THOR

Transcribing comic folklore onto the big screen is a dangerous affair. Tried and tested characters have their image and histories supposedly expanded, altered or butchered, and in the end the cinematic product turns into a slug fest between diehard fans and the new guard, brutal enough to merit a comic book series in itself! In the case of Thor, Marvel’s most recent venture from the page to the reel, a line has been drawn in the sand. With strangely attractive visuals, and a story that safely marches out of the gate and into some serious hammer-swinging action, Thor is a fun Nordic romp for the new breed, though knowledgeable fans will no doubt bite back on the urge to dissect the portrayal of this Asgardian epic. (AEB) ***