Thor: A spot of epic tomfoolery.

This movie was awesome. So awesome, one feels the need to come up with new adjectives to describe it's sheer fantasticality (Like fantasticality for that matter). It's a superhero film in the tradition of "Superman" (The classic one) rather than it's contemporaries, bucking deconstruction of the superhero persona in favor of a rollicking good-natured romp. Plus, with Branagh at the helm as director, it's a sodding epic.

"Thor" is a tale of family first and foremost. In the Marvel universe, the Asgardians, rather than mythological deities of Norse origin, are a race of superhuman beings from a whole other galaxy. Many years prior to the film's commencement, they were pivotal in defeating the frost giants, thus saving Earth from another ice-age. Now they are naught but myths to us, having decided to not interfere with Earthly affairs since then.
Thor is the heir to the Asgardian throne, but being a reckless and arrogant sonovabitch, his father, Odin, hesitates to give up kingship to him. His gloomy brother Loki, seeing fallacy in Thor's brash arrogance, orchestrates events that gets the lad exiled to Earth, where he must earn the right to wield Mjnolir, his super-hammer that allows him to smash evil into manifold bits. On Earth, Thor befriends a trio of science-y people, and all kinds of drama occurs in a most over the top fashion.

You can only wish you had a costume so absurd.

"Thor" is essentially everything you could ever want from a superhero movie. It's WAY over the top in terms of emotions and action. It's got some epic fight scenes along with overwrought interpersonal relations and even a rather cute romance. Throw in a sense of humor and you've got what's honestly one of the best comic book adaptations (At least from mainstream material) I've ever seen.
Chris Hemsworth has a great debut as Thor, I quite literally can't imagine seeing him in any other role (Maybe a bad thing?). Like, this guy was fucking BORN to play Thor. Hopkins, Hiddleston, Portman, Dennings, hell, pretty much everyone gives it their all, even in more minor parts! (Here's looking at you, Idris Elba)
The acting is definitely enhanced by the script and it's focus on the relationships between the characters. It's also refreshingly gray when it comes to morality, at least for a comic-book adaptation. Loki, though the antagonist, has reasons for what he's doing. Though his methods are ultimately wrong, you can't help but empathize with the guy. There are a few rote-ish moments here and there, but there's a genuine feel to them rather than a tacky one. "Thor" comes by it's cheesy bits honestly. Speaking of cheese, the costumes have to be seen to be believed, although, this being a film about SPACE-vikings, I found them rather apt.

Multiple times was the urge to make "HAMMER-TIME!" jokes resisted.

 Though pretty much made of pure fun, "Thor" does have a few itchy bits. Like "Iron Man 2" and "The Incredible Hulk" (For the record, "IM2" was fairly fun while "IH" can go suck it) it's got a bit of a "AVENGERS INCOMING" vibe that left me thinking "Yeah yeah, can we please go on with the movie?" This may or may not irk most people, but I personally found it a wee bit irksome. Why? Well, personally, I felt it detracted from the tale at hand. As if those scenes essentially declare the whole movie naught but an extended trailer for what else is to come. I know this statement will have some folks going "Well Ben! That's the point! Avengers is where it's at bro!", but honestly, MEH.
One also must go in with a willingness to utterly suspend their disbelief. This movie is pure comic-book silliness and what makes it great is how much Branagh embraces it. Prior to "Thor", Branagh had directed the likes of "Hamlet" and "Henry V". It's really no wonder with those titles in mind that he handles a comic-book tale such as this so well. Especially when one takes into account the fact that the Asgardians speak in faux-Shakespearian within the books. Shakespearian space-vikings? Family drama that leads to betrayal and politically minded attempts at murder? Right up his alley!

In summation, if you're looking for a fun time, look no further. I can only hope that later Marvel releases this summer will prove as awesome. It'll be hard for them to top "Thor" in my book...you know, the book that counts.