as I genuinely believe that for comic book fans it doesn't get much better than this. Even if Thor has seemed too comedic, too uneventful or too unrealistic (in which case, didn't you see X-Men? Mutant powers don't exist in the real world, people!) in its heavy marketing campaign, it not only bump starts what looks to be an incredible summer of film, but unexpectedly sets a benchmark for every superhero movie to come from this year onwards. The central premise is that after starting an unnecessary war with his race's mortal enemies, the arrogant warrior Thor is cast from his home planet of Asgard and sentenced to exile on Earth, only to find that the shadows threatening his world will soon threaten this one. Surprisingly, more of the film takes place in the fictional land of magic than it does here, but on both sides the action is fast-paced, well scripted and beautifully animated (you owe it to yourself to see this in 3D- I don't know how well it will stand up on DVD, but whilst the experience is offered to you, make the most of it!), refusing to let up for more than ten minutes and making the piece all the better for it. The soundtrack is dazzling too, even if it is occasionally overshadowed by the rather loud battles taking place- the Destroyer in particular is a little hard on the ears- and Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman have fine chemistry as Thor and human ally Jane Foster. There's even time for some furthering of the Avengers story arc, here used to briefly introduce Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, reference a certain gamma-dosed scientist and ultimately set up the plot of next year's team-up with the help of Loki and Nick Fury in an ace post-credits scene. My only major criticism is that Thor's ending feels a little too open, especially as it leaves the titular hero in a very uncertain place given his upcoming membership in the team, but that was always going to be the case in many ways. However, other than that, this is a film full of action, lighthearted comedy and most importantly spirit, and I for one cannot wait to see Chris Hemsworth back in action!