Thor

Thor, released a few years ago by Marvel Studios, is the "origin" story of the hero of that name.  Unlike most superheros, Thor wasn't created by a freak accident, or enabled by riches; he's the son of Odin, ruler of Asgard, and his heritage has granted him phenomenal powers.  Pretty cool, eh?

In Thor, we see our hero go from self-centered, headstrong crown prince to a responsible, caring ruler-in-waiting.  To affect that change, he's banished to Earth and stripped of his powers for a time, to learn his place and what it means to sacrifice.  Along the way, you have your standard array of action sequences, amusing situations, and antagonists: his adopted brother, Loki, who yearns to seize power, and the Frost Giants, enemies of the Asgard people for ages.  As you can surmise from the names, the story is full of references to Norse mythology, though I lack the knowledge to judge how true it is to the legends.

Many people hail Thor as an excellent movie; I found it to be "above average."  The story is okay, the dialogue is so-so, the action is good.  The comic relief was decent.  The scenes of Asgard are beautiful, and visually impressive.  Perhaps most importantly, viewing this film gives important back-story for last year's Avengers movie.  If you're a fan of movies in this genre, you'll enjoy Thor.  If not, look elsewhere.

Rating: B+