Thor

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Year:	2011
Country of origin:	USA
Director:	Kenneth Branagh
Genre:	Thunderous blockbuster action
Starring:	Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings
Rating:	4/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800369/
Tagline:	Courage is immortal
Favourite line:	"I am now ruler of Asgard. I am... your king."

You know, I really thought this would be awful.

The plot:
Having angered his father, Odin, by defying clear instructions not to wage war with the Frost Giants of the Jotunheim, Thor has imperiled the idyllic, peaceful domain of Asgard, as well as the other nine realms and, as punishment, is banished from his home, sent to present day Earth, stripped of his powers and separated from his mighty hammer (no, that's not a euphemism).
A trio of astrologers investigating astral phenomena bump into him, quite literally, and try to assist him, but are puzzled by his odd behaviour. He insists that he is Thor, son of Odin, speaks in a strangely dramatic manner and seems not to know how everyday things work. Convinced that he is who he claims, mainly on account of catching a glimpse of his Mighty Thor pecs' Natalie Portman's Jane Foster attempts to assist him in reclaiming his hammer but, to his horror, it does not awaken to his touch (still not a euphemism, people. Settle down at the back).
Meanwhile, in Asgard, Thor's father is taken ill, and his brother Loki sees the chance to seize the throne. Intent on betraying both his family and his people, Loki sends a terrible metallic giant to destroy Thor and also opens a gateway to allow the Jotunheim access to Odin, that he may be slain.....

It's hokum.
Of course it is.
And theatrical hokum at that, what with Anthony Hopkins positively chewing up the scenery with gusto when given licence by his Shakespearean brother in arms Branagh behind the camera.
The plot is ludicrous.
The costumes preposterously over the top.
The action set pieces nonsensically overblown.
But, I beseech thee, go check this out if you haven't yet because it is riotously entertaining.
Laugh out loud funny in places - far funnier than any 'comedy' movie I've seen in years - pulse-poundingly action packed with fantastic CGI work and a genuinely engaging lead character in the shape of man mountain Kim Hyde. The first blockbuster of the year this most certainly is, and the bar has already been set uncommonly high.
By all of Heaven's Thunder, I liked it.