THOR by Kenneth Branagh
Instead of being announced as the new King, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), is stripped of his powers and exiled to Earth for his arrogance and endangering Asgard. Thor’s hammer Mjolnir is also on Earth, but can be wielded only by someone worthy of his power. Discovered by scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her mentor Erik Selvig (Stellan SkarsgĂ„rd) and her assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), and while he slowly starts to accept his exile, his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) plots to seize power over the nine realms.
It’s not easy to make a superhero movie that does not look silly, especially when that hero is a Norse god in a not-so-subtile outfit wielding a huge hammer. Kenneth Branagh, known for directing Shakespeare, may seem a weird choice for directing a Marvel superhero film, but with the power struggle between a medieval king and his two sons playing a big part in Thor, it seems less weird but appropriate.
Branagh balances the majestic dignity of Asgard with a lot of humor on Earth and delivers a satisfying mix that entertains and avoids the ham. Mission accomplished!