Mighty Avenger

The Kenneth Branagh-directed “Thor” is a competent live-action version of one of Marvel’s most popular superheroes, adapting and tweaking a more simplified origin--comic fans will notice some similarities to the “Ultimates” iteration--which makes it very accessible to those unfamiliar with the mythology.

Gone are the Donald Blake secret identity and Jane Foster from the olden days; here, the former is mentioned as a separate, absent character and ex to the latter, who’s an astrophysicist instead of a nurse. Chris Hemsworth fits the role quite impressively, while Natalie Portman’s giddy but gutsy Jane balances out the imposing braggadocio of the Norse thunder god. Anthony Hopkins’ Asgardian All-Father Odin is closer to the stern and serious deity from the comics; he exiles his son to learn humility among mortals and casts an Excalibur-ish spell on Thor’s mystic mallet Mjolnir.

Suspension of disbelief may waver from time to time, however. The two separate worlds of Asgard and Earth don’t always feel like “real” and coexistent worlds. We barely see enough of Asgardian culture to really appreciate who the Norse gods are and how they figure in the bigger picture. One early scene doesn’t depict interaction between the warrior-gods and mere mortals, and we don’t really see the cosmic ones’ involvement or influence on Earth culture later, aside from being chronicled in mythical stories. What have the Asgardians been doing between that flashback and now? And what do they do between royal festivities and other revelries?

Anyway, “Thor” is part of the larger “Avengers” tapestry, meaning the character will be appearing next in the Joss Whedon-helmed film alongside other iconic Marvel heroes Iron Man, Hulk, and Captain America, among others. One Avenger makes an exciting surprise appearance in “Thor,” and another connection to upcoming Marvel movies is revealed after the end credits. While not as entertaining as the first “Iron Man,” the thunderous “Thor” does a decent enough job of re-introducing the character to a wider audience, and further expands an intriguing shared universe.