Summer and big budget action movies go together like, say, hammer and nails.
That said, "Thor," is the perfect movie to see with plenty of popcorn, sodas and friends. Its exquisite combination of the structurally amazing Asgard, home of the Norse gods, and a New Mexico desert on Earth, home of humans and an essential part of the story.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and his adopted brother Loki (Tim Hiddleston) are brought up as equals by their father Odin (Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins). It's clear early on that the brothers have different ways of solving problems.
Thor, tall and imposing god of thunder, wants to pound sense into or life out of anyone he believes need it, especially if it means using his magic hammer Mjolnir. Still, Thor is the darling of Asgard, drinking and joking with friends, flirting and kissing all the women.
The blond and blue-eyed Thor, sure he will be king, keeps the dark-haired Loki in place.
While Loki doesn't seem to mind, he works quietly behind the scenes, making deals, using illusion, magic and duplicity to get his way.
Odin is ready to make Thor king and is in the middle of the coronation ceremony when there's an emergency.
Asgard has a truce with the Frost Giants and the movie starts rolling when the giants break into Odin's castle to steal back their best weapon. Thor and Loki fend the giants off, but not before the machine goes missing.
Thor takes his brother and his best fighters to the frost giant home world Jotunheim to punish the king and the giants for taking back their weapon that can freeze anything it is pointed at. The Norse fighters are out manned and Odin must come to their rescue and beg the king of the frost giants to continue the truce. To do that, Thor must be punished.
Thor returns, ready to become king and continue the war on Jotunheim.
Odin shocks his son by telling him he still acts like a boy, needs to grow up, but especially, he needs to learn humility.
Thor is stripped of his godly powers and exiled to Earth until he learns his lesson. Then Odin takes Mjolinir, whispers a spell that will again imbue power to it, and flings it off Asgard as well, sending it spinning into space.
In New Mexico, a trio of scientists are tracking strange things happening in the atmosphere.
Jane Foster (Oscar-winner Natalie Portman), assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and Foster's mentor Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) are at the right place at the right time when they see the sky truly misbehave, first sending a man tumbling through the air, falling hard in a circle of runes.
At another New Mexico site, another object hurtles from the sky and leaves a deep crater where it lands. Mjolinir is wedged into a piece of rock, much like King Arthur's Sword in the Stone.
Jane, Darcy and Erik are more concerned with the unconscious man. He wakes up, asks where he is and where his hammer is. The researchers are intrigued by the man's speech and strange mannerisms. They let him clean up and give him some clothing before taking him to a hospital.
The women in the audience will appreciate the scene with Thor is wearing only a pair of jeans. Hemsworth's physique is worth enjoying for its sheer beauty. The gasps of women in the audience were enough to prove it was good to keep it in. My thought, with dropped jaw, was "Wow."
Thor likes Jane, and starts using his killer smile and big blue eyes to befriend her. She thinks he is insane until he begins talking about Rainbow bridges, particle physics and wormholes.
He finds she understands the basics, but when he explains that magic and science are the same where he is from, he draws her a map of his world and neighboring planets, including Earth, that are interconnected with these theoretical bridges.
He struggles with the hospital staff and is sedated, waking in restraints. He hears about his hammer and determines to get out. Jane drops by to see him and discovers he is gone.
The government agency S.H.I.E.L.D. has taken over the site, including all of Jane's notes and equipment. She is furious and when she meets Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), he is little help to her.
Thor breaks into the military installation, easily overcoming the soldiers guarding the makeshift base. He makes his way to the crater, and finds he cannot separate the hammer from its base. He is gobsmacked, finally believing that his father did exactly what he said he would do, and he was no longer a god, but a mortal man.
As he is escorted to a jail cell by soldiers, Thor manages to get Jane's notebook for her. When she comes to visit, she is delighted by its return.
When more strange things start happening in the sky, Coulson has a change of heart and returns all of Jane's equipment, plus the help of Darcy and Erik -- but only if they stay at the base and help.
In Asgard, Odin has fallen into a deep trance, leaving Loki to rule. Finally the adopted son can put his plans in motion. He sends a giant, fiery metal monster to kill Thor and will kill his father himself.
The metal monster tears up a tiny New Mexico town before getting to the base. Thor is trying his best to distract the thing, and in his human form his is bleeding and battered. At last, while fighting for people who need him, he realizes the lessons his father was trying to teach.
Thor reaches out his hand and this time, it comes flying to him. It goes easily into his hand and his immortality and wonderful armor is restored.
The humans see this and Coulson knows Thor will be a great addition to S.H.I.E.L.D.
However, before the thunder god can start work, he vanishes.
Thor is returned to Asgard to find his father well and back in power. Loki is absent, and is trying to kill both brother and father so he can rule and use the frost giants as allies.
The final battle between Loki and Thor on the Rainbow Bridge is a spectacular set piece and wonderful to watch.
Director Kenneth Branagh is better known for his Shakespearean movies, but his foray into superhero action movies works on every level. People from Asgard speak in beautiful Shakespearean English and dress from that era.
While on Earth, Thor charms Jane with his quaint expressions and mannerisms as they fall in love. He is happy to stay on Earth if he can stay with her. While Jane, missing Thor, tries to think of a way to get to Asgard, Thor's absence sets up both a story line in next year's "Avengers" flick and probably a sequel to this movie.
Until then, seriously, splurge on the popcorn and other theater treats, grab a seat and prepare to enjoy one of the most interesting superhero origin stories in some time.
And, like the other Marvel Comic superhero movies featuring members of the Avengers, watch for Stan Lee, and stay for the teaser at the end of the credits.
Thor
4 Stars out of 4
4 Stars out of 4
Rated PG 13 (sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence)
Run time: 1:54
Starring: Chris Hemworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba
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