This review may contain spoilers.

So far, "Iron Man" is leading Marvel's recent Hollywood arsenal. However, its sequel was heavily criticized for offering a mere lip service to the characters and focusing too heavily on the expansion of SHIELD.

Even its hidden teaser was SHIELD heavy, featuring Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) finding Mjolnir in the middle of the desert and serving as an introduction to the Norse God.

Fortunately, "Thor" does not make the same mistakes as "Iron Man 2" and remains a standalone adventure worthy of a follow-up.

While SHIELD does have a substantial presence in the Earth-based antics, the real movie is set in Asgard, home of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). With a peace covering the realms, Asgard is a paradise and director Kenneth Branagh isn't shy when it comes to illustrating that.

The visuals and tracking shots are spectacular, showcasing spires, bridges and architecture fit for the Gods themselves. The Bifrost in particular is simply stunning, and later becomes a fantastic place for an epic battle to unfold.

Unlike its comic book predecessors, "Thor" is not an origins story and is instead and introduction to a fully formed hero that needs a lesson in humility before he can achieve his destiny.

On the day that Odin is ready to pronounce that his eldest born son is ready to become King, the kingdom is faced with a crisis: Frost Giants have crossed the Bifrost and entered Asgard. Odin, being a wise and benevolent leader, remains unfazed and dispatches with the intruders.

Their intrusion though will not go unpunished, or so Thor demands. His arrogance, pride and vanity lead to an assault on Jotunheim and on the Frost Giant leader. The whole battle is cut for the purpose of demonstrating Thor's almighty powers. Armed with Mjolnir, Thor has all the abilities of the ancient God and then some.

But, the assault does not go as planned and for defying the will of Odin, Thor is banished to Earth.

Given how down-to-Earth the other Marvel stories have become, it is an absurd sounding concept for an on-screen adaptation. Thankfully, the film is given weight and gravitas under Branagh's direction and with Hemsworth in the spotlight. The Australian actor, who helped establish the tone of J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" in 2009 (he played George Kirk on the ill-fated U.S.S. Kelvin), carries off the leading role with ease.

In war, Hemsworth is a man seemingly made for the role of a God. He has the attitude, the presence and the voice of a conceited warrior which all works to his favor. And, once stripped of his powers and sentenced to a mortal life shows adept at the lighter side of the character; a mortal Thor is an amusing Thor.

From giggles to full-out belly laughs, Hemsworth's explorations of a human existence offers a tonal shift in the movie; switching from an epic fantasy to something of a rom-com turns out to be a

However, it is Tom Hiddleston who truly steals much of the show. Loki is brought to life as a thoroughly complex individual (to almost Shakespearean standards) and unlike any black and white comic villain previously seen on-screen (ahem, Whiplash and Justin Hammer). At times, it seems as though the villain is genuinely conflicted of his actions (and rightly so). The wrongs of his life are displayed with a bizarre impartialness that leaves the character easily accessible and identifiable.

It is hard not to see Loki as the victim of Odin's own machinations, especially when his origins are revealed as a plan to create a lasting peace between Asgard and Jotunheim (oh, the irony!).

Despite being a clear victory for Marvel Studios, "Thor" is not without its flaws. The transformation from arrogant God to humble hero seemingly occurs overnight through an almost non-existent relationship with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).

There is no doubt that Portman was a fantastic choice as the woman to teach the Odinson the error of his ways and the actress is thankfully given more to work with in this outing than in all three of the Star Wars prequels combined. Unfortunately, the couple's relationship is seemingly built out of a smattering of glances and idle banter alone and is far from the tender fondness of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts that allowed "Iron Man" its romantic detours.

Thor and Jane's relationship is neglected for the larger story of war in Asgard, and rightly so. But the promise of something more between the two creates a perfect setup for a sequel.

Most important of all, the movie actually leaves you wanting one.

Points Of Interest

1. Science-fiction fans will have a small laugh watching "Babylon 5" creator (and "Thor" scribe) J. Michael Straczynski try to free Mjolnir from its landing site.

2. Samuel L. Jackson is back … if you have the time to sit through the end credits.

What Worked

Asgard is simply stunning, kudos to the design team and Branagh for showcasing its many wonders with such fervent style.

For those eagerly awaiting "The Avengers" in 2012, "Thor" offers numerous nudges and winks to the ensemble. Bruce Banner -- aka The Hulk -- is alluded to as a prominent professor with experience in gamma ray research and the appearance of The Destroyer is initially believed to be an unregistered experiment of Stark Industries.

In much the same idea, the introduction of Hawkeye was a nice touch but was ultimately pointless beyond teasing his appearance in Joss Whedon's communal adventure.

What Didn't Work

The Earth-bound storyline could have been given more substantial weighting, being responsible for only a small -- and arguably insignificant -- part of the movie. The whole reason for Thor's rebirth of sorts was down to his love for Jane and his appreciation for human existence … something that could spawn a whole series of movies on its own. However, in this adventure the mortal coil is experienced in the blink of an eye, removing any gravitas that Thor's rehabilitation should possess.

Even the attack on Earth feels like a half-hearted effort and comes off as more a convenient way for Thor to prove himself and reclaim his powers. It is hard to care for the town's people when we know nothing about them (aside from Jane, Selvig and Darcy of course).

And, despite the achievement "Thor" most definitely is, Branagh utilizes Dutch tilts far to heavily throughout the movie (flashbacks to "Battlefield Earth" anyone?).

Most disappointingly of all, never since "Clash Of The Titans" has 3D technology been so woefully underused. The stereoscopic conversion was not kind to "Thor," enhancing the enjoyment of the experience in only a handful of sequences. Given the design of Asgard, 3D technology could have added so much to it's wonder.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Thor" was written based on a story by J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich, with a screenplay by Don Payne, Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller. It was directed by Kenneth Branagh.

"Thor" is released on May 6.