Confession time: I had my doubts about THOR before this week. Admittedly I was not a fan of the Nordic myth/comic book superhero, and the idea of a hammer-wielding Viking timesharing his duties between Earth and the floating gods' realm of Asgard was a baffling concept. Crimefighting billionaires like Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne who use their wits and technology to defeat baddies, I get; armor-clad demigods who throw magic hammers and speak in the elevated tone of Norse poets, not so much. Could the Facebook and iPad generation relate to this most unconventional of Marvel superheroes? Well, forget what you think THOR will be: thanks to an ambitious studio and an adept filmmaker, class is in session at your local cineplex beginning May 6th.

Director Kenneth Branagh matches his cinematic bravado with the clever brawn of star Chris Hemsworth, and together they make THOR succeed beyond expectation. To their credit, this seemingly awkward superhero fits keenly into the expanding 21st century Marvel film universe, providing just as easy an entry point into THOR mythology as did IRON MAN did before him. Yet here Thor is stripped of his armor before he can become the hero he was meant to be in a mirror opposite of themes between the two Marvel franchises. The surprising result is a film forged with bold, uncanny good fun, not intellectually taxing but its entertainment value may well catch doubters off-guard.

THOR hammers home enjoyable summertime film fare and may easily leave audiences hungering for more when the mighty son of Odin returns in 2012's Marvel superhero gathering in THE AVENGERS.

The mighty Thor, by the character's own mythological origins blending ancient legends with comic book fantasy, is easy to target as the most difficult of Marvel heroes to translate to the big screen. This seems especially true after Robert Downey Jr.'s cynical turn as egotistical billionaire entrepreneur/tech-armored guard of justice Iron Man, presented as a very down-to-Earth superhero twice before. Thor's godly pedigree not only prevents him from being down-to-Earth, he only visits our planet on occasion when not residing across the galaxy in the heavenly realm of Asgard! Iron Man buys or builds the coolest rocket suits and next-gen weapons to fight evil; Thor swings a magic mallet called Mjolnir. So the Nordic warrior and son of Odin is no competition for all-American Stark, right? Not so, mortals!

THOR swings into the summer film season and hits its mark accurately and with surprising power, and expect Mjolnir (pronounced myol-neer) to bring in plenty of money at box offices starting this weekend [the film has already grossed over $89 Million after one week in overseas release]. Marvel Studios has gifted THOR with the full armory of summer cinematic goodies: actions sequences battling lethal Frost Giants, a fire-breathing automaton wreaking havoc on our planet, artfully executed CG visual effects, and the now-ubiquitous 3D presentation to leap off screens. Much more importantly, director Branagh and a trio of screenwriters transfer Marvel's comic-inspired mythos of Thor into a more character-driven tale which refuses to succumb to its most dazzling and distracting assets.

Branagh's film will succeed on personality in tones both heroic and comic, embodied by the demi-god swagger of its star Chris Hemsworth. Wisely, both director and actor avoid the trap of Thor being a silly fish-out-of-water victim — instead, Thor strides the dusty streets of New Mexico like he owns the planet, despite being stripped of his strength. As Odin king of Asgard, Anthony Hopkins bring an epic scale to this uber-family drama, a rebellious son versus dominating father conflict played out by steel-plated immortals on an epic scale. Dysfunctional stakes are raised by Thor's adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who harbors grudges against sibling and parents while living in bold, brash Thor's shadow, a distant second in like to the Asgard throne. As Odin's family and authority crumbles around him, the shockwaves are felt all the way to Earth where Thor is exiled.

Here the mortal half of the story unfolds as astrophysicist Jane Foster (ebullient Natalie Portman) literally runs into Thor in the New Mexico desert while researching an apparent aurora event in the night sky which, of course, turns out to be the Bifrost vortex depositing the fallen heir of Asgard onto our planet. Jane's research partners range from serious, skeptical scholar Dr. Erik Selvig (delightfully gruff Stellan Skarsgard) who links back with Marvel comic heritage, to self-involved intern Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) who lightens the mood should the film take itself too seriously for non-genre audiences.

The visual and thematic dichotomy between Asgardian and Earthly story paths largely work well thanks to Branagh taking the story as seriously as required, neither more nor less. Audiences will serve themselves well to do exactly the same to enjoy THOR's full potential. The family drama crackles while we are on Asgard as Hopkins and Hemsworth bristle in their conflict, though it sags a bit when Loki is the deceptive focus of the floating realm. On Earth, Hemsworth embodies Thor's requisite superiority without denigrating his new human companions, utterly self-assured without ever being self-aggrandizing. He develops some good chemistry with Portman which proves crucial to providing Thor (and the third act) with emotional impetus behind his heroic actions with or sans hammer. Branagh plays deftly through these shifting tides of action and human drama, refusing to let this film adaptation rest on its Marvel comic conceptual laurels. Thor and Jane's through-line works as a foundation, simple but holding audiences in the epic story as it flies across the galaxy and back again.

The expansive cast rises to Branagh's challenge as it turns out his career of classic Shakespearian theater melds with his credible cinematic chops to elevate expectations. Idris Elba is commanding in his supporting role as the Bifrost guardian Heimdall, who walks a tricky plot path while standing strong at the rainbow bridge and seeing troubles ahead at the other end. Ray Stevenson (utterly fantastic in HBO's series ROME) has a good time as the bearded Volstagg, one of Thor's warrior pack alongside Hogun (Tadanobu Asano) and affable Fandral (Josh Dallas). Yet the alluring Jaimie Alexander, as the female warrior Sif, fairly well sizzles in the role and may steal this Asgardian kick-ass show. Sif's smoldering romantic tension with Thor may have been toned down from the comic history as Jane's role was expanded, but Alexander invests Sif with subtle layers which can easily be mined if/when Thor's film adventures continue. As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s unflappable Agent Coulson, Clark Gregg continues to be Marvel money in linking these comic hero films together, banking dividends that should pay off well in THE AVENGERS. Alas, Rene Russo gets lost in all the family intrigue and meltdown as Odin's wife Frigga, and what might have been a more expansive supporting role remains a glorified cameo in godly gowns.

THOR's script varies in its pace (sometimes appropriately, others unevenly) but it always moves forward, and writers Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne adapt the Marvel-ous history (via veterans Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Larry Lieber) of Thor well for neophytes and comic aficionados alike. Geek cred is not required for this entry-level tale, though a few easter eggs appear through the film including a first look at a certain archer in action. Some comic purists may balk at various changes made to the character canon, especially where Jane and Sif are concerned, but most viewers will never know the difference and simply enjoy this rollicking adventure.

Credit remains due to Kenneth Branagh, once considered a questionable choice to helm a mighty Marvel adaptation from panels to screen, as he proves himself worthy and then some by his results. Often defeating expectation and avoiding effects-driven cinematic cliches, Branagh keeps the interwoven Asgardian and Earthly plots relevant to each other throughout, and always with the wry smile of a storyteller confident in being master of this imaginative universe. Choosing the right director makes all the difference when launching these risky franchise-bound films, and Branagh's THOR nails it.

A quick note on the 3D: FilmEdge previewed THOR in a 3D IMAX digital presentation, and the results were impressive considering Branagh shot the live action in 2D and select prints were converted with 3D-rendered visual effects sequences. Variations in the depth effect are noticeable but not distracting: many character close-ups with soft-focus backgrounds exhibit little 3D effect at all, while other exterior vistas play in depth effectively. A destructive battle between Thor and the giant metal behemoth Destroyer in the New Mexico hinterlands makes the best of both worlds as the metal giant's hollow helmet purging forth beams of fire may have you ducking in your seat. Given how poorly some previous 2D-converted films have looked in 3D presentation (witness CLASH OF THE TITANS' miserable results), THOR shines by comparison. Whether you plunk down the extra bucks to see it in 3D ultimately depends how much you like or shun the format, but we report with confidence that the film is free of gimmicky 3D eye-poking shots. You'll likely enjoy the film just as much viewing it in 2D, as THOR's success never hinges on the dimensional bonus or lack thereof.

FilmEdge predicts it is indeed hammer time for Marvel at box offices this opening weekend and beyond, as THOR strides majestically into theaters Friday. This summer begins with a potential smash as Branagh and charismatic star Chris Hemsworth set up Thor's feature future and next year's THE AVENGERS mega-hero movie with Asgardian gusto.

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