So Thor - the first Marvel film since the (and let's be honest here) shit Ironman 2 is an awesome pre-cursor to both Captain America and The Avengers, both coming out over the next 12 months.  It shows that Marvel are adept at learning from past mistakes, because Thor is pretty bloody damn good.

I never liked Thor as a kid because his costume was shit. Why would a kid choose a Thor costume when they had Spiderman or Batman to choose from? Also, a hammer? A bloody hammer? I wanted lasers coming out of my eyes or a stringy substance shooting out of an orifice (quiet at the back) - not a sodding hammer. 

This is probably why the Thor movie doesn't feel like one for younger kids. It's hero is a proper bloke with a beard who wants to kill people rather than a Peter Parker teenager or Tony Stark pisstaker, but kids 8+ and adults will love it precisely because it isn't all WHAP! SCHWING!

Let's get some bad stuff out of the way early on:

1. Natalie Portman is the worst thing in it. Not at any point will you work out why he didn't go for her wittier and slightly sexier best mate.
2. It does that thing where the guy and girl know each other for 3 days and act as though to be apart would be the most horrifically tragic thing to happen like, ever. 
3. It contains the worst screen kiss since Jabba licked Princess Lea's face.
4. You spend far too much time thinking "If he fucks her, he'll kill her". That may have been just me though.
5. The plot twists may as well have a whole section of 3D just to themselves where someone comes out of the screen and whispers "He's going to be a baddy" in your ear.
6. Thor's best mates are a bit too LOTR for my liking and pretty much unnecessary.

Having said all that, this film is a pleasure. The 3D actually works to bring a real depth to the scenery rather than shoe-horned scenes specifically so someone can throw a frisbee at the audience.

Chris Helmsworth nails the arrogance and fish-out-of-waterness of Thor perfectly and, lets be frank, makes Tom Hardy look like Pee Wee Herman (I've banned my wife from watching this film) but star of the show is Stringer Bell/Luther actor Idris Elba who is just brilliant in his Nordic bouncer Heimdall.

So go and soak it up - it's big, brash, a bit daft and surprisingly funny. After the last few year's shitty superhero fest - Thor is a blessed relief.

"GET ME A HORSE!"

ps. Bet you can't watch Antony Hopkins without doing Rob Brydon's impression in your head.